Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No 1 450/.400

Always wanted a double rifle in 450/.400 but they all seem to be out of my price range. The Ruger No 1 so chambered appeared to be the next best choice. I placed a bid on one on Gunbroker but sadly was outbid at the last moment. I guess the question I am asking is if the gun is worth it? I have had a few Number 1s and they have all been great guns either 1a or 1h but not collector grade. They were all hunting guns. It seems hard to find a shooter grade big bore. Any ideas?

Same as you, but just years earlier. My mistake was getting to shoot a double in .450/.400 NE 3" and loved it. So, when the #1 so chambered was announced I put my order in, I think that was back in '07.

You don't mention what the Gunbroker price was, so I can't comment on that. However, my #1 is a whole lotta fun to shoot and worth it to me.

I haven't seen brass available for sale, but loaded ammo is available which is double the fun; shoot 'em up then prep for reloading.

It went for $1650 and came with 2 boxes of Kynoch (10 rounds) and some brass. Should have bid higher

I'm a bit surprised at what it went for. Given the realities of today that price sounds reasonable for an auction site. Ammo and brass included? Yea, I'd have bid a little higher.

Oh, well, it just means you'll be better ready when the next one pops up.

Bid the most you’re willing to pay, then walk away until it’s over. Might get lucky, might get outbid again, but you won’t get excited and go crazy at the last minute.

Good strategy for keeping your wits. But, you might consider placing your absolute maximum bid during the last half hour of the auction, so that others won’t have too long to reconsider and raise their maximums. I’m puzzled by those who place bids on the first day of a six day auction.

Just remember, six months from now you won’t miss the money, but you will be enjoying a fine rifle.

I bid what I was willing to pay at the moment at the 12 hour mark last night and got out bid with less than 30 minutes left. I did make another bid with 16 minutes left but all I did was raise what the other guy had to pay. I do have a line on another one, just waiting on pics. Will know more by Monday

All right! Best of luck.

I bought one a couple of years ago and love it. IIRC I got it off the classifides here. It makes for a nice deer rifle, you can eat right up to the hole.
I see them on Guns International from time to time. Much better place the GB.

They're a cool rifle for sure. When one showed up at a LGS, I had to have it and was considering trading a 1H 375 H&H. The 375 had much nicer wood so I worked a trade deal with them that included swapping the stocks with their gunsmith refitting the wood. I haven't shot it much with full strength loads - just factory Kynoch ammo, but cast bullets and Trail Boss are lots of fun. I do need to spend more time with it.

Me like. Alot.

Nice rifle in a very nice cartridge. Easy to shoot at the classical 2050-2100 fps MV. Its a different animal when you load it to 2400 fps.

How much is ammo ?
300.00 for 40 Hornady?
Why so expensive?
45-70 is a better round?

I bought one 5-6 (?) years ago from an outfit up in Minnesota or Wisconsin, they claimed on GB to have 10, at $700+. Thought about buying two (should have) but was buying it on price alone as I collect No.1's and still have it NIB. Now they go for a lot more---hindsight is 20/20.

keekeerun,

I haven’t bought ammo since I bought the rifle with Hornady cases years ago, so don’t really keep up with current ammo prices for this cartridge. Wouldn’t be surprised if ammo’s expensive - thank Unkle Joe BoBo and military ammo demand around the world - it’s another high priority demand with government $$$/insufficient production problem. I reload for it.

I don’t think the 45-70 is a better round for the task the 450-400 was designed for. It’s reputed to be a great penetrator on large DG - based on what I’ve read from Boddington who has had significant experience in that role. Apparently his wife and daughter have used it on elephant, maybe Cape and/or water buffalo IIRC. Because I use larger caliber DRGs my experience with the 450-400 is at the range not in hunting.

Certainly the 400 grain solid at 2050-2400 fps - quite doable in the #1 - will easily reach vitals in elephants, buffalo, etc. IME components to reload this cartridge are comparably priced and available from the same sources as large caliber DG cases & bullets in this class. Expanding bullets provide KE and peformance very similar to the 416 and 404 class of heavy mediums if loaded to equal MV. It wouldn’t be my first choice to break down charging wounded elephants but if I started the melee with a 450-400 #1 in my hands, I wouldn’t feel unarmed for the follow up.

I’m thinking about taking a couple of #1s on the next hop across the pond. Maybe a 404 Jeffery or 500 NE 3” as primary and the 450-400 as follow-up reload - loaded and on the shoulder of the tracker - if needed. A NY reload, on a grand scale, if you will. Back to the days of Selous!!! 😊😊

mule deer has experience with the 450-400 and has written about the #1 chambered for this cartridge.

Thanks for the info.
I want one I just don't understand the ammo cost.
I would reload ,just have had no luck finding a good deal on a #1 rifle.
In the mean time i'am happy with 458win mag.
Maybe one day I can get in the 450/400 Express club
This is a link of a nice number one that sold last month.
Good luck I know they are fun to shoot.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1022029476

I have never bought factory ammo for this. I'm loading a Hornady 300gr bullet 68 grains of H4895 with a Federal 215 primer for just a tad over 2000FPS. This is a comfortable load and as I said makes for a dandy deer load.

I have never bought factory ammo for this. I'm loading a Hornady 300gr bullet 68 grains of H4895 with a Federal 215 primer for just a tad over 2000FPS. This is a comfortable load and as I said makes for a dandy deer load.
I would think you could use pistol bullets and Trail Boss to come up with a nice shooter load as well.

My brother has one he told me it was the most miserable recoiling rifle he ever has gotten..mb

Although I like the 450-400 #1, I prefer my 404 J because the latter is a 1-H Tropical model. It was built at the Ruger factory with a thread-on removable muzzle brake. The combination of appropriate weight for the cartridge and the brake make heavy loads easy to handle. I try to hold the 450-400 to around 2050-2100 fps MV which is right for its lighter weight. Been to 2400 fps, but no joy there for just practice. Should be OK when the targets can stomp you, though over penetration on all DG - save maybe frontal brain shots on large elephant bulls - is highly likely at that velocity with good solids.

I like the 458 WM as well. A good cartridge with great performance with the right loads and in the right DGR.