I am getting ready to order the barrels for a 450 #2 NE build and was curious if anybody could give me some barrel contour numbers off of the rifles they own. ex. diameters at different lengths. Thanks,

I guess I should specify. The contour dimensions off of a double rifle chambered for a similar cartridge

J,

H&H 500/450: Uses the 3-1/4 inch .500 Nitro case necked down to fit a .458 bullet.

Used a vernier caliper and sometimes could not take a measurement; others are best regarded as close but not 100% definite:


--barrel at breech: can't measure it due to flats
--1 in. from breech: can't measure due to flats
--flats: 2.49 in. + or - (ca. 63 mm)
--barrels at muzzle end of flats, i.e. 2.49 in. from breech: 1.1 in. (28 mm)
--3 in. from breech: 1.085 in. (28- mm)
--6 in. fom breech: .93 in. (23+ mm)
--9 in. from breech: .81 in. (21 mm)
--Muzzle (26" barrels): .652 in. (17 mm)

--both barrels at the breech: 2.119 (54 mm)
--height of barrel from flat to top next to rib: 1.11 in. (28 mm)

Good luck on the project.

Regards, Tim

http://forums.nitroexpress.com...n=0&page=0#Post69475

You can view some photos of a .450 #2 that I recently completed at the link shown above. The barrels that I used were Douglas Supremes. I've just now checked the diameters and they are:
Breech: 1.120"
2": 1.040"
3": .988"
4": .952"
5": .894"
6": .862"
7": .815"
8": .785"
10": .768"
12": .760"
14": .750"
16": .735"
18": .725"
20": .720"
22": .692"
24": .677"
26": .665"

These are the finished diameters, after I was done turning them. The Douglas profile was MUCH heavier. I was originally intending to end up with a muzzle diameter of .750". Thankfully, I heeded the excellent advice of "Marrakai" in Australia, and went lighter, in order to achieve that "between the hands balance" that Tony is always pushing. I would otherwise have ended up with a rifle that was far too muzzle heavy and which had the handling characteristics of a fence post.

Total weight of barrel assembly, including both ribs is 5 pounds, 12 1/2 ounces.

Total weight of rifle, excluding scope, is 9 pounds, 9 7/8 ounces.

I hope that this info is of some use to you. Have fun!