Whitworth actions

[Luvthunt]

Opinions please on the Whitworth action as to quality, reliability for a DG rifle.

 

[Luvthunt]

OK, how does an Interarms /Whitworth rifle compare to a CZ 550 rifle. As to reliability and overall quality.
Could a Whitworth with a 458 Win Mag barrel be converted to 458 Lott?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Von S.]

Made by the makers of the Yugo automobile!

 

[Luvthunt]

Hey Von,
First thanks for responding, but I believe you have more info then that. As a fact I do not know Yugo autos, so tell me more about the Whitmore Interarms rifles.

 

[Von S.]

Ok...

Over the years I've had tons of them.

Mauser actions of questionable workmanship.

They go bang, but don't depend on the express sights being on. I have purchased complete rifles brand new for $59.95 (would sights) on sale when a Ruger 77 ( wo sights) went for $249.95.

Very bad trigger and thumb safety....junk.

The Yugo? Junk. Voted the worst car in the world.

 

[Don458]

OK, how does an Interarms /Whitworth rifle compare to a CZ 550 rifle. As to reliability and overall quality.
Could a Whitworth with a 458 Win Mag barrel be converted to 458 Lott?

Any help would be appreciated.

While I have not had a DG hunt yet , I have been practicing shooting allot or more than usual My whitworth 458 perfoms excellant . I practice fast cycling of bolt and never a problem. CRF is excellent as all Mauser are . Rechambering to lott would be an easy thing if it was a long action ( better off getting a 375 whitworth and rebarreling ) only if you get it cheap enough that it would be worth it. As far as power if you reload i get great results with the 458wm

 

[Luvthunt]

Ok Von, what would be your recommendation for an action or rifle that does or will handle a 458 Lott.
Pls dont ask me if I can handle a Lott as I have more then 800 rounds thru An old Lott my brother owned and was taken out of his truck, so I need to replace. That was a push feed and would like a CRF. Have owned a Win. M70 in 375 h&h [a 1949] rifle that I purchased around 1955. Needs to be retired and do not want to refurbish as there are too many good memories.
So time to move on with a limited budget but want a rifle I can depend on, and that to me means —some smith work.

 

[Don458]

Ok Von, what would be your recommendation for an action or rifle that does or will handle a 458 Lott.
Pls dont ask me if I can handle a Lott as I have more then 800 rounds thru An old Lott my brother owned and was taken out of his truck, so I need to replace. That was a push feed and would like a CRF. Have owned a Win. M70 in 375 h&h [a 1949] rifle that I purchased around 1955. Needs to be retired and do not want to refurbish as there are too many good memories.
So time to move on with a limited budget but want a rifle I can depend on, and that to me means —some smith work.

I would never ask someone if they could handle a cartridge like the lott ,because we are talking about a specific purpose rifle and i am sure you know what a lott is . I would say get a cz 550 but have it worked on , i have shot some cz and New the bolts are a little ruff if not slicked up

 

[Von S.]

Luvthunt,

How's about a nice Ruger? The mounts and the rings come with them. Slick as a bucket of greased eels in camel snot.

I am truly a can pistol fan, but even they are not finished real well. Could be the reason they paint them.

How much do you want to pay and when do you need it by?

 

[Shootist43]

Interarms was just an "importer" their rifles were made by either BRNO or Whitworth. I agree they never were top of the line. I own two BRNO(s) and an Interarm Mark X. All three function and shoot well. Of the three my most recent purchase was the Interarms Mark X. It had gone through a Custom Shop at one time for a barrel and caliber swap. It is now a 308 Norma Mag that shoots under an inch with factory Norma Orex bullets. If you read up on CZ you will quickly find that it is/was BRNO a company with several hundred years of gun making experience behind it. Remingtons and Winchesters aren't Rigbys either. But I'm more than satisfied with how they perform as well. BTW I had to send my CZ 550 in 404 Jeffery back to the shop for tweaking (feeding issues) before taking it to Africa last July.

 

[mdwest]

Weren’t the original whitworth actions made by FN and the later MkX actions made by Zastsva?

I would think an early FN whitworth would be every bit as reliable as any other FN produced Mauser from that time period...

 

[Luvthunt]

Von and all
I picked up a Kimber 8400 375 h&h to play with as I get together the 458 Lott. $$s are depended on pacing actions in accordance with availability of a smith and parts that I would need.not really looking at a 5 figure cost.
Would a CZ 550, upgraded by AHR be a reasonable way to go? I see they have a couple available.
Comments please !!

 

[Rob404]

Take these opinions with a grain of salt, I own/owned a few Zastava/Whitworths one in 375HH and one in 7-08 even one in 8mm are they state of the art hell no but neither is a CZ550 or a Winchester (also own a few of them) My Interarms are very reliable in my opinion and my Interarms/Zastava in 375HH shoots better groups at 200 meters than my Winchester in the same caliber for a lot less money. As for making a 458 win cal into a 458 Lott just find a competent Gunsmith to do the re-chambering

 

[Don458]

Take these opinions with a grain of salt, I own/owned a few Zastava/Whitworths one in 375HH and one in 7-08 even one in 8mm are they state of the art hell no but neither is a CZ550 or a Winchester (also own a few of them) My Interarms are very reliable in my opinion and my Interarms/Zastava in 375HH shoots better groups at 200 meters than my Winchester in the same caliber for a lot less money. As for making a 458 win cal into a 458 Lott just find a competent Gunsmith to do the re-chambering

Mine shootsand functions flawlessly. Also it looks the classic African rifle

 

[Rob404]

BTW Remington used there actions

 

[Dinsdale]

I've owned the more coveted british proof marked older in a 375; and have a Zastava built 458 win mag.

Difference is soldered on sight bases, stock on 375 was nice wood and finish work like checkering and a little castle engraved on top. Sold the 375 to a collector guy on another forum for way more than its worth, but he was happy.

I've had no issue feeding either one factory ammo, and both shot well.

Selling the 458 right now in classifieds if interested only because I have too many guns and not enough time. LOL Client wants me to trade him some work for a 458 Lott and I like the composite stock on it. Sorry I'm not a traditionalist there.

 

[sestoppelman]

Weren’t the original whitworth actions made by FN and the later MkX actions made by Zastsva?

I would think an early FN whitworth would be every bit as reliable as any other FN produced Mauser from that time period...

No, they were always Zastava. As to quality, I say good quality. I bought my .375 in 1984, used it on my first 3 safaris. It has always been an excellent rifle in all respects and very accurate. Action was a bit rough at first like many such rifles, but smoothed out over time. No parts ever fell off of it, well the sight hood launched into orbit a few times. Never had a misfeed with it that wasn't my fault and only a couple at that. As we all know any maker can ship a lemon on occasion, but you don't judge the whole line by that. Excellent trigger that is owner adjustable, never shifted. I know I have over a thousand rounds thru mine. Its a well built classic looking rifle. I plan to use mine again in the not too distant future and will never sell it. As to how suitable it would be to turn into a Lott? Ask a gunsmith. Look in my pix to see mine, in Tanzania, Botswana and Zim in '96.

 

[Luvthunt]

Thanks guys for all the info and for the most looks like good expierence with the Whitworth

 

[Shootist43]

Luvthunt, check out this info on Whitworth actions, https://archive.org/stream/gunmanual_Interarms_Mkx/Interarms Mkx_djvu.txt

 

[bilmcc]

View attachment 253617
Mine shootsand functions flawlessly. Also it looks the classic African rifle

My Whitworth in 375 H&H has served me well, too.