.450 Ruger

Dewald

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Ive been playing with the idea to neck up the .416 Ruger to .450. I reckon i can get 150 fps on the Win Mag with a 500 gr bullet. The shoulder shoud still headspace.

The idea would be a carbon copy of the Alaskan with 20” barrel and Hogue stock. Pachmyer old English pad, stock filled with foam and just enough shoulder to headspace.

I reckon it can be a nice toy when the .416 might be a tad to light

Am I daydreaming or could this be a practical African workhorse?
 
Ive been playing with the idea to neck up the .416 Ruger to .450. I reckon i can get 150 fps on the Win Mag with a 500 gr bullet. The shoulder should still headspace.

The idea would be a carbon copy of the Alaskan with 20” barrel and Hogue stock. Pachmyer old English pad, stock filled with foam and just enough shoulder to headspace.

I reckon it can be a nice toy when the .416 might be a tad to light

Am I daydreaming or could this be a practical African workhorse?

Define "practical" :)

Assuming your speculation is correct, which I do not know since I do not know the .416 Ruger shell very well, if you mean that a cartridge throwing a 500 gr bullet 150 fps faster than the .458 Win cartridge that has existed for 66 years since 1956, and 150 fps slower the .458 Lott cartridge that has existed commercially for 33 years since 1989, if you mean such cartridge will work practically on DG, then the answer is yes, it is practical.

If you mean that you value being amongst the 3 or 10 individuals in the entire world who shoot this specific cartridge, then yes again, it is practical.

From about any other perspective, including the pedestrian consideration of ammo availability once yours is misplaced by airlines, then heck no it is not practical :E Rofl:
 
It would be in no way practical.

Understand - I am the moron that is building a .495 A-Square. Sometimes one just has to build what one wants.

You will never find cases - I fear the .416 Ruger will slip away into the history pages because of the bitter pride bullshit amongst the ammo companies. No one but Hornady will make the cartridge because it has RUGER's name - Winchester & Remington (the 3rd or 4th bankruptcy/incarnation?) won't make it for spite of not making a cartridge with a competitor's name on it. Federal won't in order to make and sell their Rigby.

If you must build it get 1,000+ cases. Also realize you could not take it to Africa, as the headstamp will not match the rifle marking. Should make a superb bear round in the west. Bison, anyone?

The cartridge would probably be what the WinMag should have been, but you are here decades too late. The WinMag has regained it's footing, and the Lott has vanquished the Hoffman and the Taylor.

If you want it, build it!
 
Regarding the two previous posts:

I live in Zululand South Africa, so flights, customs, and cops on airports don’t really influence me.

I have about 300 pieces of Hornady basic brass, with no headstamp that I can form cases from and trim to length and anneal. Some RSA componies can even stamp them shoud I wish.

In terms of defining practical, I’m used to shooting the .416 and .375 Ruger, so shooting the .450 of exactly the same dimentions will use exactly the same muscle memory.

Although I’ve never needed more than a .416 400gr solid at 2280fps or a .450-400 3&1/4” at 2150fps i can see the need for a .458 500gr bullet traveling at 2300fps when engaging hippo in sugar cane or following up wounded buffalo.
 
Just as a FYI in two trips to South Africa they have never asked me to open my ammo box.

Not saying that it won't happen it's just that I haven't seen it happen even to other hunters
 
Dewald as much as I love big bores and my 458 lott I also had expectations to shoot 500gr at 2300fps with a 25" barrel. Yes it can be done with the right powder and bullet combo I did get 2300fps with 480gr short stubby Claw range bullet.
But I think to reach 2300fps with your short barrel with a 500gr bullet might be optomistic.
With a decent 450gr it might be easier.

Either way if you cant get the velocity you are working for it would definitely fit your need even at 2150fps with a 500gr bullet as animals don't read balistics.
Short easy handling rifle for serious backup and cleaning up DooDoo.

How many rounds will fit in the mag ?
 
With my 450 Rigby and it's 22" barrel, 2300fps with a 500gr bullet (monolithic) is already close to top end with S365

But Dewald, you are welcome to phone me for assistance with above said hippo and buffalo, I can be there in 3 hours :ROFLMAO:
 
Just as a FYI in two trips to South Africa they have never asked me to open my ammo box.

Not saying that it won't happen it's just that I haven't seen it happen even to other hunters
Only once in 11 trips did they check my ammo, I was glad all was good
 
Sounds interesting

Do you plan on using .451 or .458cal proj ?

Have a look at the 458 African or the 458 Accrel
 
Sounds like a great idea. Go for it! Use a new barrel and you can always reverse it if it does not meet your expectations.

Safe shooting
 
Regarding the two previous posts:

I live in Zululand South Africa, so flights, customs, and cops on airports don’t really influence me.

I have about 300 pieces of Hornady basic brass, with no headstamp that I can form cases from and trim to length and anneal. Some RSA componies can even stamp them shoud I wish.

In terms of defining practical, I’m used to shooting the .416 and .375 Ruger, so shooting the .450 of exactly the same dimentions will use exactly the same muscle memory.

Although I’ve never needed more than a .416 400gr solid at 2280fps or a .450-400 3&1/4” at 2150fps i can see the need for a .458 500gr bullet traveling at 2300fps when engaging hippo in sugar cane or following up wounded buffalo.

Looks to me like you are all good to go Dewald.

Nothing beats being in love with, and fully trusting, your rifle, so this should be great, and I agree: a .375 will kill them; a .416 will shock them; and a .458+ at decent speed will numb them :E Rofl:
 
The great thing about wildcat cartridges is that no one needs to understand the practicality of the cartridge. The wildcatter just needs the passion, skill and determination to see it through for their own enjoyment.

Sounds like a great cartridge for a Ruger No. 1, although the Ruger Alaskan is certainly a solid choice as well.
 
The great thing about wildcat cartridges is that no one needs to understand the practicality of the cartridge. The wildcatter just needs the passion, skill and determination to see it through for their own enjoyment.

Sounds like a great cartridge for a Ruger No. 1, although the Ruger Alaskan is certainly a solid choice as well.

Looks to me like you are all good to go Dewald.

Nothing beats being in love with, and fully trusting, your rifle, so this should be great, and I agree: a .375 will kill them; a .416 will shock them; and a .458+ at decent speed will numb them :E Rofl:



Look, part of the fun is also the build and the project in itself. I agree the .458 African, even the .460 G&A might be better choices.

My OCD likes the idea of three identical rifles though and cases though. I now just need to find a doner action
 
I like the idea, but I propose a name change. Instead of calling it a 450 Ruger, I'd call it a 450 Rugby (long U sound)
 

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