The more I look into these No.1's the more I'm liking the idea of a Gentleman's piece or two bedded in my safe(grin).

From what I've read, these 3 boys are the new kids on the No.1 block.

Which one is your favored cal/combo & why?

The 9.3x74R seems to be the near perfect combo(cal, weight, length/balance etc), or at least from what I've read(It does get allot of praise!)
Who here can vouch for this?

I also like the 450/400 NE 3", but the more I read up on the 405 Winchester the more I'm starting to appreciate that golden oldie as well. And think it's a better cal in some respects.
It would make a fine 200yds woods/Elk etc cal IMO, & one without to much recoil. Who here agrees?



340

Trying holding the .400 Jeffery (.450-400 3") brass in your hand. That will put a smile on your face. The 9.3x74R brass for my break open seems wimpy in comparison. Visceral considerations aside, the 9.3 is more practical, unless you're hunting the really big stuff. There's a much better range of bullets available for it. The .400 is pretty much big game bullets and revolver bullets, with little in between.

I have all three,why make such a difficult decision.

I had all three of them, but never shot them before I sold them. Lou

340:
I have all 4 of them. The 405 is ok, but the 416 Rigby the 9.3 and the 450-400 are the cats ass. Excuse my french.

Paul K

405 & 9.3 look like the best combo's for me ATM.

The 405 Win seems to be a real thumper & one without all the fuss/recoil of the 450/400 NE. And no doubt it would be great 200yd Moose/large deer medicine in heavy cover.

The 9.3x74 seems to be the best lightweight walk around rig, with plenty of punch!

ATM I'm leaning towards the 405, don't know why. Maybe it's the way it just flows of the tongue



340

Seems to me, since I only have experience with the 405, the 405 would make the most sense. If the cost of brass, bullets and cost of reloading were a consideration the 405 would make it the winner.
I bought a Winchester 95, found a NEI mold on Ebay, had Mountain molds make me nice 350 grain mold, found a life time supply of brass in Ebay, I'm pretty much
Jim

I haven't shot the 405 or 450/400 but own the 9.3 X 74R number one and really, really, like it. Have it topped with a Leupold 1.75 x 6, heavy duplex in Warne QD mounts. It shoots legit 1 1/4 inch groups at 100 yds. I have shot 232 gr. normas', 250 gr. Barnes softs and solids, 286 gr. Barnes softs and solids, 286 nosler partitions and the cheepie 286 gr. Privi bullets with all performing about equal accuracy wise. Just tricked it out with a Murrays' butt stock shell holder (6 rounds) for really quick access for follow ups. The brass is rather thin and one has to be careful seating bullets, crushed 2 cases already. Hope this helps.

Larry Sellers

i've had a #1 in 405 and have a Searcy double in 450/400, no experience with the 9.3. if you dont plan to go to africa and you're a practical sort, the 405 is the way to go. imho

RIP and I are making up .400BPE's using the .395 barrel just for shits and grins, and to resurrect an 1880s caliber and cartridge. Any of the cartridges you mention would/could do an excellent job in the field. I'm surprised Mr. Ruger didn't do this initially with his single shot.

I shoot the Woodleigh 400gr bullets for the .450/400 at 2,050 fps from my #1 in .405 and shoot 300gr Hornady .411" bullets designed for the .405 at 2,300fps. I've got a 9,3x62 that shoots 286gr's pretty equally to what you'd get from the 9,3x74r.

I doubt that any target could tell the difference between the three cartridges. If you have a double in 9,3x74r or.450/400 the #1 in the same caliber would be the berries. If you have Teddy's lion medicine rifle then a scoped #1 could be your "varmint" rifle.
Me, I just wanted a classic American cartridge in a classic American single shot and chose the .405 when I had my #1 custom barreled.

I had the same problem so I bought all three...then I sold them. I came across three extremely rare Sakos and my wife told me I needed to sell the Rugers to get the Sakos. Wives...you can't live with them; you can't live without them. Lou

450/400, dangerous game in Africa and other places. 9.3 X 74, all arounder, including anything in North America. The .405 Win. has just never fit into my world.

I, too, have all three.
My 9,3x74R and the 450/400 [mine is the 3 1/4"] are both doubles.
My 405 is a Winchester Take down.

I have killed a lot of game with the 9,3 including giraffe, buff and elephant.

I have also killed a lot of game woth the 450/400, including lion, buff and elephant.

I have not killed anything with the 405.... yet.

I have also hunted with a 243 and a 45/70 No1, so I am familar with that rifle.

In the Ruger No1, for all round North American hunting, I think the 9,3x74R is the best choice.

With 286 grain bullets it is good for deer to the biggest bear.

It is also great for allround use in Africa as well
It is a great hunting cartridge.

The 450/400 would be a great choice if you will be hunting the bigger North American game, and for use on the big stuff in Africa.

The 405 would be a fun and useful cartridge in North America for big game.

It will be the cheapest of the 3 if you plan on doing a lot of shooting.

You can duplicate 405 ballistics [a 300gr bullet at @2200fps] in the 450/400, and still have the fun and nostalgia of a REAL African Nitro Express.
If most of your hunting would be for the bigger species of North American game

Ruger #1 in