Went to town yesterday and ordered two new Ruger No 1 rifles. Put in an order for a .450/.400 as one of them. The other is to be either a .405 Winchester or a 9,3x74R but I still have about 3 days to finalize that as both those chamberings are in stock.

I am leaning toward the .405 Winchester because of the 24" barrel and because I already have bullet moulds of the proper diameter.

Which would you opt for, and why?

Too hard to opt for one or the other. Since I had the 405 since they first came out I bought a 9.3. Will probably buy a 450/400 when they come out. THEN I will make a decision on which one I like best ( I already know it's the 9.3) and still keep the other two. The 9.3 is just the BEST OVERALL caliber to me. I used to lean to the 375H&H but have come more and more to believe it's the 9.3 above all.

9.3!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by LRH270:
9.3!!!!

Why??!!

Both cartridge are old and outdated. I would go for the new 375Ruger when it comes out.

But since you wanted a choice of the two, I would go for the 9.3x74R. It has more snob appeal besides it is German and good German ammo is available.

Even gold plated cartridges are available, that alone would make it the best choice.

I might even guess it has a better resale value if you did not like it.

The reason I would get a 9.3X74 is because I all ready have a 405 Win in a single shot 85 Winchester.

quote:

Originally posted by ZERMEL:
Both cartridge are old and outdated. I would go for the new 375Ruger when it comes out.

But since you wanted a choice of the two, I would go for the 9.3x74R. It has more snob appeal besides it is German and good German ammo is available.

Even gold plated cartridges are available, that alone would make it the best choice.

I might even guess it has a better resale value if you did not like it.

Hi, Zermal -

Now THOSE are reasons I can appreciate.


Octave- I certainly understand your logic, and it's good stuff. Unfortunately, I already have both a 9.3x74R AND a .405 Winchester in other kinds of guns. Now, if Ruger would only bring the No.1 out in .450 Nitro, the whole riddle would be solved...

I've got both and prefer the 9.3. The 405 is a 1H Tropical with the heavier barrel, 24 inches long. The 9.3x74R is a 1S with a trimmer, lighter weight, 22 inch barrel. I might have preferred a longer barrel on the 9.3, but, to me, the short 1S 9.3 is a handier and more responsive rifle compared to the heavier 405.

quote:

Originally posted by akriet:
I've got both and prefer the 9.3. The 405 is a 1H Tropical with the heavier barrel, 24 inches long. The 9.3x74R is a 1S with a trimmer, lighter weight, 22 inch barrel. I might have preferred a longer barrel on the 9.3, but, to me, the short 1S 9.3 is a handier and more responsive rifle compared to the heavier 405.

Thanks for that info...that's worth having and considering carefully.

The description is worded as being a "Light Tropical" model in the wholesaler's literature, so I was envisioning a lighter but longer barrel than on the 9.3 rifle. If it is actually heavier, I would find that less attractive. I am not much bothered by recoil, so I do not really enjoy heavy barrels. I like them light enough to be almost "whippy" for their respective calibre. I find that much easier to use promptly & reflexively.

Thanks again.

Here's why a 9,3:

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=351109765#351109765

and

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=197102785#197102785

canuck, just buy a 458 and use my 450 reamer to make it the nitro of your dreams !

canuck --- maybe you should check the barrel info on the 450/400 you ordered.

you wouldn't want a nasty surprise on it.

quote:

Originally posted by tomo577:
canuck --- maybe you should check the barrel info on the 450/400 you ordered.

you wouldn't want a nasty surprise on it.

Good idea, where would I check that most easily?

On the other hand, with the .450/400, I'm not too worried about it either. I figure there would be absolutely zero problem selling that if I didn't like its "heft".

Alberta Canuck:

The 405's barrel is the same diameter as the 375 H&H's. The 405 and the 375 (Light Tropicals) barrel diameter is smaller than the diameter of the 416's and 458's -those must be 'heavy tropicals', but still way thicker than the 1-S 9.3's.

quote:

Originally posted by akriet:

The 405's barrel is the same diameter as the 375 H&H's. The 405 and the 375 (Light Tropicals) barrel diameter is smaller than the diameter of the 416's and 458's -those must be 'heavy tropicals', but still way thicker than the 1-S 9.3's.

Thanks again! That's more good info to have.

Do you happen to know off hand how the external diameter/taper of the 9.3 compares with the .375?

after a lot of thought here is what you may wish to consider :

buy the 9,3

buy the 405

cancel the 450/400 you won't miss a thing.

Alberta Canuck:

re:
----------------
Thanks again! That's more good info to have.

Do you happen to know off hand how the external diameter/taper of the 9.3 compares with the .375?
----------------

I'll try to measure them tomorrow and let you know.

Very much appreciate your efforts, akriet. I'm gonna try to make my final choice tomorrow, so we can get it on its way here. But "no sweat", if you can't get to it for a couple of days...I can always call them Monday instead of tomorrow.

Best wishes,

AC

quote:

Originally posted by tomo577:
after a lot of thought here is what you may wish to consider :

buy the 9,3

buy the 405

cancel the 450/400 you won't miss a thing.

Gee, I don't know Tomo.

One of the basic tenets of my religion is that every man should have at least one .450/.400 of some ilk.

Can't get to heaven without one.

I've never been absolved for getting rid of my WR, and this seems like a good first step on the road to atonement. I've tried to tell the Great Spirit that my .404 is really just a rimless .450/.400, but was directed to kneel facing the east wall and to say 200 "Hail Purdeys", so guess I gotta get the real thing again....

Maybe I should just plan to buy all three?

AC
If you will have a 450/400, then get the 9,3x74R.

You can easily duplicate the 405's 300gr bullet with proper loads in your 450/400.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
You can easily duplicate the 405's 300gr bullet with proper loads in your 450/400.

And you can come close to the 450/400's 400gr@2,100fps load in the .405 with a 400gr@2,000fps load. But you wouldn't have a .450/400 and that's part of the kewl factor.

I sometimes wish I'd had my #1 done in .450/400 instead of .405, then I price brass for each and that makes things all better...

Alberta Canuck:

Here are some measurements (all the barrels are 1.2 inches at the receiver, first measurement is inches at the front end of the quarter rib, second measurement is inches at the muzzle):

1S 9.3x74R, .853, .670
1H 375 H&H, .917, .750
IH 405 WCF, .917, .753
1H 458 Win, 1.118, .820 (now a 450NE)

Hope this helps.

Regards.

Rick
You are correct. I have a Win 1895TD in 405 and the other 2 calibers in doubles.

For strictly NA hunting a No1 in 405 is a great choice, probably better than the 450/400 as brass is quite a bit cheaper and the 405 has all the power needed.

All 3 are great choices in the Ruger No1.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick R:

I sometimes wish I'd had my #1 done in .450/400 instead of .405, then I price brass for each and that makes things all better...

That is an interesting thought...I do already have 3 cases of Hornady .405 Winchester brass (not indivdual cases, three cases-full)...That shouldn't really make a difference if one is paying full retail anyway for new guns, but I'm pretty "Cheap" thrifty, so it might...

Hey, guys, you did it. I'm gonna cancel the order for the .450/.400 and buy the 9.3 and .405 Monday while they are still in stock. Then, later in the year when THEY are in stock, I can buy the .450/.400 if the good lord's willin' and the cricks don't rise.

Thanks a WHOLE LOT akriet. Your dimensional info made up a lot of this decision.

By then Hornady will have brass for the .450/400 available for under a buck apiece and it'll share bullets with the .405.

Enjoy, my next #1 is gonna be a 7x57

CONGRATULATIONS ABLERTA

you made an excellent decision

and if later on you want the 450/400 ruger will probably have a lot of them in inventory so there won't be any wait at all.

and the hornaday ammo will have settled in price too so you will win both ways !

good going

Alberta Canuck: Good deal! Enjoy the rifles. Good shooting.

Good choice Alberta!
I picked up a .405 Win Hi Wall on an early oct receiver last year... Getting stuff together to shoot it still. Brass from Hornady is first rate stuff ($35/50) and Lyman also has released the 412263 405 Win classic mould. I've also got a few other .412" moulds now if you want try shooting cast.
Have Fun!
Jeff P