Tapered rifling in #1 458 Win. - correct?

[tacotime]

A close look at the rifling forward of the chamber on a #1 458 Win. shows the rifling is tapered before it reaches its full depth, looking to be normal depth maybe 1/2 or 3/4 inch later. I have not seen a rifle barrel with that kind of taper before. Is this a factory standard for this rifle, or has someone altered this bore? The gun is mint, and was said to have been fired 5 times with factory ammo by the original owner.

Thanks.

 

[flatgate]

I ain't no rifle guy, but, on a handgun that's called the barrel's throat.
It's a very important part of the firearm.

:D

flatgate

 

[tacotime]

Seems like on all the other bores I have seen, the rifling starts abruptly wherever it starts in the bore, but these are tapered over a longer length than I have seen before.

Just curious if someone did some kind of reaming here, or if this is usual for a #1 .458.

 

[captainkirk]

Seems like on all the other bores I have seen, the rifling starts abruptly wherever it starts in the bore, but these are tapered over a longer length than I have seen before.

Just curious if someone did some kind of reaming here, or if this is usual for a #1 .458.

Mine looks like that and I am pretty sure it is factory. You can see the "ring" in the chamber where the case would end, then another section that is devoid of rifling, then the "tapered" rifling starts and winds up the correct size a little later. I tried to photograph the chamber, but was not successful.

captainkirk

 

[sceva]

That is called the Lead or Chamber lead. ( pronounced leed ) and performs the same function as the forcing cone on a handgun or shotgun.

 

[tacotime]

Good... it just was more tapered than any bore I had seen before. Thanks.

 

[DeletedMember275]

Ruger uses/used a somewhat unique chamber design for their .458 Mag chambered guns ~ one that has something of a freebore, IIRC. I have also heard that area referred to as a 'ballseat' in that particular application. It would effectively allow one to seat bullets out a bit farther than normal, which effectively increases the powder capacity of the case by a few grains.

The original factory loadings of .458 Win Mag ammo utilized a heavily compressed powder charge - enough so that the ammo would sometimes 'grow' a bit in length over time. This was required in order to get the desired velocity with the 500 grain loads. Winchester responded a bit later by slightly decreasing the powder charge, lowering the velocity, and decreasing the effectiveness on dangerous game.

One eventual outcome of all of this was Ruger's redesign of the chamber of the .458 Mag. Another was the development of the .458 Lott cartridge - a 'long' .458 Mag, or 'what the .458 Win Mag wants to be when it grows up!' The Lott can attain 2350 FPS or so, as opposed to the Win Mag's 2050 with a 500 grain bullet. Most folks who hunt with the Lott only load it to around 2150-2200, though - all that's required to make a Cape Buffalo take a dirt nap.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

...One eventual outcome of all of this was Ruger's redesign of the chamber of the .458 Mag. Another was the development of the .458 Lott cartridge - a 'long' .458 Mag, or 'what the .458 Win Mag wants to be when it grows up!' The Lott can attain 2350 FPS or so, as opposed to the Win Mag's 2050 with a 500 grain bullet. Most folks who hunt with the Lott only load it to around 2150-2200, though - all that's required to make a Cape Buffalo take a dirt nap.

Makes my shoulder hurt just thinking about it...

-- Sam

 

[Pinecone]

Speaking of hurt shoulders, I once had a customer stop by my Michigan shop looking for a rifle in .458 Win Mag. Told him I had never had a call for one and didn't see any point in tying up money on inventory I would probably never sell. I asked why he was seeking a .458. Said he wanted to make sure the deer stayed put where he shot it! I spent the next half hour trying to convince him there were a lot better calibers with less pain to be had for Michigan deer and showed him a few I had in stock. Couldn't convince him and he thanked me for the info and left. Two months later, he walks into my shop with a gun case in hand. Opens it up and there is a very nice Winchester Model 70 (new model) in .458 Win Mag! Says he should have taken "my" advice and his shoulder was about to fall off! Wanted to trade me the rifle straight up for a lot cheaper one in my rack. I was "tempted" but only for a few seconds! Told him as I had before that it would only be a white elephant in my rack. Some people "have" to learn it the "hard" way!.............................Dick :roll:

 

[tacotime]

Interesting info, thanks.

I shoot the factory 510 grain just as a novelty every once in a while and it's a big thump. It wasn't the big trauma I had been led to expect, but then again I used a slip on pad over the factory (stiff) pad. No shoulder pain or bruise at all.

But I find the gun real good fun to shoot with some milder handloads. It seems to like H4895 60 grains with the 350 bullet and 55 grains with the 405 bullet. I haven't set up a 500 grain load yet. The caliber is a neat piece of history and not at all a common caliber around here. I never knew of anyone who had one or even thought of having one. Glad I discovered it.

 

[captainkirk]

Interesting info, thanks.

I shoot the factory 510 grain just as a novelty every once in a while and it's a big thump. It wasn't the big trauma I had been led to expect, but then again I used a slip on pad over the factory (stiff) pad. No shoulder pain or bruise at all.

But I find the gun real good fun to shoot with some milder handloads. It seems to like H4895 60 grains with the 350 bullet and 55 grains with the 405 bullet. I haven't set up a 500 grain load yet. The caliber is a neat piece of history and not at all a common caliber around here. I never knew of anyone who had one or even thought of having one. Glad I discovered it.

You might look into IMR SR4759 as a good powder for some lighter loads. I like it for cast bullets in the 458. I treat mine like a heavy barreled 45-70 and don't get beat up too badly.

captainkirk

 

[EVR]

That is called the Lead or Chamber lead. ( pronounced leed ) and performs the same function as the forcing cone on a handgun or shotgun.

Right, except it's "leade".

 

[tacotime]

I did load some SR4759 at plinking levels and it shot very accurately. I didn't sight the scope for it because it seemed a mis-use of the 458 to plink that mildly... the 45-70 can handle that role, but the accuracy was good. I was a little wary of the fact that SR4759 still produces high pressures. Seems odd to me.