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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles
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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock.
      #377570 - 26/06/23 10:18 AM

I just got a wonderful magnum Mauser. Its a 450 Magnum by Buhmiller with a custom Monty Kennedy stock. I had to fight another bidder at auction to get it. If he's a member here, please chime in because I'd like to know why he wanted it.

As for me, I collect Big Bores rifles. I collect rifles by John Buhmiller and those stocked by the Masters of the 1950's and 60's. This one really fits the bill. John Buhmiller pioneered Big Bore bolt action rifles long before most others. His 450 Magnum accounted for many Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, and Hippo. He also pioneered muzzle brakes. His brakes are strange looking, but they really work. Recoil with this brake is about "half" of typical for this magnum caliber. This rifle also has a forward recoil lug welded to the barrel, and added weight with lead shot. The trigger is unmarked and not known to me, but its fully adjustable.

I've shown other similar 45 caliber cartridges and their capacity.

Here is an interesting link about Buhmiller and others from the Kalispell area.

https://dailyinterlake.com/new...ispell-gun-legend-6/






--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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kuduae
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Reged: 13/01/10
Posts: 1792
Loc: middle of Germany
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377578 - 26/06/23 10:20 PM

Quote:

I can't believe someone sporterized this rare collectable.


Built on an opened – up pre-1938 Czech vz24 export military action. Just like a Portuguese M41, now a rare, at least here in Germany, collectable military rifle. Sporterized by “name” gunsmithes Buhmiller and Kennedy, but otherwise just a sporterized military rifle like that Fajen/ Johnson example. Both rifles come from the same time when no one collected military rifles. Just the actions were deemed to be suitable for building “custom” sporters. Alas, all the now coveted Springfield sporters by Griffin & Howe, Wundhammer, Pachmayr and others are “bubbaed rare military rifles” to hardcore collectors.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
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Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: kuduae]
      #377579 - 26/06/23 10:50 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I can't believe someone sporterized this rare collectable.


Built on an opened – up pre-1938 Czech vz24 export military action. Just like a Portuguese M41, now a rare, at least here in Germany, collectable military rifle. Sporterized by “name” gunsmithes Buhmiller and Kennedy, but otherwise just a sporterized military rifle like that Fajen/ Johnson example. Both rifles come from the same time when no one collected military rifles. Just the actions were deemed to be suitable for building “custom” sporters. Alas, all the now coveted Springfield sporters by Griffin & Howe, Wundhammer, Pachmayr and others are “bubbaed rare military rifles” to hardcore collectors.



Well said. Mauser actions were commonly used for customised sporter.

I might say "I can't believe someone put that fine potential donor Mauser action into a collection of 900 rifles to gather dust."

As I've said "a hundred times" firearms are for using.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
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Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: kuduae]
      #377598 - 27/06/23 03:18 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I can't believe someone sporterized this rare collectable.


Built on an opened – up pre-1938 Czech vz24 export military action. Just like a Portuguese M41, now a rare, at least here in Germany, collectable military rifle. Sporterized by “name” gunsmithes Buhmiller and Kennedy, but otherwise just a sporterized military rifle like that Fajen/ Johnson example. Both rifles come from the same time when no one collected military rifles. Just the actions were deemed to be suitable for building “custom” sporters. Alas, all the now coveted Springfield sporters by Griffin & Howe, Wundhammer, Pachmayr and others are “bubbaed rare military rifles” to hardcore collectors.

Hello kuduae,
Thanks for the reply.

You are absolutely correct, but fortunately I don't collect a lot of military rifles, so I'm very happy to have found this one.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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93x64mm
.416 member


Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4198
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377601 - 27/06/23 06:34 AM

Nice rifle there Buckstix, certainly one for your collection!
Was the Buhmiller cartridge based off a shortened & blown out .375H&H case?
The range report will be interesting on this one to see how it goes in comparison to the .458 Win & the Lott.

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buckstix
.400 member


Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: 93x64mm]
      #377602 - 27/06/23 06:42 AM

Quote:

Nice rifle there Buckstix, certainly one for your collection!
Was the Buhmiller cartridge based off a shortened & blown out .375H&H case?
The range report will be interesting on this one to see how it goes in comparison to the .458 Win & the Lott.

Hello 93x64mm,
Thanks for the reply.

Yes, a shortened 375 H&H .... case length is 3.650" ... its like a slightly shorter 450 Ackley Mag but a tad larger dia (0.005") at the shoulder.

I fired it yesterday to get some fire-formed brass .. I loaded 300g bullets at 2170 fps .. only minor recoil due to the wonderful muzzle brake.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 675
Loc: Texas
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: NitroX]
      #377634 - 28/06/23 08:31 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

I can't believe someone sporterized this rare collectable.


Built on an opened – up pre-1938 Czech vz24 export military action. Just like a Portuguese M41, now a rare, at least here in Germany, collectable military rifle. Sporterized by “name” gunsmithes Buhmiller and Kennedy, but otherwise just a sporterized military rifle like that Fajen/ Johnson example. Both rifles come from the same time when no one collected military rifles. Just the actions were deemed to be suitable for building “custom” sporters. Alas, all the now coveted Springfield sporters by Griffin & Howe, Wundhammer, Pachmayr and others are “bubbaed rare military rifles” to hardcore collectors.



Well said. Mauser actions were commonly used for customised sporter.

I might say "I can't believe someone put that fine potential donor Mauser action into a collection of 900 rifles to gather dust."

As I've said "a hundred times" firearms are for using.




Amen John !!!!!!! “ firearms are for using”
Beautiful rifle, love to take it to Africa !!!!!!

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buckstix
.400 member


Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #377635 - 28/06/23 08:50 AM

Quote:

Beautiful rifle, love to take it to Africa !!!!!!

hello bwanabobftw,

I'm not sure, its possible that this rifle might have gone to Africa with John Buhmiller himself. Or, it might have gone there sometime later with the previous owner, Ed Webber, who made several hunting trips there.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 675
Loc: Texas
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377639 - 28/06/23 11:35 AM

That’s really cool !!!!!! I hope you can take it and add to it’s history. Like John said , it was made to be used !!!!!!!!
Congrats on a great find !!!!!

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #377672 - 30/06/23 03:59 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I've completed the first field test. A fun load to fire-form the brass. I started with 375 H&H brass cut to 3.650" length, and opened-up to accept a 458 dia. bullet.

Here is the target.



The loaded case started straight - after firing, it formed a small shoulder.



--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26992
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377674 - 30/06/23 04:24 AM

Good deer load. Nice rifle, buckstix.
Actually, a similar load from my brother's .45 3 1/4" Sharps, 300gr. Hornady at 2,260fps dropped a nice moose for him and broadside, exited the off side with 1" round hole. 40 yard shot.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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bwanabobftw
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Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 675
Loc: Texas
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: DarylS]
      #377688 - 30/06/23 11:49 PM

Glad you got the old girl up and running !!!!!!!!!!! The more I look at the “450 Buhmiller“ the more I like this cartridge, a real shame it was never chambered by one of the major manufacturers.

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Rule303
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Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5061
Loc: Woodford Qld
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #377694 - 01/07/23 02:41 PM

All I can say about the rifle and the grouping is.....Nice, well, Very Nice.

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
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Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #377703 - 02/07/23 12:55 AM

Quote:

Glad you got the old girl up and running !!!!!!!!!!! The more I look at the “450 Buhmiller“ the more I like this cartridge, a real shame it was never chambered by one of the major manufacturers.

Hello bwanabobftw,

John Buhmiller pioneered the big bore 45 cal cartridges. His cartridges were much earlier than the others. Watts, Lott, and Weatherby, all came later. John Buhmiller opened the 378 Weatherby to 45 caliber. Later Roy Weatherby did the same that Buhmiller did, and called it the 460 Wby Mag.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377704 - 02/07/23 01:07 AM

Late friend of mine, Lester H. Hawkes of Kalispel told me he was in John B's shop when John showed Roy W. his ".458 Magnum", on Weatherby's .378 case.
Wtby then brought it out as the .460 Wtby.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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buckstix
.400 member


Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: DarylS]
      #377748 - 03/07/23 09:31 AM

Hello DarylS,

Yes, Roy was a successful salesman and great promoter of his products, but didn't invent much/

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DORLEAC
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Reged: 22/01/12
Posts: 465
Loc: Perpignan, France
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377780 - 04/07/23 02:53 AM

Nice big bore.
Magazine box is a commercial FN while the trigger is from Sako.
The finely hand checkered bolt handle is a Lenard Brownell one.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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buckstix
.400 member


Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: DORLEAC]
      #377783 - 04/07/23 03:24 AM

Quote:

Nice big bore.
Magazine box is a commercial FN while the trigger is from Sako.
The finely hand checkered bolt handle is a Lenard Brownell one.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

Hello DORLEAC,

Yes, definitely a Sako trigger, although unmarked. Do you suggest the bolt came "checkered" by Brownell, or just a Brownell bolt that was later checkered?

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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Igorrock
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Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377790 - 04/07/23 05:47 AM

Quote:

Magazine box is a commercial FN while the trigger is from Sako.


I have seen similar magazine in SAKO High Power rifles whose have FN commecial action too. I have used SAKO triggers in my mausers soon many years.

--------------------
http://promaakari.wordpress.com/

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #377800 - 04/07/23 10:02 AM

Quote:

Glad you got the old girl up and running !!!!!!!!!!! The more I look at the “450 Buhmiller“ the more I like this cartridge, a real shame it was never chambered by one of the major manufacturers.

Hello bwanabobftw

I'm having a lot of fun shooting this one. I've got over 20 rounds down range so far. The Buhmiller muzzle brake makes this a "tame puppy". Here is an article about his muzzle brakes. I posted about them when I acquired the 416 Rigby that once belonged to John.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DORLEAC
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Reged: 22/01/12
Posts: 465
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Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377810 - 05/07/23 03:06 AM

Quote:

Hello DORLEAC,
Yes, definitely a Sako trigger, although unmarked. Do you suggest the bolt came "checkered" by Brownell, or just a Brownell bolt that was later checkered?




These investment casting bolt handles were delivered in the white.
They required manual finishing, careful polishing and impeccable welding to replace the original.
If you look inside the hole you will notice the interlaced LB logo for Lenard Brownell.
Of course the checkering, remarkably executed, is a valuable custom addition, the original parts being smooth.

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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buckstix
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Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: DORLEAC]
      #377814 - 05/07/23 07:33 AM

Quote:

These investment casting bolt handles were delivered in the white.
They required manual finishing, careful polishing and impeccable welding to replace the original.
If you look inside the hole you will notice the interlaced LB logo for Lenard Brownell.
Of course the checkering, remarkably executed, is a valuable custom addition, the original parts being smooth.

Hello DORLEAK,

Thanks for the info. I will look at the bolt handle tomorrow and will check. Do you know what time period these were available?

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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DORLEAC
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Reged: 22/01/12
Posts: 465
Loc: Perpignan, France
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: buckstix]
      #377820 - 05/07/23 08:24 PM



Thanks for the info. I should have the rifle in hand tomorrow and will check. Do you know what time period these were available?



They are still available from BROWNELLS under the name Billingsley & Brownell, described as Lenard Brownell bolt knob.
Please note that there is no relationship between supplier BROWNELLS and gunsmith Lenard Brownell.
https://americansocietyofarmscollectors....-Custom-Gun.pdf

DORLEAC
www.dorleac-dorleac.com

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buckstix
.400 member


Reged: 07/11/12
Posts: 1243
Loc: Whitetail Country
Re: a 450 Magnum by John Buhmiller with a Monty Kennedy stock. [Re: DORLEAC]
      #377825 - 05/07/23 10:17 PM

Quote:

They are still available from BROWNELLS under the name Billingsley & Brownell, described as Lenard Brownell bolt knob.
Please note that there is no relationship between supplier BROWNELLS and gunsmith Lenard Brownell.
https://americansocietyofarmscollectors....-Custom-Gun.pdf
DORLEAC

Hello DORLEAK,

Thanks for the link giving info about Leonard Brownell. I've seen his work in Monty Kennedy's book, but didn't know his detailed history. I'll be saving it for future reference.

I checked the bolt handle today. Yes, you are correct. A small "LB" is inside.

--------------------
"You never pay too much for something, you only buy it too early."

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