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I slugged my bore today as I was going to reload some shells using a projectile size that was 2/1000 or so bigger than I currently use. As I looked at it, I thought I should slug the bore as the one size bullet was what the seller told me he used without problems.

I found some round balls and used them to slug both barrels. They were the same dimensions but the bore size was a surprise as it was a little over .403" but less than .404". I was shocked to say the least. Now I have some .410", 400 grain slugs I am NOT going to reload.

Has anyone else slugged their barrels and found the same thing?

I consulted with AkMike and he confirmed my measurements. We talked about it and the merits of different diameter bullets. As our conversation was coming to a close, Mike tells me to hold on, gets up and leaves the room. He comes back with a book in his hand titled, "British Sporting Rifle Cartridges" by Fleming.

"British Sporting Rifle Cartridges" is a book with dimensions of many British rounds. He flips it open and in no time finds a table with 450/400 3.25" dimensions and they are segregated by rifle maker. We find the Daniel Fraser dimensions and look at the 450/400 3 1/2" NE. It lists bullet size as .408". We are not too sure about that. Then we see the listing above it and for BPE in the same size the bullet diameter is listed as .405".

Guess what? We are thinking that the barrels were bored for the BPE and were used on my gun which is the NE version and proofed as such. The date of manufacture is in that range of time when they were probably changing over from BPE to NE. Can anyone else tell me if they have found something like this in their turn of the century rifles?

Also, can anyone recommend a custom bullet maker to create a .405" or .406" bullet in 400 grains or someone who can swage down what I have now?

Cheers,

AKMatt

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Most folks nowadays think talking about guns is a perversity. I view the old guns as being a record of the industrial revolution transforming the ordinary into high art and functionality.

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