400 H&H with pistol bullets

[Pheroze]

I have read that the 400 H&H can be loaded with .410 pistol bullets for inexpensive practice. However, I have not found a recipe yet, and I am unsure how to start.

I can get locally .410 calibre 210 grain Berrys Bullets. Would these be suitable? In terms of a load, would you use a powder like Trailboss or H4895 and build a reduced load?

With the supply restrictions I am trolling for ways to develop a supply for this gun. If this way as reasonable way to proceed?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Daggaboy375]

That should work. My question would be if you could stabilize the lighter bullet.

I would consider that fun to find out. I doubt there will be any fatalities during the procedure.

DB

 

[crs]

THE .410 PISTOL BULLETS WORK IN MY 1895 .405 FOR PLINKING AND FOR KILLING DEER AND SUCH.

 

[Pheroze]

THE .410 PISTOL BULLETS WORK IN MY 1895 .405 FOR PLINKING AND FOR KILLING DEER AND SUCH.

What powder do you use? Is it the same as you would for you regular loads?

 

[crs]

What powder do you use? Is it the same as you would for you regular loads?

Pheroze,
I first learned of using the Hornady 210 grain 41 Mag pistol bullet from research on the internet and I printed part of the two page response for later reference - here it is:
"I use 25 grains of AA5744 . The pistol bullets are amazingly accurate and fun for the kids to shoot."

I used the same load and it worked for me. I also read of other shooters using the the 210 grain bullets on deer and such, but I have not done that as here in Texas, I hunt exotics rather than White tailed deer (year round season and good variety).

 

[Major Bonkers]

Pierre van der Walt writes about this cartridge in his book, 'African Dangerous Game Cartridges'.

He gives loading data for full loads, although he notes (p.230): Loaded with 300-grain bullets the .400 H&H acts like a .375 H&H Magnum. Loaded with 400-gr bullets it behaves like a .416 Rigby. What more do you want? Plus you can plink with .41 Magnum handgun bullets.

That, unfortunately, is all that he writes about the 'plinking' loads, although he does write that he had the first rifle chambered for this cartridge in South Africa which he gifted to his son.

This seems to be his website, and I suggest that it might be worth dropping him a line to ask if he has anything to add.

If you do write to him, please might you advise him that the data in respect of Somchem loads for the .470 (p.399) might benefit from being checked.

The ability to put .41 handgun rounds through the rifle is shared with other .400 calibres, such as the Tembo and Pondoro. Being a bit shrewd, therefore, it seems to me that a good starting point might be to look up the loading charts for those cartridges, and develop your own loads from there. I found this website in reference to the .400 Pondoro using 'A-Square Data' - presumably from, 'Any Shot You Want', which is another of those out-of-print and ludicrously expensive books - it gives the powder to use for free, but you seem to have to pay to get the load. Perhaps someone who has a copy of the book might be able to advise further.

 

[crs]

MB,
I have that book, but never pursued such loads there.
I copied the loads referenced above and was satisfied, - they were for the .405 WCF and not the 450/400.

 

[Pheroze]

400 calibres, such as the Tembo and Pondoro

Both of those look like they could give reasonable starting points. Thanks!

I think I will write to Mr. van der Walt.

 

[PerH]

https://www.bestguns.dk/2020/01/02/den-mindste-af-de-store-el-den-lille-gigant/

Jens Perto writes a little bit about it for .400 3 inch here with lighter bullets, no data (but probably just using the standard data .)

 

[wswolf]

Found some reduced pistol bullet data for the 450/400 which should be pretty close.

Below is the load data from Western on AA5744
Bullet weight: 210 grains.
Low range load: 44.0 grains (ca 2100 Fps)
Maximum load: 55.0 grains (ca 2580 Fps).
Bullet weight: 225-230 grains.
Low range load: 48.0 grains (ca 2025 Fps)
Maximum load: 59.0 grains (ca 2500 Fps).
Bullet weight: 250-265 grains.
Low load: 40.0 grains (ca 1900 Fps)
Maximum load: 48.0 grains (ca 2000 Fps)
Bullet weight: 300 grains.
Low load: 36.0 grains (ca 1700 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.5 grains (ca 1850 Fps)
Bullet weight: 325 grains.
Low load: 36.0 grains (ca 1600 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.5 grains (ca 1775 Fps)
Bullet weight: 350 grains.
Low load: 33.0 grains (ca 1500 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.0 grains (ca 1700 Fps)
Bullet weight: 400 grains.
Low load: 30.0 grains (ca 1350 Fps)
Maximum load: 40.0 grains (ca 1625 Fps)

Ross Seyfreid in Handloader #230 (August 2004)
recommended a hard cast 230 to 260 gn .41 Magnum bullet with 42gn of H4198 with 10gn of dacron pillow stuffing over the powder and a standard primer.

Another option is Trail Boss. Fill the case to the base of the bullet for a maximum charge. Use 70% of that weight for a minimum charge.

For what it's worth I used 265 TrueShot bullets over 12 gn of Unique and 1 gn of dacron in my .405 and got cloverleaf groups at 1240 fps.

 

[Pheroze]

Found some reduced pistol bullet data for the 450/400 which should be pretty close.

Below is the load data from Western on AA5744
Bullet weight: 210 grains.
Low range load: 44.0 grains (ca 2100 Fps)
Maximum load: 55.0 grains (ca 2580 Fps).
Bullet weight: 225-230 grains.
Low range load: 48.0 grains (ca 2025 Fps)
Maximum load: 59.0 grains (ca 2500 Fps).
Bullet weight: 250-265 grains.
Low load: 40.0 grains (ca 1900 Fps)
Maximum load: 48.0 grains (ca 2000 Fps)
Bullet weight: 300 grains.
Low load: 36.0 grains (ca 1700 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.5 grains (ca 1850 Fps)
Bullet weight: 325 grains.
Low load: 36.0 grains (ca 1600 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.5 grains (ca 1775 Fps)
Bullet weight: 350 grains.
Low load: 33.0 grains (ca 1500 Fps)
Maximum load: 44.0 grains (ca 1700 Fps)
Bullet weight: 400 grains.
Low load: 30.0 grains (ca 1350 Fps)
Maximum load: 40.0 grains (ca 1625 Fps)

Ross Seyfreid in Handloader #230 (August 2004)
recommended a hard cast 230 to 260 gn .41 Magnum bullet with 42gn of H4198 with 10gn of dacron pillow stuffing over the powder and a standard primer.

Another option is Trail Boss. Fill the case to the base of the bullet for a maximum charge. Use 70% of that weight for a minimum charge.

For what it's worth I used 265 TrueShot bullets over 12 gn of Unique and 1 gn of dacron in my .405 and got cloverleaf groups at 1240 fps.

That's great, thanks