A while back I stumbled on a company that converted Ruger #1 rifles to .450NE #1. Anyone know anything about them? I saw two versions. The first was a 45-70 that was rechambered which was the light weight. The second was a rebarrel on a tropical. The light rifle could match .458 WIn Mag exactly but would have to have some weight added to the butt to make if shootable. The heavey rifle with a 24" tube claimed 2500fps with a 500gr bullet. I like #1 rifles and odd calibers. reflex264

IIRC, the classic spec is a 480 gr bullet at roughly 2150-2250.
2500 would approach 460 Wby velocities. Even if it could be done, in a 7.5# Ruger it'd smart!

Why not rechamber or rebore a tropical in 405 Win to the 450 NE. At least you're starting with a 9 pound rifle. Put a scope on it and you're close to 10 pounds. It'd still rock ya, but less than a 7.5 pound rifle.

Just a thought.

there may also be some case head adjustments needed for extraction. I think the 450 uses a basic 500 case. At least as far as shellholders goes, when I went to get one for the 470 it was a special order item -- neither the 405 or 45-70 size would work.

here's a thought: rebarrel a 450/400 ?? might be as simple as rebarrel and chamber. the existing extractor should be fine.


here's another thought: I fretted for a while on whether to order a 450 or a 470 (Heym). I went with the 470 in large part because it's easier to find 470 bullets than 450 brass.

If you have the contact info for the company that does these conversions I'd love to see it.

The 470 is based on the 500 nitro case which is identical to the 500 BP express case.
The 450 was, I believe, an original giving spawn to the various lengths of 450-400 BP rounds, but not the 3" nitro case . It was designed for nitro fromthe beginning and has a ,060 vs .040 on the 450.

SOS

then the 450/400 would be a the obvious choice for a donor (?)
I've seen 470 #1s in magazine articles but don't think I could dig up a name. sorry.

JD Jones and SKS Industries are fairly premier in large bore Ruger No. 1s. They typically build many .50s and consider .45s to small.

http://www.sskindustries.com/cartridges.htm

Lefty,
No, the 450-400 3" has a .060 rim while the 450 is .040. You'd need to set the barrel back, but since you'd be reboring it anyway, it might not be a big deal.
The beauty about starting with a 458 or 45-70 is that it's just a rechambering operation to get a 450NE or BPE.

SOS

thanks for the info -- can't really make an assumptions about them without a cartridge drawing can you?

The best candidate for a 450#2 Ruger No.1 will be a Tropical in .458 Win Mag. The re-chamber will completely remove the ,458 chamber, and no re-bore required. I sent mine to SSK, and they did a fine job. The trough of the falling block, as well as that of the action, have to be opened up to clear the large diameter rim. The extractor/ejector need work as well, of course. The rifle comes from the factory horribly muzzle heavy. A 2 pound tube of mercury in the drawbolt hole, helps balance it out, and adds much needed recoil relief.

Jeff

that last part I've found to be true with my 416 rigby. With a tube it balances well and comes in at 10.25#.

Here is one of the links.
I haven't found that other one again but will keep looking. reflex264

http://www.billsaccuracy.com/nitro.htm

Interesting link. I'd be more than apprehensive pushing a 450 NE to 2500fps though. The "standard" load in this cartridge ( as well as it's cousin the 450#2 ) is a 480-500gr bullet at about 2150fps. The only way to get to 2500fps, would be to run at chamber pressures far beyond the intended limits of a case thats designed expressly for LOW PRESSURE. No worries about the No.1 action strength, but the brass would concern me. JMO. Besides that, I'm a sis. The recoil of my 450#2 conversion is right at the upper limit of my fun meter! I can't imagine the recoil, if pushed another 350fps!

Jeff

I agree. If I do it I am thinking about standard type loadings. The other one I found that I can't find at the moment was a re-cut chamber on a 45-70. I found some other info where gents are reboring the 45-70 Rugers to 45-120 and loadin 500gr bullets to 2000-2100fps. I like the ideal of a rimmed cartridge for my next project. Don't know why I think I need it. I don't even have the .416 Rigby #1 broke in good yet and have several more big boomers. reflex264

A rimmed cartridge and No.1's go together like peas and carrots! It's a terrible affliction to get in to these things, but no use fighting it!

Jeff

I have a ruger-1 former 45-70 in the 450 3 1/4, originally done by some one in GA,and then I sent it to Bill for his work to fix the throat, he and his other smith did several load work ups for the round.ONce the issue with the lead in was corrected, I can shoot any bullet from the 450 up to my cast 715

I find in mine that the older "black Powder" express loads are the most fun, when loading up to the "Nitro" stuff recoil for me gets just a bit intense

Reflex 264,
I have a Ruger #1 in 450 NE 3 1/4". Mine started life as a 375 H&H mag, I had a Pac-Nor 28" 1-14" twist 3 groove barrel fitted, the same profile as the original barrel. It weighs in a just on 9lbs. I mainly shoot Blackpowder loads (duplex) in it with 510 grain cast bullets, they come out at around 1500 fps. Its quite OK to shoot all day at that. I have fired a few 500 jacketed loads at 2100 fps, then it becomes very lively.
My gunsmith had to open up the loading groove in the action just a bit. I bought a new 45-70 extractor with it and he used it to cut a new extractor groove for the thin rimmed 450 case. The only other thing I had done was to cut a bit away from the top edge of the safety, as empty cases were hitting on it and not fully being ejected, trim it back until its below the level of the loading groove and all is well.

Hello all,

I bought a Ruger #1H in .458 Win Mag. and had it rechambered to 450 3 1/4" NE. I am shooting 500 gr woodliegh reloads. Not bad at all.
I agree that starting with the 9 1/2 lb Tropical with the 24" tube and better twist was the right way to go.
I will let you know velocities once I get to put some round over the chrony.
I also have some 400 gr. PP woodliegh's I want to play with.
As well as numerous 300, 350, 450 bullets.
Local gunsmith did the work for $300 but that included case colors on the rib, lever and grip and a NECG peep.
Had the same problem with the safety, still not perfect, but removing any more will expose the hole in the tang.
I hope to get lots of reloading data worked out soon !
Will keep you posted.

Thanks
Nitro450exp.

Thanks gents. I too have had issues with the safety. My 45-70 and .416 Rigby both can have a mishap with the safety. Out of habit now I tilt the gun when ejecting from the shoulder and the case misses the ejector but not my favorite way of doing things. I will eventualy modify the safeties. reflex264

FWIW, I recently saw a big, beefy guy at the range try to shoot
his Ruger # 1 in .458 Lott. He shot it once, then put it down,
took his gun case and folded it double, reloaded and fired again.
Then he put the gun down, took the gun case and folded it triple.
Then he picked up the gun, reloaded, and fired a 3rd time. Then
he packed up and wobbled off, shaking his head.

Make of that what you will, but are you sure you want to go to
.470 NE or .505 Gibbs with that rifle?

You want talk big #1s there is a place up Prescott Arizona that had a #1 conversion by SSK, in .600 JDJ!!!!! Complete with dies, cases and some loaded rounds I believe.

That would be like going three rounds with Mike Tyson. NO THANKS!

my lott does have some kick. sometimes big guys are more prone to the effects recoil than little guys?

seen some run into problems cause they are big enough the recoil doesnt move them much so it hurts the shoulder more.....so long as the recoil pulse is fairly slow my wife can deal with alot of recoil and she is about a buck 20..........looks funnier than hell to watch her shoot the 45-70....looks like a tree swaying in the wind....

Seen the same here. A few big guys really taking it on the shoulder. Then, we know a girl that shoots a .378 Wby. It really moves her but doesn't seem to bother her much.

No need. IMHO the .450/.400 is up to any task including elephant. Been there, got the tusks. I love that round!

Didn't Hamilton Bowen do Ruger conversions in years past? As I recall his barrel boring guy either quit, got old, or passed away and they con't do rifle work anymore.

Hamiton Bowen's guy who re-bored barrels retired and sold the business. The new owner/operator was in training with him for about a year. Bowen is now doing rifle work again with the new old re-bore company.

I am not a big guy. 5'9" and 212lbs with a fairly muscular build. recoil doesn't bother me too much. My .416 Rigby #1 off the bench with warm loads will make me raise me head up but I don't start flinching very quick.reflex264

The 450 N.E. is the 450-3.25. It is the 450-400-3.25 case necked up to 45 cal...(I just reread this post and corrected this,sorry I got confused and got it backasswards)..

It shoots a 480 gr. bullet at about 2150 FPS...The only thing it has to offer is the availability of 45 caliber bullets and their cheap costs and thats a good thing..It is a great caliber and dotes on cupfulls of IMR and H 4831, along with IMR-4350 and RL-19. Its main drawback is compaction, much like a .458 Win. but good handloaders can work around that for the most part. It was the darling of John Rigby company..

I would never mess with a Ruger no. 1 in 450-400-3" as those guns have a good collector value already and just keep going up in value every year...

If you rebarrel an existing Ruger no. 1 then your barrel should be a groove diameter of .457, bore diameter of .450 and a 1x15 twist. trim length of .3.240. You will need a long drop tube.

I would rather have a .470 or 500 N.E. on a heavy ruger no. 1. but the 450-400 would be nice to shoot and is good enough for everything including elephant.