doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 450 3 1/4 BPE bullet diameter

Now we need to let you know that these beasts are like potato chips.... You can't have just one!

Hank, it sounds like you are doing your homework and on the right track. Fun, isn't it?

Now for the blasphemy. Both of my A. Henry .450BPE doubles just love garden variety Hornady 300 grain HP bullets loaded nitro-for-black using H4198 and backer rod wadding. What a killer!

Curl

P.S. Another member here has a Henry .450 double that loves them too! Cannot be a fluke.

Hank, you got it. Mass production of patches rather than cutting one-by-one is the entire point of my article. I hope you find it helpful.

Curl

Capt. Curl,

Not a fluke at all, Purdeys and H&H's like em too. The .450 BPE is by far the easiest express to load for. Don't even try with PP and black unless you really want too. The thin jacketed bullets are real easy on rifling, not like that erosive paper, and the pressure generated by the 4198 load are considerably less than that generated by black. See Grahem Wright's "Shooting the British Double Rifle" for pressures of many loads.

It is hard to get enough velocity with modern black for the barrels to regulate. Nitro for black is the way to go!

Best,

Mal

Mal,

Oh, I wasn't saying success with a modern bullet and modern powder was a fluke. I think it a common practice.

I simply didn't want to discourage Hank, who seems to want the traditional experience of smoke and fire.

One thing I didn't mention is the availability of a very reasonably priced bonded bullet by Speer, its 300 grain .45 bullet. If I had bears on the tag I would substitute this bullet for the Hornady.

By the way, it's been just over a year since we last communicated. That was in regard to Julia's October 2012 auction and the little Rigby single shot rifle you had listed. I bought the rifle and made some really interesting findings about it, all of which I documented here:

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....8&fpart=all

The caliber was a mystery I finally unraveled (with help). I would be interested to know your thoughts should you take the time to read that thread and my posts in their entirety.

Best,
Roscoe
"Curl"

Cpt Curl,

I'm very happy that the Rigby worked out for you. It is a very fine rifle. I will keep your story in mind for the next time a "strange" cartridge comes up. What threw me was the very thick rim. Without a lot of experience with early American calibers, I just never thought! Have you tried for a letter recently? I think Steve Helsley is providing them now.

There is a good looking Rigby double percussion rifle comming up in March if you want to burn some black. It is in its original case with mold, bores mint. I just cataloged it yesterday, so I don't think it will be on the web until the catalog comes out. I do believe it will be going to Vegas.

Best,

Mal

Mal,

I'll be in Vegas. Maybe see you there.

Best,
Curl