For some reason that I haven't really figured out yet I just bought a Ruger #1 in 450/400 3" for something to play with. I can't find any load data for this and would like to load a moderate velocity soft point to casually shoot as well as to maybe take deer hunting. Any suggestions or directions on where to seaqrch will be greatly appreciated.

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Hi RL,

My wife gave me one last March. Worked up loads and shot it all summer. Just got back from Africa last week . Used it to whack a buffalo and warthog. My hunting load is 85.0 gr MagPro with CCI 250 primer. Bullet is a Cutting Edge 370 gr. NE Safari Raptor. Absolutely flattened a buff at about 45 yards. Passed through a warthog broadside at about 50 yards. A practice load is 25 gr TrailBoss with a 400 gr cast bullet. Recoil is about like a 243 Win. Fun gun to shoot, power if you need it, low recoil whenyou don't.

Thanks for the info Impala. Where did you find this load? I'd like to find something using a 300gr bullet. Swift makes a 300gr A Frame and Hornady has a 300gr RN. These would make nice deer loads when loaded to about 2200FPS.

Hi RL,

I found some info in manuals, some on the internet, some from folks that have loaded for this caliber. Do not have any info on 300 gr bullets. I loaded some 400 gr Woodleighs and Hornady up to 2350 fps. Had noticeably more recoil than at 2150. Have fun.

There is also load data here. It will do well as a plains game bullet.

Thanks for the info. The 325gr must be the Swift A frame. I love those bullets.

Swift makes a 325gr bullet in a couple of handgun cartridges but nothing in the A Frame range in rifle cartridges.

The 325gr HV bullet is made by GSC and it is a drive band bullet. The engraving pressure is much lower than what one will have with regular jacketed lead bullets or any type of grooved bullet.

The load data cannot be interchanged.

I think the newest Hornady manual has data.

My pet load in all my doubles was 85 to 87 grs. of H4831 for 2150 give or take 25 FPS, always very accurate as was 71 grs. of RL-15, all with 400 gr. Woodleighs and the GS Customs bullets as mentioned by Gerard penetrated better and killed better than any other bullet I used in my 450-400s and would be absolutely awesome in that No. 1 .

Your Ruger no. 1 will take more powder and more pressure, than my doubles did, so work up from my loads to the rifles safe max..

Pierre van der Walts book, African Dangerous Game Cartridges, has all the loads listed in both US and European Reloading books, its and awesome fountain of information on African cartridges..Has about 50 different 450-400 loads for the 3 and 3.5" 450-400s all of which will work easy in your stronger action...

Thanks Ray for the info and I'll look for that book.

Ruger No.1 only, not for double rifles
84. gr RL-17