OK here is just a miscellaneous topic, since all others are gone and I can't seem to find a whole lot of info out there on the net about this cartridge. What is a 450 Ackley and how does it differ/compare to a 458 winnie/lott? gabe

Biff,

It is a full-length .375 H&H case necked up to .458" that has a very small shoulder and a parallel neck section where the bulet is seated.

The .458 WM and .458 Lott both taper to the mouth, and both are shorter -- although the Lott is just a tad shorter than the Ackley. Those two have comparable ballistics, with quite a bit more oomph than the .458 WM.

Since the Lott is now available in factory ammunition and factory rifles, I would choose it over the Ackley -- although I did own an Ackley once upon a time.

jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

The 450 Ackley Magnum is a .458 made by necking out the 375 H&H to .458, leaving a very small shoulder. Brought out in 1960 by Ackley this wildcat, described on page 502 of "THE HANDBOOK FOR SHOOTERS AND RELOADERS" By Ackley. A-square loaded factory ammo for it for a short time.

It used 300 gr to 600 gr bullets, and would push them ata good clip.

300gr blt, IMR4198 pdr, 90 grs, 3035fps, 6010 fpe

400gr blt, IMR3031 pdr, 100.0 grs, 2800 fps, 7000 fpe

500 gr blt, IMR3031 pdr, 90.0 grs, 2470 fps, 7005 fpe

600 gr blt, IMR4320 pdr, 87.0 grs, 2200fps, 6047 fpe.

Because of the shoulder it couldn't use 458 win mag ammo, and finally so lost out to the 450 Watts, or 458 lott, both still made from the 375 H&H case, but a streight case, leaving the chamber so that the 458 win mag ammo could be used in a pinch,though these two developed less velocity, and energy, both are all that is needed for this type cartridge. The 458 Lott is a far better cartridge,IMO!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

Thanks for the responses, I have a mark X 458 Win on the way and if I am unhappy with the amount of oomph that it has so to speak it will probably become a lott but was just curious about the ackley. I have my doubts that for my needs (like I really needed it anyway) the win mag will suffice if propperly loaded for. But hey when has actual need really played into the toys in which we accumulate. Either way I am happy to be getting into the realm of the big bore!!! gabe

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacD37:
Hi MacD37
Are your 450 Ackley velocities not a bit on the oportunistic side. They sound like they would really be high pressure loads. I shot a 450 Ackley for years and 2400 fps with 748 Winchester was the best I ever got with a 25 inch barrel. Just curious if you might have mixed up a cartridge.
Take care
470 Mbogo

Believe MacD37 might be quoting Ackley's load statistics, which unfortunately also appear in Cartridges of the World. Most authorities consider some of his data as too optomistic, but I don't know what instruments he had available and perhaps he was getting those velocities at very excessive pressures. Anyway the 450 Ackley will safely get you 6,000 ft lbs of muzzle energy and works in any standard magnum length action (Rem 700, Win 70, etc). A very good cartridge.

There are two very comprehensive articles on the 450 Ackley in Wolfe Publishing's book Wildcats. One of the Article also appears in Big Bore Rifles and Cartridges.

Mike

I have two 450 Ackleys and posted some pictures of the last one I put together awhile back. You can hit 2400fps with a 500 gr bullet and that is plenty. By the way, the smoothest feeding ejecting , shooting and looking DGR I've ever built is a 450 ACKLEY on a pre-64 Winchester LA. It's absolutely beautiful and screems Africa every time I see it! You can't go wrong with this caliber. It will outperform, but not by much the 450 lott and Watt. It will dramatically outperform either of those calibers with cast bullets due to the parrell neck design. At least that's my experience.-Rob

The .458 Lott impr. comes also with a parallel neck (ghost shoulder) and a longer case lenght. So there is no real difference to the Ackley, but the advantage to use .458 WinMag in case of emergency.

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I have a 450 Ackley and a friend of mine has the Lott, both with 25" barrels. The Ackley typically gets 2400 fps with 500 gr bullets, and the Lott does 2350 fps with the same bullet. I really don't think the animal will notice. Personally I like the Ackley case design better, but there are good arguments for either cartridge. - Dan