458 Lee?

[pinkerton]

I've come across a revolver built on a Ruger 357 Maximum frame at a gunshop. It's a six shot marked 458 Lee. The owner has no info on it, hasn't slugged the bore to determine if it's truly a .458, and doesn't know what parent case is used. My first thought was 458 Devistator but there doesn't seem to be cuts in the chamber for a belted case. Fired 45colt cases fit snug in the chambers. 45-70 cases would have to large a rim to function in the revolver. That's about all I can make out from what I've seen. Any thoughts or info would be appreciated.

[awp101]

I don't have any answers for you but welcome and I'm curious as well!

[pinkerton]

Thanks for the welcome, I'm a long time luker and have gotten a wealth of great info from this site.

The owner of the shop got it with multiples from an estate and knows absolutely nothing about it. So its peaked my interest

[JM]

singleactions.com/458Devastator.html

[pinkerton]

458 Devastater was my first thought, but it's a six shot on a 357 Maximum frame with no recesses for a belted case. Once fired 45 colts fit like a glove, but looking in the cylinder it's a long case. I'm thinking I'll see if I ca slug the bore and throats, and measure the chamber length to get a better idea of what it might be

[awp101]

.458x2 American comes to mind but it's belted. .45 Silhouette is mentioned in the Devastator article but it's .452 not .458. .450 Marlin variant maybe? Nope it's belted as well.

My friend Mr Google isn't being very helpful so it looks like it's time to crack some books...

Of course there's nothing to say it's not a non-belted variant of one of the above that someone came up with but didn't publicize or it's some oddball Euro or African variant either.

[sheriff]

I own a .457GNR, which is the .475 Maximum necked to .458. The case is 1.61" long and a 45-70 may be trimmed and substituted for the Max case. Sounds like something similar to what you have.

[pinkerton]

This one's a straight wall chamber. 6 shot cylinder so the 45-70 rim wouldn't fit. I'm stumped on the donor case.

[cmh]

. ... .

[zeus]

Try a 480 case. I had one that would use 480s sized to fit a .458. Shot a 400 about 900fps.

[pinkerton]

The 480 or 475 is a good possibility. If that is the case, I don't know why it would be done on a 357 maximum frame, other than maybe seat the bullets out farther? Since 45s fit the camber snugly, maybe it's as simple as 45 Colt opened slightly to 458 and on a 357 maximum frame to seat the heavy 458s out as far as possible?
Thanks for all the info so far, I'll see if I can get some measurements and pass them along.

[zeus]

I missed the max frame part. Try the 475. But keep the pressures low if you can get some loaded.

[pinkerton]

And Merry Christmas!

[pinkerton]

Mystery solved, the shop owner found an info sheet on this firearm. These were made by Lee Baker of Lee's Red Ramps Inc of California. It's a SBH 357 max opened up to .458 and uses 45 LC brass. Load data using 2400 was included. According to the note Lee Baker was making these as a custom gun or would set them up on your SBH Max.

The shop owner is going to be posting it on Gunbroker if anyone is interested in it.

Thanks for the help with figuring this one out.

[cmh]

Sounds alot like a knockoff of Mr Gallaghers 458-400..... just using 45C brass instead of 45-70. Neat to know what it is now though although I question why a Max was used instead of a standard blackhawk.....