Why are any wildcats available? Because someone dreamed them up to 'fill' a niche they envisioned. Some are good, some are great, some are poor and some fill a niche that doesn't exist, except for them. some wildcats become factory, while others become proprietary ctgs. and some exist only as wildcats.
: Without the initial development of wildcats, we'd all be shooting the same damn boring factory ctgs. - now, what fun would that be?
: No one is saying the Lott isn't better than the .458 in some way and that it won't match .458 ballistics with less pressure. Obviously it will and does. Just look at the size of some of the British rounds. They were designed to reduce pressure without gaining any greater ballistics than what already worked. What worked was a 480gr. to 500gr. bulet at 2,100fps to 2,150fps. The .458 Win Mag will do that without excessive pressure, and do it today with around 70gr. of powder. If one wants to shoot 80gr. to 90gr. of powder, or even 100gr. of powder to do the same thing, have at it. For me, the .458 will be fine (or the .458 Alaskan - same difference) and have a bit less recoil and shorter action than the longer round. Of course my only need for such a cannon, if a need actually exists, is for big bears. For that, 350gr. to 400gr. Barnes will work just fine. If I ever go to Africa, and I'd love to, some day, the .458 Alaskan (same ballistics as the .458WM)will go with me, and do just fine, loaded to 2,200fps with 500gr. or 400gr. to 450gr. at 2,300fps. I won't be buying a .450 Lott for that one trip just because it does the same thing with 5,000 psi less pressure.
: Of course, "a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still".