The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores a Ruger No. 1 in 450/400 is calling me!Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Hi guys! As the title says, a Ruger No. 1 is calling me. However, the most powerful rifle I've ever shot is my 9.3x62. I'm really concerned about the recoil from the 450/400 in such a light weight rifle as the No. 1. I'm okay with the recoil from my 9.3, but it's got a great recoil pad on it and it weighs in at 8.8 lbs. Can someone give me a hint on what the recoil is like on the 450/400? TIA! | ||
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Yes, I have one for sale. Like new. Recoil is suitable for 12 year old girls; like a 12 gauge. Of course, everyone feels recoil differently and it might not feel like that to you. But it is the best caliber; you can shoot 41 mag bullets in it, 300 grain 405s, and all the 400 grainers made. Very versatile. And 400 grain cast. It is not a light weight rifle; it has the tropical barrel profile. I am selling it for $1995 shipped. | |||
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As stated above, that Tropical #1 has quite a heavy barrel. I would expect 400gr bullets at 2150 to produce very mild recoil, be actually quite pleasant to shoot, yet penetrate deeply and be appropriate for hunting any animal that walks. We use my buddy's 416 loaded at this velocity, it's a total pussycat to shoot (and I believe it weighs less than a #1 Tropical). Gun and load gave excellent penetration on a bunch of Aussie water buffalo. | |||
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If you have a 9.3x62 and can handle that level of recoil then a 450/400 definitely should be doable. The 9.3 is/was considered so close to the .375 H&H that both were considered minimum for DG in much of Africa during the time the 450/400, and then 404 Jeffery, were introduced. They all came out in highly portable, 8 1/2# rifles. With modern powders it is easy to load the 450/400 and 404 up to 416 Rigby ballistics, but if kept to the original loads (400gr @ 2000 fps) the 450/400 is pleasant to shoot as it is deadly. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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My #1 450/400 all up weighs 10 1/2 lbs. I load the 400 gr. bullet between ~2050 to ~2100 fps because that's the sweet spot for the barrel. However, I'm shooting a 9.3x62 & .375 H&H on a weekly basis, so the slight increase in recoil of the 450/400 is no biggie. | |||
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I only load the 400 grain bullets to 2050 FPS because that is where my Krieghoff regulates and that velocity is plenty. No recoil to speak of, compared to other DG calibers. My rifle weighs 10.3 pounds. | |||
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I load my .405 double rifle to 2100 fos with 400 grain Woodies AND my 1895 .405 WCF to the same speed with the same 400 grain bullets and both are pleasant to shoot and both kill the big stuff. NRA Life Benefactor Member, DRSS, DWWC, Whittington Center,Android Reloading Ballistics App at http://www.xplat.net/ | |||
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I put 1" pachmayer pad on mine ( Increased LOP ) and it is very tolerable to me. Have even taken it on driven hunts in Europe  | |||
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I have a 10.5 lb. double in 450-400. 400 grain bullets will get your attention when you light one off. Best comparison is a heavy 12 gauge load. I expect the recoil will be even more noticeable in your no.1. I had a no.1 tropical in .458 win mag. The hottest load I put together for it was a 350 gr. bullet coming out at 2200 fps. That one rattled my molars. | |||
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Phil, just to be clear, the 9,3x64 is the minimum, as one makes the cases by turning the belt off .. the x62 is basically a 35 whelen opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I understand it's a country to country thing and the 9.3x62 is allowed in some. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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They aren't for shooting from the bench; not too bad under field positions. Nothing like a #1 458; one of which I owned for two weeks. It hurt. Come on over and we can shoot some. Nut; I sent you a PM. | |||
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Here is the ZIMBABWE minimum. Note the energy is expressed in joules and not Kinetic/foot pounds. https://pro-safaris.net/oneweb...nting%20in%20Zim.pdf | |||
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My 110lb wife"s go to gun is a no1 in 416 Rigby. Recoil is quite acceptable. | |||
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I enjoy my Ruger number one 450-400 a great deal. I find its recoil to be tolerable, but not light. I have had mixed results with lighter bullets, such as the 300 grain and under loads, possibly because of the considerable length of the throat. I also have No. 1 rifles in 416 Rigby and 458 Winchester, and do not enjoy either of those. I will likely sell them. | |||
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So the 9.3x62 can't make the 5,300 Joule Zimbabwe minimum requirement based on Norma ammo specs anyway. Handloads? 230 gr (15 g) Norma Ecostrike 2,641 ft/s (805 m/s) 3,563 ft⋅lbf (4,831 J) 232 gr (15 g) Norma Oryx 2,625 ft/s (800 m/s) 3,551 ft⋅lbf (4,815 J) 275 gr (18 g) Norma Solid 2,450 ft/s (750 m/s) 3,666 ft⋅lbf (4,970 J) 285 gr (18 g) Norma Oryx 2,362 ft/s (720 m/s) 3,544 ft⋅lbf (4,805 J) 286 gr (19 g) Swift A-Frame 2,362 ft/s (720 m/s) 3,544 ft⋅lbf (4,805 J) | |||
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300 grain A-Frame / DGX bullet with burn rates like H4350 / RL-17 and relying on .30-06 pressures will get it done. | |||
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Dr. Robertson wrote that spec because his favorite med bore is the 9.3x62mm. However, it cannot compare to the magnum 35 (9.1mm). That is just fact. Great cartridge the 9.3x62. The 9.3x66/370 Sako does hit the numbers for Zimbabwe. I will not recommend on the internet any hand load that is over a Reloading Manual spec. I am not saying anyone has. I am sure the judicious hand loader can reach the Joule number. I am of the mindset no one enforces the joule energy requirement. They just look at the caliber, but if I showed up with my 358 STA at near 5k foot pounds, 275 grain soft to 310 grains, and a SD over .3 there would be bashing of teeth because it is .008 inches in diameter smaller. Also Zim will permit dangerous game with a bow. So, I find these minimums to be arbitrary given you can get a permit to use a bow. If you like the 9.3x62, Do yourself a favor and get it. If you already have a 9.3x62 snd like if, then take it hunting. Use good bullets, life will be fine if you get the heart or both lungs. I think we need to be honest here. Most folks who use the 9.3x62 are going to use a 286 grain bullet (maybe a 293 grain bullet) at 2300 to 2360 feet per second. That is the standard spec for the 9.3x62. That is a 3,500 foot pound cartridge. If that bothers you or you want to meet the Joule requirement, you need another cartridge a 9.3x66/370 Sako or 9.3x64B, or bigger. The 9.3x62mm load that existed when John Taylor was hunting and writing books was a 286 grain bullet at a listed 2,180ish feet per second. I should be deer hunting. Instead it is a gale wind with ice. As for the 450/400, yes buy that, put a good recoil pad on it and enjoy. | |||
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Recoil is fine. I had a nice shotgun style safety, or double rifle, to stop the dreaded problem of the ejected cartridge striking the factory safety and popping back into the chamber  Even on video it happened to Boddington, and he had to turn rifle and dump it! DRSS | |||
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Oh, at the same time I had the gunsmith fit an express style rear sight . Much more betterer DRSS | |||
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Well, Nut, are you going to take dpcd up on his offer? Shoot a No. 1 in this caliber and see what you think. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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My 9,3x62 properly loaded to bolt action specs in a 24" barrel will shoot a 300 gr. bullet at 2430 fps and a tad more in the 26" Jefferys I had in the past.. I loaded my 375H&H and 375 Ruger at 2500 fps with a 300 gr bullet. I could never tell which one killed buffalo best..Both will do 2600 plus a bit, but bullets always seemed to performed better at 2500 My 9.3x62 ain't no 35 whelan, or as a famous gun scribe in Africa stated, 'its as close to cussing as dammit" Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Ray, What do you see as the 9.3x62 biggest advantages over the 35 Whelen? I always figured that they were awfully similar for practical purposes. Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
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Bottom line, it shoots a 300 gr. or 286 gr at the same velocity as my 35 Whelans and 338-06s shot a 250 gr. bullet, all things equal.. I did some testing on the 9,3x62 comparing it to a 9.3x64 and the 9,3x62 only gave up 100 fps no matter how I cut it..the 9.3x62 is reasonalby close to the 375 H&H with its 286 or 300 gr woodleigh at 2450 to 2500. Its legal in most of AFrica, and in reality all of Africa, I never in 40 plus years heard of anyone being denied its use or arrested for using it, and I used it in most of those countries..Same for the 9.3x74 double rifles, Lot of my hunters used them in Zim and Tanzania. Not condemning the 35 whelan, but I will quote Peter van der built in that comparing the 35 Whelan to the 9.3x62 us like damn is to cussing. It just ain't so..Im fond of the 35 Whelan for elk, but I would not normally recomend it for Cape buffalo..Nor would I hesitate to use the 9.3x62 for elephant or any DG..comparing calibers on the internet is balistic masterbation, its naughty and full of flawed claims..  Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Ray, bless your heart, you've turned this into yet another 9,3X62 thread, not that there is anything wrong with that ...  There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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450/400 is a lovely round but 500 NE, then you have something! Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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Is the general consensus that a 500NE is about as big as one could go with the Ruger No.1? I’ve owned a 450/400 N0.1 and have my Westley 400 falling block now as well as the Webley '02 500NE but also have a No.1 in 50/110 which I’ve thought would make a swell 500 as well. What say you folks? | |||
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Go for it! I love mine (thanks Huvius!) and had the same concern. It is a pleasure to carry and comfortable to shoot. | |||
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The late Don Heath “Ganyana”, who was the chief ecologist for Zimbabwe and primary trainer for aspiring PH’s in Zimbabwe loved and recommended the 9.3x62 and considers it a wonderful killer on virtually everything, including elephants . Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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Ray got that one right! It's no problem to get +4000 ft-lbs from several bullets in the veteran 9.3 x 62. The CIP standard is way underpowered for a modern bolt-action and good brass. Tikka makes the same rifle in .338 Win Mag as in the 9.3 x 62. If the brass is equal, common sense, and experience, has revealed the 9.3 x 62 is easily equal to the .338 WM and even the .375 H&H with some factory loads. Using the best powders: RL-17 and 2000MR at +60,000 psi is no big deal to accomplish that. Bob www.bigbores.ca "Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being" - King David, Psalm 148 (NLT) | |||
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Re the No.1H: Mine's in .458 Win Mag with the Mag-na-ports that reduces recoil by upwards of 15%. I've owned a couple of .458s in the past - a Ruger M77 and CZ550. The No.1 was purchased used on August 10/18 (mostly in shooting cast projectiles), but the bore is pristine. Since then I've handloaded nearly all that's available from 500's at +2300 fps down to 250s at 2680 fps (good close range bear-deer load). In between 300 TSXs at 2750 - 3000 fps, 350s (Hornady and TSX) the TSX at 2750 fps, 400s at +2500, 450 AF at +2400, and have tested several others in media. Have yet to bloody it, but it will see, God willing, some bear hunting this spring using the 300 TSX at sub-moa somewhere between 2750 and 2950 ( both loads are v. accurate) With 5 in a buttstock cartridge holder, plus a 2 - 7 x 32 Nikon scope, the rig weighs 10.65 lbs. Recoil from such a load is ~35 ft-lbs for the 2750 fps load. And I'm about Ray's age! That's a mild load for that rifle.  Bob www.bigbores.ca "Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being" - King David, Psalm 148 (NLT) | |||
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I have a Boddington #1 in.450 3 1/4 NE. You certainly know when you touch her off, but a sweet shooting blast! I did put on a squishy limbsaver and added some lead in the stock to temper things a tad though Rick DRSS | |||
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I figure if the 450-400-3" or 3.5" is too much recoil, then one needs to go way down the line for a lighter caliber or use a muzzle brake..and be honest with himself and ignore the nay sayers.. I also know that one can load a Ruger #1 beyond the pressure level of any bolt gun by a bunch!! Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores a Ruger No. 1 in 450/400 is calling me!
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