The .458×2-inch American is a belted, straight, .458 caliber (11.6 mm) big-bore cartridge designed by Frank Barnes.

Frank Barnes found that the .458 Winchester Magnum and the .460 Weatherby Magnum too powerful for North American big game and believed that a cartridge of lesser power would be ample for the task.

[1] The cartridge has the power required to take all North American big game species.

It is also adequate for African dangerous game in close cover.

The cartridge also can be chambered for the Winchester Model 94 lever action rifle.