Of course the Lott came AFTER the win mag.
And Jack Lott said in print numerous times that all he wanted was a cartridge that consistently gave 2150 fps with a 500 gr bullet. With modern powders the 458 Win easily beats that and Hornady ballisticians assure me that AT EQUAL PRESSURES, there is only around 60-80 fps difference between the 458 Win and the 458 Lott.
Sir Phil,
You got that a little wrong.
You should have said when both cartridges are loaded to their SAAMI specifications, as Hornady would do,
not "AT EQUAL PRESSURES."
That is 60,000 psi MAP for the .458 Winchester Magnum and 3.340" COL limit.
That is 62,500 psi MAP for the .458 Lott and 3.600" COL limit.
Hornady published data over 20 years ago showing that the .458 Lott only had a +50 fps advantage
over the .458 Winchester Magnum with SAAMI maximum pressures and COLs for both.
That is with same 500-gr Hornady bullets in same 24"-length barrels by same maker,
though the .458 Lott had 1:10" twist and the .458 Winchester Magnum had 1:14" twist,
as specified by SAAMI.
That twist difference is insignificant.
If it is now up to 60-80 fps advantage to the .458 Lott I would be surprised and have to attribute that to advances in propellants.
Nowadays the .458 Winchester Magnum might beat the .458 Lott by 60-80 fps
if both are loaded "AT EQUAL PRESSURES" and COLs.
That is what we call .458 WM+ loads.
The .458 Lott (2.8") should be renamed the .458 Watts to return the stolen valor of the .450 Watts Magnum (2.85").
