Finally got to the range today to test out my new Ruger #1 in 450/400. Since I haven't installed a decelerator pad yet, I decided to use light loads. I got my load from another thread here: 30gr of Hogdon Trail Boss under a 400gr cast bullet. I am using the Montana custom swaged bullets sold by Cabelas, which are sized .408 so they are slightly underbore for my rifle.

The good: This load hit right where the factory sights were set at 50 yards, the second half of my box of 20 reloads was into the black and could be covered with my hand, not bad for off-hand with the factory iron sights. Practice will make it better.

The ugly: The first three rounds key-holed all over the target.

My first thought was: undersized bullets. But, after the first seven or so shots the gun seemed to calm down and the rest of the rounds went right to point of aim and hit the target true. These were the first rounds through this rifle outside the factory so perhaps the barrel just needed seasoning?

Recoil was there, but not bad at all. The Ruger isn't a light rifle by any means and I found the kick to be much like 20ga target loads out of my Ithaca M37.

One thing that is very noticeable with the long 3" case is that the Ruger's safety needs to be trimmed back a few thousanths of an inch to allow fired brass to clear. As it stands with the gun set to eject, the fired case hits the safety and lands back in the loading trough. Not a problem at the range, but would be in the field.

All in all I look forward to continuing to work with Trail Boss in the 450/400. If you've got a big case'd round hanging about, try this powder. Sherman Bell has an extensive article in the newest Double Gun and Single Shot Journal detailing his work with this powder in a number of classic English rounds, and it is well worth reading. My 30gr load was not compressed at all, and the powder could be heard rattling in the case. Nonetheless there were no unfired powder kernels left in the barrel; I was using Winchester Large Magnum primers. My next step is to try .409 and .410 cast bullets to see how well they perform before standardizing on a single load.

Oh, and the looks you get from AR shooters at the range when you are thumbing in 3" cases are absolutely priceless

Oregon 45:
Cool beans on your .450/400. I have noticed the same thing on the Ruger safety with some other rounds, including the .450 NE.
You might consider trying a very thin paper patch on your Montana Custom slugs to bring them up to or just beyond groove diameter if the throat will allow, especially if they are soft.
Trail Boss is indeed an interesting powder. It might be a lot of fun in such oldies as the .577-450 Martini and the .577 Snider. I'll have to hunt down Bell's article.

I had the same trouble with my No 1 in 416 Rigby. I cut a hollow into the front lip, rounded it off all around and now the empties pop out and ding the point of the comb...

Also, in the Rigby, I was getting a skinned thumb from the sharp edges of the safety-hence the rounding off of all the edges. No problems now.

quote:

One thing that is very noticeable with the long 3" case is that the Ruger's safety needs to be trimmed back a few thousanths of an inch to allow fired brass to clear.

A nice touch for the No. 1 is to have the safety inletted into a shallow milled recess in the top strap, so the body of the safety is flush and only the "button" portion protrudes above the level of the top strap. This prevents cases from bouncing back off the safety and partway back into the chamber.

quote:

Sherman Bell has an extensive article in the newest Double Gun and Single Shot Journal detailing his work with this powder in a number of classic English rounds, and it is well worth reading.

Anybody willing to scan the "Trail Boss "article and e-amil me a copy

I've thought about the No. 1 safety position in regards to empty clearance on my .416 and in the end decided to disconnect Ejector feature and just use Extractor. It has worked well and the action is much smoother.