458 Express

458 Express

My interest in the 458 Express

During my research on Cape Buffalo in soon became evident that all the wildlife writers with a sound knowledge of ballistics complained about the performance of the 458 Winchester Magnum. The ballistics quoted was also very true for my own rifle and I started to look at alternatives.

I soon found that loads of data is available for all the calibers supplied by the major suppliers of ammunition, bit very little was available on new recent developments. What excited me more about the 458 Express research was the fact that:

Local South African propellants were used in the data made available. As a South African this was great news.
The 458 Express was developed by a South African living in South Africa in a area where the heat and humidity is very similar to what you would find in most of Southern Africa where the big five roam.
Everything a wanted - the barrel, the brass cases etc is available with one phone call. Even the dies are available in South Africa.

All the above makes for an excellent choice for a new custom built rifle! I started to read more and soon found the telephone number of Professor Koos Badenhorst the developer of the 458 Express. From the outset he was friendly and extremely helpful. In no time I was connected to a gunsmith and the rest fell into place.

To build a custom rifle is a very costly affair and to choose a "new" caliber could spell disaster, especially when the licensing procedure is taken into account in South Africa. We simply cannot buy a new rifle, or, convert an already licensed rifle without loads of red tape. I understand most of the issues involved with licensing but I always fail to understand the timeframes some our officials work to. You can imagine what it feels like to have bought and commissioned your new custom rifle and have to wait 9x months and longer for the license. Fortunately I stay close enough to all the major shooting ranges and will shoot the 458 Express with friends in the mean time.

As I made more and more enquiries I soon found that many people are totally ignorant about the caliber. My request for information to Prof Koos Badenhorst was met enthusiastically but not available electronically. I offered to write about the .458 Express and publish the information on the internet and here we are.

Thanks to Professor Koos Badenhorst for allowing me the opportunity and giving me loads of food for thought. I trust the information will be very interesting to one and all. Do not hesitate to contact us with your questions.

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