450/400 NE load data?

[Rare Breed]

so far the only load data I can find for the 450/400 NE cartridge is in my Hornady book and the info is pretty limited in there.

does any one have any load data for the 450/400 NE cartridge? pet loads would be welcome as well!

the gun im looking at is regulated to the hornady DGX/DGS cartridge but im hoping to imitate it with Woodleigh bullets (i do not trust hornady DGX bullets).

thanks
-matt

You bet. H4831SC 3.6 inches, Woodleigh 400 grain bullets 75.9 grains = 2052 FPS

 

[Aaron N]

Aaron N asked "Has anyone loaded, or could one be loaded to 2300fps to match the 404? This would be in a Ruger No1."
That may well have been done. I have loaded 400 grain Woodies to 2100 fps in my Winchester 1895 .405 WCF (and take a cape buff with it). Another .405 shooter took his 400 grain Woodies up to 2200 fps using N133. With that powder, the Ruger #1 should be able to reach 2300 with the .405 case, much less with the larger 450/400 case.

I feel like it shouldn’t be an issue, but I’m curious if any members do it. A little more oomph behind the bullet might move it up in its weight class a bit.

 

[dougfinn]

If you’re loading for a double rifle then I would recommend Wright’s book as well as the Hornady manual. If you’re loading for a Ruger no.1 then I would recommend reduced loads as the recoil will be painful with a full load. I had a no.1 in .458 win mag and full power loads would rattle your teeth. There are some reduced loads listed online using 5744 that look good for hunting and your shoulder will thank you.

 

[Rare Breed]

The problem is the little more oomp can make you lose the regulated distance. Been there done that

 

[Rare Breed]

View attachment 43085

Wow something seems wrong with this chart. I use H4831SC which has same velocity characteristics of H4831 and Quick load shows 75.9 grains gives 2052 FPS. The above chart shows 82.3 which is way beyond pressure tolerance. Has anyone else checked these loads above

 

[Aaron N]

At what velocities do you see a decrease in penetration in these larger calibers. The gold standard is 2150, but people are moving up to 2300-2400 (more so in a .404). Is the extra recoil worth the extra impact?

 

[Rare Breed]

At what velocities do you see a decrease in penetration in these larger calibers. The gold standard is 2150, but people are moving up to 2300-2400 (more so in a .404). Is the extra recoil worth the extra impact?

Respectively disagree. JJ told me 450-400 should be between 2050-2100 FPS and no more. He is the expert

 

[Aaron N]

Respectively disagree. JJ told me 450-400 should be between 2050-2100 FPS and no more. He is the expert

I would be loading for a Ruger No1 and not a double. I can’t see why it wouldn’t be advantageous to load a little hotter. It seems 2300 is a sweet spot for the Jeff, which was created to duplicate the 450/400 in a bolt gun.

Did JJ give you any reasoning?

 

[WAB]

Wow, a No 1 in 450/400 loading to 2,300, no thank you! I’m not recoil shy, my buffalo gun is a Lott, but that combo is going to hurt!

The 450/400 is a proven killer at traditional velocities.

 

[crs]

"The 450/400 is a proven killer at traditional velocities."
+1

 

[Aaron N]

Wow, a No 1 in 450/400 loading to 2,300, no thank you! I’m not recoil shy, my buffalo gun is a Lott, but that combo is going to hurt!

The 450/400 is a proven killer at traditional velocities.

This is the heavy D barrel, which is said to come in at 9 1/4 lbs. With a scope and rings, it should be over 10 lbs. I am still waiting on it to be exported to verify these numbers though.

That being said, my question was more theoretical. We have numerous members firing a 400 grain bullet at 2300fps out of their 404’s. IF recoil was manageable, would there be an advantage to replicating that load in a 450/400. With a falling block, we can take regulation out of the equation, and the action would be sufficiently strong to handle it.

 

[Aaron N]

"The 450/400 is a proven killer at traditional velocities."
+1

So was the 404 at 2150, and yet 2300 seems to be what people are loading for.

 

[Puddle]

"The 450/400 is a proven killer at traditional velocities."
+1

+2

 

[lwaters]

Real Guns had an article on hand loading the Ruger No. 1 in 450/400. They gave the maximum load of H4831sc at 88grains for 2310fps and a maximum load of Reloader 19 at 86 grains for 2341fps. Also Tarbe had a thread on using imr 4831.

 

[crs]

"Respectively disagree. JJ told me 450-400 should be between 2050-2100 FPS and no more. He is the expert"

Both of my .405 WCF rifles kill very effectively in this velocity range with .411 400 grain bullets, so I will stick with it.

If other folk want to load their .411 rifles to different velocities, that is their choice.

 

[Rare Breed]

I would be loading for a Ruger No1 and not a double. I can’t see why it wouldn’t be advantageous to load a little hotter. It seems 2300 is a sweet spot for the Jeff, which was created to duplicate the 450/400 in a bolt gun.

Did JJ give you any reasoning?

He was talking about a double not a bolt gun

 

[Nevada Mike]

Have you seen Van der Walt's book 'African Dangerous Game Cartridges'?. He covers this ground and provides loading data and advice.

I have loaded my .404 Jeffery to 2400+, but now am shooting for approximately 2250 fps with Swift 400 grain A Frames and Barnes 400 grain Banded solids. I see nothing to be gained from the extra blast and recoil.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

Old thread, but I have some info for those that may chance upon it, especially looking for loads for the Ruger no.1 in this grand cal. I bought one last summer and have been tinkering with it quite a bit. Here are the loads I have settled on:
IMR 4831 with 400gr DGX:
82.5grs loaded to Base Of Cannelure (BOC) for 2170 fps.
86grs to BOC for 2300 fps.

H4831SC with 400gr DGX:
86.5gr BOC for 2200
91.5gr BOC for 2350

H4831SC with 400gr North Fork Length at 3.75" COL
88.5gr for 2300

Obviously you need to work up to these loads in your own rifle. And save for MAYBE the lowest load with IMR 4831 above, I would not attempt ANY of these in a double rifle. If you wanted to work up double rifle loads, I would start around 75gr with IMR4831 and stop somewhere between 2050 and 2150fps.

Also, a note of caution for the Ruger no.1: "Your shoulder is not as strong as that action". So if you are going to go up to the 2300fps loads. I would replace the butt pad with a thicker and softer one than what comes from factory. Additionally I slid a weight into the butt of my rifle to add a lb or so using the drill hole for the stock screw.

In my opinion 2200 fps is a great balance of energy vs recoil