458 Win Mag lever gun ?

Doesn't sound like anything I want to shoot.
I'd like to keep my shoulder attached to the rest of me..

Rosebud said:

Doesn't sound like anything I want to shoot.
I'd like to keep my shoulder attached to the rest of me..

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Bought a 20" custom bolt rifle in .458 Winchester from a friend-for another friend-who was headed to Africa to hunt Cape buffalo. Loaded him some 500 gr solids. I shot a few into some mud. Hard hitting rascals! The guy going to Africa shot it into the mud one time—sold the rifle for a loss, and bought a .375 H&H mag. Wounded but never recovered his buff. Wimp! Had to pay for the buff anyway. Wimp! Offered to let him shoot my 460 Weatherby into the mud. Wimp declined the offer. I knew he would never kill a buffalo. He did get a nice kudu with a borrowed .300 Win mag. He was a big ol' fella. Grew up too wealthy to endure a little recoil. Decided a water buffalo might look just as good on his wall after all. Still took him four shots with his new 30-06. I'd have lied and said I took him with one shot from the 460.

Guy M said:

Browning's BLR is available in long action, 300 Win Mag. That one provides the magnum bolt face and the required length to handle the 458 Win Mag. I don't know if the barrel steel is thick enough to be re-bored from .308 to .458 - so the conversion might require a new barrel.
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I've shot a couple of 458 Win Mag bolt action Winchester Model 70's. Not sure I'd even want to shoot one in a lever action, the bolt action rifles recoiled quite enough for me.

Browning's 450 Marlin won't work. It's too short and the belt is different from that on belted magnums.

I don't know if Winchester's lever action 1895 could be re-worked for the 458 Win Mag or not. It's available in 30-06 and 405 Win, so it's long enough...
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Regards, Guy

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That Browning BLR sure looks intriguing. O boy, another project.

I have owned 3 BLRs, loved them all. Made more than couple running shots on wild boar and put them in the dirt. You can re-barrel a BLR to 458 Win Mag

med358-boise said:

I have owned 3 BLRs, loved them all. Made more than couple running shots on wild boar and put them in the dirt. You can re-barrel a BLR to 458 Win Mag

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If you know of anyone who will re-barrel one can you share info? I have one in 270 I never use for some reason.
There is quite a difference in the different models I have 3 and they all handle and feel a lot different

akdad said:

If you know of anyone who will re-barrel one can you share info? I have one in 270 I never use for some reason.
There is quite a difference in the different models I have 3 and they all handle and feel a lot different

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Will see I I can find somebody. But you will likely want to start with a 300 Win Mag because of the bolt face.

I've wondered if the batch to batch qc is different on the blrs. Friend had one in something odd, it was slicker than goose poop. Lot of fun but some oddball cartridge. Found one some years ago in 223 that they had done in all black, figured it would be hoot.... was very much not. Ended up flipping it to someone who didn't mind and wanted it more than me. Seems like it's hit or miss on if you get one you love or not.

Would think the blr with the roller cam would be the way to go, 1895 big loop is a long enough lever throw for most and limits pressure compared to a bolt.

Akdad, I read your post and fired off a text to one of my old mentors who had a short action rebarreled to said oddball cartridge some time ago. Conversation was "hey do you have the number to the old timer who did the blr?... yes but it's no good, he passed 6 years ago...."

Sure sign of old age is having a notebook of gunsmiths contacts from past projects... but going 0 for 3 in them still being alive when you need another.

Have you heard of the 450 Alaskan? They were a series of wildcats based on the 348 winchester in the win 1886 rifle.

I dont remember the baliistics but they and the 50cal versions were quite popular in their day.

AussieWriter said:

Guy,
These rifle designs are not universal and only find favour with some and not all riflemen.

I have reviewed the Browning lever and couldn't wait to return it as for me, it felt clumbsy, what Americans call "clunky". That's why I cited rifle "fit" a couple of times in my post. It was deliberate.

Sure, it was a well made, well finished rifle and all it was promoted to be but the longer actioned versions loose some of that handling magic that draws hunters towards lever action rifles in the first place.

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Ya, I had an old BLR in .308 Winchester, made in Belgium. My oldest son has it now. I like the rifle but I don't love it. The short action ones feel better to me than the long action versions.

Rifle fit/feel matters a lot to me as well.

Guy

Wilderness Blacktail said:

Have you heard of the 450 Alaskan? They were a series of wildcats based on the 348 winchester in the win 1886 rifle.

I dont remember the baliistics but they and the 50cal versions were quite popular in their day.

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The Alaskan series os cartridges is likely a more practical route. Turnbull has a few options for the 1886 action which also work nicely. It doesn't have to be exactly a .458 to hit like one.

I asked this question on a gunsmithing forum with some very knowledgeable folks and here are the various responses. The most informative are near the botom.