.470 Nitro Express

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Type Rifle
Place of origin England
Production history
Designer Joseph Lang
Designed 1900
Produced 1907-Present
Specifications
Case type Rimmed, necked
Bullet diameter .475 in (12.1 mm)
Neck diameter .500 in (12.7 mm)
Shoulder diameter .528 in (13.4 mm)
Base diameter .572 in (14.5 mm)
Rim diameter .646 in (16.4 mm)
Case length 3.25 in (83 mm)
Overall length 4.00 in (102 mm)
Case capacity 156.65 gr H2O (10.182 cm³)
Rifling twist 20"
Primer type Berdan .254
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
500 gr (32 g) SP,FMJ 2,150 ft/s (660 m/s) 5,140 ft·lbf (6,970 J)
Source: "Cartridges of the World"[1]

The .470 Nitro Express is a cartridge developed in England for very large or dangerous game hunting. These cartridges were very commonly used in the "express rifles", side by side rifles popular in Africa and turn of the century India. Hunters enjoyed using the .470 NE because of its effectiveness on dangerous game such as elephants.[1]

Contents

[edit] Overview

The .470 NE was originally designed as a replacement for the .450 Nitro Express. This was because the .450 NE had been banned in several countries such as India.[1] Because of the large bullet and heavy powder charge, this gun has very strong recoil. Rifle chambered for this cartridge tend to be heavy double-gun style, and are typically quite expensive.[2]

The .470 NE continues to be popular and is the most popular of all the Nitro Express cartridges.[3] Ammunition and components are readily available.[1]

[edit] Handloading

Like other dangerous game cartridges, ammunition is expensive compared to standard hunting cartridges, often costing up to 10 times more per shell than typical cartridges such as the .30-06.[4] Because of this many shooters choose to handload the .470 NE.[1] Brass can be obtained from a variety of sources, and like most reloading components varies in quality. Lighter loads for practice can be created that are more enjoyable and cheaper to shoot.[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Barnes, Frank C. [1965] (1997). in McPherson, M.L.: Cartridges of the World, 8th Edition, DBI Books, 89,92,334,341. ISBN 0-87349-178-5. 
  2. ^ "Twin-Tube Dreamin'" by Ted Hatfield, in American Rifleman
  3. ^ "The .450 Nitro Express" by Charlie Haley
  4. ^ a b "An Adventure with Lead Bullets In The .470 Nitro Express" by Leo Grizzaffi
  • Cartridge capacity: Donnelly, John J. (1987). The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. Stoeger Publishing, 641. ISBN 978-0883172698. 

[edit] External links