Ignorant me, but I didn't know there was a 400 OR 465 H & H? I would like to see photos of the cartridges. I thought the H & H cartridges stopped at .375 caliber and then wondered why, except for the Nitro Express Cartridges? By the way, since I see you're in Ontario I have a cartridge question. In the late '90s, I hunted black bear in Round Lake, Ontario, with my wife's relatives from Pennsylvania. While walking the trails around a cabin, I found a spent brass rifle cartridge on the ground. It has "Imperial" and 38-55 printed on the cartridge base. I kept it as a souvenir. Later, I saw a single shot rifle hanging in the local shop in that caliber. I was told the people in the area hunt moose with that caliber. I was just curious if you know of this cartridge? It seems like an underpowered cartridge to hunt moose with? Thanks!
Awesome photos! Thank you! I really like the tapered shoulder and long cartridge neck. I didn't know they were such recently produced cartridges? Round Lake is west ( or south) of Pembroke, as we went there one evening. As far as my hunt, there's really not much to tell. Eight hunters, drought (beechnuts and acorns were scarce), no bears (one guy shot at one by a stream and missed). I never saw one, but just before dusk one evening, I was kind of hunting by myself and heard something making a lot of noise in the trees about 100 yds. from the trail I was on. Probably a bear, but my bear license was also good for wolves, and I wasn't about to go into those trees by myself at almost dark. I had seen fresh large "dog" type tracks near a stream the day before, but I never saw anyone with a dog up there. So, in my mind, real or not, a wolf was prowling around! Anyway, the next year, my wife's cousin called and their group got four bears. My lack of luck again! Thanks for your response!View attachment 282054
Two different loading for 400 H&H next to a 308 Norma Mag. The is a discussion on this site about it.
I dont have a picture of the 465 H&H. I will try and find one I can post. Both were developed by H&H in 2003. The 465 is based on the weatherby case but with a long neck at 8 degree shoulder.
I am not familiar with this. Round Lake is quite far up there. Maybe they use what grandpa had? Beautiful area. Would love to hear about the hunt
Thanks for the link. A schematic but no photo though. A bore of 0.459"? Maybe that's why it never gained popularity? Interesting though.
Very true! I guess the Canadians hunt from "hides" (blinds) along trails up there, so the shots ARE probably fairly close?
No, I found this in the Round Lake hunting area, probably 80-100 miles from Pembroke. With the older single shot rifle (kind of looked like a .45-70 trapdoor style) I saw in the store and the cartridge I found, it was probably was an older hunter's setup? I don't know? Just interesting?
All true. I do like the gently tapered shoulder and long neck of the .400 h & h (haven't seen a photo of the .465 yet). I personally never cared for the sharp double radius shoulders of the Weatherby cartridges, but I think their rifles were designed well, minus the lack of a CRF style action for DG. But I guess they've performed well. I've never owned one, but a friend of mine had a .300 Weatherby Mark V. I prefer my Browning .338WM. Just personal preference.
I don't think the attempt at exclusivity takes away from the soundness of these designs. The 400 essentially improves the 450/400 by 200 fps in a case that is built for reliability and moderate pressure. Similarly, the 465 is very usable with a low pressure design in a slick case. The 460 WBY will out perform it but to what end? The designs are also a nod to the past which is fun. The goofy caliber choice certainly makes these a handloading proposition. But, if one likes that kind of tinkering then it's not much of a barrier.
Just FYI, but Midway USA has .400 h and h Norma brass for $55.00us/20 cases? But no .465s.
They took a huge case and turned it into something very usable. It's a shame it didnt catch on to even the limited extent the 400 did. I suppose the small market size for that class of cartridge just makes it less viable.
I think your right. Timing when a cartridge is developed and released. When the .458WM was released to the public in 1956, there was nothing out there affordable to the average African hunter and it was a great success at that time. Remington came out with the .416 in 1989 (?), and it became a great success to the average hunter versus something like a .416 Rigby with more expensive/limited offerings in available rifles. If the .400 and .465s had been produced earlier, who knows? Although, the odd bore diameters in those calibers probably sealed their fates. Just an observation?
I was just curious as to what brand of rifle you own that is chambered for the .400 h & h? I have been unable to find any information for that cartridge chambered in a rifle in the U.S.? I really like the dimensions of that cartridge. Thanks!
