Author Topic: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots  (Read 3565 times)

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Offline Drew Jaeger

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.450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« on: March 30, 2010, 07:30:09 PM »
After waiting approximately six months the Ruger No.1H in .450/400 Nitro Express 3" finally arrived.  The following afternoon I drove up to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney to collect her.  Oh yes she is very sexy indeed.



Within only 30min of me arriving, the rifle was cleaned and a mate and I promptly drove to an appropriate test firing facility nearby.  We set up four 2 litre juice containers full of water at ~40m for a bit of fun.  Four from four, easily with the factory set sights.



I was very impressed with the point, balance and mild recoil of the Ruger.  My mate, who is vastly experience in big bores, was suitably impressed with the projectile penetration in the ground behind the targets, which prompted a penetration test.  Subsequently a round was fired into an anthill mound at ~40m; the 400gr Woodleigh RNSN penetrated ~20" into the hard material.  A piece of granite rock was brutally used to locate the projectile as the anthill was set like concrete!



My mate stated a 570gr Woodleigh RNSN from his 500 Nitro Express would not have penetrated half the depth.  He added there will be no penetration problems on Buffalo Bulls with my current load.

Upon concluding the afternoon's activities, we convened back at my mate's abode for tea and scones.   ;D

The recovered projectile weighed 361.4gr (or 90.4% retention).  Sometime down the track I may do a wet newsprint test to compare with other calibre/projectile combinations.



On the weekend I mounted the Kahles 1.5-6x42mm scope in Warne QD rings and then got my derrière to the range achieving very pleasing results.

The 400gr Woodleigh RNSNs and Hydros are averaging 2060ft/s and 2040ft/s respectively.  The velocities are typical of this old and time proven British classic. Both loads have a COL of 3.675" and use Federal 215M primers;

400gr Woodleigh RNSN - 83.0grs AR2213SC
400gr Woodleigh Hydro - 81.0grs AR2213SC

Disregarding the four sighting rounds on the right, the Ruger is very consistent with both loads having a similar POI at 50m and 100m – three RNSN and two Hydros fired at each distance resulting in the single hole group.



Recoil is a big push. For a big bore I think the 450/400 3" is very user friendly. It seems a lot milder on the shoulder than my old Brno 602 375 H&H loaded with 300gr projectiles. The Ruger was relatively pleasant to shoot over the bench - 14 rounds in total no problem.  The group top right are the RNSNs and the two shots top left are the Hydros.



I was able to find a few RNSN in the stop butt which consists of a sandy gravel – very harsh on projectiles.  The retained weight was impressive; 297.2grs, 272.6grs & 267.7grs.  I couldn't dig deep enough to locate the Hydros – I tracked them over 1m (~40") and they went deeper!


 
Increasing the Hydro charge from 81.0 to 82.0grs should increase the velocity by ~20ft/s, with negligible change in the POI.



Regards

Drew


204   22LR   22H   7mm-08   7x57mm   338 Win Mag   450/400 NE 3"   12G

Offline AtlLaw

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2010, 08:48:43 AM »
Great review!  Great pics!   ;D
Richard
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2010, 01:35:17 AM »
heck of a nice gun! Must cost a small fortune to shoot those high dollar bullets in it though!
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Offline jager

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2010, 05:11:48 AM »
  Drew, beautiful rifle and some really good shooting! I have to wonder how it would do with "hard cast" gas checked bullets in the 400grain range and if you have access to them? Woodleigh bullets are very expensive here to "plink" with (much less, I'm sure, in "Oz"). You must have some tough "ants" down there ;D. What powder in the U.S. is similar to "AR?" 
   Great pictures to go with the review - thanks and congrats on a real "prize".

Offline Drew Jaeger

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2010, 06:17:01 PM »
Thanks guys.  

Regarding lead cast projectiles in the 400gr range a mould could be fabricated and purchased from CBE in Australia.  I'm not sure what 0.410"-0.412" moulds are available in the States.  I'm sure there would be something suitable for the 405 Win that could be utilised.

I understand in 2010 Hornady are releasing a standard interlock 400gr round nose projectile (Cat #4102).  However it's not listed on their website as yet.

AR2213CS = H4831SC (same powder just rebadged)

A box of fifty 400gr Woodleigh RNSNs are A$58.  Woodleigh sent me thirty of 400gr Hydros to evaluate and test on these little fellows in August.



Regards

Drew


204   22LR   22H   7mm-08   7x57mm   338 Win Mag   450/400 NE 3"   12G

Offline drdougrx

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2010, 05:06:38 AM »
Now that's a wild looking bullet!!!  Don't think I've ever seen anything like it.  How did you do with it???
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Offline Drew Jaeger

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2010, 08:17:58 PM »
Now that's a wild looking bullet!!!  Don't think I've ever seen anything like it.  How did you do with it???

Hey Doug, the new Woodleigh is essentially homogenous solid designed with a unique nose cup to produce a hydrostatic shock wave damaging tissue and bone similar to a soft nose projectile while having the deep penetration of a solid.  A great performance combination for large dangerous game.  The projectiles have been field tested on everything from Deer to Elephants.

Here is more information from Woodleigh Bullets.

http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/PDFs/Hydrostatic%20Monos%20page%201.pdf

http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/PDFs/Hydrostatic%20Monos%20page%202.pdf

http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/PDFs/woodleigh_bullets_2010_catalogue.pdf

I'll field test mine in the 450/400 on Buffalo in August.  On paper, the four I fired look good.
Regards

Drew


204   22LR   22H   7mm-08   7x57mm   338 Win Mag   450/400 NE 3"   12G

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2010, 01:23:15 AM »
i think frank at Mt. Baldy Bullets casts a couple designs for the 405 that might work for you.
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Offline drdougrx

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2010, 03:31:23 AM »
Thanks for the info Drew!  I'm waiting on a #1 in 35whalen...I hate to wait!
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Offline jro45

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #9 on: April 10, 2010, 03:53:16 PM »
That rifle is very nice looking. It is a single shot isn't it ?

Offline Curt Dawson

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #10 on: April 10, 2010, 08:11:40 AM »
I can not readily justify the expense of a Ruger #1(45-70 for me thank you) but I think I going to have to make the sacrafice.

Offline jimone

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Re: .450/400 NE 3" First Shots
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2010, 07:15:19 PM »
Nice rifle, what I really need is the hat, though. ;D