I've seen it mentioned in the cartridges of the world book that the 3-1/4" cartridge was prone to sticking in chambers because of the extra long neck and rims were prone to coming off. The 3" jeffery version apparently did not have these same problems. Was this due to the qulaity of the brass of the day and now a thing of the past with modern brass?
I'm looking at the 3-1/4" chmabering for a single shot rifle but wondering if the 3" version is a far less troubled path. Id prefer the 3 1/4" version as it would be the correct period chmabering for my Farquharson.
Opinions and experience on the matter?

NE450#2's wife has a 3 1/4 inch rifle and I don't remember any problems with her rifle.

Hornady will be making 3 1/4 brass soon so, there will be a good supply of quaility brass.

I've been told that reloading of the 3 1/4 requires a little more care due to the length of the neck.

Unless your are making a BP rifle, almost any NE Cartridge would suit your action. Very sturdy, indeed!

fordnutter

Back in the day many of the cartridges had problems when using the regular black powder brass they started shooting Cordite.

In todays world all the Nitro Express brass is made to the same standards.

I have a 450/400 3 1/4" double rifle [that I let my wife use ].

I have shot this rifle quite a bit, I have even had it scoped. I have not had any problems with the brass. Loading the long necked case has not been a problem at all.

I actually like the looks of the 400 3 1/4" case better.

If you find a British 450/400 3 1/4" that you like I would not hjesitate in the slightest to buy it.

If I was having a new double made I would go with the 3" version just because Hornady is making ammo. They are supposed to make 3 1/4" brass as well.

Also you might find a British double with .408 diameter bbls, as mine is. Again no problems as Woodleigh makes .408 diameter bullets.

OH, let me add, my wife did "use" it on Safari in Zimbabwe and shot a monster cape buff.

One shot one kill.

I used it to take baboon, zebra, cape buff, bull elephant and lion.

I have also used it here in the states to take deer and wild pigs in Texas, 2 caribou in Alaska, and black bear in Montana, and all of the game in the US was taken before I mounted the scope.

Since mounting the scope I have tken 3 wild pigs.

A scoped 450/400 [with QD mounts] is the best double rifle for the modern sport hunter, IMHO.

I believe you'll find KYNOCH solved this problem about the time Messrs W J Jeffery brought out their 3" version. about 100 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by ftondrus:
I believe you'll find KYNOCH solved this
problem about the time Messrs W J Jeffery
brought out their 3" version. about 100
years ago.

Tom's right, the 3 1/4" brass is fine now, and
Hornady is supposed to produce it soon too, as
already stated above.