The .458 Lott was born out of the need for a dangerous game cartridge with more modern ballistic characteristics than the alternative rounds that were available at the time. To fire a 500 gr bullet at the required velocities and energies for hunting dangerous game in Africa is no small task when one has to stay within safe pressure limits. The 458 Lott achieved this by elongating the case and thus avoiding problems with overly compressed powder charges as well, which had plagued some of the competing cartridges.