Bocajnala

Well, the deer around here have been getting tougher. So i decided to do something about it.

This rifle came up for sale locally, so I went and picked it up. It's a CZ550 Safari Magnum in .458 Winchester. Supposedly it has 50 rds through it and the original owner bought it for pig hunting.

Rifle is in really nice condition. And it came with 140 rds of winchester superX 510 grain soft points... So for $800 I thought I did ok on an interesting rifle plus ammo (and a rifle case too!)

It certainly wakes you up when you pull the trigger. I don't know what I'll do with it. But it'll be a nice one to pull out at parties to let people take a shot. And it is Ohio legal, so I'll try to smack a doe with it this fall.

Can these 510s be used for deer? I assume with a .45 hole through the lungs there won't be any issues. Or, should I load something else up. Haven't had time to research any handloads for it yet.

-Jake

hardcastonly

you did GREAT on the rifle value for the price..especially as it came with significant ammo.
I will point out that hand loads make the rifle far more pleasant to shoot and its still devastating on the hogs, deer and elk.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THE EUROPEAN STYLE STOCK?
on your new 458 rifle vs the american style stock like the one pictured below?

https://www.americanrifleman.org/art...88d0e-0-ab_gsb

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...Powder&Source=
http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html
nei sells a great cast bullet mold for the reduced loads in 458 win and 458 lott



55 grains of IMR 3031 and this bullet makes a good effective deer and elk load, making it a hot 45/70, but far less abusive than a fully loaded 458 win.
size .459, use gas checks, use lots of quality lube, and 215 mag primers youll be surprised at the accuracy

Bocajnala

I'm trying to decide if I want to invest $$ and time to load for it or not. Truth be told, 140 rds will last me a long time with this.

But I do like to load as well.

-Jake

Nomercy448

You’re on the right track - it really doesn’t pay to reload for .458wm. Or maybe it’s better said as, it really doesn’t cost much to not reload for .458. Out of the DG cartridges, factory ammo for the .458wm is really quite affordable, and quite readily available. I like to reload for mine, simply to give me access to lighter loads.

Alternatively, as you found this rifle, it’s not so difficult to find great deals on 458wm dies, when one-timers get out of the cartridge after their trip.

Good for the salesman who convinced the original buyer he needed a .458wm to hunt pigs! A slick met a sucker that day!!

Bocajnala

Honestly I would probably like the american style better. But I have very little time behind the trigger of this rifle so far. It may grow on me. Appearance wise I have no preference. both are good looking rifles.

Reading some other reviews I see some guys don't like the Euro stock... Although I've yet to see anything other than opinion on that...



I'd hate to run into the pig that needed a .458wm to put it down...

-Jake

Big Uncle

Although I have hunted with them in Africa before, the 458 chambering (both Win Mag and Lott) is uncomfortable for me to shoot well with the 500 grain bullets. I use a standing bench when sighting the rifle for 500 grain loads. Otherwise I only shoot the 500 grain stuff from sticks or off hand. The 500 grain bullets are just the ticket for a big cape buffalo or a mean looking pronghorn but firing more than a few rounds has me looking for a bottle of aspirin.

Practice loads with 300 grain or 350 grain pills at modest velocity are much more pleasant.

If I had 140 cartridges and was not planning a dangerous game hunt I would sell 100 of them to someone that enjoys headaches, and buy brass and dies. Loads simulating the 45-70 are much nicer to shoot and will still be quite effective on North American game.

hardcastonly

how can you even think its not worth reloading for the 458 win?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...nose-box-of-20

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/31...tion-box-of-20

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/89...lets-box-of-20

at $6-$12 dollars PER cartridge for factory 458 win ammo
lets say you want to stock up just 300 factory loaded cartridges at the minimum cost of $6 each, thats $1800

DIES $48

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...rimp-3-die-set

$367 for brass
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...brass-50-count

roughly $8 for 300 primers
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.c...mer-1000-count

theres dozens of options in bullet molds for under $100
figure on gas checks costing you under $20 for 300
figure powder costing under $100,
rough cost $600 or 1 third the cost, up front, and less than 1/5th the cost for the next 1800 shots

Nomercy448

I’ve been shooting 458win mag for over 20 years.

Nothing on God’s Earth could convince me, after casting thousands on thousands of rounds for CAS/SASS, there is any value in my life for casting for 458wm.

Some folks value our time and our capital a lot more than others. I’ve pulled engines in 4 trucks and transmissions in 3 others. Nothing in this world would convince me to buy another engine lift to replace the one I sold. I’m sure I could save money by driving my trucks until the wheels fall off (having driven over 2 million miles in F-150’s in my life) the same way I did when I was younger, but I’m happy to sell them off now before the paint is faded. I would never recommend someone start reloading, let alone start casting, just for a low volume round like 458wm. If a guy can’t afford to shoot a few hundred factory rounds through 458wm in their lifetime, they can’t really afford to buy the rifle anyway, so the “don’t have the money” complaint is moot.

hardcastonly

obviously we all make judgement calls on how to spend our own, spare time and income, but Id bet I'm not alone in thinking that saving $1200-$1500 dollars casting bullets and reloading ammo over a few years time, on just that single rifle alone is worth their time and effort, especially when the same powder, cast bullets,gas checks, primers, also work well in a 458 LOTT, 45/70 or 450 marlin

Nomercy448

You assume a guy is going to shoot $1800 worth of 458wm ammo. For most guys who own one, this is absolutely absurd.