Anyone have some good 450\400 3" loads using Hornady's 400 gr DGX bullets and RL15\17\19 powder?

For my vintage 450/400 3 inch I use 62 Grns. of RL-15, a foam plug or Dacron filler and Federal 215 Magnum Match primer. This should get you between 1980-2000+ depending on your rifle.

The filler holds the RL-15 against the primer and this provides for extremely uniform velocities.

When I started loading this cartridge for my Ruger No. 1, I had trouble finding load data as well.

I'm using 81 grains of IMR 4831 under the 400 grain DGX and DGS bullets. That data came from the A Square manual "Any Shot You Want" and works fine. I get between 2000 and 2100 fps with that load. I took a great bull with it last year.

I question why I load for it since Hornady is virtually the only manufacturer that sells components for it (or at least that I could find). I use Hornady cases and Hornady bullets. I suppose buying the Hornady loaded ammunition would be cheaper and not as much fun, but that's pretty much what I'm duplicating on my own bench. I have some Woodleighs but haven't tried them yet.

My Hornady manual does not have load data for the 450/400 3", but I believe a new manual was recently published (mine is the 7th Ed.). Hopefully they're publishing data for it since they are the only manufacturer that seems to be supporting the cartridge right now.

"Any Shot You Want" lists data for RL-22 but not for 15/17/19. They show a starting load of 83 grains, which they say gives 2,047 fps, up to 87 grains, at 2,172 fps.

Thanks for the data guys. I may contact Hornady and see what loads they may give me. I'd like to use existing powders if I can - get more out of it if I can spread it across more than 1 gun\load. I'm hoping to reload basically the Hornady load as well. Think we can do better than the $80 to $95 per box of shells and maybe get a bit better on the accuracy.

When I bought my Sabatti the original owner had corresponded with Hornady about loads. Their reply to him stated that their loads were using 80gr of H4831.

He was getting good results with 79 gr of H4831. I tried the same 79 gr load with H4831SC and my results were equal to the regulation target included with the rifle.

I use 70gr of RL15, 400gr Woodleigh's and Fed 215 primers in a Ruger #1 450/400 3". These loads may be too hot for a double rifle though.

Woodrow - are you loading the Woodleigh softpoints or solids or both? My solids are .410 and all the Hornady bullets (both DGX and DGS) are .410. But my Woodleigh softs are .411.

Presumably the extra .001 on the Woodleigh softs would raise pressure, but not enough to be of any concern. It still bothers me.

I'm also shooting the Ruger No. 1.