Gentlemen:

Probably a basic question but here it goes: my bores slug out at .406. Is it ok to shoot .408 bullets?

Thanks for the help...

Welcome to AR.

Can you give us some more info on your double?

Brand name etc. Is it possible that this is a BPE [Black Powder Express] rifle?

If so has it been reproofed for nitro powder?

Is the powder charge and/or bullet weight engraved on any part of the barrels?

If it were mine and I was worried by it I would take a Lee .401 push through sizing die polish it out to 406 and resize them

450 No. 2:

Its a webley and scott 60 cordite for 400 grain bullet rifle, originally built as a cordite rifle.

Engraved on the left barrel is: "450/400 3 1/4" 60 grs. smokeless 400 gr. bullet".

I know I would not shoot any "hard" jacketed .408 bullets through it. By hard jacketed I mean any kind of .408 X bullet, steel jacketed solids, etc.

I would consider doing as p dog shooter suggested, or you might try this...

For your soft take a look at Hawk bullets.

They will make custom sizes with a minimum order. I have shot their .408 300gr and 400gr bullets in my 450/400 3 1/4".

I would go with a .50 jacket for cape buff bullets.

Then I would call North Fork and see if they would make some of their FN solids to fit a .406 diameter barrel.

With their bullets the shank of the bullet doews not touch the barrel, only the "ridges" are engraved by the rifling.

Also I would check with CEB bullets and see if they will make some noncoms and some solids in .406.

I've had reasonable and fast service from North Fork making an order of smaller than .408 bore riding solids. They'll probably ask for your slugs to do their own mic'ing. In my 450/400 they regulate with slightly lower charges than the .408 woodleigh softs that I also use. Both are very accurate and I'm glad to note they both hit to the same point of aim...

Good luck,

Emory:

So am I correct in understanding you have used woodleigh .408 SN bullets in a smaller than .408 bore size rifle, but didn't use the Woodleigh .408 Solid?

What is your bore diameter?

You are correct. I use Woodleigh soft core .408s for expanding bullets and North Fork special order flat nose solids.

Keep in mind the Woodleigh softs have a bonded copper jacket and my assumption has been that they deform enough to use in the relatively tight barrels. Just tried mic'ing the bases of three recovered softs and they range from .413 to over .420. That expansion of the bases upon impact seems to indicate some expansion (and hopefully enough contraction) capability...

I just mic'ed un-fired solids and they are slightly over .408 at the bands with core diameters about .396. I also have some cup point solids of same size. Have not recovered any of the solids as I got pass throughs on the two buffalo I've shot with them.

The two slugs of my barrels are about .4063 and .4065 - as I just measured them.

Good hunting,

You can always get Corbin to make you a custom die. I have one and re-size .410s to .408 for my 450/400 3 inch NE.

Contact Hawk Bullets for what you need/want.

Hi Dahav,

We can make our solids to any custom size you need. 450/400 are notorious for varying bore sizes.

As a side note, we have tested .413 down a .411 bore and did not a significant rise in pressure. This may be due to the fact of the grooves. But it is not something we recommend.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
John

woo-hoo! I am getting a 404J and just looked at your production line in that caliber. I think I am in business.

Rich

I am almost positive that GS Custom will do any
diameter that you want.

We have had an HV since 2006 and an FN since 2009.