Rifle · Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardizedObsolete
.450/400 3" Black Powder Express
.450/400 3" Black Powder Express is a rimmed bottlenecked rifle cartridge of United Kingdom origin.
- Caliber
- 0.405″ · 10.287 mm
- Introduced
- 1880
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .450 Black Powder Express
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1880
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Various British
- Manufacturer
- Various British ammunition makers (e.g. Eley Brothers; Kynoch)
- Standard
- Not SAAMI standardized · Not standardized
- SAAMI
- Not SAAMI standardized
- Obsolete
- Obsolete
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Collector
- Case capacity
- 120.8 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:18
- Primer
- Kynoch # 40
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 20,000 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 250 yd
- Max range
- 1250 yd
- Recoil
- 29.2 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .450/400 3" Black Powder Express, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- .450 Black Powder Express
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 10.29 | 0.405 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 10.97 | 0.432 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 12.75 | 0.502 | · |
| Shoulder angle | 7.4° | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 13.82 | 0.544 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.85 | 0.624 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.02 | 0.040 | · |
| Neck length | 10.62 | 0.418 | |
| Case length | 82.55 | 3.250 | · |
| Overall length | 97.79 | 3.850 | · |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .450/400 3" Black Powder Express is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for .450/400 3" Black Powder Express? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Introduced around 1880, derived from the .450 Black Powder Express.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .450/400 3" Black Powder Express use?
- .450/400 3" Black Powder Express typically uses a 1:18 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .450/400 3" Black Powder Express?
- .450/400 3" Black Powder Express uses a 0.405″ (10.287 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .450/400 3" Black Powder Express still in production?
- .450/400 3" Black Powder Express is obsolete; typical availability is collector.
- What is .450/400 3" Black Powder Express used for?
- .450/400 3" Black Powder Express is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .450/400 3" Black Powder Express based on?
- .450/400 3" Black Powder Express is derived from the .450 Black Powder Express case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
