Sir Ron, As that song goes, I ain't asking for much. Standard length, stainless 458 Winchester, 22" barrel, 404 Hammer, and 2400 fps. That velocity could be 2350 fps and personal satisfaction could be achieved without sedatives being administered.
I think my near ideal .458 rifle idea is a stainless Ruger Mark II / Hawkeye re-barrel to 458 Winchester, with Ruger's 416 Ruger Alaskan barrel contour, 22".
Sir Larry, 2400 fps with the 404gr Shock Hammer from a 22" barrel is no problemo, from either +3.340" box or +3.600" box. The Ruger mag boxes are a little over 3.400" inside length, about 3.42" IIRC. That stainless Ruger M77 Mk II/Hawkeye, 22"-barreled .458 WM will weigh 7 pounds or less in a Canoe Paddle stock. That is where you might want to download to 2350 fps with the 404gr. About like Buffalo Bore factory loads with 400-gr TSX. Tim Sundle claims about 2250 fps with his Buffalo Bore load from a custom 18" barrel, and same with a 22" factory barrel ... it happens, as Forrest Gump would say.
Anywho, Sir Jerry has paved the way. +2300 fps with a 500-gr Nosler at 3.340" COL from a 24" barrel. Your 22" barrel can easily do +2200 fps with a 500-grainer and shortCOL. Sir Jerry gets about 2350 fps with the 500-gr TBSS .458 WM+ at less than 3.600" COL, 24" barrel.
He has also verified 3.480" COL with the 404gr Shock Hammer to be accurate and functional at 2500 fps. You don't have to believe just me on that.
I can also do +2350 fps with a 450-gr CEB brass FN solid at 3.340" COL from a 24" barrel. Shorten that barrel to 22" and +2300 fps is still easy. 450-gr/.458 FN solids at 2300 fps are proven elephant killers.
Any .458 WM rifle, standard box or long, is capable of doing it all. That is why I am going with an FN Mauser for my 1:10" twist experiments. Saving the .375 H&H/Wby M70 Classic Stainless for a JES rebore at 1:14" twist, like Sir Jerry got.
Sir Ron, Pretty much my usual COAL in various Rugers has been 3.350". I have the donor rifle a Ruger Mark II stainless currently in 300 Winchester. It was a former boat-paddle. But, has a new B&C stock with the aluminum bedding block.
I don't recall the present weight. I am guessing, depending on what scope with rings, and sights go on it, that will add close 1.5 pounds. A similar set up in 300 Winchester with a 2.5-10x50 scope weighs 9# 4.9 ounces.
This MRC stainless 24" 458 Lott weighs 9# 9.5 ounces with scope and 1.4 ounces of lens covers. CZ 458 Lott, 22" barrel with same scope and lens covers is 9# 11.6 ounces.
I think, I will end up around 9-9.5 pounds. My 20" 416 Ruger in a McMillan weighs about 9# 10 ounces, with a 20 ounce scope. The somewhat surprise, some B&C with aluminum bedding block weigh slightly less than McMillians with molded in colors and mag-fill in the action/recoil area.
