My 400 H&H

12 July 2015, 00:13

Doubless

My 400 H&H

From my personal friend and new electee into the ACGG, I would like for you all to see my 400 H&H, built by Robert Schuck. Congratulations, Robert!

http://www.acgg.org/index.php/...rofile/rlschuck.html

12 July 2015, 01:58

BNagel

Hey, them pictures is backwards! (Yes. I know.) Gorgeous.

12 July 2015, 02:07

bwanamrm

Gorgeous rifle! Left hand Montana?

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Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.

12 July 2015, 02:24

Doubless

Yes, it is a MRC 1999 magnum action. But we won't use that one again, as it took too much cleanup to get the rifle to feed reliably.

Krieger barrel, upgraded floor metal, and Australian walnut from Roger Vardy.

And the artistry of Robert L. Schuck...

12 July 2015, 04:54

Brandon.Gleason

Simply stunning! Looking forward to hearing how she shoots.

12 July 2015, 06:04

ninersfan

Congrats on a beautiful rifle.

If I may, what will you be using for ammunition, components, etc? Have you located a source for factory ammunition?

12 July 2015, 21:17

J_Zola

Doubless, if you don't use a Montana next time what would you use.

12 July 2015, 21:22

Doubless

Ninersfan, at present the plan is to handload. I stumbled across 200 pieces of correctly head stamped Jamison brass (and a brand new reamer) a couple of years back and found 300 original 400-grain .411" XFBs from Barnes. CH4D supplied the dies, and I am currently looking at a mould from Tom at Accurate Molds so I may shoot "cheaply" and learn the rifle. I have been casting since 1980, so there is a bit of a "leg up" in that aspect of this adventure.

I can tell you that an arbitrary load of 62 grains of RL 15 behind the Barnes and a Federal 215 acted very nicely to get the rifle on paper. Seated to 3.600" the rounds were almost cutting at 30 yards, and the barrel has seen less than a dozen rounds. Some potential, at least; if I can tolerate the recoil from the bench, I plan to try AA 4064, maybe some TAC, etc. (Quickload claims 65 grains of RL 15 is tops for the Barnes, and similar charges of 4064 and 4320, as well...).

I guess we shall see! Thanks for the compliments on the rifle. Robert did an exquisite job, in my estimation.

13 July 2015, 00:15

218 Bee

Beautiful, Scot!

Robert does excellent work...I can't wait 'til he gets finished with that .25-20 for me!

Mark

13 July 2015, 01:19

Doubless

J_Z, it will probably be a GMA action. That or a Dakota...

And Mark, I know you will be pleased. At least now you know what his capabilities are !

13 July 2015, 03:02

Rockdoc

Lovely rifle. beautifully executed. I really like the leather covered recoil pad.

Pierre van der Walt list some reloading data for this cartridge in "African Dangerous Game Cartridges"

13 July 2015, 23:19

jens poulsen

Lovely rifle thanks for sharing

the .400H&H seems to be a Black sheep of the .400 Family....but a sexy looking cartridge it is. Please post some cartridges.

J.

14 July 2015, 01:04

BNagel

http://ezine.nitroexpress.info...s/ASG-PDF/400H&H.pdf

14 July 2015, 01:42

Doubless

quote:
Originally posted by BNagel:
http://ezine.nitroexpress.info...s/ASG-PDF/400H&H.pdf

Thanks, Barry!

14 July 2015, 06:44

mart

quote:
Originally posted by BNagel:
Hey, them pictures is backwards! (Yes. I know.) Gorgeous.

Better look again. That bolt appears to be on the correct side.

"...I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprize, and independance to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks." Thomas Jefferson

14 July 2015, 07:36

Grenadier

Very nice rifle. Great cartridge. Everything looks all right to me.

14 July 2015, 07:38

Rockdoc

14 July 2015, 23:04

Doubless

GRRRRRR!!!

15 July 2015, 02:06

Zephyr

PM sent..

15 July 2015, 02:11

Zephyr

Been shooting the 400H&H now since 2011.

Top cartridge 400H&H 400gr Hawk Bullet
Bottom 375H&H 300gr Barnes TSX
Sorry for my lack of photo expertise

15 July 2015, 09:32

Austin Hunter

What bottom metal did you use?

The 400 H&H always reminded me of a belted 404 Jeffery!

I wish they had made it .416 caliber, but I do think it's cool looking!

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15 July 2015, 13:08

Esskay

A 300 H&H, a 400 H&H and perhaps a 465 H&H...what a battery that would be

15 July 2015, 13:20

Grenadier

People often say the .404 Jeffrey is the rimless equivalent of the .450/400 NE. But the .404 is .423 caliber and the analogy doesn't work. Truth be told, it is the .400 H&H that is the rimless equivalent of the .450/400 NE.

15 July 2015, 17:02

Zephyr

Might have to stretch the word equivalent a bit.
The 450/400 pushes a 400gr bullet at 2150fps for 4000flbs of energy.
The 400H&H pushes a 400grn bullet at 2400fps for 5000fbls of energy.
As much as I admire the 450/400 not quite in the same class.

15 July 2015, 19:39

Grenadier

I meant in regard to bore diameter, the bullets they shoot, and in the way other cartridges complement each other in their rimmed and rimless versions. For example, 7x65R and 7x64, .300 Fl Mag and .300 H&H belted Mag, 333 Jeffery Fl and 333 Jeffery Rimless, .375 Fl Mag and .375 H&H belted Mag, .500/465 and .465 H&H Mag, 500 NE and 500 Jefferey. Some were co-designed to be rimmed and rimless and some came along at different times but work out that way. Cartridges designed for double rifles generally produce less pressure and velocity then their bolt rifle counterparts.

In that way, the .404 Jeffery is often referred to as the rimless counterpart of the .450/400. This was because for years no good counterpart to the .450/400 existed. But the .404 and the .450/400 do not even shoot the same bullets. Even a .416 would be closer to the .450/400 than the .423 caliber .404 Jeffery. However, the .400 H&H makes a very good counterpart to the .450/400.

15 July 2015, 21:05

Doubless

AH, I believe the bottom metal came from our own Duane Wiebe...

16 July 2015, 03:15

Zephyr

Grenadier..,.
I can work with that premise..
Thanks

Doubless..
Did you get the 400H&H loading data I sent?

16 July 2015, 05:36

Doubless

I did. I am in your debt... did you not get the email response?

16 July 2015, 07:13

Zephyr

Sorry no Glad you goo the info.
Let me know if you have any questions

16 July 2015, 18:00

Deon

quote:
Originally posted by Zephyr:
Might have to stretch the word equivalent a bit.
The 450/400 pushes a 400gr bullet at 2150fps for 4000flbs of energy.
The 400H&H pushes a 400grn bullet at 2400fps for 5000fbls of energy.
As much as I admire the 450/400 not quite in the same class.

Luckily some of us Reload and 2350-2400fps is possible with a 450/400 in a Ruger No.1

See here:

http://www.realguns.com/articles/336.htm

Unfortunately though, the Buffalo will know if its a 400H&H or a 450/400.

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16 July 2015, 18:17

Zephyr

Nice..
I forget about the possibilities of the Ruger #!.
A note of caution many of the traditional soft nose bullets for the 450/400 are designed for velocities of 1800-2200fps. At 2350-2400 you may may be pushing the bullets limits.
Good Shooting.

17 July 2015, 04:41

Zephyr

An example is the 300gr Hornady Spire Point designed for the Win 405. The 400H&H can push a 300gr bullet up to 2700fps at that speeds the 300gr Hornady will turn anything into a grey mist.

19 July 2015, 11:01

RyanB

quote:
Originally posted by Grenadier:

In that way, the .404 Jeffery is often referred to as the rimless counterpart of the .450/400. This was because for years no good counterpart to the .450/400 existed. But the .404 and the .450/400 do not even shoot the same bullets. Even a .416 would be closer to the .450/400 than the .423 caliber .404 Jeffery. However, the .400 H&H makes a very good counterpart to the .450/400.

The nominal ballistics of both are a 400gr bullet at 2150 fps. The Jeffery was loaded hotter in the 1950s. The Jeffery case is very similar to the 450/400, other than it's lack of a rim.

21 July 2015, 20:43

Rusty

Beautiful rifle! Congratulations!

Rusty
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