A friend of mine is willing to sell me a Ruger #01 in 458 WM for a good price. I am wondering if this would make a viable 450 Ackley or a 450 NE project. Also, I would appreciate any other suggestions regarding rechambering the rifle, possible problems, etc.

Thx

Easiest, least expensive and most practical conversion is to the 458 Lott. I'm in the middle of just such a project. At first I considered the 450 #2. The Lott is not as exotic as some of the other old calibers, but reloading is cheaper and the round offers plenty of power and versatility.

[ 06-14-2003, 19:29: Message edited by: fla3006 ]

I have a Lott on a Ruger Number one built by Dennis Olsen. It shoots 1 inch groups at 100 yrds and will also shoot 458 winchesters. Kinda like a 38 spl/357 mag.

Go with the 450 NE,a rimless case in a single shot just does not seem Right! If youe decide on either the Lott oor the Ackley they are both fine cartridges.

Like the DUDE, I prefere the old Nitro Express rounds, but the Ruger No1, has never given any throuble when chambered for rimless/belted cartridges, and the most versetile is the 458 LOTT. It can be loaded down to the old 450 NE 3.25" or up to top loads for the LOTT, and in a pinch you can use 458 Win Mag cartridges, if ammo gets lost in transit. 458 win mag is available in Africa, almost any place where ammo is sold.

I too, have a Ruger No1 458 Win Mag tropical that is unfired, and I'm thinking about the LOTT, myself, but I do love the old NE rimmed rounds!

http://www.billsaccuracy.com/nitro.htm , 450 nitro express #1, 2500fps with 500gr bullet, just curious what it can do in 450#2 with good brass . . .

Jiri

Glenn: I bought a No. 1 in .458 just for this job; my smith rented the .450 NE reamer and it cleaned up the chamber beautifully. I didn't push any of the loads beyond the traditional velocities (and also had a little fun with black powder and cast lead), but the rifle shot the Hornady 500 at about 2200 without even thinking about breaking a sweat. Just make sure your dies and brass are compatible with the chamber. If I ever do this again, I might try it with the .450 No. 2, just for the coolness factor, but the .450 NE is pretty cool, too. I would prefer a longer barrel on the Ruger Tropical, but that is just me.

[ 06-17-2003, 18:56: Message edited by: Bill/Oregon ]

I had mine rechambered intoa .460 Weatherby. I know the chambering isn't exotic but brass and bullets are easy to get and I can load it to any power level I need.