I've just always been a sucker for odd-ball/obsolete cartridges...
Like many here, when I was a youngster I read about TR using the 405 in Africa...It's a fun rifle to shoot.
I just realized that this 405 forum had appeared so I've been playing catch-up on reading the past posts. My reasons for having a 405 are an odd mish mash of factoids that may or may not combine to make a cohesive argument for owning one to anyone else. In no particular order, here's some of the reasons why there's one in my rifle safe:
I do like oddball & less common cartridges. I also like classic cartridges that have some interesting history behind them.
Some hunters prefer to take larger game using small calibers with minimal recoil. I'm at the other end of the spectrum. If I'm only going to shoot a few deer or hogs each year, then I want it to be memorable experience so I tend to favor larger bores. I enjoy shooting something that makes a big boom & has a nice kick. It makes me smile. I like to tell myself that I'm training to go on safari in Africa. It'll be interesting to see if that dream ever comes true.
Louisiana & Mississippi have a primitive season that allows single-shot rifles with an exposed hammer that are .35+ caliber. Most of my hunting buddies use affordable CVA-style rifles in 35 Whelen or 45-70. I opted for a 405 Winchester 1885 with a Marble tang sight. It now has an MVA globe front sight on it that I really like. A single-shot with metal sights is about as simple as it gets. Like
405wcf said, it's a fun rifle to shoot.