.458 Lott
Professionally Reviewed by:
Nathaniel Boos
Nathaniel Boos is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and shooter, renowned for his experience as a long-range shooter, ammunition importer/exporter, and firearms manufacturer. With years of hands-on experience, he is a trusted authority in the ammunition and firearms industry.
Credentials:
- • 2x Team Safari Competitor
- • KRG Training Level 1, 2, and Force on Force CQB certified
- • Licensed Texas Conceal Carry Holder
- • Kranz Firearms Training Group Advanced Carbine Certified
.458 Lott: At a Glance
| Key Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Firearm Type | Rifle |
| Primer Type | Large Rifle |
| Used For | Big Game Hunting, Dangerous Game |
| Case Design | Rimless, Straight |
| Year Introduced | 1957 |
.458 Lott: At a Glance: Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Extremely powerful for large and dangerous game
- ✔ Excellent stopping power at close ranges
- ✔ Improved ballistics over the .458 Winchester Magnum
- ✔ Versatile for various large African game species
- ✔ Reliable performance in hot climates
Cons
- ✘ Significant recoil, challenging for inexperienced shooters
- ✘ Expensive ammunition
- ✘ Limited availability compared to more common calibers
- ✘ Heavy rifles required to manage recoil
- ✘ Overkill for most non-dangerous game hunting situations
.458 Lott: The Ultimate Dangerous Game Cartridge
The .458 Lott is a powerful rifle cartridge designed specifically for hunting large and dangerous game. It was created to address the shortcomings of the .458 Winchester Magnum, offering superior stopping power and reliability for professional hunters and sportsmen pursuing the largest and most formidable animals on Earth. With its high-velocity, heavy bullet design, the .458 Lott has earned a reputation as one of the most potent and dependable cartridges for big game hunting in Africa and other challenging environments.
History and Development
The .458 Lott was developed in 1971 by Jack Lott, an American big game hunter and gunsmith. Lott's motivation came from a harrowing encounter with a Cape buffalo while hunting with a .458 Winchester Magnum. Unsatisfied with the performance of the .458 Winchester, Lott set out to create a more powerful and reliable cartridge for dangerous game.
Lott's design was based on the .458 Winchester Magnum case, extended by 0.1 inches to allow for greater powder capacity. This modification resulted in significantly higher velocities and energy, addressing the issues of inconsistent performance that sometimes plagued the .458 Winchester Magnum, especially in hot climates.
The .458 Lott gained recognition among professional hunters and was eventually standardized by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) in 1995. Since then, it has been adopted by various rifle manufacturers and has become a favored choice for hunters pursuing dangerous game in Africa and other challenging hunting environments.
Performance and Applications
The .458 Lott is renowned for its exceptional stopping power and penetration. It typically fires bullets weighing between 500 and 550 grains at velocities ranging from 2,150 to 2,300 feet per second. This combination of heavy bullet weight and high velocity results in muzzle energies exceeding 5,000 foot-pounds, making it one of the most powerful commercially available rifle cartridges.
The cartridge's primary application is for hunting large and dangerous game, particularly the African Big Five (elephant, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard). Its performance characteristics make it ideal for situations where maximum stopping power and deep penetration are crucial. The .458 Lott is also used for hunting large bears, including brown bears and polar bears, in North America and other regions.
While the .458 Lott offers superior performance to the .458 Winchester Magnum, it does come with increased recoil. Shooters must be well-trained and experienced to handle the significant recoil generated by this powerful cartridge effectively. Despite this challenge, many professional hunters and experienced sportsmen prefer the .458 Lott for its reliability and stopping power in high-stress hunting situations.
Timeline of .458 Lott Development and Milestones:
.458 Lott Performance Characteristics
The .458 Lott offers exceptional performance for dangerous game hunting. Here's a breakdown of its key performance characteristics:
| Characteristic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Bullet Weight | 500-550 grains Optimal for deep penetration and maximum stopping power |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,150-2,300 fps Varies based on bullet weight and load |
| Muzzle Energy | 5,000-5,500 ft-lbs Provides tremendous stopping power for large and dangerous game |
| Effective Range | 150-200 yards Optimal for close-range encounters with dangerous game |
| Recoil | Severe Requires experienced shooters and properly designed rifles |
Bullet Weight vs. Muzzle Velocity
This chart shows how bullet weight affects muzzle velocity for common .458 Lott loads.
.458 Lott: Effective Range for Different Applications
This table provides estimated effective ranges for .458 Lott ammunition in various applications. Ranges are based on typical bullet weights and velocities.
| Application | Effective Range (yards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous Game Hunting | 0-100 | Optimal for close-range encounters with large, dangerous game |
| Big Game Hunting | 0-200 | Effective for large, thick-skinned game at moderate ranges |
| Bear Defense | 0-50 | Powerful stopping power for close-range bear encounters |
| African Safari | 0-150 | Suitable for taking down the largest African game animals |
| Target Shooting | 0-300 | Limited use in long-range target shooting due to heavy recoil |
Note: Effective ranges can vary based on factors such as bullet selection, shooter skill, and specific firearm characteristics. The .458 Lott is primarily designed for dangerous game hunting at close to moderate ranges. Always prioritize safety and adhere to local laws and regulations.
Applications for .458 Lott
The .458 Lott's powerful performance profile makes it suitable for specific, high-impact applications:
Caliber Comparisons: .458 Lott
The .458 Lott is a powerful big-game rifle cartridge. To understand its capabilities, let's compare it to similar large-bore cartridges:
Recoil Energy Comparison
Compare the estimated recoil energy of .458 Lott with other large-bore rifle cartridges. (Based on a 10 lb rifle)
Ballistic Trajectory Comparison
This chart compares the ballistic trajectory (bullet drop) of .458 Lott with other large-bore rifle cartridges over distance.
Wind Drift Comparison
This chart compares the wind drift of .458 Lott with other large-bore rifle cartridges in a 10 mph crosswind.
Energy Retention Comparison
This chart compares the energy retention of .458 Lott with other large-bore rifle cartridges over distance.
Sectional Density Comparison for .458 Lott
The .458 Lott is a powerful big game cartridge designed for hunting large and dangerous game. It offers improved performance over the .458 Winchester Magnum.
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight (gr) | Sectional Density |
|---|---|---|
| .458 Lott | 500 | 0.341 |
| .458 Lott | 550 | 0.375 |
| .458 Lott | 600 | 0.409 |
| .458 Winchester Magnum | 500 | 0.341 |
| .470 Nitro Express | 500 | 0.321 |
Note: The .458 Lott offers higher sectional densities compared to some other big game cartridges, contributing to its excellent penetration capabilities. This makes it particularly effective for hunting large, thick-skinned game animals.