What do you guys reckon is the best .40 caliber cartridge for a double rifle?

450/400 NE?

500/416 NE?

Something else?

Looks like Hornady makes ammo for both, and rifles are available for both.

Not really in the market, just day dreaming out loud.

U might consider the 450 nitro as well

450-400; no question for several reasons.
1: plenty of power for anything.
2; no recoil.
3. easy to get bullets for; standard .410/11.
4. traditional caliber; easier to re sell than the 416 wildcat.
5. I like it.
Why not a 450? Those are good too; kick more.
Why is this not in the DR section?
Come over and we can shoot some of each.

450 NE would be my first choice, 450/400 my second. Both are incredibly versatile. You could get two sets of barrels for the same double in both calibers.

For lower recoil the 450/400NE would be hard to beat. A classic caliber that is adequate for any DG and currently very popular (IE: Good resale value.).

However, I reload so I prefer the 450NE as there are a HUGE number of bullets to choose from. Much less bullet choice in the 400/470/500 cartridges.

All good points; but here are three distinct easy to get bullets for the 400 too; 210 grains for the 41 magnum, 300 grains for the 405 WCF, and the usual 400 grain soft and solids made for it.
Although that is all moot, having different bullet weights for a DR; they won't regulate. usually; I use mostly 450 grainers in my 500; 570s kick too much, and the 450s regulate perfectly.

What dpcd says about the .41 caliber bullets is also true foe my .405 WCF Simson Suhl DR which regulates the 300 and 400 grain bullets .

I use all three bullet weights in my Winchester 1895 .405 WCF also. The 400 grain at around 2100 fps is Big Medicine for some large and dangerous game.

A 405 Win double would be awesome. Able to load long and have less recoil on a smaller frame.

It's important to note that these are 2 VERY different calibers .. the 500/416, of limited popularity, is 2400fps

the 450/400 is milder, and much more traditional.

something else? the last double i built is 45/120 "nitro" using norma brass.

but the 450/400 is a joy to shoot, and can be in a light frame

The 450/400 is a traditional cartridge that has shown it is adequate for even elephant.

The .416 versions recoil more (due to more velocity) and while some doubles are wonderfully accurate, they are a short range proposition in general.

If you are willing to take the additional punch from boosting velocity to 2400 for additional killing power, you might as well go to a .458 or a .470, IMO.

Yes, .416 bullets are a bit easier to find than the appropriate 450/400 ones, but not so much so to make that choice a requirement.

As noted above, a lot of the reason folks get doubles is tradition, and getting a new cartridge chambered double will cut what resale you can get.

If you want a “40-ish” bore, and (presumptively) a lighter than 500 grain(ish) bullet, the .450/400 is your best option, IMO.


This from a guy who loves .416’s ... in bolt guns.

A nice red deer cow taken with Simson Suhl .405 WCF DR:

Guide estimated the weight at 300 pounds and the meat was delicious.

I have both the 500-416 & the 450-400,where as the 450-400 is adequate for most game ? the 500-416 hammers em hard,DRT for the only buff I took with that gun,I have also used it for plains game with great results,the 450-400 is also a great caliber,one black bear to it's credit,it's kind of like a retirement suitable caliber,lower recoil & with years of experience behind you when you turn 70? it's like a death ray in your hands

Although most of my African DG hunting was iwth a 450-400-3" or 3.25" I much preferred the 450-3.25 to any other double rifle caliber, mostly because it killed like 470 and I could use .458 bullets and it was cheaper to shoot, recoiled less than the .470, and the two I had shot very well indeed..

that said, I found no fault at all with the 450-400s....so that would be the best 40ish as there is little or no competition with that caliber in double rifles..

I have a set of dies that I had made for custom double rifle Rick stickley built me and I stocked it..it was 450-400 necked down to .416 and it was a dandy..If any interest in the dies Id let them go pretty cheap! Im wondering it the 500 and 450 case or the same or what??? Would these dies work on your 500-416??

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I have a set of dies that I had made for custom double rifle Rick stickley built me and I stocked it..it was 450-400 necked down to .416 and it was a dandy..If any interest in the dies Id let them go pretty cheap! Im wondering it the 500 and 450 case or the same or what??? Would these dies work on your 500-416??

I am pretty sure they would not work on the 500-416,different lengths I think?

The 375 Flanged Magnum will kill anything that walks in a lighter less recoiling rifle. It can also regulate 325 gr bullets for deer hunting in NA.

If I recall correctly, the .470/.500 NE case is the same, and larger than the .450 NE.

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
If I recall correctly, the .470/.500 NE case is the same, and larger than the .450 NE.

Correct.
AFAIK, 500NE, 500/450 (Holland's), 500/465, and 470 all share the same parent case.
The 500/416 may be different, not sure.