Hello, everyone. This is my first post on this forum..looks to be an intertesting and informative site!
I was wondering if anyone has used cast bullets in a Farqharson chambered .450/400 3"?
I was thinking 300gr. to 400gr. plain-base..not wanting high velocity, or recoil..just accurate load out to 100yds.
I wonder how TrailBoss would work? I have quite a bit of experience with a .40-70 2 1/2" Axtel Sharps using H4895, AA5744, and Varget..I wonder if I could treat the .450/.400 like a black powder case with reduced smokeless loads?
Any comments or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot!

Hi there .22-10-45 and welcome. Seems no-one is answering your post so I hopped in. I don't load for the 450/400 3" so cannot help with loads but I do load for the bolt action equivalent, the .404 Jeffery.

Using cast 350gr or 400gr gas checked bullets I load to around 1800fps with AR2209 (aka H4350 in the States) powder for an easy shooting but nice big bore feel accurate shot.
My own cast 400gr are plain base but never found a grouping load until I turned a shoulder for a 44 cal gas check on them and then things really happened in the accuracy department.

Best wishes with your loading for the 450/400 3".

A nice .404 350gr cast group at 50m.

Hadn't read this til now. For my Ruger I got two moulds out of LBT, a 320grWFNGC and a 400grLFNGC.
He cut them to use .416 Gator checks. So far with it I've used wheelweights that were water dropped.
Weights on the 320 come out 321 to 325gr as this blend of mine may be a bit suspect as to contents on the last lot, they were 323 to 325, first batch was 321 to 323. The 400gr came out at 402gr. Both have been shot using AA5744 w/F215. They have been dropping at .4125-.4130. I have sized them to a .412 body and have been experimenting with nose sizing on them as the #1 has no throat to speak of. Tried .410, has enough springback to cause chambering issues, will try .409 on the nose to the crimp groove next.
The AA5744 at 48grw/320gr duplicated Hornady factory 400gr load velocities (2037fps) quite easily.
The 400gr went at 1875 so far, have some more work to do with that one.

In my 450/400 3 1/4" [you could use the same load in your 450/400 3"], I have loaded 300gr cast bullets with 44 gr of IMR 4198.
I used 12 gr of polyester filler, ie pillow stuffing you can get at most craft or sewing stores.

WARNING YOU MUST USE THE FILLER.

This load gives @1700fps, and hits with the sights at 50 yards and regulates great.

Find Von Gruff's postings on his 404J cast loadings. I would think you could get close or at least find a place to start.

Hi there,

I was interested in the same thing and approached Veral Smith from LBT molds. He suggested a 280 to 300gr LFNGC design, and said with his lube that bullet could be pushed as fast as a jacketed bullet. Although interestingly he said for maximum damage when huntig to keep velocities at about 1500fps...which sounded fine by me as I was looking for a lighter load with less recoil for general hunting. Might suit you too.

Ona nother note, how do you bell the case mouths of the 450/400 to accept cast bullets? Is there a neck expander die that could do this...havnt seen one up to now but may have bene looking in the wrongs places?

Hello, everyone. Thanks for all the helpful replys. I nearly forgot about this post. Since my first posting, I have discovered a few things..The dealer swore rifle was a .450/.400 3"..but Hornady cases wouldn't chamber all the way..I finally made a chamber cast..It's the .450/.400 3 1/4" N.E. Bore slugged at .411"
I have an original Ideal 412263, designed for the .405 Win. from my softer alloy, it measures .415" dia. & 300gr. I plan on sizing to .412" to .413".
Everything about this ctg. is big! I too am wondering about a neck expander die..Lyman doesn't make an "M" die in this caliber..RCBS has a .416 expander..but it's too short in the body..I am waiting on a return answer from their custom die dept. on this. I did purchase two of their .416 expander plugs..I polished them down in lathe to .412 & .413..I wasn't sure of that cases thick neck walls about spring-back..A case expanded with the .412 dia. plug & a .412 dia. cast bullet seated to full depth..showed no sizing undersize of bottom band from too tight a neck..& seating pressure seemed ok..quite tight bullet fit. I can always polish a bit smaller if I have to. Without thinking, I reached for the Kinetic puller..as I normally do to remove seated bullet...Not this time! Like I said, this case is big..case dia. was larger than pullers opening & besides..bullet was touching bottom!
I am hoping these plain-based bullets will work..they are very accurate with smokeless loads in an Axtell .40-70 straight & a LoneStar .40-70 B.N.
The bore on the Farquharson cleaned up nicely with tight patches & J-B Bore Compound & J-B BoreBright..lands are shiny..grooves, while bright, do show a very light frosting..that hot burning Cordite & corrosive primers were pure poison to a bore. Thanks again for your help!