.450 Nitro Express
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| .450 Nitro Express | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | England | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | John Rigby & Company | |
| Designed | 1898 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Case type | Rimmed, straight | |
| Bullet diameter | .458 in (11.6 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | .479 in (12.2 mm) | |
| Base diameter | .545 in (13.8 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | .624 in (15.8 mm) | |
| Rim thickness | .040 in (1.0 mm) | |
| Case length | 3.25 in (83 mm) | |
| Overall length | 4.11 in (104 mm) | |
| Primer type | Berdan #40 | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 465 gr (30.1 g) Lead | 2,150 ft/s (660 m/s) | 4,770 ft·lbf (6,470 J) |
| 480 gr (31 g) Lead | 2,150 ft/s (660 m/s) | 4,930 ft·lbf (6,680 J) |
| Source: "Cartridges of the World" [1] | ||
.450 Nitro Express is a name given to several cartridges designed for the purpose of hunting large game such as elephant, not just one specific cartridge. All of these cartridges use a .458-inch (11.6 mm) bullet at roughly the same ballistics. They are to be used with almost no exception in the "express rifles", side by side shotgun-like firearms, ever popular in Africa and turn of the century India, associated of course with safari's and shikari's.
Contents |
[edit] .450 Nitro Express 3.25 in
The .450 Nitro Express 3.25 in (83 mm) was the first Nitro Express, developed around 1898 by John Rigby. This cartridge was based on the then popular .450 Black Powder Express case with 70 grains (5 g) of Cordite and a 480-grain (31 g) jacketed bullet. Muzzle velocity is listed at 2,150 feet per second (655 m/s) with 4,909 ft·lbf (6,656 J) of muzzle energy. This straight case has a length of 3.25 in (83 mm) with a .670 in (17.0 mm) rim. [1]
Early cartridges used the black powder case that was designed for around 11 tons of pressure per square inch and not the 17 tons of pressure that the Cordite load generated. Case extraction was difficult, especially in warmer climates such as Africa and India where the cartridge was primarily used. To remedy this problem, a reinforced case was produced and Kynoch made a reduced load to lower the case pressure.
[edit] .450 Nitro Express #2 3.50 in
The .450 Nitro Express #2 was developed by Eley Brothers in 1903.[1] This cartridge used several loadings between 70 and 80 grains (4.5–5.2 g) of Cordite with a 480-grain (31 g) bullet. The lighter loadings were typically used by Jeffery rifles for regulation.
[edit] See also
- List of rifle cartridges
- 11 mm caliber other cartridges of similar caliber size.
- Nitro Express
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Barnes, Frank C. [1965] (2006). in Skinner, Stan: Cartridges of the World, 11th Edition, Iola, WI, USA: Gun Digest Books, 398-399,409,411. ISBN 0-89689-297-2.
- "The .450 Nitro Express" by Charlie Haley
