400 H&H magnum. Any thoughts?

[Ontario Hunter]

Didn't know Holland made this cartridge/rifle until yesterday. Apparently one of their latest developments. Takes 405 Winchester bullet on 375 case. Presumably one could stretch 375 H&H case mouth to accept the bigger bullet? The velocity attained for 400 grain bullet is downright astonishing. I bet the recoil is too! Stamped brass is doubtless hard to find. Anyone tried this cartridge?

 

[Ruraldoc]

My friend Duke McCaa of Gulf Breeze firearms has had Dakota build several dozen of these rifles.

Uses the same bullets as the 450/400 and the brass is based on the 375 h and h.

Accurate and very reliable.

Better sectional density than 416s and 404s.

Works on everything, everywhere. Can load at 2050 fps for low recoil like the 450/400 or up to around 2400 fps like the 416 Rigby.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Yep, the 400 gr bullet can be gassed up to nearly 2400 fps which is 416 Rigby territory. I'm not a sectional density guru so unclear why 400 H&H has an advantage there. Increased velocity per bullet diameter?

What appeals to me is 1) it has a belted case which solves any issues with tapered shoulder brass, i.e. feeding and headspace. 2) Overall length is actually a tad shorter (just 0.03") than 404J which means it can be easily built on standard length CRF. Whereas 375 and 416 Rigby require trimming part of standard receiver locking ring to extract loaded cartridges. 3) It may be easier than 404 to find components (except stamped brass). 405 bullets are probably no less abundant than 404 but adaptable 375 brass is easier to find than 404. Apparently 41 magnum pistol bullets can be used for low velocity range work and they are relatively easy to come by. I am surprised the cartridge hasn't caught on better.

Edit: I see the 400 has a considerably narrower shoulder than 404J but slightly thicker shoulder than 416 Rem. I used 416 Rem bottom metal for my 404J build and it worked fine, though initially I was concerned about shoulder area of box being too narrow to meet Paul Mauser's cosine 30° formula. If it worked for 404J it should work for 400 H&H too. Hmmm. Is the base too thick? No, 416 Rem and 400 H&H have identical rim and base dimensions. Looks like a great DGR project ... if a box of stamped brass could be found.

 

[BourbonTrail]

It is basically a 416 Remington necked down to a 450/400 bullet with reduced case volume. It is either a bolt action 450/400 or a narrower 416 (increasing sectional density and penetration), depending on load velocity.

Old thread:

Thread 'What's So Great About The 400 H&H?'

Jan 17, 2020

While looking at rifles at the DSC show last weekend, I noticed a few rifles chambered in 400 H&H. I have to admit to being a little intrigued by this caliber, simply because the name sounds kind of cool. I was told by a vendor that he would choose the 400 H&H hands down over the 416 Rem Mag. He claimed it was much easier to get the advertised velocity from it than it was from the 416 Rem Mag. I thought that sounded kind of strange due to the fact that the 400 H&H has less case capacity than the 416 Rem. I also see no advantage in regards to case taper for reliable feeding and extraction...

• TOBY458
• Replies: 92
• Forum: .375 & up

• 

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It is basically a 416 Remington necked down to a 450/400 bullet with reduced case volume. It is either a bolt action 450/400 or a narrower 416 (increasing sectional density and penetration), depending on load velocity.

Old thread:

Thread 'What's So Great About The 400 H&H?'

Jan 17, 2020

While looking at rifles at the DSC show last weekend, I noticed a few rifles chambered in 400 H&H. I have to admit to being a little intrigued by this caliber, simply because the name sounds kind of cool. I was told by a vendor that he would choose the 400 H&H hands down over the 416 Rem Mag. He claimed it was much easier to get the advertised velocity from it than it was from the 416 Rem Mag. I thought that sounded kind of strange due to the fact that the 400 H&H has less case capacity than the 416 Rem. I also see no advantage in regards to case taper for reliable feeding and extraction...

• TOBY458
• Replies: 92
• Forum: .375 & up

• 

Thanks. I searched for 400 H&H thread title but turned up nothing. The search function isn't terribly reliable.

 

[Kiwifire111]

I have a Ruger No1 in 400H&H being built as we speak, it's taken a while, but getting there very slowly and patience is not a strong suit for me.
Cheers,
Mal in Australia

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have a Ruger No1 in 400H&H being built as we speak, it's taken a while, but getting there very slowly and patience is not a strong suit for me.
Cheers,
Mal in Australia

Is Woodleigh making loaded ammo for 400 H&H?

 

[PCC600]

Is Woodleigh making loaded ammo for 400 H&H?

I don’t think Woodleigh make loaded ammo at all . Just bullets .

 

[Aaron N]

@Pheroze had one built if i recall correctly

 

[549]

Thanks. I searched for 400 H&H thread title but turned up nothing. The search function isn't terribly reliable.

In my experience, the search function on most websites isn't.

The method I use is to type in the Google search bar, site:africahunting.com (or whatever website you wish to search) then subject name. So, site:africahunting.com 400 H&H

I get:

 

[Pheroze]

The search function didn’t work for me either, but I dug it up and ad knocked the dust off of it for you

Thread '400 H&H'
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/400-h-h.21018/

 

[Pheroze]

I love the cartridge. I am a little disappointed with the Qualcart brass but shooting this rifle is fun. Very accurate. Bullets are available. Swift, North Fork and Woodleigh all had some available. I have 400 gr Swift A frames at 2345 fps. I am going to develop a load for the 400 North Forks and match their Cup nose solid with it. It recoils as it should, but my rifle fits me perfectly so it isn’t bad at all. Lemieux Armouiers in Quebec built it for me.

 

[9Point3]

Didn't know Holland made this cartridge/rifle until yesterday. Apparently one of their latest developments. Takes 405 Winchester bullet on 375 case. Presumably one could stretch 375 H&H case mouth to accept the bigger bullet? The velocity attained for 400 grain bullet is downright astonishing. I bet the recoil is too! Stamped brass is doubtless hard to find. Anyone tried this cartridge?

Funny that you mention that cartridge. I was looking through Pac-Nor’s chamberings and there it was. It stuck in my head now that you mentioned it.

Chambers – Pac-Nor Barreling –

 

[BJH65]

Is Woodleigh making loaded ammo for 400 H&H?

I was contemplating purchasing a really nice Dakota 76 chambered in 400 H&H and did some research as to where one could obtain loaded head stamped ammunition. Hendershot’s had head stamped brass and would custom load 400 H&H with several types of premium bullets for around $240 for a box of 20.

 

[RR 314]

Didn't know Holland made this cartridge/rifle until yesterday. Apparently one of their latest developments. Takes 405 Winchester bullet on 375 case. Presumably one could stretch 375 H&H case mouth to accept the bigger bullet? The velocity attained for 400 grain bullet is downright astonishing. I bet the recoil is too! Stamped brass is doubtless hard to find. Anyone tried this cartridge?

2300-2400 for 400 gr. bullets is real world velocity. Are you seeing something different? Recoil, similarly, in a properly weighted rifle is quite tolerable. I would like to get another Dakota Traveler in .400/.300 H&H combo.

 

[Ericedwinbates]

Own 2 of them. One on a Interarms x, other Bruno. Still finishing them and have yet to shoot. Been in line for over a year with CH dies for a set? Love the ballistics on paper and hope they shoot. Let u gents know when.

 

[jbirdwell]

I’m wanting one. I don’t need it but want usually wins.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

2300-2400 for 400 gr. bullets is real world velocity. Are you seeing something different? Recoil, similarly, in a properly weighted rifle is quite tolerable. I would like to get another Dakota Traveler in .400/.300 H&H combo.

404 with 0.423 diameter bullet at 2150 fps is about "normal" and 2300 fps is about max. The latter is beyond my tolerable recoil threshold out of 10+ lb 98 Mauser. I would think a 365 gr bullet of good construction would be a bone and guts crusher shot from similar rifle in 400 H&H at 2300 fps. Why is everyone so hung up on 400 gr bullets? That's hundred year-old thinking.

 

[318AE]

404 with 0.423 diameter bullet at 2150 fps is about "normal" and 2300 fps is about max. The latter is beyond my tolerable recoil threshold out of 10+ lb 98 Mauser. I would think a 365 gr bullet of good construction would be a bone and guts crusher shot from similar rifle in 400 H&H at 2300 fps. Why is everyone so hung up on 400 gr bullets? That's hundred year-old thinking.

I think people are hung up on the 100 year old sectional density thing because it’s reliably worked for over 100 years.

 

[RR 314]

You stated the 400 gr. velocity was astonishing. Just wondering what you found astonishing.