M70 458WM Safari Express

[GF1]

That's a good rifle and a good buy. Trouble for me is that I can live without a .458 WM or Lott, as the recoil takes the fun out of it for me. And that rifle will really emphasize the kick. I've had several .458s over the years, and stick with the .375 for the heavy stuff for me. I'm considering a .416 for more whump, but no more .458s for me.

A lot of these rifles are on the market after the original owners experienced what I'm talking about.

 

[ldg397]

Well I went back and cut a deal on it. He wouldn't come down on the price but gave me two boxes of ammo with it (I guess he didn't have a lot of demand for the 458 ammo in his shop :lol: ). It is a super express and was in perfect like new condition. It did have the old red winchester pad, I would think just changing to a pachmyer decelerator would make a big difference. I paid half down and will pay off the rest in the next couple of months so I got awhile to work my courage up. One box of ammo was barnes solids 500 grain, I don't think I will start out with those.

Anybody had any experience with the mercury recoil reducer on this type of rifle. I don't want a muzzle break.

The only complaints I have seen on the super express is the monte carlo style stock it seem to fit me fine and the rear sight. What is the best dangerous game sights to use? Williams? XS?

 

[SJB358]

Congrats on the rifle. I would think a set of XS sights would be pretty nice. I don't like buckhorn style sights but a nice big ghost ring would be as fast and probably more accurate. Sounds like a cool thumper. Can't wait to see a few pictures of it. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations on a great rifle. For sure, you will want to begin with a decent recoil pad. The Pachmayr Decelerator is a great pad. Another that you might want to consider is the Limbsaver. Before installing a recoil reducing system, see if you can handle the recoil. Shoot off hand rather than from the bench, and you'll be okay. Make up some handloads to permit you to familiarise yourself with the rifle. Make up some loads with a maximum charge of 29.0 grains of SR 4757 and 400 grain Speer bullets, or with a maximum charge of 75.5 grains of IMR 3031 behind a 350 grain Hornady for practise. This will allow you to become familiar with the rifle, working up to full house loads.

 

[ldg397]

Thanks Drmike you have me going down the winchester 70 road at full speed this will be my third and just bought and fired the first one about six months ago.


The rifle looks pretty much exactly like this one with no scope but half the price.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=233995498

 

[FOTIS]

Congrats on the rifle.

Let me know if you want loads. I have worked on several of them....

 

[Woodycreek]

I'm more on function than looks but that's one fine looking rifle!

 

[DrMike]

Drmike you have me going down the winchester 70 road at full speed this will be my third and just bought and fired the first one about six months ago.

I certainly trust you will enjoy this disease as much as I have. You have one in your safe now that I haven't yet acquired. It is certainly a classic cartridge.

 

[Greg Nolan]

That 458 is a good deal at the price for sure. It comes down to wanting a 458. I've found that loads and bullet weight make more difference than one would think. The 458 Lott #1 that I and Pop had loaded with 350 gr TSXs at 2700 fps pushed hard but nothing like 500 gr bullets at 2400 and they had good trajectory. They can be loaded to 2400 fps and not kick any worse then a 375 H&H with 300 gr bullets at 2550 fps. They also make 300 gr Tsx but I havn't loaded them. Pop might have. The sharpest recoil I've ever dealt with was a 30-378 without the muzzle brake. The recoil velocity was so fast it stung me good. The 458 Lott was always the slow hard push. This is my opinion of course and worth about what you paid for it. :roll:
Greg

 

[Guy Miner]

Yee Haw! That's going to be quite a rifle I'd think... Dang... :grin:

Hornady makes a great, relatively inexpensive, round-nose 350 gr bullet that should be great for practice, as well as most North American game. You could load it down to .45/70 levels for most of your shooting, then bump it up to the Big Bullets at full power when you want to track down dinosaurs or wooly mammoths.

I think I'd put a good rear peep sight on it, with a removable aperture for the "ghost ring" effect. Then I'd also add a low powered, quality scope like the 2.5x or 3x Leupold in quick detach rings. The 3x Leupold is a new version, and a guy has to ask Leupold to build one at the Custom Shop. Not terribly expensive though.

Enjoy!