Mystery Cut Down 375 H&H Case

[Macduff]

I bought a lot of reloading stuff recently and found 40 cases that are stumping me.

They’re all belted magnum cases that have been cut down to make a straight walled cartridge. You can see the different headstamps, so multiple calibers were used but I believe they all have the same 375 H&H parent.

Any ideas?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Snake rounds.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

@Hogpatrol theyd have to be for a winmag or a Lott correct?

 

[Dirtdart]

I can't tell the length from the photo but resembles the .458x2"

 

[Warbeast]

First thought was 500 Wypming express

But looks more like a shirtened 458 variant.
Maybe 458 x 1.5? Or 458x2"

 

[Macduff]

I'll measure them.

The box was marked 458, so that caliber makes sense.

I didn't even think to mention it because I figured they had just been thrown in a random box.

 

[akrifleman]

They look awful short for a 458. I'd guess a wildcat.

But, a quick measurement should tell you. 458 is 2.5 and lott is 2.8

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Hogpatrol theyd have to be for a winmag or a Lott correct?

Winmag

 

[Nevada Mike]

Perhaps basic brass for re-forming into a short magnum like 300 WSM?

 

[Hogpatrol]

Since they are different cartridge headstamps, they could be field headspace gauges.

 

[93marlin]

458x2in

 

[CoElkHunter]

They're now short .458WM cases. Same as cutting down 7mmRM and .338WM cases along with the .375h&H, .300WM and .264WM. All from the same belted magnum case family. Maybe for a T/C Contender handgun?

 

[putter97127]

450 Marlin??

 

[akrifleman]

Since they are different cartridge headstamps, they could be field headspace gauges.

That is possible...

450 Marlin??

Not a directly... 450 Marlin uses a different larger belt. I don't think you can make 450 Marlin from 375 Parent brass....

 

[CoElkHunter]

From Wikipedia- The .458x2" American was designed by Frank Barnes in 1962 for NA game because he thought the .458WM was too powerful. It was designed for a bolt action. Why not just load down the WM?
The .450 Marlin is almost identical to the .458x2" but won't chamber in it because the Marlin has a thicker belt. The .458x2" will chamber in the Marlin but might cause "issues" if fired in it. The Marlin was designed for a lever action.
I love reading and learning about wildcats but sometimes I'm left scratching my head and wondering why some/many were designed in the first place and/or why as in this case, the Marlin has a thicker belt? I guess to sell the "new" .450 Marlin in new rifles to customers?

 

[akrifleman]

From Wikipedia- The .458x2" American was designed by Frank Barnes in 1962 for NA game because he thought the .458WM was too powerful. It was designed for a bolt action. Why not just load down the WM?
The .450 Marlin is almost identical to the .458x2" but won't chamber in it because the Marlin has a thicker belt. The .458x2" will chamber in the Marlin but might cause "issues" if fired in it. The Marlin was designed for a lever action.
I love reading and learning about wildcats but sometimes I'm left scratching my head and wondering why they were designed in the first place and/or why as in this case, the Marlin has a thicker belt? I guess to sell the "new" .450 Marlin in new rifles to customers?

Marlin (at the time) said they were concerned with people shoving it in 45-70 or 458 rifles.

 

[gbflyer]

I’ve read that the .458X2 was suppressed and used by the US Military as a shorter range sniper round.

 

[Macduff]

I’ve read that the .458X2 was suppressed and used by the US Military as a shorter range sniper round.

Interesting. The trajectory would be uh, a lot of up and down, I should think.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I’ve read that the .458X2 was suppressed and used by the US Military as a shorter range sniper round.

A balastician out here designed a 458 socom sniper rifle with an over barrel suppressor for military use out to 300 yards, sounded like someone clapping when it went off, he looked at several large calibre short cases before deciding on the socom. Our idiotic military weren’t interested so he sold the design to someone else, never did find out which military it was, all hush hush secret squirrel stuff
gumpy

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Forgot to add, there was a scope reticle he designed just for it with the sub-sonic load
gumpy