So, was the Lott intended to be an "express cartridge"? That is, lighter bullets at higher speeds. Or was it 'bigger case to launch heavier bullets faster'?

It seems to be sort of both....

Thanks!

The .458 Lott is a .458 caliber rifle cartridge designed for the purpose of hunting large, thick-skinned dangerous game animals in Africa. It is based on the full length .375 H&H Magnum case blown out and shortened to 2.800 inches (71.1 mm).

The .458 Lott was designed in response to perceived inadequacies and problems encountered with the .458 Winchester Magnum. The cartridge provides a distinct step up in performance over the .458 Winchester Magnum.[citation needed] A-Square, Česká Zbrojovka/Brno, Hornady, and Ruger have been instrumental in the cartridge's rise in popularity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.458_Lott

I don't know anything about it but this has to be correct because it is on the INTERNET!!

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Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

HA! Hodgdon's reloading lists "only" a 100fps gain for 500gr. bullets. Got me to wondering if it was more of an express round than a true powerhouse. 500gr. at 100 more fps's is significant, yep.

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Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

From what I recall Jack Lott was trying to duplicate the old British NE cartridge standard of 2200 FPS with a 500gr 458” bullet. The early 458 Winchester mag ammo had some issues with heavily compressed powder failing to ignite properly and most of the later factory ammo struggled to meet the initial reported velocity. Going off memory I think 2050 fps or so became the new listed velocity for .458 Win mag. Lott used a full length action and longer case to easily reach 2200 FPS at a lower pressure, which theoretically improved reliability in the hot environment of Africa.

TomC used his Ruger No.1 in 458 Lott on one of the hog hunts, passed thru a fat hog we named rosie and lodged in a tree, still there. Mark used a CZ 458 Win mag one year as well. Beyond that I know nothing

Gunner

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https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

If I remember some of my old reading correctly, Lott's chamber design would allow use of the 458 Win. in a pinch.

The .45-90 was, to my reading, an express cartridge---one intended to launch lighter (relatively) bullets at higher velocity when compared with the .45-70. That got me to wondering on the Lott. Further reading (thanks Jim, et al) on the Lott seems to point to making the .458WM more powerful all the way 'round. Apparently Lott got on the nasty end of a buffalo with the WM and wanted to do something about that.

I have a Ruger No. 1 chambered in the Lott and it, like Gunner mentions, is deadly on pigs...even with using "measly" 350gr. bullets. I don't have the constitution anymore to shoot anything heavier.

As I recall, Mr. Lott was somewhere down in the south Pacific hunting gaur with his brand new .458 Winchester, and very nearly got his accounts cancelled by a wounded and very PO'ed gaur bull, that had taken several (I forget how many, but it was a significant number) of rounds of factory .458 Winchester ammo. After recovering from his injuries, Mr. Lott chronographed some of the ammo, and found it was barely breaking 1900 fps. As Jared pointed out, Mr. Lott recalled the "magic" associated with the old Nitro Express rounds with 500+ grain bullets at 2100-2200 fps, and decided that's what he wanted to do with the full-length .375 H&H case, blown out. As I recall, he also got interested in premium bullets as well.