Can a Ruger #1 in a .458 Lott be "re-chambered" to a .450 NE 3 1/4? If so, who can do it?

can be done, it is FAR cheaper and easier, and other than having a 450 NE case in you hand, 1/10th the cost to just load the lott to 500gr at 2150...

ssk industries would be a great place to start...

however, lets get real here

you are going to be in it 400 at least for gunsmithing
200 for dies
4dollar vs .8 dollar brass

and reduced resale value...

leave it a lott, and load down

Any gunsmith worth his salt can do that easily.
It is just a matter of rechambering the barrel and getting the extractor-ejector to fit properly the bigger rim of the flanged cartridge. A replacement extractor can be ordered from Ruger or the current one modified.

A flanged cartridge is more reliable in a falling block single shot, though the Ruger extractor worked fine.

It is cool to have a Ruger No.1 chambered for the 450 NE 3.25" (Thin Rim), the granddaddy of all Nitro Express cartridges from 1898. That is where it all started.

I came upon some 450NE3.25" dies from RCBS gathering dust on a shelf in Tennessee for about $200, New Old Stock.

The plot was hatched.

I bought a new stainless laminate Ruger No.1 in .458 Lott for about $750.

I paid my local buddy gunsmith about $200 to do the conversion.

Brass is no problem nowadays.

It is the easiest and cheapest way to a Nitro Express single shot to tickle your pinky finger slightly, yet very practical.

You have greater case capacity than the .458 Lott and lower pressure for similar velocity attained, or get your pinky finger really straight and stiff with 480-grainers at 2150 fps.

Some pointers:

Safety button filed down at front edge to ease clearance of ejected case. On a Rim as large as 577 NE it can still be managed, but it requires extensive "low-profiling" of the entire tang safety button. With the 450NE rim, only this is required:



Breech open all the way, the extractor has "ejected":



Extractor still in place as action starts to open:



"Ejected" on full opening:



Pinky Salute:



Full Monty:



Stamping: "450 NE" and Lott X-ed out



Two brass pins across wrist behind the tang, Selous would not be impressed with such a weak reinforcement:

Good God that is a skookum recoil pad!

I've thought about doing exactly the same thing with my #1H 458 Win. I've also thought about doing a #1H SS in 500 NE just because I have a blank lying around crying out to be made into something.

Well, it's crying out to me...

Love it! except that I don't understand why the smith goes to all the trouble to do a nice job and they screw it up by cold stamping the new caliber on the bbl and X out the old. It's probably just me but I'd shit if they did that to my rifle. I usually ask to have it engraved by a jeweler, or some folks like Hart Laser engrave it on their bbls. Just my 2 cents. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by BigUglyMan:
Good God that is a skookum recoil pad!

Ha ha. That is a slip-on Simms LimbSaver.
My arms are longer than I am tall so I need a little extra LOP added onto the factory buttpad underneath the "skookum."

Of course with a heavy winter coat I could shorten the LOP by slipping off the slip-on.

The Ruger No.1 above weighs about 9.5 lbs dry, and exactly 10.5 pounds with the mini-scope, rings, and skookum. Very low rings.

Maybe I need to spray paint the whole thing?

470 NE and 500 NE are nice on a Ruger No. 1, and can save wear and tear on your double rifle for initial load development, or allow you to shoot faster-lighter AND slower-heavier loads that do not regulate in the double.

450 NE is simply the easiest of rechamberings.

Double for DG and Ruger No. 1 for DG backup and better at PG.

Remember the champ at one of the Zimbabwe PH proficiency tests won for speed and accuracy with a Ruger No.1, in a 5-shot barrage of simulated charging buffalo shooting requirements.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Love it! except that I don't understand why the smith goes to all the trouble to do a nice job and they screw it up by cold stamping the new caliber on the bbl and X out the old. It's probably just me but I'd shit if they did that to my rifle. I usually ask to have it engraved by a jeweler, or some folks like Hart Laser engrave it on their bbls. Just my 2 cents. Lou

Call me a redneck, and I will say "Thank you."

This is just a user.
It ain't no extended pinky finger piece, except in jokes.

You would have to ablate the "458 Lott" and coverup for the engraving. No setback or spinning the barrel allowed here.

I really do not want any time or money spent on getting this engraved.

The purpose is cheap and perfect function. Beware the man with only a few pretty guns.
He has practiced with a lot more ugly guns than you will ever know.

Ehg5640,

Yes is is easily done. My gunsmith removed the barrel to chamber it. Me then milled a pocket where the old 458 Win was stamped and labelled it 450 NE 3 1/4" in script. Much better than just xxxx ing out the old caliber designation.
My guy has built several 450 NE on ruger No.1's.
Ranging from simple rechambers to elaborate metal work and new barrels and wood. PM me if you want contact info for him. I will also send you pictures if you are interested, PM me.
Nitro450exp.

quote:

Originally posted by nitro450exp:
Ehg5640,

Yes is is easily done. My gunsmith removed the barrel to chamber it. Me then milled a pocket where the old 458 Win was stamped and labelled it 450 NE 3 1/4" in script. Much better than just xxxx ing out the old caliber ...

Ah ha! You weakened your barrel by milling out a spot right over the chamber!
Unacceptable!


My barrel was removed for rechambering.
I only allow hand chambering of 12GaFH NEF ~Ultra Slugs~.

RIP

Considering he only went as deep as the original stamped text, I doubt any real weakening took place. Secondly since the 450 NE operated at significantly lower pressure than the original 458 Win Mag I will take my chances
I thought the appearance was worth the risk
Nitro450exp

Thanks for all the suggestions and information.

I do have a set of dies and brass for the .450 3 1/4 NE. that I got when I bought a TC hand- gun with a .450 NE SSK barrel. I understand that Ruger is going to produce the .450 3 1/4 NE as the last gun in the five gun Boddington series. But that is still more then 18 months away and that series with upgraded wood are selling for $1250.00 to $1400.00 each.

As far as recoil, I do have Kick Ez recoil pads install on my big bore rifles. I get a little more length and some reduced recoil.

Ehg,.Hope you do it or pick one up,, I have the 45-70 no-1 converted over to 450 3 1/4" and really enjoy it,,but only with the black powder express type loads, plan on having it re barreled next summer and going heavier