Born from a near-death experience with a Cape buffalo. Jack Lott created it after .458 Winchester Magnum failed him in Africa — he survived, then spent years engineering a better solution.
Type: Rifle
Introduced: 1971, United States
Parent case: .458 Winchester Magnum
Standardization: SAAMI
Bullet diameter: 0.458" (11.63 mm)
Case length: 2.8" (71.12 mm)
Overall length: 3.6" (91.44 mm)
Max pressure: 62,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Large Rifle Magnum
Typical twist rate: 1:14
Muzzle velocity: 2050–2400 fps
Muzzle energy: 4600–6400 ft-lbs
Effective range: 200 yd
Common bullet weights: 350, 400, 500, 550 gr
Primary use: Dangerous Game, Big Game
Production status: Active
Also known as: .458 Lott Magnum
History: Jack Lott was knocked unconscious by a Cape buffalo after his .458 Winchester Magnum misfired from temperature-related powder compression. Upon recovering, he wildcatted a longer .458 case that solved the powder compression problem and delivered significantly more energy. Ruger commercialized it in 1992.
Notable firearms: Ruger Model 77 Mark II, Ruger No. 1, Dakota Model 76 African
Similar cartridges: .458 Winchester Magnum, .460 Weatherby Magnum, .416 Remington Magnum