| transvaal |
| (.300 member) |
| 10/09/21 03:19 AM |
Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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This would make an excellent DR (if the bores and chambers look as good as the exterior) for you hunters of Buffalo in the NT of Australia. It is hidden in the Obsolete Rifle section of Holt's and appears to be a real Birmingham beauty, maybe a Webley--I cannot determine.
https://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com/as...7&saletype=
Stephen Howell
| paradox_ |
| (.375 member) |
| 10/09/21 07:13 PM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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I think that might be the first BP rifle Ive seen with side clips?
NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 10/09/21 09:33 PM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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Lovely rifle. What would be the ballistics of a BPE .400?
| transvaal |
| (.300 member) |
| 11/09/21 01:53 AM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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According to Graeme Wright's 3rd edition page 272 (Eley Brothers 1910-11 cartridge data)
.450/.400 3 1/4inch Magnum: 110 gr BP and 230 gr projectile equals 2000fps and 2041ft.lbs energy at muzzle.
A heavier projectile would be better for buffalo. I suspect with a heavier projectile you would have ballistics similar to the .375 H&H 2 1/2 inch nitro.
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 11/09/21 11:30 AM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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Would be hard to find a decent bullet for this .400 suitable for buffalo. A 400 gr sounds like it is too heavy for the probable velocity.
Most of these 375, 400, 450 bpe's are medium game rifles only.
Even .500, .577 etc bpe's were considered medium calibre.
Probably .500s and bigger saw use on buffalo and similar.
| Marrakai |
| (.416 member) |
| 11/09/21 12:08 PM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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Elephant in the room is the need to regulate in a double rifle.
Only way to get anywhere near buffalo capability with this cartridge is by using Nitro-for-Black loads with premium bullets. Recommendations for N-for-B loads that regulate in DRs, as listed in Graeme Wright's book mentioned above, is a good place to start.
If the rifle was a single-shot (or a Certus??) then you would have had a lot more leeway.
| 3DogMike |
| (.400 member) |
| 11/09/21 01:18 PM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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Back "in the day" the .450/.400 3 1/4" BPE was a calibre suitable for Deer stalking, Tiger, Blackbuck, or other smaller thin skin game that was not so tenacious of life.
The BP loading was “usually” a 230 grain HP bullet at claimed 2000’/sec or a 255-270-300 grain solid lead bullet at somewhat slower.
Hardly the horsepower to handle the Asian Gaur, Water Buffalo, or other large bovine……the existing writings indicate that the old boys would have used the .577 Express (or 12 bore) for that.
The C&H Certus was chambered in the .450/.400 3 1/4" Nitro Express (400 grain bullet at ~1950-2000’/sec), a totally different power category.
That Lyon & Lyon is a very nice looker…..if the bores and chambers are in good shape it would be great fun.
- Mike
| transvaal |
| (.300 member) |
| 11/09/21 01:36 PM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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I stand corrected.
It is going to be interesting to see if it sells.
| Iowa_303s |
| (.400 member) |
| 12/09/21 11:12 AM |
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Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
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Beautiful rifle.
The ballistics would make a great deer, black bear or elk round.