Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact
NitroExpress.com: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's

View recent messages : 24 hours | 48 hours | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days | 60 days | More Smilies


*** Enjoy NitroExpress.com? Participate and join in. ***
You are not logged in. [Login] Main Index · Search · Active Topics
New user · Who's Online · FAQ · Calendar

Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
Previous topic Previous   View all topics Index   Next topic Next   Threaded Mode Threaded  

Pages: 1
transvaal
.300 member


Reged: 19/01/13
Posts: 130
Loc: South Carolina
Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's
      #356670 - 10/09/21 03:19 AM

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

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
paradox_
.375 member


Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 645
Loc: Australia
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: transvaal]
      #356678 - 10/09/21 07:13 PM

I think that might be the first BP rifle Ive seen with side clips?

--------------------
Walk softly and carry a big stick

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39180
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: paradox_]
      #356685 - 10/09/21 09:33 PM

Lovely rifle. What would be the ballistics of a BPE .400?

--------------------
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"

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
transvaal
.300 member


Reged: 19/01/13
Posts: 130
Loc: South Carolina
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: NitroX]
      #356691 - 11/09/21 01:53 AM

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.

Edited by transvaal (11/09/21 03:01 AM)

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39180
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: transvaal]
      #356697 - 11/09/21 11:30 AM

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.

--------------------
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"

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3481
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: NitroX]
      #356699 - 11/09/21 12:08 PM

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.

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

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
3DogMike
.400 member


Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1411
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: Marrakai]
      #356700 - 11/09/21 01:18 PM

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

--------------------
"Here's to killing people you don't like with people you do"

"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
transvaal
.300 member


Reged: 19/01/13
Posts: 130
Loc: South Carolina
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: 3DogMike]
      #356701 - 11/09/21 01:36 PM

I stand corrected.

It is going to be interesting to see if it sells.

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Iowa_303s
.400 member


Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1014
Loc: Iowa, USA
Re: Magnificent Lyon & Lyon .450/400 3 1/4" BPE SLE @ Holt's [Re: transvaal]
      #356719 - 12/09/21 11:12 AM

Beautiful rifle.
The ballistics would make a great deer, black bear or elk round.

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder über alles"

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1


Previous topic Previous   View all topics Index   Next topic Next   Threaded Mode Threaded  

Extra information
5 registered and 72 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  CptCurl 

Print Topic

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Rating:
Topic views: 2623

Rate this topic

Jump to

Contact Us NitroExpress.com

Powered by UBB.threads™ 6.5.5


Home | Ezine | Forums | Links | Contact


Copyright 2003 to 2011 - all rights reserved