M70 458WM Safari Express

[ldg397]

I have been looking for a 375H&H to add to the upper end of my battery and stumbled across this M70 at a pawn shop today. I have a M70 300 WM and a 45-70 Guide Gun and don't consider either one to be all that objectionable to shoot but from what I gather this is a significant step up from those? It is in mint condition and asking $895.

Who can tell me something about the 458wm since I have zero experience with rifles in this power range and to tell you the truth have never fired any larger than what I own. I understand it can be quite punishing but it isn't like I would be plinking with it. And I assume it could be loaded down to make it more versatile for other types of game?

My Battery:
Ruger 10-22
RockRiver AR15 .223
M700 .260 Mtn Rifle
M70 270 Win Featherweight
M70 300 WM
1895 Guide 45-70

 

[DrMike]

It is a step up in bullet frontal area, in mass and in charge. It will assuredly have more recoil than your 270. I don't know that it is particularly objectionable, but you will know that you have pulled the trigger. It is not a bench gun; you can reduce felt recoil considerably by shooting from the off-hand position. That is a decent price for the Safari Express.

 

[SJB358]

Man, that is a steal for any good 458WM and a heckuva great deal on an M70 Safari Express. I would think some lighter 45-70 bullets at 45-70 speeds would be a ton of fun in that rifle. Hope you get it, can't wait to hear what you think of it! Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

Is it push feed?

 

[ldg397]

It is a controlled round feed New Haven model with red pad. It has safari express on the bottom plate and has a very unusual barrel band. It isn't really a band but looks like the stud is machined on the barrel itself. It also seems to have a matte receiver with a more polished barrel but I wouldn't say high polished like a supergrade just a litte more gloss than the receiver. The wood was nice as well, bore was exceptional. Pretty easy to see the bore on that one, it was like looking down a paper towel roll :lol:

The guy behind the counter said he knew the owner and it was kept in the garage all the time and only fired by a grandmother when she got home from church. :lol: It looked like it but that is what they all say.

 

[JD338]

That seems like a good price.
The 458 WM is a power house. A good recoil pad like the Pachmyer Decelerator will really tame the recoil. Off the bench is stiff but off hand isn't bad at all. reduced loads will hep you get acclimated to the recoil.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

About 25 years ago I met a fellow in Maryland who had hunted Africa. He'd bought his dream rifle, a .458 Win Model 70 - and it was a beauty. Made his trip to Africa. Killed his buffalo and other game, came home and just couldn't stand not using the rifle anymore so he started loading it down, using 350 gr Hornady Round Nose soft point bullets. The fellow enjoyed using it on bear and whitetail deer for some years after his African hunt.

I believe his was the first .458 Win mag I'd ever fired. The 350 gr handloads were a peach, the 510 gr soft-nose factory stuff produced a different class of recoil altogether.

Later, another buddy introduced me to his African rifle, a Model 70 in .450 Ackley Mag. Ouch. Great rifle! Even more than the .458 Win though. What a monster.

 

[FOTIS]

That is a good one. :mrgreen:

 

[Woodycreek]

450 AI Mag :?: :idea:

 

[SJB358]

Wow, who you going to hire to shoot it for ya! Scotty

 

[REDGREEN]

You'll love it. I loaded mine with WW748 at 80 grains. It don't tear up deer, but a 510 grain shoulder strike on a moose will definately do some serious damage. Hundreds of groundhogs and gophers also met their demise with my shoulder cannon, and I sent hundreds of full power loads downrange at the bench. My favorite trick with it was when someone asked if they could shoot it. I would put 1 full power load in, and cover it with two reduced loads, which were the equivalent of a fullhouse 45 70. :twisted:

 

[SJB358]

RG, that just sounds like too much fun! I know the full house 45-70 loads are no slouch either. Can't imagine the firebreathing 458! Scotty

 

[Woodycreek]

Wow, who you going to hire to shoot it for ya! Scotty

Don't know? But I need something bigger than the 243 :lol:

 

[DrMike]

Don't know it but I need something bigger than the 243

Touché! Good one, Brian.

 

[BK]

I was on a doe hunt in Eastern Oregon about 15 years ago. My buddy used to live there, so we knew some locals. One of them talked me into carrying his No. 1 .458 for a couple of hours. I never did get to shoot it, but I always wish I could have.

Ended up whacking a whitetail with my .25-06.

 

[ldg397]

I am going to try to get by there tomorrow. I have looked on gunbroker and it seems to resemble the 458 super express more than the safari express. It is definitely a CRF and has monte carlo stock. Does that change any opinions on the purchase??

The more I read the more confused I get. It sounds like a lot of peope get them bored out to 458 lott to lower pressures to keep from sticking cases in the african heat also why some people prefer 416 rigby. Either that or it is some guy in his mom's basement in Wisconsin making it up. Then the very next thing you read it is the best big bore of all time.

 

[DrMike]

It has certainly become a classic cartridge within my lifetime. It is capable of handling any game you might encounter. The Super Express or the Safari Express would serve you well, I should think.

 

[SJB358]

Wow, who you going to hire to shoot it for ya! Scotty

Don't know it but I need something bigger than the 243 :lol:

Yes you do, but I would go up in caliber, not rifle weight, you seem to be at the top of the heap there with that ultralight RUM!!! :twisted:

 

[Woodycreek]

Wow, who you going to hire to shoot it for ya! Scotty

Don't know it but I need something bigger than the 243 :lol:

Yes you do, but I would go up in caliber, not rifle weight, you seem to be at the top of the heap there with that ultralight RUM!!! :twisted:

You got me on that one!

 

[SJB358]

Thats alright, we can tag team it on the big hills!!!! It'll be just like carrying the M2 back in the old days! Scotty