A Potent Oldie: .450-400 NE 3"

by
posted on October 8, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
ammo2015_fs.jpg

Using the recipe below, the .450-400 NE 3" is capable of taking all game animals with the exception of elephant; a homogeneous or full-metal-jacket projectile is preferable for that application. Additionally, the load virtually duplicates the velocities of the original cordite rounds, so point-of-impact shifts shouldn’t be a concern.

Loads_Hornady_DGX

Bullet: Hornady 400-gr. DGX
Propellant/Charge: Vihtavuori N165/86.5 grs.
Primer: Fed. 215
Case: Hornady
Case Trim-To Length: 2.980"
Cartridge Overall Length: 3.685"
Velocity @ 15’ (f.p.s.): 2108
Energy (ft.-lbs.): 3,947
Accuracy: 1.44"  
Uses: all game animals (except elephant)

Notes: Test rifle: 24"-barreled Ruger No. 1 topped with a 1.25-8X 32 mm Bushnell Elite 6500 riflescope; *for use in modern rifles with a 0.410" groove diameter; **firm roll crimp required; ***average of five consecutive, five-shot groups at 50 yds.

Latest

Mossberg 590R Chisel GOTW 1
Mossberg 590R Chisel GOTW 1

Gun of the Week: Mossberg 590R Chisel

For those who are seeking a shotgun that's a bit more heavy-duty, Mossberg's 590 line offers plenty of options, and one of the latest is the striking 590R Chisel.

The Armed Citizen® June 12, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

A Cathartic Journey Back to Midway Arms & the MidwayUSA Foundation

NRA CEO & EVP Doug Hamlin returned to MidwayUSA, a place he first visited decades ago in the early 1990s as publisher of Guns & Ammo magazine alongside the late, great Robert E. Petersen.

Review: Steiner MPS-C

The new Steiner MPS-C is the compact but rugged, closed-emitter optic we’ve all been waiting for.

The Truth About Bans on Glocks

Gun-control groups are again trying to ban one of the best-selling and most iconic semi-automatic pistols ever—yes, most Glocks.

WOOX Expands Operations in America’s Woodworking Heartland

WOOX, manufacturer of Italian-American made gunstocks, axes and knives, is breaking ground to expand its operations in Hickory, N.C.—where woodworking expertise has been passed on for generations.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.