Took this one out today for a bit of air. It's a Zastava M70 bolt action chambered in 458 Win mag. A no frills big bore rifle. This thing is a hoot to shoot, although not very practical for where I live. I had hoped to go for grizzly in BC someday, but they've banned the hunt, so I'll have to go elsewhere.
My much used 458 Winchester. I had it built the winter on 94/95. Built on a stainless Ruger action that started life as a 338. I've killed over a dozen Sitka Blacktail deer with it and a bunch of bear . It excels at both jobs. I named it the Spruce King. The 458 is one of the best meat carts there is . as long as you don't hit a major bone on a deer. I've taken over 30 Sitka Blacktail deer with the 458 Winchester. My first I built on a Sako action. Had an Interarms Whitworth Express and and Interarms Alaskan in 458. The only one I still have is the Spruce King . It crumpled up brown bear at close range in the most wonderful way!! Just dumps them !
Sask; what are the laws in Canada as far as someone from one province hunting in another one ? Here someone from another state or country can legally hunt big game that is in season . However, non residents must hire a licensed guide to hunt brown bear , Dall sheep or mountain goat. Or be directly accompanied by direct kin that is an Alaska resident. I know there is plenty of brown bear in western central and northern BC.
I must confess, that's a dark area for me. I think it varies depending where and what. The only things we don't have that I'd like to pursue are grizzly, bison, and musk ox so I've never thought to hunt anywhere else. But it's my understanding (and I could be wrong) is some species I can buy a tag, hunt with a resident of that province, who has bought a special permit, and it's all good. Some species require a guided hunt no matter what. So if I went to Alberta to hunt muleys or whitetail with my nephew, he'd probably just have to fill out a form stating he's taking me hunting. But he couldn't take me for sheep or ram or something like that. I'll have to look into it though.
Yes sir, she's a left handed version. Funny story to go with it though. I had wanted a rifle chambered in 458 Win mag for some time, and then saw a business posted a bunch of these Zastava rifles in various calibers. Being left handed in a world made for right handers I thought nothing of getting a right hand bolt action. I mail ordered it, and it showed up a week later. Got set up with reloading dies etc and boy was I dying to try it out. Wow! Talk about a rifle that absolutely made me a nervous nelly. Sure, it's got recoil, but it literally punched me in the cheek everytime I pulled the trigger. Turns out there's some cast off built into the stock, which makes it easier to shoot as a righty, but worse as a lefty. So here I am, all disappointed over this. But I figured I could order a stock from Boyds (left hand stock, right hand action) which I assumed had no cast. Well wouldn't you know it, another business had my same rifle, but the LH version. I couldn't order it fast enough. I straight up called the business that minute and sent them money. Was kind of funny having two rifles in 458 sitting in the safe for awhile. Got soaked bad on that sale, as not much demand for the chambering. Bottom line though, what a difference in recoil. Obviously it still has a good wallop, but directed at the shoulder and not a punch in the cheek.
I have never fired a .458, but I hear you on recoil! Straight to my shoulder no problem, but when something whacks in my face, it is not pleasant!
I had a custom made 458 many years ago, think it was made from a mauser. wouldn't swear to that as it's been long ago. ammo back then was 50 bucks a box which was high back then. it shot well and didn't have much recoil to me. had a good buttpad on it and it was a nice lookin gun. someone did a good job on it. now it wasn't anything high dollar but it worked. I held onto it for a long time and met a guy from south Africa and he was living here at the time and he wanted to buy it. he had all kinds of mounts from there on his walls. became good friends with him and I ended up giving it to him. he had a few rifles in crazy calibers I had never heard of at the time.
I think the 9.3x62 mm cartridge was developed in South Africa (might have been one of the odd ducks he had chambered).
I don't remember, it's been a while since I seen him. he got married and moved up north back in the sticks. He gave me a set of wildabeast horns and a springbok deer(I think). I know he had three or four huge caliber guns that were crazy calibers I never heard of. now that's not to say they weren't here, I never was into the wildcat rounds. matter of fact i'll go take a pic of the horns he gave me, be back shortly. they are nothing big.
The 9.3×62 Mauser was developed by Otto Boch in Germany around the turn of the 20th century. Its a great cart that is similar to the 35 Whelan This is my 9.3×64 Brenneke. Which holistically is similar to the 375 H+H . I had a 9.3×62 before I got had the 64 built. Got hurt and sold the 62. Wish I hadn't !!
It would be neat to know what his rifles were . When I was young I really wanted to go to Africa and rifled up for it. Fortunately I lived in a place that had lots of brown bear that would come to a deer call or the sound of a shot/smell of deer blood. An elephant rifle makes a Great bear gun. Just use a different bullet.
I have a Marlin XL-7 with a McGowen 9.3x62 barrel on it. Not the prettiest rifle but shoots well. It still hasn't been hunted with.
Its a Great cartridge. A 250 gr mono metal expanding bullet at 2550 fps is just great for all around use ! A 285 -293 gr bullet at 2300+ fps is also. But the 250 is better for all around ! And it's not hard on meat. I picked up a new 338 Winchester , Kimber Montana a couple weeks ago. So I'm back to having my medium bore stable well populated. I really like my 375 Whelen Ackley Improved for a rambling around carbine . 06 or 35 Whelan brass necked up and blown out. I push a 250 gr TTSX @2550 fps from it. My 9.3x64 Brenneke pushes the 285 gr bullet a hundred fps faster . and the 250 @2750 fps. But also uses about the most rare brass known to man. The 338 is no muss no fuss . Can buy factory ammo. Brass is easy to find and it excels at long range if necessary. My 375 is built on a 98 military mauser. The 9.3 is on an Interarms Mark 10 and the Kimber is the 8400 action. The 338 will probably spend most of its time with 225 gr bullets like the TTSX LR or LRX.
I can't even think of one, seems like one of them was a 375 H&H. I used to tease him about them and he'd tease me about my poodle shooters.
I love the stock on that gun. I know that synthetic is all the rage these days, and they have their good points, but I just like the look and feel of a wooden stock over synth anyday. Out of all the weapons I own, only 1 has a synth stock, and it's a semi 9mm plinker that is fun to shoot, and surprisingly accurate for as inexpensive as it was.
All of the above. For deer I like factory 500 or 510 gr soft or solid. Both work equally well. Or a 400 gr round nose soft @ 2150 fps mv. Those loads are easy on deer meat but knock the stuffing out of brown bear up close. For Brown bear I like the 400 gr mono metal expanding ( like the GS HV ) or a tough expanding like the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw or Kodiak Bonded Core @ around 2400 fps The 350 gr TSX @ 2550 fps and the 300 gr TSX@ 2700 fps. Accurate 2230 is the single best all around 458 Winchester powder. But for the 300 gr + 350 gr. I use H4198. I also use the Lee Factory Crimp die on all 458 ammo. And a drop tube for charging the cases. I'm still not fully spooled up on bullet casting. But do plan on getting a 400 ish gr mold. In a FN GC style.
