Home › Browse Calibers › .458 Lott
Common uses: Dangerous Game, Big Game
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 500gr Federal Cape-Shok Safari Trophy Bonded Bear Claw |
| Muzzle velocity | 2300 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 5875 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.282 |
| Case length | 63.5 mm |
| Overall length | 89.4 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2300 | 5872 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2013 | 4496 | 0 |
| 200 | 1748 | 3392 | -7.1 |
| 300 | 1511 | 2533 | -25.8 |
| 400 | 1308 | 1901 | -59.7 |
| 500 | 1151 | 1469 | -114.1 |
At 1,000 yards, .458 Lott (500gr at 2300 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 84.8 MOA / 24.7 MIL, retaining 818 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 1511 | Supersonic | -25.8 | 8.2 | 2.39 |
| 400 | 1308 | Transonic | -59.7 | 14.3 | 4.15 |
| 500 | 1151 | Transonic | -114.1 | 21.8 | 6.34 |
| 600 | 1042 | Subsonic | -194.8 | 31.0 | 9.02 |
| 700 | 967 | Subsonic | -307.3 | 41.9 | 12.20 |
| 800 | 909 | Subsonic | -457.0 | 54.6 | 15.87 |
| 900 | 860 | Subsonic | -649.0 | 68.9 | 20.03 |
| 1000 | 818 | Subsonic | -888.4 | 84.8 | 24.68 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .458 Lott is a dedicated dangerous-game cartridge built for heavy, thick-skinned African animals such as elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros, where deep penetration and dependable stopping power at close range matter more than trajectory. Driving a 500-grain bullet to around 2,300 fps, it delivers a meaningful margin over the .458 Winchester Magnum while remaining a large-bore, short-range proposition rather than a long-range cartridge. A practical advantage is that Lott-chambered rifles can safely fire the shorter .458 Winchester Magnum, giving hunters a widely available fallback in the field. Its heavy recoil demands a well-fitted stock and practice to shoot well, so it is a specialist's round for professional hunters and those pursuing the largest game rather than a general-purpose choice. Within its niche it is highly regarded as one of the most effective purpose-built dangerous-game cartridges available.
The .458 Lott was designed by American big-game hunter and writer Jack Lott, who conceived it after being injured by a Cape buffalo in Mozambique in 1959 while hunting with the then-new .458 Winchester Magnum, a cartridge he felt lacked the reliable power needed for the largest African game. Introduced in 1971, it is formed from the .375 H&H Magnum case, blown out and shortened to a 2.800-inch straight-taper belted case, gaining capacity over the .458 Winchester Magnum to avoid the powder-charge compression that plagued the Winchester round. A-Square first offered it as a commercial cartridge in 1989, and SAAMI standardized it in 1995 based on specifications submitted by Arthur Alphin of A-Square.
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