Rechamber #1 to .450 Nitro Express?

[Whiskey1]

Does anyone know if a Ruger #1 in .458 Winchester Magnum can be rechambered to .450 NE 3 1/4" by a simple chamber reaming? FedEx broke the stock off of mine during delivery and as it is no longer a factory original 1974 with great wood I'm thinking a custom project is in order.

 

[V.Veritas]

I believe I’ve read somewhere that this is exactly what Ivan Carter did with his first Heym double rifle. That was long time ago before Heym improved their caliber offering list. So it must be possible.

 

[cagkt3]

Wow....gotta love FedEx. I hope they are going to pay you something for ruining a perfectly good rifle??

 

[cagkt3]

Wow....gotta love FedEx. I hope they are going to pay you something for ruining a perfectly good rifle??

 

[CAustin]

Wow....gotta love FedEx. I hope they are going to pay you something for ruining a perfectly good rifle??

If the package was properly insured they have to pay.

 

[Whiskey1]

They paid- though I got the impression the insurance becomes void if the FedEx representative thinks the rifle was not protected or boxed properly for shipping. If any of you ever experience something similar be sure to photograph everything. Also, it would be worth a few extra dollars to have a dealer ship any important rifles in a very good quality hard case.

 

[Whiskey1]

This is my candidate to become a .450 in the "British" style.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Ouch! That sucks brother!

 

[Whiskey1]

Yep. Trying to make lemonade from lemons by turning it into something cool.

 

[ChrisG]

It would totally be possible. The .450 NE is much larger and longer than the .458 win mag. The only thing I would personally do is have it done on a lathe so that you can be absolutely sure the new chamber lines up perfectly. You will have no issues with pressure as the NE rounds is much lower pressure than the .458 was. The extractor and the loading channel on the no. 1 would have to be opened up but that is really not hard at all.

The only downside is that it may lighten the gun up by removing all that steel and a .450 nitro will certainly kick harder than a .458 win mag simply due to the sheer volume of powder (>100grains.) But I had the EXACT same thought. I was going to buy a .458 win mag/lott and turn it into a .450 #2 nitro express. Best of luck and post some pictures once it is all done!

 

[ChrisG]

here's some inspiration:

 

[Whiskey1]

here's some inspiration:

Chris- WHO DID THAT WORK?!? Amazing.

 

[Whiskey1]

It would totally be possible. The .450 NE is much larger and longer than the .458 win mag. The only thing I would personally do is have it done on a lathe so that you can be absolutely sure the new chamber lines up perfectly. You will have no issues with pressure as the NE rounds is much lower pressure than the .458 was. The extractor and the loading channel on the no. 1 would have to be opened up but that is really not hard at all.

The only downside is that it may lighten the gun up by removing all that steel and a .450 nitro will certainly kick harder than a .458 win mag simply due to the sheer volume of powder (>100grains.) But I had the EXACT same thought. I was going to buy a .458 win mag/lott and turn it into a .450 #2 nitro express. Best of luck and post some pictures once it is all done!

Why a #2? I've looked at the cartridges and it seems the original .450 NE is the way to go for me. Is there an advantage I'm missing?

 

[ChrisG]

Why a #2? I've looked at the cartridges and it seems the original .450 NE is the way to go for me. Is there an advantage I'm missing?

I just like the sheer massiveness of the cartridge. It is the lowest pressure .458 available.

The picture is an original Farquharson rifle in .500 nitro express. I am not sure if that one has been restored but it definitely looks like it may have been restocked in circassian.

 

[IvW]

I agree with ChrisG, I would make it 450 #2. Biggest of them all and lowest chamber pressure.

 

[Wayne t]

Ahhhh your killing me with this I thought my 416 rem was enough in a No1 . And now my mate tells me he could be selling his 458 and his 400/450 ne numbers 1s and I'm doing my utmost to resist and now I've read this post oh bugger

 

[Shootist43]

Whisky 1, was there considerable damage to the cardboard box as well? I've had a number of rifles shipped to me in double cardboard boxes that suffered no damage whatsoever. I think your advice about shipping "better" guns in a hard case is spot on. If you were not banking on getting the rifle rechambered anyway, could you get a stockmaker to replace both the forearm and stock with "fancy" or "extra fancy" wood? While sending the total bill to FedEx?

AZ Dave might be able to tell you where you can find some nice wood.

 

[CAustin]

I can't see where the box was flexed at some point! They need to pay for the damage!

 

[Whiskey1]

There was damage to the box. One could see where it had "folded" at a pretty severe angle right in line with the broken stock. It had to be done by a ham-handed operator at the controls of a pretty sizable machine, I think. FedEx eventually paid the full insured amount though I got the rifle at a really good price so the insurance money won't even cover the labor on a good custom stock job. No matter- I made some inquiries today and think I may have located a smith to do the work. Good express sights, custom safety, open the loading port a bit, restock in the English style of early Africa, and rechamber should make a pretty nice buffalo rifle.

 

[sestoppelman]

Seems like a worthwhile endeavor I guess. Get about the same power level at less pressure as the .458 Win. The .450 isn't really all that much larger in diameter, about 35 thousands. Split in half its only 17.5 thousands a side so not loosing much steel. Three quarters of an inch longer case. No.1 barrel reinforce area is fairly long too. A shame the stock was broken, not surprised by anything Fed Ex does though. But I agree that valuable rifles should ship in a hard case no matter the shipper. Keep us posted.