450/400 3" double as a stopping rifle?

When I shot my cow last month with my .505 Gibbs, offhand from 20 ish yards.
She immediately tipped over. I hit her in the left leg, heart and exited the right leg.
I had racked the second round and fired into her side before she hit the ground.

I did not remember shooting either round and can not recall any recoil at all.

Use enough gun you won’t remember the recoil
View attachment 620246
Altitude Sickness,

Well said, I tell people that when I am shooting my 577NE at a close range buffalo it recoils like a 375!
 
My Benelli SBE3 (7 lbs) with 3.5" magnum loads of 2 1/4 oz of 7 shot TSS at 1200 fps are WAAAAAY worse than my 375H&H (7.75 lbs) with 300 grain bullets at 2500 fps.

BTW - I had a 416RM but it was right at my recoil tolerance level. I had done enough shooting with a 375 that it wasn't a big step up in recoil, but it was definitely a step up. Combine that with how many times I'm likely to hunt DG and the 416RM was sold shortly after.

Not sure how the 416RM compares to the 450/400NE, but if the ballistic numbers are correct and the laws of physics still apply...the RM will hit harder (on both ends). I say this because you are more likely to know someone with a 416RM than 450/400NE and you can try it out. If you are good with the RM, you should be fine with the NE.
Thanks, BeeMaa, Good idea
. Brian
 
My Benelli SBE3 (7 lbs) with 3.5" magnum loads of 2 1/4 oz of 7 shot TSS at 1200 fps are WAAAAAY worse than my 375H&H (7.75 lbs) with 300 grain bullets at 2500 fps.

BTW - I had a 416RM but it was right at my recoil tolerance level. I had done enough shooting with a 375 that it wasn't a big step up in recoil, but it was definitely a step up. Combine that with how many times I'm likely to hunt DG and the 416RM was sold shortly after.

Not sure how the 416RM compares to the 450/400NE, but if the ballistic numbers are correct and the laws of physics still apply...the RM will hit harder (on both ends). I say this because you are more likely to know someone with a 416RM than 450/400NE and you can try it out. If you are good with the RM, you should be fine with the NE.
BeeMaa, thanks good suggestion, Brian
 
Without derailing too much I believe the 450-400 3”, the 450 No.2 and the 475 No.2 are the only nitro express cartridges designed around smokeless powder. All by Jeffrey.
You could add 375 H&H Flanged Mag and the new 416 Rigby No.2...
 
"Even in the Contest between Man vs. Steer .. The Issue is never Certain"

Brain Shot 10ft away. 500?

His left ear will get warmed up pretty fast if he points those barrels at my head while doing his speach for the camera I can assure you.....
 
I knew I was missing at least one.
500/416NE 3 1/4", introduced in 1996 by Krieghoff. Made to duplicate the 416RIGBY ballistics in a flanged cartridge suitable for taking DG with a double rifle.
 
500/416NE 3 1/4", introduced in 1996 by Krieghoff. Made to duplicate the 416RIGBY ballistics in a flanged cartridge suitable for taking DG with a double rifle.
It still uses the old 500 case doesn’t it, just necked down. It’s about the same as the 470 in that regard. I specifically meant cases with beefed up rims and thicker case walls.
 
It still uses the old 500 case doesn’t it, just necked down. It’s about the same as the 470 in that regard. I specifically meant cases with beefed up rims and thicker case walls.
Fair enough.

How about the 700NE? Created in 1988 by Holland & Holland because they promised the last 600NE customer that they wouldn't make any more.

And would qualify as a true stopping rifle if a PH could afford to shoot it or even carry the bloody thing. At 18 lbs it's quite the artillery piece producing nearly 9,000 lb-ft of energy with a 1000 grain bullet at 2000 fps.
 
Fair enough.

How about the 700NE? Created in 1988 by Holland & Holland because they promised the last 600NE customer that they wouldn't make any more.

And would qualify as a true stopping rifle if a PH could afford to shoot it or even carry the bloody thing. At 18 lbs it's quite the artillery piece producing nearly 9,000 lb-ft of energy with a 1000 grain bullet at 2000 fps.

They didn’t make many of the .700’s I don’t think, and all were engraved and such. Not sure many of those actually would make it to the hunting grounds.

Taking a $10-40,000 rifle to the field vs a $200,000 rifle takes a different kind of chap.
 
Ammo for the 2 3/8" is almost nonexistant and the 3 1/4" is not far behind.
Not really true for the 2 3/8"!
This one lives a happy and prosperous life ander a false name.
In Switzerland it is well known als 10,3x60R.
Blaser make/made rifles, K77, R93.
RWS and some other companies make/made ammunition/cases.

HWL
 
Last edited:
My .450/400 3 1/4 (10.3lbs) has less felt recoil than an average .375H&H bolt rifle..

So those who struggle with the recoil of a large bore rifle will probably shoot a .450/400 more accurate than a large bore..

To quote Boddington, “With similar gun weight, recoil foot-pounds are about the same as a .375. But, since the .450/400 is much slower, recoil velocity is less, which has much to do with felt recoil.”
 
Hello All, does anyone here have experience of a 450/400 3" double as a stopping rifle on Buffalo? Up to the job, or not?

When I think of "stopping rifles" I think of this feature:

The shot isn't correct, but the hydrostatic shock and sheer effect causes instant central nervous system collapse rendering the animal at least temporarily unconscious.

Calibers that could do this to a buffalo would be 470, 500, 585, 577/600 Rewa, 577NE, 458 Lott, and 460 Weatherby.

Now for a client rifle, none of this is necessary and in fact the 450-400 is the gold standard for purpose-built buffalo slaying.

A professional's gun is supposed to be underweight so it is pleasant to carry, miserable to shoot because its designed for death at 3 paces. I'd say enjoy a client rifle of your choosing and forgo the pain of a professional tool.
 
@Kevin Peacocke .. I asked these guy's & they indeed were using the 450/400?


At the risk of getting off subject, where does one aim the followup shots in this case? I think the first shot was between the eyes, and I think the second shot (from the guy in the middle anyway) looks like it was in the spine behind the skull.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
56,241
Messages
1,199,700
Members
98,223
Latest member
Smith29
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

jimbo1972 wrote on Bwaybuilder's profile.
Great to do business with
Grz63 wrote on Cecil Hammonds's profile.
Greetings from Clermont -ferrand !!
Grz63 wrote on Cecil Hammonds's profile.
We 'll visit Livingstone / Vic Falls for 3 days and 2 nights. Back to Mapcha by car, back to WDH with Airlink (grab my rifles and belongings) and the same day back to Frankfurt.
What do you mind from your own experience ? and your wife .? Did she appreciate ?
We already hunted Namibia in 2022, May for PG near Outjo for 8 days. Great country.
Thank you for your advises.
Philippe
Grz63 wrote on Cecil Hammonds's profile.
Hello Cecil
I am Philippe from Center of France. I plan to hunt Zambezi with Zana Botes in 2026, Oct after a couple of days for PG in Namibia in his lodge. I will be with my wife. She is not really a huntress and we promised to go visit Vic Falls. I imagine to go to Caprivi by car , hunt there 7 days (for buff) and go by car to Vic falls (PH will bring back my rifle) . sorry I am required to write 2 messages
buckstix wrote on magnum308's profile.
yes ..please send me a copy ... buckstix@aol.com
 
Top