Quintessential British Big Game Chamberings from the “Golden Age” - What Am I Missing?

[Rigby375]

I am in the early stages of commissioning a replica of an antique cartridge display board from a maker here in the UK.

I attach a picture of the sort of thing I’m thinking about but, as this is a replica, I have pretty much full discretion on contents and lay out.

My idea is to focus on the classic chamberings from British gunmakers in the “Golden Age” (I’m defining this as ~1890-1939) of big game hunting in Africa and India.

I’ve pulled together the following list but am certain to have missed something obvious - I would be very grateful if learned members might chip in and add to the list. Thank you in advance!

• 275 Rigby
• 300 H&H
• 318 Westley Richards
• 333 Jeffrey
• 350 Rigby
• 375 2 1/2” Flanged NE “Velopex”
• 375 H&H Belted Rimless Magnum
• 375 H&H Flanged Magnum
• 400/375 H&H Belted NE
• 400 Purdey
• 400 Jeffrey NE
• 450/400 3.5” NE
• 450/400 3” NE
• 404 Jeffrey
• 416 Rigby
• 425 Wesley Richards
• 500/465 NE
• 470 NE
• 500 Jeffrey
• 500 NE
• 505 Gibbs
• 577 NE
• 600 NE

 

[cm76]

450 NE (3 1/4") appears to be missing from your list. This great cartridge has, for many years been the benchmark recipe for African BG hunting.

Chris

 

[549]

450 NE

Edit: Beat.

But I'll add the .475 No. 2 NE

 

[Rigby375]

450 NE appears to be missing from your list. This great cartridge has, for many years been the benchmark recipe for African BG hunting.

Chris

Thank you! I knew that I’d miss (at least one) of the classics…‍

 

[Huvius]

The 400/350, 400/360 and 360No.2 Nitro Express were incredibly popular small/mid bore big game chamberings.
Of course, the 303 British is about as ubiquitous as it gets…

 

[Rigby375]

450 NE

Edit: Beat.

But I'll add the .475 No. 2 NE

Great, thanks very much!

 

[549]

Great, thanks very much!

Sounds like a really cool project.

 

[Rigby375]

The 400/350, 400/360 and 360No.2 Nitro Express were incredibly popular small/mid bore big game chamberings.
Of course, the 303 British is about as ubiquitous as it gets…

Brilliant, thank you very much! I hadn’t even considered the 303 British but a very good point.

 

[Rigby375]

Sounds like a really cool project.

Thank you. I’ll be sure to post a picture when it’s complete.

 

[cmk]

The 400 Jeffery, isn't that the same as 450/400 3"?

Don't know if either of the 280's (Ross & Jeffery) would qualify. Maybe?

Perhaps some Paradox/Explora cartridge could fit as well.

 

[Tintin]

What a great project. Looking forward to the pictures.

Probably not an 'obvious' one - but ...

.461 Gibbs - No 1 and No 2

Selous had a falling block in the No 1.

 

[Sarg]

This will be a great project, my buddy has lots of of originals & a few modern/repo boards, I have only broken modern boards.

Couple of points & ideas.

Probably drop the .400 Purdy off, not that well used or common & I’m pretty sure only loaded at BP velocities.

Add in 256Ex = 6.5x53R a lot of early hunters used this & the 6.5x54MS

The .375NE 2 1/2in Flanged (also called 370) is not the H&H .400/375 Velopex, like saying 308 Springfield !

This is the H&H 400/375 Belted “Velopex”
With a .400 Purdy round, I wish it had been a full nitro cartridge I think it would be very good & be a hot, more powerful .405Win ?

Oh there are heaps of cool old Cartridges to add but the 450NE No2 is right up there with the 475NE No2 as some of the biggest longest/impressive cartridges of that time !

Here with .577NE & 600NE

 

[Hunter-Habib]

You missed the .240 Holland & Holland Apex and the .369 Purdey.

 

[Rigby375]

The 400 Jeffery, isn't that the same as 450/400 3"?

Don't know if either of the 280's (Ross & Jeffery) would qualify. Maybe?

Perhaps some Paradox/Explora cartridge could fit as well.

Thank you!

I considered the 280 Ross but wasn’t able to find any references to it being used in Africa or India, only Canada, Scotland and New Zealand. I am sure that it must have been - if it’s good enough for a red deer on the hill, it’s presumably good enough for medium sized plains game.

The chap making the board has also just suggested Paradox / Explora as well so that’s definitely an angle to explore.

 

[Rigby375]

This will be a great project, my buddy has lots of of originals & a few modern/repo boards, I have only broken modern boards.

Couple of points & ideas.

Probably drop the .400 Purdy off, not that well used or common & I’m pretty sure only loaded at BP velocities.

Add in 256Ex = 6.5x53R a lot of early hunters used this & the 6.5x54MS

View attachment 700898

The .375NE 2 1/2in Flanged (also called 370) is not the H&H .400/375 Velopex, like saying 308 Springfield !

View attachment 700902

Thank you very much for the input. Much appreciated.

I’m not familiar with the 256E - is that the same / similar to the 256 Gibbs Magnum?

 

[Rigby375]

You missed the .240 Holland & Holland Apex and the .369 Purdey.

Thank you! These are great suggestions. Added to the list.

Now to see what the chap making the display is actually able to source…!

 

[Sarg]

Thank you very much for the input. Much appreciated.

I’m not familiar with the 256E - is that the same / similar to the 256 Gibbs Magnum?

There are so many cool old Cartridges but as you say finding them all might be tricky ?
The 256Ex is the English name for the 6.5x53R a rimmed early version of the 6.5x54MS, also known as 256Ex (I have a Jeffery in .256Ex) it was actually more common than the Mannlicher Schonauer in Africa & most of the 6.5mm you read about will be a Mannlicher Steyr not a Mannlicher Schonauer !

Like a .275 Rigby is the 7x57mm Mauser .

I think the .256 Gibbs Magnum was actually the 6.5x55 Swede, slightly modified ?

 

[odonata]

Elmer Keith did a lot of hunting with a Westley Richards double rifle chambered in .476 Nitro Express.

That cartridge was introduced in 1907.

 

[franzfmdavis]

450/400 3-1/4”

 

[Huvius]

Honestly, you could fill this list with about 100 different cartridges especially if you ran back to the black powder express era.
If replicating a smaller board as the one pictured, you could narrow it down to about 30 of the most commonly adopted cartridges overall for the period.
That would be an easier task I’d think .