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Anyone heard of 450 1/2"

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12 June 2003, 12:26
browningguy
Anyone heard of 450 1/2"
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,
12 June 2003, 14:16
browningguy
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 ]
12 June 2003, 14:24
ricciardelli
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.
12 June 2003, 14:27
ricciardelli
You could have cleared the air if you had stated .450x3-1/4", which is the parent cartridge...
12 June 2003, 15:27
browningguy
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.
12 June 2003, 19:06
ricciardelli
quote:
Originally posted by browningguy:
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.
Ain't readin' a blast?
13 June 2003, 12:17
Alaska Bush Man
A 458 Win Mag cut down to 1.5" is the 458 American excellent cartrige
13 June 2003, 15:43
B Stephenson
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
13 June 2003, 17:31
Frank Martinez
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 ]