Dirty Harry’s rifle - Winchester mod 70 - .458 Winchester Magnum

CLASSIC12 · Mar 5, 2021

A long long time ago when I was very young shooter, the local gunsmith arrived at the range with two scoped hunting rifles he was sighting in for a customer who was going on a safari in Africa.

One was a Weatherby in .460, the other one a Winchester in .458. He was kind enough to let a few of us youngsters have a go with them. Needless to say it was a blast and a kick. And I remember the 458 being a lighter rifle and kicking more than the 460.

And obviously dirty Harry Callahan used one (unsuccessfully though) against Scorpio.

Fast forward 25 years, I decided to see if I could find one, so I placed a WTB ad and within two weeks a gentleman offered me a new one for sale. Well new is relative since the serial number indicates it was built in 1967, just one year before I was born, and has a few tiny handling marks.

Price was $ 1700. It also came with NOS Burris rings and mount. I’m not sure I will put a scope on it. Firstly this is not a long-range rifle and the open sights are more than adequate up to one hundred metres. Secondly the scope kiss in the face is a very real hazard with a rifle like that, kicking like a mule.

Since I had recently bought some cheap ammo for it ($ 1 per round) I took it straight to the range.

The first three shots below the bull’s-eye were taken at 25 m just to get a feel for where the rifle hits. The last two shots above the bull’s-eye were taken at 50 m. In both case standing, as it is the best way to absorb the massive recoil.

Now I have dirty Harry’s revolver, semi auto pistol and bolt action rifle. If anyone has a nice harpoon for sale, hit me up.

6518John · Mar 5, 2021

Switzerland must be gun heaven!

I shot one of those about 30 years ago. My shoulder still hurts.

As always, great post and pictures.

s&wchad · Mar 5, 2021

Nice!
Don’t forget to add a LAW’s rocket launcher to your list...

67tempest · Mar 5, 2021

I purchased a new Winchester Mod 70 in .458 about 30 years ago. When I took it out of the box one side of the stock looked nice but the other side was almost black. The difference in grain and color between the two sides of the stock was drastic. I contacted Winchester and they told me to send it back and they would restock it. I sent it back and Winchester restocked it and sent it back within a couple of weeks. The new stock looked nice and I was happy.

The first time I fired it I guess I wasn't holding on tight enough. The stock came up off my shoulder and knocked the hearing protectors off my head. As I picked up my hearing protectors I noticed they had taken a chip out of the stock on the top of the comb! So much for that new gun feeling. I still shoot it occasionally using a PAST recoil shoulder pad. Out to a 100 yards it is amazingly accurate.

stansdds · Mar 5, 2021

With high-power rifles, you do have to hold them tightly.

murphydog · Mar 5, 2021

Cool gun. It may be one of the few instances in which a gun is less expensive here than in Switzerland.

SPEEDGUNNER · Mar 5, 2021

That is a beautiful rifle. Nice eclectic little gathering of guns there, an appropriate homage to our friend Inspector Callahan.

The harpoon gun? Hmmm...you'll have to keep us posted on that, maybe Captain Quint can help you out!

CQB27 · Mar 5, 2021

Man, that's a beautiful rifle!

vipermd · Mar 5, 2021

A nice Leupold variable scope would be very nice on it. A scope or a red dot is much faster on to target and would be great to have if you plan on using it on something other than paper. I never had any problem with scope bite from 375 H&H, or 458win. I have not shot 460 WM. I dislike 340 weatherby mag recoil, just seems very sharp compared to 338 win. Beautiful Rifle Be Safe,

Ivan the Butcher · Mar 5, 2021

In 1984 or 85 my best friend shows up at my farm on an October afternoon. He has come from an Ohio Gun Collector's Association show. One of the things he bought that day was a Ruger 77 in 458 Win Mag, that came with ammo, dies, and components. We took it out back and started playing with it. The 500/510 grain Round Nose Solids and soft points we not bad to shoot at all. The hand loads using 350 grain Hornady soft round nose bullets over some ungodly amount of powder were REAL NASTY! (We each only shot 2 of those!)

In the components There were 2 1/2 boxes of Hornady 500 gr SPRN and about 3/4 of a box of 500 gr FMJ. When I pointed out the uneven numbers, he said he ask the previous owner about that. He had originally bought 400 of each, found but the soft points unsatisfactory in pentation while hunting! My friend ask what he was hunting and where? Turns out that in Ohio, it is more sporting to shoot ground hogs (something like a big Marmot) after they get in their burrow! The 458 Solids would tunnel up to 5 feet in the packed clay soil we have many places!

Happy Hunting!

Ivan

6GUNSONLY · Mar 5, 2021

That's beautiful. I've never shot a .458, but would like to. I've shot .375 H&H and found it not at all unpleasant, but I know .458 is a whole 'nother level. I did shoot a .500 double rifle a couple of times. Not terrible due to the weight of the rifle.

murphydog · Mar 5, 2021

6GUNSONLY said:
That's beautiful. I've never shot a .458, but would like to. I've shot .375 H&H and found it not at all unpleasant, but I know .458 is a whole 'nother level. I did shoot a .500 double rifle a couple of times. Not terrible due to the weight of the rifle.

When I was in my late teens I shot a full power .458 load out of a Ruger #1. Note, “a” full power load.

Geronimo Jim · Mar 5, 2021

Back in 1976 I bough a Ruger 77 in 458 Win Mag and a box of
ammo. Took it to the range once. When I pulled it out of the
safe 35 years later to sell found one box of ammo. Only 4 round
fired....I fired two and my buddy fired 2. I think the price was $10.99
for 20. Never made it to Africa.

CLASSIC12 · Mar 5, 2021

Indeed, I had the feeling that most people who bought one of those would fire it once and think “nah, not for me”

Buford57 · Mar 5, 2021

You also need a switchblade and a roll of tape. Harry got more of Scorpio with the shiv than the rifle.

CLASSIC12 · Mar 5, 2021

Buford57 said:
You also need a switchblade and a roll of tape. Harry got more of Scorpio with the shiv than the rifle.

I have that. Damn, I’ll have to do the photo again.

67tempest · Mar 5, 2021

I hand load for mine and it is definitely more pleasant to shoot with the 500 grain bullets than the 350 grain ones.

67tempest · Mar 5, 2021

stansdds said:
With high-power rifles, you do have to hold them tightly.

Believe me, I had a good grip on it, just had no idea how fierce the recoil would be. I never made the same mistake again.

67tempest · Mar 5, 2021

6GUNSONLY said:
That's beautiful. I've never shot a .458, but would like to. I've shot .375 H&H and found it not at all unpleasant, but I know .458 is a whole 'nother level. I did shoot a .500 double rifle a couple of times. Not terrible due to the weight of the rifle.

I originally purchased a PAST Mag recoil shield, it helped but the recoil was still fierce. I the then bought the PAST Mag Plus and that tamed it down considerably. I wouldn't even attempt to shoot mine without a recoil pad today.

ancient-one · Mar 5, 2021

My good friend got to go to Africa to hunt and shot a elephant and some other stuff. He bought a Model 70 in the .458 African for the trip.
After he got home we were out to his brothers farm and he dragged out that thing and a Model 29. He was hell bent that I was going to shoot them. I did, one shot with the .458 and 2 with the 44 mag. If it isn't fun I don't shoot them.

Dirty Harry’s rifle - Winchester mod 70 - .458 Winchester Magnum

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