doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com ? on BPE cases

My double rifle arrived yesterday. Did a chamber cast and it looks like it's a .450/.400 2 3/8" bpe. I've been told by a few folks that the 10.3mmx60R is the same cartridge. I went to this site, ( http://www.henrykrank.com/section%203%20Bertram%20Cases%20reduced.pdf ),and compared drawings of both cases. They do not look the same to me. I am trying to find the dies, brass and bullets. The 10.3 is much cheaper on brass and dies than the 450/400 but if they aren't the same it would be a waste of money. Can anyone say for sure that the two cartridges are one and the same?

I just went to the RCBS site and found that the Item numbers are different for the two calibers. .450/.400 2 3/8" = 56576 and the 10.3 x 60R is 56520.

Mike, what make of gun is this and where was it made? If it is a German or Austrian you may have to dig thru Dixon's "European sporting cartridges" to find the answer. Take your chamber casting & start with the rim dia. & flange thickness. A lot of the German rounds were different with a taper right in front of the rim. If you don't have the book, pass along all case dimensions & i will take a look.

m-4

It's an Alexander Henry.

Mike:

Dixon just gives metric equivs.:

10.3X60R - 450/400 2-3/8
10.45X60.9R - 450/400 2-3/8.

Unfortunately in the index he doesn't list any 60R in the 10.3 range nor any 10.45 cartridges.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Mike, I just compared the 450/400 2 3/8 dimensions against some
Jagopatronen Nr.270V 10,3 x 60 cartridges that I have a box of.

450/400 2 3/8..............10,3 x 60
Bullet dia. .457........................411
Case length 2.360......................2.38
Rim dia. .615........................614
Neck .247........................approx same
Shoulder dia. .486........................490
Base dia. .544........................540
total length 2.890......................3.080 (pointed bullet)
...........................................037 (rim thickness)

hope this helps
m-4

M-4 they look close. The only problem is I've seen the 450/400 listed as a .457 caliber also. It has to be a mistake. How can a .400 caliber be .457? That's a .45 cal. My cast measures .415 as close as I can measure 7 groove rifling.

Mike, I beleive this ammo is swiss and it say's this on top

Abmessungen des Laufes.................Dimensioni di canna
Feldkalibrr..........Calibro del pleno fra le righe..10.25+0,05mm
Zugkaliber...........Calibro delle righe.............10,49+0,05mm
Zugbreite............Larghezza delle righe............3,9 +0,2mm
Anzahl...............Numero delle righe...............6
Drall rechts.........Passo rigatura a destra..........450

hope you can translate
Hey, how did that little D.R.G.M. 9.3 single shot that you beat me out of at auction work out, it looked to be a nice little piece.

m-4

It shoots really well but when the former owner had it recased I belive the tangs warped. The stock pulls away from the action when the rear tang screw is inserted. Which leaves a small 1/16 or so gap around the action. It also is bent with cast on but it lines up when I shoulder it. I've got it up for sale right now for more than I paid of course. I took it to the black bear bait site but stopped taking it when 9 different grizzlies showed up over 10 days. I feel better taking my .338.