Big bore rifle build

Evanguy

Evanguy

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Gambier Island B.C.
i have wanted a rifle that was a little over the top and was more rifle then i will ever need. after going back and forth between 416 Rigby, 458 Lott and 460 Weatherby. I figured if i was going this big i mite as well go as big as i can. so i picked 460 weatherby to build. the goal was a cheap simple build that would be fun to take in the wood and to the range.

the components to the build are

commercial Zavasta Magnum mauser receiver
458 winmag factory Zavasta barrel 23.5"
PTG 460 WM reamer with .750" free bore
not sure what im doing about the stock yet.

i opened up the bolt face and extractor for the huge case size
i removed 0.050" from the bolt stop, also ill be moving the mag back the thickness of the back plate of the mag plus 50 thou. i need to remove some metal from the back of the mag well in the receiver still.ill rework the front and back of the mag as well as follower
so with loading to 3.750" (95.25mm) ill have to remove just over .100" front the front of the receiver.
BUT before i take anything out of the front of the receiver im heavily considering using just the Woodleigh RNSN 480 gr so i can load to the proper OAL of 91.5 mm / 3.602" and then i wont need to remove anything at all.

the pic of the bullet beside the 460 is a 308

not sure what i doing with the stock yet i may buy a blank chunk of walnut and have one made at work on a cnc mill. im not sure what factory stock would fit that is nicer then the Zavasta one since the receiver has the side safety.


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For a big boomer like that, you might want to consider a second recoil lug mounted on the barrel. My Winchester M70 in 375 H&H has one; also read Phil Shoemaker's writing from when he was building his 458 Win Mag and was concerned about the stock splitting. A slick idea I saw was a sleeve that gets silver soldered (not silver brazed) to the barrel - recoil lug underneath and rear sight base on the top - sleeve, lug and base all machined as one piece - NECG website, perhaps? Would go well with a sleeved front sight base / ramp of similar styling.
I think you are going to find there is not much stock material left ahead of the inletting for a Zastava trigger and behind the magazine to put a conventional cross bolt - more so if you extend that magazine rearwards. You might want to look up how Weatherby does a steel internal cross strap set in epoxy.
 
Looks fun, it should handle our Nova Scotia deer very well. I’ve been considering building a 450 Rigby (essentially the same cartridge without the belt) to replace the one I used to have. I wish I had the machining skills that you have.
 
Thanks guys. Im pretty excited about this build. The bighest rifle i have fired so far was a 375h&h so i may be in for a surprize lol.

The rifle as it sits with out the stock or sights on it weights only 5 pounds 13 oz. I hope to have the complete rifle sitting at under 9 pounds.

And yeah im going to have to look into ways to manage the recoil in the stock. I really like the idea of a rear sight base and recoil lug made as one price and silver soldered on. I may go that route. And if i did that and a few other methods i hope i can get away without using a cross bolt In the stock.
 
Evanguy said:
.... And if i did that and a few other methods i hope i can get away without using a cross bolt In the stock.
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I have installed several "blind" cross bolts - I used 5/16" all thread (redi-rod) and milled a trench across the action flat immediately to the rear of the recoil lug recess. I went into the side walls on both sides of the receiver inletting. I made up a wooden mould, coated it with wax so the epoxy wouldn't stick to it. Laid epoxy in the trench, laid the de-greased all-thread into it, then more epoxy, then pressed the mould into place, clamping down tight against the action flat. This let me pour more epoxy along the sides of the mould to create a U shaped epoxy that sticks well to the sides of the stock as well as encasing the cross bolt. Nothing visible from the outside. No sweating over precisely aligning the cross holes for a conventional metal recoil lug. Weatherby does similar with their cross strap just ahead of the trigger mortice. While you are at it, can drill from top of rear action hole downwards and rearwards into the centre of the pistol grip, without breaking through. This lets you epoxy in another steel rod (again, I used redi-rod) that significantly reinforces the grip area of the stock - normally the weakest part of the stock.

Based on my 375 H&H and from what I have read, I believe 9 pounds is a nice weight for a 375. My Zastava 458 Win Mag weighs 9 lbs. 2 ounces with the little M8-2 1/2x Compact in Weaver low rings, and that thing can get your attention! If you are actually wanting to fire it, I am guessing 9 pounds might be on the light side for a 460 Weatherby, but I have never fired one. Let us know!!
 
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I agree... 9 pounds is a little light..
My CZ550 In 458 lott sits closer to 10 pounds but not quite..
Load development for the bench is something to be experienced , lead sled ,40 pounds,, standing behind the bench, feel free to try stirring.
Problem is the rifle jumps out of the rest and punches your face hard..
Anyhow , fun fun to shot non the less,,.not a bench gun..hehehehe

Good post .I'll be watching
 
Thanks for all that potashminer, ill be sending you a PM when i ger closer to making the stock if you dont mind.

Yeah i cant see this being fired from a bench. I only wiegh 155 pounds. It will have damn near that in recoil force.

I do plan to shoot it and 9 pounds may be a little light but i really do want a big boomer. Why go so big only to make the rifle weigh more? Im also not putting a butt pad on this rifle. Maybe brass butt plate.

Its 100% usless as a hunting rilfe in nova scotia.. Wont make a good target rifle. The only thing its good for is to shoot random targets and let people try it out. And to fill cravings

The main reason i went so big was for the recoil. Some days i reallt just have the erge to fire something that really lets me know i fired it.

My next peoject that ill have all the parts for by next week is a merkel sxs with its barrels barrels sleved with 50 cal blanks and chambered for 50-140 sharps. Ill stuff them with black powder.

I have loads of rifles that are practical and good hunting rifles and or target rifles. This will be a fun weekend toy.
 
Slimbo said:
A 9 lb 460 weatherby with a brass butt plate? that will be....exciting?
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If that wasnt sarcatic those are my thoughts exactly. I want butterflys and clamy hands as im getting ready to touch it off. If i can fire 3 rounds in a 6" target at 100m ill be happy. If the flinch gets me. Ill have to reconsider the weight and or butt pad.

The load im going to work up is a 480gr bullet at 2500fps

The Weatherby mk V 460 weighs 10 pounds from factory.
 
Evanguy - I found a book in .pdf on Internet "Recollections of William Finaughty, Elephant Hunter, 1864-1875". He makes several references to his "good" rifle - it was a muzzle loading 4 gauge rifle as near as I can follow - heaping handful of black powder, 4 ounce lead round balls. He makes several mentions of being knocked to the ground, or knocked off his horse, from firing the thing, while shooting elephants. I doubt it had a recoil pad, nor would one likely have made a lot of difference. Sounds like a guy that you would have liked to compare notes with!! :)
 
Slimbo said:
A 9 lb 460 weatherby with a brass butt plate? that will be....exciting?
Click to expand...

Without knowing much about the 460WBY I just watched a video of guys who can't be more than 140lbs soaking wet firing one with and without a brake. I would say that it looks exciting! I feel like one guy's shoulder nearly dislocated in one of the shots.
 
RatFink said:
Without knowing much about the 460WBY I just watched a video of guys who can't be more than 140lbs soaking wet firing one with and without a brake. I would say that it looks exciting! I feel like one guy's shoulder nearly dislocated in one of the shots.
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Is that the slow motion video that the guys shoulder moved back about 12" inches before the rest of his body catches up. Thats a good one

Potashminer- i was born 130 year late. I dream of being alive in that time frame. You would be reading stories that i wrote about my adventures.
 
Back in the late 60's the shop I was in sold a factory .460 Wby and a box of ammunition to a fellow who just wanted it because it was what it was... he had some money to spare and ordered it. He was a fairly small slightly built man.

We later took that same rifle with a box of ammo with 2 fired brass back in to sell on consignment. Two shots were all he managed.

This rifle is going to kick hard.
 
Evanguy said:
Is that the slow motion video that the guys shoulder moved back about 12" inches before the rest of his body catches up. Thats a good one

Potashminer- i was born 130 year late. I dream of being alive in that time frame. You would be reading stories that i wrote about my adventures.
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That's the one! The last guy definitely gets a scope kiss as well.

Are you planning on throwing on express sights, or scoping this monster? I feel like a shotgun bead would be almost be appropriate
 
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