DANGEROUS GAME 458 LOTT

DANGEROUS GAME 458 LOTT
450 gr. SOLID Mono-Metal @ 2,350 fps / 5,517 ft-lbs
20-Round Box

BUFFALO BORE DANGEROUS GAME 458 LOTT

ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

The 458 Lott is simply a lengthened 458 Win. Mag., so this discussion will include both at times. If the 458 Winchester Magnum has any deficiencies for hunting Africa’s Big Five, (and it really does not, inside 150 yards) the 458 Lott eliminates those deficiencies. Holding roughly 17% more powder, it alleviates numerous problems associated with the 458 Winchester, via improperly designed ammunition. 

True Dangerous Game cartridges need to be of large bullet diameter. I’ve killed a lot of big game animals with many cartridges and I can say for a certainty, that if all else is equal, bullet diameter makes a huge difference in lethality. 458-inch diameter bullets, if constructed properly, are serious killers. In fact, you really do not need expanding bullets in .458. The bullet diameter alone, even with solids, simply kills. 

This 450 gr. Solid ?load is the answer if you want a nonexpanding bullet that will penetrate deeply enough for taking elephant, rhino, hippo, or cape buffalo. Remember that this all copper bullet is longer than the typical premium lead-based cup and core bullets of 500 grs.. This means that these long bullets consume case capacity that could otherwise be used for holding more propellant, which means potentially reduced velocities, depending on propellant choices. However (this is a huge “however”) the terminal effectiveness of the mono-metal?bullet is worth losing 100+ fps in muzzle velocity in cases that are affected by limited capacity.  

This load generates 2,350+ FPS from both of my 22-inch test rifles. With lead-based/shorter bullets I should be able to achieve over 2,450 fps. In fact, I could add more propellant to this load to achieve 2,450 fps with this mono-metal solid bullet, but that would mean heavily compressing the powder charge with the seated bullet and when designing Dangerous Game ammo, I have serious reservations regarding heavy compression of the powder charge……..it’s not a smart thing to do.  

The American gun industry has been duplicitous in claiming bullet velocities. It’s typical for ammo companies to use very long machine-mounted test barrels to get very high velocities, but in the real world, with real firearms, you simply will not achieve those results. 28 years ago, Buffalo Bore started to publicly expose this practice and today we are starting to see a few ammo companies get honest with velocities by using real-world guns to generate published velocities. About 40 years ago, (long before I was Buffalo Bore Ammunition) I bought my first chronograph as I had a deep interest in ballistics. (this is being written in 05-2025) I was immediately stunned by how low ACTUAL velocities were, versus published velocities, when it comes to the big ammo companies’ products. When I started Buffalo Bore Ammunition, I chose not to be dishonest regarding published velocities. 

My test guns are as follows: 

> 2,359 fps - Customized CZ 550, 22-inch barrel
> 2,355 fps - Custom Montana Rifle Company, 22-inch barrel

I am not a fan of the under-stabilization of 500 gr. bullets in the 458 Win. Mag. and while the Lott version improves this situation some, 500 gr. bullets recoil much more and accomplish little penetration benefit over 450 gr. bullets, if designed correctly and the TSX bullet is of excellent design. When shooting 500 gr. solids, the bullet will often fail to track straight in medium (read flesh and bone) because the 1-14 twist does not stabilize a bullet that heavy/long, well enough for it to maintain stabilization while busting through medium. Therefore the heaviest bullet we will feature in the 458 Win. Mag., is 450 grs., (we will make one 500 gr. TSX load for the Lott) which is the way the cartridge should have been designed originally as 450 grs. of properly designed bullet, gets the job done with any dangerous African animal and the solids will penetrate/track very straight if they feature a flat nose. A straight tracking 450 gr. solid, will far out-penetrate a 500 gr. solid that gets sideways inside the animal. Original bullets weighing 500 grs. for the .458 were conceived as more of a marketing practice (WOW! 500 GRS! YIPEE) to the “heavier is better” crowd, than a practical terminal function and in the last couple decades, folks who hunt with the 458 Win. Mag. and Lott, have learned that 450 gr. bullets penetrate more deeply AS A GENERAL RULE if all else is equal. 

Our propellant selection has allowed us to keep pressures WELL below SAAMI average max. This can become important if your barrel gets filled with rainwater or dust, etc., which raises pressures upon firing and you may find that pulling the trigger with rain in your barrel will raise pressures beyond the rifle design and reliable rifle function can be compromised……..not good when facing an animal that can stomp you into a pile of bloody flesh. 

If you insist on using 500 gr. bullets in the 458, the 458 Lott will be the answer for you and we are making that ammo as well, with one 500 gr. TSX option. The Lott generates greater stability to the long/heavy 500 gr. bullet due to its higher velocity. (faster rotation of the bullet) Still, if I hunt Africa with the Lott, I’ll be using 450 gr. bullets for my expanding loads and for my solids. 

We are also making a 400 gr. TSX load for the mighty 458 Win. Mag. and Lott, for those that like the 458 for killing giant bears, elk, moose, etc.? Although, this 450 gr. version will work well on those critters too. The first six times I hunted AK Brown Bear in my 20’s, my guide used a 458 Win. Mag. with 350 gr. hand loaded Hornady bullets @ 2,500 fps and swore by it over the 375 H&H hands down and he had killed many dozens of big bears in his life.

Have fun, use this ammo in good health, and God bless 

Tim 

 ITEM458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID - Exterior Ballistics Charts for several Muzzle Velocities

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Muzzle Velocity @ 2500 fps for ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

Muzzle Velocity @ 2400 fps for ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

Muzzle Velocity @ 2300 fps for ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

Muzzle Velocity @ 2200 fps for ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

Muzzle Velocity @ 2100 fps for ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

Muzzle Velocity @ 2000 fps for ITEM 458 LOTT DG 450 SOLID

Field-proven rifle and gun ammo. Maximum firepower ammo. Best ammunition for rifles and guns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

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