Well I just bought another Martini rifle. Braedlin Amoury, supposedly chambered in 450 1-1/2". Never heard of the cartridge and Barnes doesn't list it, also couldn't find any references on line. Any experts out there?
Thanks,

Well you guys were awfully slow tonight. I actually managed to find it myself, it's listed under the 450 BPE. They had at least nine different lengths from 1 1/2 to, I think, 3 1/2".

Any recommendations on who to get 450 basic brass from?
Thanks,

[ 06-12-2003, 05:16: Message edited by: browningguy ]

Maybe because the name of the cartridge is the .458x1-1/2?

The 458x1-1/2, which was never intended to be anything except an abstract experiment, has surfaced in a number of roles including a military one. It all goes back to 1962, when the Barnes was playing around with the 458 Winchester Magnum and cutting it off to various lengths. That work culminated in the 458x1-1/2-inch.

It is rumored that this cartridge did see action in Viet Nam...

No one makes loading dies for the cartridge, but one can improvise by using 45 Colt or other 45 pistol dies.

You could have cleared the air if you had stated .450x3-1/4", which is the parent cartridge...

ricciardelli, I didn't know it was based on the 450 3 1/4 until after I did some reading. Since it was on a 19th C. Martini action I'm thinking this is the one, guess I won't know until it arrives and I do a cast.

A 458 Win Mag cut down to 1.5" is the 458 American excellent cartrige

A B M-

The .458x 1 1/2" was a round developed as a subsonic round (500 grain bullet @ 1050 fps used in Vietnam, in a short range/heavy foliage environment with suppressor).

The 458 American WAS a 2 inch case made for a short action thumper,for use in the Americas (more of a round for bolt actions than levers that used the 45/70, that it closely resembles).

Bob

I believe the 458x2 was also or concurrently developed as a lever action ('94 big bore) but the bolt action was more succesful.
Reference to Rifle #108 N 1986
Frank

[ 06-13-2003, 08:35: Message edited by: Frank Martinez ]