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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
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Shanster
.275 member


Reged: 02/10/06
Posts: 73
Loc: Seattle WA
450/400 3inch knockdown
      #63421 - 03/10/06 12:29 PM

I am looking at A 450/400 3in and am wondering about the versitility of the round?
From Ele to impalla
Thanks Shan

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Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3591
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: Shanster]
      #63424 - 03/10/06 12:51 PM

It would get my vote for the most versatile all-round double rifle cartridge, period. Light to carry at 9 1/2 or 10 lb max, light in recoil, excellent buffalo cartridge with bonded-core softs, and fine for ele with steel-jacketed solids. Most rifles so-chambered are accurate enough for plains game to 150 metres, or further in the hands of a good shot.

John Taylor agreed, though he referred mainly to the 3 1/4-inch .400 cartridge as his favourite in 'African Rifles and Cartridges'.



--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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mickey
.416 member


Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: Marrakai]
      #63425 - 03/10/06 01:03 PM

shanster

Welcome to NE.com

Listen to Marrakai. The 400 Jeffery or the 400 3.25 are very fine all arounders. Not too big for Plains game and not to small for Dangerous Game

--------------------
Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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Rusty
.333 member


Reged: 08/02/03
Posts: 464
Loc: Missouri City, Texas
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: mickey]
      #63462 - 03/10/06 11:13 PM

The beauty of the 450/400 3inch is as stated above light enough to carry all day and still have enough penetration to be suitable for elephant. ELS on AR had rave reviews for his Searcy 450/400 3 inch on elephant.

Since I own one I think it's a great chambering. I try to hunt with mine every chance I get!

The NIB Searcys utilize .411 barrels and this give you a wider variety of bullets than my .408 caliber 450/400.



--------------------
Rusty
We band of brothers!
DRSS

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DUGABOY1
.400 member


Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 1340
Loc: TEXAS USA
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: Rusty]
      #63476 - 04/10/06 01:59 AM

One thing that is better about the 450/400NE 3" rifles is, if you are buying an old rifle, you don't have to worry if the rifle is NITRO proofed, because the 3" Jeffery version was never offered in a Black powder cartridge. The chamber in the 3" Jef, cannot be re-chambered to take the 3 1/4", or vice-versa, without sleeving the chamber, which is easy to spot.

The 450/400 3 1/4" was offered in black powder, and NFB as well as Cordite, and other smokeless rounds, so more care must be taken when buying a rifle chambered for this round.

As far as performance goes, both CORDITE versions are one of the best, if not "THE" best chamberings available in a S/S double rifle! As others have already said, this rifle can be made light, for long foot trecs, and has a flat enough trejectory, for plains game shooting, and still is about perfect for Cape Buffalo, and is fully capable of frontal brain shots on Elephant.

While waiting for your African, or OZ buffalo hunt, this chambering is a fine North American hunting round for everything from Coyote, to Brown Bear, and general stump shooting for fun! The 3" 450/400NE is my all time favorite cartridge in double rifle, and I've had them all from 577NE down to little rook rifles.

A few yrs ago you couldn't sell a 450/400 double rifle as most double rifle shooters, who hadn't used a 450/400 simply assumed they were too small for DGR use. I bought several of them in rifles that were pristene condition, for literally thousands less that any rusty double chambered for 470NE. Too bad the word finally got out, now they garner a premium because of the chambering! I guess we who owned them talked too much!

--------------------
..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"

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Shanster
.275 member


Reged: 02/10/06
Posts: 73
Loc: Seattle WA
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: Rusty]
      #63511 - 04/10/06 01:09 PM

Can you send me the link to the report?

I am going to Butch Searcy's place to look at A 450/400 3 in next thursday with intention of buying if I like It

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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: DUGABOY1]
      #63512 - 04/10/06 01:43 PM


DUGABOY

Regarding your comment below, that is what proof marks are for and people should be able to read them or find someone who can.

"One thing that is better about the 450/400NE 3" rifles is, if you are buying an old rifle, you don't have to worry if the rifle is NITRO proofed, because the 3" Jeffery version was never offered in a Black powder cartridge."

I agree with you re buying 450/400's - I also bought heaps when
people couldn't sell them and now I get a phone call a month asking for one.

500 Nitro

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bulldog563
.400 member


Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: 500Nitro]
      #63525 - 04/10/06 03:24 PM

I agree that the 450-400 is an excellent caliber. If someone were planning on buying just one double for all of their hunting it would be hard to find a better round, at least imho.

--------------------
Join the National Rifle Association:
https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp

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NE450No2
.375 member


Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: bulldog563]
      #63534 - 04/10/06 04:36 PM

Shanster
I agree with all the positive comments here abolut the 450/400's.
I have a 400 3 1/4".
You will never regret buying and hunting with a 450/400.

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500Nitro
.450 member


Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: NE450No2]
      #63540 - 04/10/06 05:46 PM


I agree.

Especially some of the lighter 450/400's that they made after they worked out you didn't need to build a 450/400 on a 470 or 500 action.

Some of the ones I own are sweet to carry and shoot.

500 Nitro

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Rusty
.333 member


Reged: 08/02/03
Posts: 464
Loc: Missouri City, Texas
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: 500Nitro]
      #63546 - 04/10/06 07:22 PM

Shanter,
Please give Butch my kindest regards!
If you buy one of his rifles, you are going to have a great time with it! I would only advse you to get 26" barrels. You are going to love it!

--------------------
Rusty
We band of brothers!
DRSS

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DUGABOY1
.400 member


Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 1340
Loc: TEXAS USA
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: 500Nitro]
      #63563 - 05/10/06 02:15 AM

In reply to:

DUGABOY

Regarding your comment below, that is what proof marks are for and people should be able to read them or find someone who can.



500Nitro, you and I know that, but I'm sure it is no suprise to you that there are double rifles bought from all sorts of places, and by all sorts of people.

It is also no suprise that many dealers wouldn't know a proof mark from a Japanese signature, and when he is selling to a gent who doesn't know either, there is the chance of a guy getting a black powder 450/400 3 1/4" rifle, and shooting smokeless loads in it.

Amoung the 450/400s, the 3" version is the only one that there is no worry about the proofing, because they are all cordite proofed. Always my comments are aimed at those who may not know, not to the ones who already know. What would be the point?

Your comments in the quote above,I'm sure is in the same vane, as mine, because I'm sure you were aware I knew that!

--------------------
..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: Rusty]
      #63567 - 05/10/06 03:17 AM

Rusty - there are several .408" slug moulds available, up to 400gr. or perhaps a bit higher. Do you use them? Also, you are probably aware that WW and WW/pure lead mixes are easily hardened and tempered for varrying results on game, from FMJ-type performance to excellent expansion on N.American game. I prefer mine to be .001" to .002" over groove diameter for leading free, accurate shooting.
; The larger bores are pleasant cast bullet shooters, due to their wilingness to shoot factory-type velocities without any normal cast bullet problems. Recently, I've found Lyman's moly bullet lube to be as good as 60/40 beeswax/Vaseline mix for smokeless loads in the .45 cals.

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


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

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eljefedouble
.300 member


Reged: 23/04/06
Posts: 189
Loc: Vic, Australia
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: Shanster]
      #63856 - 11/10/06 04:39 AM

Shanster,
I own a 26" WJ Jefferey 450/400 in 3" cordite, hammerless.Am in the process of restoring it-reblue, do up the stock a bit and most imp, the folding leaf sights-I have put away perhaps 30 rounds thru it and can endorse the feelings of the forum-this is one sweetheart to shoot.
I've only used Eley kynoch 450/400J ammo and have no experience in hand loading.Am sourcing more and hope to have a loud christmas!
best
Axx

--------------------
"it dont mean a thing, if it aint got no zing"
"Toa bunduki mkubwa"

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Rusty
.333 member


Reged: 08/02/03
Posts: 464
Loc: Missouri City, Texas
Re: 450/400 3inch knockdown [Re: eljefedouble]
      #63861 - 11/10/06 08:23 AM

Daryl,
Thanks, but my bullet casting days are gone!

--------------------
Rusty
We band of brothers!
DRSS

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