Plain base bullets in the .450/400 3" Nitro Express

[Bill*B]

The good news:
The Ruger #1 in .450/400 NE is an accurate rifle.
The long neck handles cast bullets well, and obturates even at low pressures.

The bad news:
Brass is expensive at $2 apiece ($1.50 if you can find it on sale).

Here are my reduced loads. They worked for me, but you must decide if the risk inherent in handloading - and creating reduced loads - is acceptable to you. Use them at your own risk.

Rifle: Ruger #1
Brass: Hornady
Primer: S&B LRM

Accurate Molds 41-370B bullet. About 364 grains with my scrap alloy. Seating depth 0.596"

SR 4759 26.5 grains, 1335 fps

SR 4756 15.5 grains, 1075 fps.

Mountain Mold 445 grain bevel base (about 442 grains with my scrap alloy. Seated into case, depth 0.750")

Steel 20.5 grains, 1200 fps

SR 4759 25.0 grains, 1185 fps

All of these will shoot as accurately as you can hold. I size them to 0.411" and have had no leading.

[LIMPINGJ]

I am looking at doing something about the same with a plain base mold, Accurate has a couple that weigh close to the boolit of the factory load. I plan on using them as plain base for light fun loads but hope to duplicate the factory loads by using one of Pat's plain base check makers to be able to reach factory velocity. Have you done any mods to your rifle?

[Bill*B]

No, it is a dead stock #1. I have been very pleasantly surprised by how well both the rifle and the cartridge handle cast bullets. Now, I've held it below 1350 fps to keep the recoil tolerable. You probably will need gas checks (and a rugged shoulder!) to go much faster.

[tarbe]

Reviving an old thread!!

I picked up a No. 1 450-400 NE last August (it is the Boddington Buffalo...1 of 250).

I will be taking the rifle to Zimbabwe after Cape Buffalo in August of 2019. Hunting with John Sharp in the BVC.

I have only been shooting factory load equivalent and higher power loads so far. 400gr Hornady with enough IMR 4831 to get 2,050 to 2,300 fps (the heavier loads are well above the Hornady manual, but safe in my rifle...not going to say how many grains!!).

I do want to get a mold that will cast a 350gr or heavier boolit, hopefully with a decent meplat.

I dare not design one on line...no way to know if it will fit my throat...and I tend to get carried away with 80% meplats and the like.

Anyone know where I can purchase a proven design with a decent meplat for hunting?

Thanks in advance,


Tim

Edit: by "proven", I mean one known to chamber in the Ruger No. 1.

Thanks!

[sharpsguy]

Try the Lyman 410655. Accurate and hard hitting in both my 40-70 SS and my 40-65. It has a good meplat and easily shoots through a whitetail from the front of his chest to out the rear ham in the 40-65 at 1285 fps. That is 37 or so inches of penetration--we have never recovered a bullet from seven deer killed with this set up. The bullet weighs 415 grains.

[sharps4590]

I'll second sharpsguy. In my #1 in 450/400 I shoot the same bullet over almost a case full of Trail Boss and if I remember correctly the velocity is about the same. Accuracy was excellent. I've not shot anything with my #1 in 450/400 using that bullet but have with my Shiloh Sharps in 40-70SS using the same bullet at nearly the same velocity. Penetration was identical to sharpsguy's description.

[curator]

Send a throat cast to Veral Smith at Lead Bullet Technology and investigate his Long Flat-nose bullet designs. He will cut a mould for you with the correct weight, diameter and ogive that matches your rifle's throat. Smith is a cast bullet genius and his bullet designs are copied by nearly everyone else. Having a mould cut to fit your rifle makes for out of the box accuracy and performance. His website: www.lbtmolds.com

[tarbe]

Thanks for the tips gents.

Has anyone used any of the Accurate Mold boolits in the No1 450/400?

Thanks!


Tim

[Greg in Malad]

Tim,
I have been using accurate mold# 42-380-B ( .411 diameter ) in my Ruger #1 450/400 with good results.
The mold was ordered for a double rifle, but fits the ruger chamber almost perfect. When driven 1750 fps in the Ruger it shoots 1.5 moa.

[Bill*B]

When I queried Ruger, they told me that the nominal bore/groove dimensions for the No. 1 rifles that they made in caliber .450/00 are:

Bore: 0.4000" - 0.4015"

Groove: 0.4098" - 0.4113"

[MOA]

A couple of images of what I'm using in mine.
These are fresh out of the mold and unsorted.

This is the Lyman 410678 - 395 grain


Boolits in the right hand tray.
Lyman 412263 - 288 grain

[BigEyeBob]

Never used cast boolits in myJeffery Farquarson actioned 400/450 rifle ,but I did use 41cal pistol jwords for plinking . Rifle is long gone ,sold when I was on hard times ,but regret selling it .

[15meter]

Loaded a couple of different loads for the 450/400. I'll have to bring my load book in from the shop so I can post them. Think I used 5744 under a Noe bullet and perhaps unique under a lyman 41 mag bullet.

[Abert Rim]

And the thread comes to life again! Any new suggestions on molds and loads? This will be for another Ruger No. 1. I'm pretty fond of Tom's molds at Accurate. Lyman no longer offers the 410655.

[Abert Rim]

I put in an order yesterday for the Accurate 41-359M, but after sleeping on it, I am going to change it to a gas-checked design so that I can push when I want to -- probably the 41-350DG.

[Abert Rim]

Accurate mold arrived, and once warmed up it dropped some lovely slugs running about 355 grains out of range scrap. Have Gator .416 gas checks on hand from Sage, and will size and lube tomorrow. Rifle won't be here for a few days, so no hurry. Will start with Trail Boss loads.

[35Whelen]

I finally managed to find a Ruger No.1 in 450/400. I had passed on one few years back, swearing to not let it happen again.
I have always wanted to hunt Africa and might just get a chance soon. Brass and bullets here in Canada are insanely expensive, the average for 20 pieces of brass is $97, with bullets running $ 125 per 50. I am going to be doing a bit of casting for this round, with its big long neck it should be a great cast bullet round. I ordered another mold from Tom at Accurate that I think will be a good one. One PB bullet coming in at 396 grns and on GC at 401 grns fashioned in a double cavity mold. Here's a couple pics of the mold
https://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet...ullet=41-401JG

[Jungle Dave]

I don't see how you could possibly go wrong with that GC-wheel weight alloy sized with LBT Blue Lube at no more than original velocity. The design looks perfect.

[35Whelen]

Accurate mold arrived, and once warmed up it dropped some lovely slugs running about 355 grains out of range scrap. Have Gator .416 gas checks on hand from Sage, and will size and lube tomorrow. Rifle won't be here for a few days, so no hurry. Will start with Trail Boss loads.

How did that mold work out for you? Any results you can share? Thanks