45 caliber big bores, info needed

06 November 2004, 10:50

M1Tanker

This is a follow up to my earlier post abouot turning a Ruger #1 into a 45 big bore. I have received several suggestions for cartridges but I know very little about any of them. I want to use one of the classic 45's so that rules out the 45/90 and such along with the Lott and WM. I really want one of the rimmed NE's and such. Could you please pass on info to me about the various calibers available and the performance data? Pics would be greatly appreciated.

06 November 2004, 11:17

Charles_Helm

There are others on here who know a lot more than I do, but you might enjoy reading this article on the .450 Nitro Express. Information about some of the cartridges is also available here.

06 November 2004, 11:35

fla3006

I'll say it again, a 450NE or 450#2 is gonna be a real killer at both ends in a light weight rifle designed for the 45-70.

06 November 2004, 11:39

GeorgeS

Purchase the softcover "Cartridges of the World" and read about the different rounds.

George

06 November 2004, 12:00

M1Tanker

Quote:

I'll say it again, a 450NE or 450#2 is gonna be a real killer at both ends in a light weight rifle designed for the 45-70.

I agree with you completely and intend on adding mercury recoil reducers and a Decelorator as a mininum. If I go with a rebarrel I will make it a bit beefier to give it some meat out front to soak up some of that recoil. A glutton for punishment I am not.

06 November 2004, 12:01

M1Tanker

Quote:

There are others on here who know a lot more than I do, but you might enjoy reading this article on the .450 Nitro Express. Information about some of the cartridges is also available here.

Thanks for the links. You answered a lot of my questions with those.

06 November 2004, 12:29

Atkinson

That pretty well sticks you with the 450 #2...and a good choice it will be, but it will recoil plenty bad, but you can always load it down to about 2000 and calm its bad a$$ down some....

I have shot more Buffalo with my 458 and 470 at 2020FPS than with any other velocity load and it works like a charm, of course 2250 FPS is better, but is it needed?, I doubt it if the shot is correct, and if the shot is not correct 5000 FPS won't help you a heck of a lot...

06 November 2004, 12:30

skl1

The A-Square reloading manual also has info on both cartridges (historical and reloading data) should you rebarrel and want to reload for your rifle.

Am I crazy, or does the ballistic table on the Kynoch site show the .450 #2 starting off 25fps faster than the 450NE with the same bullet, but then losing velocity at a much faster rate to where it is slower at 50 yds and 100 yds than the 450 NE? Is this right?

Steve

06 November 2004, 13:00

fla3006

Not to keep throwing cold water on your project, but if you rebarrel, then the project is no longer very cost effective. I'd find a factory 458 Win and rechamber to your nitro express cartridge, then you'd have plenty of meat around the barrel for the required weight and not have to rebarrel. I rechambered an old 458Win to Lott, added a brass dowel inside the butt which improved the balance and got the weight up to 10.25lbs, just right. Recoil not that bad, not painful, just a big push.

07 November 2004, 03:31

MacD37

Quote:

If I go with a rebarrel I will make it a bit beefier to give it some meat out front to soak up some of that recoil.

M1 , be carefull how fat you dicide to make the re-barrel. There is a limit to how barrel can be contured, depending on it's origenal barrel configuration. The fore-end hanger is fitted to the conture of the origenal barrel, on a Ruger No1. The hanger will be different in a 458 wm rifle, than in a 45-70 rifle. In some cases they can't be modified enough for a larger barrel. You could go to a 26" barrel to add weight out front, and most data for the 450NE are taken with 26", and 28" barrels on double rifles. Even a 28" barrel would still make a very short rifle on the No1 action.

If you are going the re-barrel anyway, then I would start with a tropicle, or an action on a heavy varment barrel. The heavy barreled varment will have the large forestock as well, to give you a little more wood to hold onto!

Good luck, with your No1!

PS: OR.........You could buy a new No1 chambered for 405 Win, and rechamber to 450/400NE 3" This would be my choice! Another would be the 416 Rem Mag, re-chambered to 500/416NE. Both are streight forward rechamberings, with a little extractor work.

07 November 2004, 07:14

congomike

.45-120 or .45 3 2/5 sharps. The .45 Basic brass can be slightly trimmed to make this case. Easily duplicates 458 Lott, brass is about 1/3 the price of .450 3 1/4 Nitro express. Dies are also very cheap compared to the .450 3 1/4 and it uses the common 45-70 shell holder.