And you can expect when reading in forums here and modern articles, if folks reference the 450/400, they are talking about out the the 3” version. If it’s something other than 3”, for brass, modern rifles, dies, and certainly modern rifles, it is the 3”.
You’ll find an almost cult-like following for the 450/400 3”. Talking to Chris Sells/Heym USA back in the spring when I was starting my search for a pre-owned Heym 88b and trying to decide if I wanted to order an 89b, he said it was likely the most popular chambering in recent years.
With its low recoil relative to the 450/470/500 nitros, they can make it in a lighter weight rifle with superb accuracy that is just as comfortable to carry as it is to shoot. I have a bit of a fascination with big bores, so was less interested and love my Rigby so much that I figured if tossing a 400gr bullet, I’d likely prefer to use it.
While waiting for my 470 to arrive fr JJ P., since Heym USA sent it to him for a strip and clean, adjustment and shoot fo regulation, I stumbled into a Heym 450/400 local to me at a price I couldn’t pass up. It was a splendid rifle, very accurate, super easy to shoot recoil wise (it was a safari or medium frame so weight around 10.5lbs). It felt a little too dainty to me and really knew I wanted something bigger…so I thought.
The problem with me and big bores, I like to shoot them too much. It gets hard on your body after time. I have hand and thumb issues today that I really think is at least in part from shoot 475 and 500 Linebaugh and Long/Max versions with full-house H110 loads too much and too often. John Linebaugh and Hamilton Bowen made me well over a dozen big bores between them, and I’d shoot a few times a week including steel at 100 yards…and each night I’d have hand tremors to show for it. Now I haven’t shot one in almost 7 years, and have half dozen nice, vintage and custom acoustic guitars I haven’t played in just as long…including a Brazilian D-28 the Martin custom shop made as a 1937 Bone me off my 1964, that arrived in 2018 and I haven’t played once.
Long story short, with my 470 I shot it quite a bit when it arrived, I as comfortable within reason to shoot, but not what I could go and shoot 50-80 rounds through in a session, several times a week. Shooting it more than I should during load development and running rounds through my Rigby 416 and Breeding 505, I ended up having some kind of hematoma or something in my shoulder/upper arm that I then smashed the next day and made a nasty looking bruise down my bicep, like I’d torn something. Didn’t hurt, but looked horrid. Even had a lady at the blood bank when I went in to donate get all concerned. When I told her it was from just shooting a few larger bore rifles a bit too much, she looked at me suspiciously and asked if I felt safe at home. She was joking, but it was a legit bruise, over a week old at that point and looked way better than 4-6 days earlier…and I don’t normally bruise.
Moral of the story..,I think there is a lot to be said for the 450/400, and honestly the smaller flanged chamberings too. These doubles are just too darn fun and expensive not to shoot and enjoy them. I have found the 450NE in my 89b Gross Box at 11.4lbs is perfect medium, but still not something I should shoot dozens of rounds through several days a week. I parted with my 450/400 to help pay for the 450NE, and can see another one or even 375 FL in my future at some point. That said, I also had an itch for a 500 so have to scratch that first, hope it doesn’t turn into compulsive desire for 577 or 600NE…so I can return to a more healthy and long-term fun cartridge to shoot.
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