Has anybody, who posts here, used the ruger no. 1[450/400 3"] on dangerous game, in Africa, besides Craig Boddington and his wife?

This not a " should you use it" thread, but to anyone that has used it. How was your results and satisfaction? Would you do it again?

Mad Dog

Howdy Mad Dog, I bought one of these .450-400 Ruger #1s, and after shooting it, I am not sure I would take it to Africa as a DGR. My rate of fire is just too slow!

LLS

Mad Dog

I have hunted with a Ruger No1 a fair amount, a 243 and a 45/70.

I have also done 3 Safaris in Zimbabwe.

I have taken a fair amount of plains game, cape buff and elephants, on each trip. I have also taken one lion.

All were killed with a double rifle, except for a few small plains game shot with the wifes 308 Bolt.

One of the doubles used was a 450/400, with it I took cape buff, elephant, and the lion, as well as some plains game. The wife killed her cape buff with it as well, with one shot.

So, I would not hesitate to hunt in Africa for DG with a Ruger No1 in 450/400.

When I use a No1, or a Double Rifle I use a butt stock shell carrier, usually made by Murray Leather.

With it I can reload quickly, and smoothly. I also wear a 15 round Murray shell carrying belt.

I would load 400gr Softs and Solids no faster than 2200fps, or use similar factory ammo.
The extra velocity is not needed and no sense having the recoil.

The only difference in my hunting technique, with a single shot vs. a double, is that I would probably shoot my elephants at 10 to 12 yards instead of 6 yards and under.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Mad Dog

I have hunted with a Ruger No1 a fair amount, a 243 and a 45/70.

I have also done 3 Safaris in Zimbabwe.

I have taken a fair amount of plains game, cape buff and elephants, on each trip. I have also taken one lion.

All were killed with a double rifle, except for a few small plains game shot with the wifes 308 Bolt.

One of the doubles used was a 450/400, with it I took cape buff, elephant, and the lion, as well as some plains game. The wife killed her cape buff with it as well, with one shot.

So, I would not hesitate to hunt in Africa for DG with a Ruger No1 in 450/400.

When I use a No1, or a Double Rifle I use a butt stock shell carrier, usually made by Murray Leather.

With it I can reload quickly, and smoothly. I also wear a 15 round Murray shell carrying belt.

I would load 400gr Softs and Solids no faster than 2200fps, or use similar factory ammo.
The extra velocity is not needed and no sense having the recoil.

The only difference in my hunting technique, with a single shot vs. a double, is that I would probably shoot my elephants at 10 to 12 yards instead of 6 yards and under.

A very wise hunter!
You will not be faced with the dilemma of having to kill an eventually stunned elephant with a knife for having run out of ammo like Ron Thomson did.

I will be taking both my Ruger #1 in 450/400 and My Ruger Hawkeye in 416 Ruger to Zim next month on my ele/buff hunt. I will be with Chifuti Safaris, and my scheduled PH is Paul Smith. He was guiding Donna on her buff with the #1. We will see how he feels about it.

I will certainly use my bolt rifle on the tuskless ele, and will see on the buff bull. I would like to hunt a buff cow also, and that might be the candidate for the #1. Some PG also.

Will be shooting the Hornady 400 DGS and DGX bullets in both. Have not gotten any dies yet for the 416 Ruger, so no opportunity to load any TSX's.

I use a wristband holder and put another 3 rounds in it, with the rims towards the forend when I shoot the #1. Can reload fairly quickly that way, and never drop the rifle from my shoulder. We modified the safety on the tang so the cases never hang up, and when I drop the lever, I just reach right over to my wrist and grab another.

N E 450 No.2. Thanks for the answers.

Blank, can't wait to read your reports when you get back. Good luck! Why don't ya use the no.1 on the buff[cow and bull], that would be way cool to read about.

Mad Dog

Blank;
It sounds as if you are well prepared for your hunt.
Can you tell us if you will be using the Hornady factory DGX and DGS ammo in your 450/400?
Please do file a report upon your return. Good hunting!

Maddog,

I have seen Craig and his wife shoot a 450/400, but it is a Heym double and I also got to hold it also...

Mike

My opinion: As a cartridge, the .450/.400-3" is magnificent--great performance with very little pain. There are probably better tools for elephant, but nothing better for buffalo.
As noted, both Donna and I have used it in both double and single shot. Donna is not particularly comfortable with a .375; she feels the .450/.400 has less felt recoil (probably because it has much less recoil velocity). She loves the cartridge. Me, too!
As for the single shot, this is the big question! I have used single shots in various calibers quite a bit on dangerous game. Not yet personally on elephant, but that's only because we couldn't find an appropriate elephant every time I was carrying a single shot! All said, the single shot isn't for everybody! It depends on the circumstances, but NOBODY is fast enough to get a second shot with a single shot EVERY TIME. But that, after all, is the nature of hunting with a single shot, whether it's whitetail or buffalo--you are banking on that one shot, and it makes you very careful! I think it would be foolish to hunt dangerous game ALONE with a single shot. In my context, hunting with an armed PH, the single shot is a viable option. But it should be understood that there will be times when the PH must use his judgment and fire a backup shot if you or I are unable to. I have no problem with that! Anyway, that's my opinion. Next year they'll have the Ruger No. One in .450- 3 1/4"--can't wait to play with that one. Regards, Craig

Craig, Thanks for the reply. I almost tried to pm you about this subject, but decided to post it here instead. I've read your 1st/2nd safari rifles books, till the print is getting worn. I've followed your writings since the Peterson Hunting days, and greatly value your opinion. I'm not a bolt action man, anymore, and the No. 1 is a viable option, along with another caliber/action, that I'd just as soon not post about for the time being. I'm giving the Ruger no. 1 some very serious consideration. Thanks!

Mad Dog

Craig, very good advice. Can't wait for the #1 in 450 Nitro.

Blank, good luck on your trip to Zim. I look forward to your report as I have the same rifles you are taking.

Mad Dog, the 450-400 Nitro in the #1 is fantastic. I love mine. What a classic cartridge. Kudo's to Ruger and Hornady.

Woody

Craig: Appreciate the feedback. Love the challenge of single shots, and especially my muzzleloaders too. Think I will do fine with it over there. With a good pad, the 450/400 is easy to shoot.

I love my 450/400 and shoot it quite a bit; at 25 to 50 yards, it is a one hole group. Put a Leupold 2.5X on it, and replaced the POS pad with a Kickeze grind to fit. Lengthened it about 1/2", and now fits really good. Put a Moyer trigger in it, and it is a great 2.75-3.0 pounds. Am going to load up a dozen rounds and try to get the Barnes Banded Solids to shoot as good in it as the Hornady factory loads do.

Woodrow: How does your 416 Ruger shoot? I apologize for not following up more when you got it. I love mine - mostly because it just fits so good, and is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever gotten! The fun part is at the range letting others shoot it. My hunting partner refers to it as "that short, ignorant, fire breathing, kickin' SOB". Sort of a street brawler reputation.

Blank, thank you!!!! Good advice. I have learned recently in this forum that it is sissy to do anything to mitigate recoil. So I'm an extreme sissy, and I believe in the best recoil pads--and, in cold blood, I pad myself further on the range. The PAST shoulder pad is a Godsend. Or, of course, we could follow the Marine Corps credo: "Pain is good. Extreme pain is extremely good." Cheers, C

Craig, is the 450 Nitro going to be produced in normal quanities or just ltd ed?

Craig, Kinda off topic, but how many buff have you taken with various single shot rifles?

Mad Dog

I friend in the Corps Reserve wears a T-shirt to the gym that says "Pain is weakness leaving the body".

Rich

Must not be too big of a sissy if you are contemplating a 450ne in a No1. I shot a 458Lott in a No1 and discovered that I am a sissy.

My son and I both took a cape buffalo each on our one and only safari, so far, in Zim in 2004 and we used a No.1 in .405 Winchester. Would not hesitate to do it again.......except next time it would be with a 450/400.

degoins;
Were you shooting .405 factory ammo or handloads?

I am currently experimenting with handloads with my 1895 .405 and am curious to know about yours.
Thank you for any information on this.

crshelton,
sorry about the long delay.......been out of town. We used handloads using 300 gr hard cast bullets from Mt. Baldy Bullets and 52 gr Reloader 7. After some initial and very unscientific tests with the Hornady factory ammo, I wouldnt trust it on anything tougher than wild pigs......and that's even stretching it. Those bullets are very soft. The other reason for going with hard cast bullets is because I couldnt find any real 300 gr solids for the 405. The cast bullets worked OK, but would lose about half thier weight when impacting heavy buff bones. They did break those bones though and penetrated into the vitals on broadside shots and also shattered the spine and hip on my buff. Good enough, but I'd have much rather had some real solids.

Degoins;
Thank you for the information.

WRT solids for the .405 Winchester, North Fork Technologies has dandy flat point and cup point solids that shoot to the same point of aim as their 300 grain soft points.



I have loaded the FPS and have just worked up loads at 2250 fps for the SS. As this load refines a bit, I will use it on all three NF 300 grain .405 bullets and load up a supply for hunting.
Then, I plan to experiment with some plinking/practice rounds of either good cast or pistol bullets.

Interesting thread.. Actually I've been asking my local dealer for a good price the last couple of days..
Thanks for sharing your experience!

Anyone knows if Ruger can make custom L.O.P?
Beeing 6' 7" the regualar Ruger stocks are quite a bit to short form me.. I can also go with a spacer and thicker pad, but it's just not the same..

BTT for degoins

crshelton,
Thanks for the info on the Northforks!! Wish I'd had some of these when I needed them. As for plinkers/deer/varmit/hog killers....Hornady 210 gr .41 mag bullets work really well and they're cheap. I've used them in the 405 and my 450/400 double.

degoins, were you using the Hornady 300 flat points or spire points? I have some of each that I use as plinkers in my 450-400 and have been curious about their performance on game. My double regulates the 300 SP at about 2150 which is about what would happen in a 405. Thanks, Bob

I've been reloading the Hornady DGX 400 grain bullets that I size down from .410 to .408 for my rifle. I haven't shot anything but paper so far, but they do regulate well in my double. They seem to be a tough bullet copper clad steel jacket!

BobC gave me some 300 grain .411 (405 Winchester) bullets that I sized to .408. They too shoot very nicely in my Hollis!

bobc,
I shot the .405 factory spirepoints when I 1st got my .405 and found them to be very soft.......blew up on a small doe's shoulder, had to shoot her twice. Plus my previously mentioned unscientific tests bore this out. I bought some of the flatpoints this past year to load for my 450/400 and they seem tougher. I only had one oportunity at game with them, a nice 10 point, which I hit through the chest broadside at 20 yds. Bullet kept on going and did a lot of damage......as you can imagine.

bobc,
Here is a summary of the bullet performance on a Nilgai that I took earlier this year with the .405 Hornady factory flat point

WRT the Hornady bullet - it did squash up a lot, but did punch through the first big shoulder blade. The shot was a little high and had it been down a bit, it would have hit ribs rather than the shoulder and might have shot all the way through. I was a bit surprised to see that it lost 35% of its weight though. A tougher bullet or more precise shooting would help a lot.


For pictures and more infor, see this post
http://www.levergunscommunity....hilit=nilgai#p199843

I have shot Hornady ammo in .308 and .243 for several years and this sort of performance is typical. They are accurate and plenty good most of the time for most of the game.