A very nice surprise, .450 BPE

[Hagler.450Ex]

I had recently ordered a Husqvarna Rolling Block from Simpsons. Listed as 12.7x44R Swedish. Imagine my happiness when determining that it was, in fact, not a 12.7x44R, but a .450 BPE!!! A very nice rifle, pristine bore. At first, it had me a bit stumped, because I was, of course, expecting something .50-ish and a 44mm long chamber, and having to go through great pains to load for it, including fire-forming. Looking into the chamber, I thought to myself, "that sure is deep". Sometimes miracles do happen. I'll count this one as my Christmas miracle.
Forgive the grease, as I've not yet set to cleaning her.

 

[wildwilderness]

Do you plan to shoot it? Hunt?

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

Do you plan to shoot it? Hunt?

Absolutely!

 

[Tintin]

What a great win - thanks for sharing.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

It has the old-style rifling, so I'm staying with black and paper-patch to duplicate original loads. The bore is pristine and looks....well....brand new. Not even going to load any nitro-for-black. Besides, cleaning is a breeze with these. I happened to have 20 cases left over from my .450 days, and now Hornady no longer makes them (they discontinue everything that is good), but maybe Norma will fill the gap soon. Had sold my dies, so will get another new set. Every time I sell something, I end up needing it again I do think I might try not sizing much at all, if any, and go easy on the brass, with 120 grs. black and paper patched. But the bullet will need to stay seated against the card and powder somehow. I might could size 'very' slightly, just enough to hold bullet, with a cut-off .45-70 die, I've got an extra one of those here somewhere. Nahhhhh, I'll just order a new set....make life easier And I've got my Lyman M die ready for the rescue. Looks all set, if I can get her all cleaned up nice and pretty. Will strip her down and do a detail clean.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

What do you mean by "old style rifling"
I have a soft spot for rollers, the simplicity and strength for the time was amazing.
Gumpy

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

What do you mean by "old style rifling"
I have a soft spot for rollers, the simplicity and strength for the time was amazing.
Gumpy

Simply meaning, as opposed to modern flat rifling. It's a cross between that and the Martini Henry rifling. It's really beautiful, with rounded profile and then flat.....I'll try to get a photo tonight down the bore. I'm sure someone else could remind me of what it's called, but it slips my mind at the moment.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

Perhaps this is a better way to explain it....It's the one on the very bottom-right....the Shalke-Pop....it's beautiful....

 

[Red Leg]

Will be a great deer, pig, and black bear rifle.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

Will be a great deer, pig, and black bear rifle.

That's my plan for it. Should be just about perfect And I'm loving the silver bead up front, nice fine sights, just the way I like em'.
So, Husqvarna made .577 3" Expresses in this same model. It seems they chambered them in all the Expresses. I had no idea of this until only recently.