Is the 450 nitro express the same as a 450/400 nitro?

[7MAG]

Quick question. Is the 450 nitro express the same as a 450/400 nitro??

 

[Aaron N]

To the best of my limited knowledge, a 450NE is a 45cal, while the 450/400 is a 40cal. So the Nitro Express will be firing a heavier bullet.

 

[IvW]

No

 

[PerH]

.450 Ne 3.25 inch is mother case of the .450-400 3)25 inch

And also .375 Verney Carron is made off the .450 Ne .

The Briths called it borrowing the mother case into some smaller, the parent case first,and then the smaller new bullet used in it afterwards like .400-.350 is example of it .

 

[AZDAVE]

The 450NE shoots a 480gr .458 bullet

The 450/400 (Uses the same paarent case and necks it down to a .410) 450/400 shoots 400gr .410 bullet

 

[Tom Leoni]

No. The .450-400 Nitro is a .450 case necked down to shoot a .410," 400gr bullet at 2,150 f/s (with a 300gr load also available). The .450 Nitro is a true .45 caliber--bullet diameter being .458," and throwing a 480gr slug also at 2,150 f/s. They both evolved from former black powder cartridges, and the older of the two is the 1898-vintage .450 NE, a Rigby brainchild. The .450-400 NE was introduced by Jeffery in 1902, and quickly became the standard all-around African cartridge, only to be supplanted by the .375 H&H in 1912.

Another issue that worked against the otherwise-excellent .450 Nitro is that the British banned it in India and the Sudan IIRC in 1905, to prevent uppity locals from reusing bullets from the old British military standard .577-450 Martini-Henry round. Hence the introduction of cartridges like the .465, .475 and .476 around 1907-1910. Probably not something you needed to know, but an interesting piece of trivia nonetheless.

 

[Frederik]

All correct above the 458 win mag was suppose to copy the 450NE but instead of going 480gr bullets they went 500gr and that's where things went downhill.

The 450 NE and the 450/400 are both excellent calibres a good fitting 450/400 that is built on the lighter side would be a joy to slog along on hunts where tracking all day is the name of the game.
If ever I am going to go with a double that would be my choice.

 

[Tanks]

If you need to compare, the .450 NE 3.25" and the .470 NE are two peas in a pod ballistically with very slight difference between the two. The .450/400 is a rung below those two in terms of power and effectiveness.