Lindcott Armory Rifle · CIP
.450 Nitro Express
John Rigby's flagship dangerous game cartridge and one of the most celebrated Nitro Express rounds ever chambered in a double rifle.
- Caliber
- 0.458″ · 11.633 mm
- Introduced
- 1898
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1898
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- John Rigby & Company
- Manufacturer
- Kynoch / Hornady / various
- Standard
- CIP
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 130 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 44,237 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 300 yd
- Recoil
- 70–95 ft·lb
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 2,150–2,150 fps · 21 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open .450 Nitro Express ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.22 | 0.481 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 13.84 | 0.545 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 15.85 | 0.624 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.07 | 0.042 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 82.55 | 3.250 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 100.33 | 3.950 | ✓ |
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 Nitro Express is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 21 active loads across 12 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 21 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodleigh | SP | 480 | SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Graf | FMJ Standard | 480 | Soft Point | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Bertram | Custom | 480 | Soft Point | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Hornady | DGX Bonded | 480 | DGX Bonded FP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Norma | Africa PH | 480 | Soft Point | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Cutting Edge Bullets | Safari | 480 | Safari Solid | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Norma | African PH | 480 | SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 480 | Soft Point | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| RWS | KS SP | 480 | KS SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Kynoch | Soft Nose | 480 | Soft Point | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom SP | 480 | Soft Point | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| RWS | Safari | 480 | SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | SP | 480 | SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Kynoch | Safari | 480 | SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
| Woodleigh | Weldcore | 480 | Weldcore SP | 2,150 | 4,926 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
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.
Firearms chambered in .450 Nitro Express
5 models in the database chamber .450 Nitro Express. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Rigby introduced the .450 NE in 1898 as smokeless powder replaced black powder in dangerous game cartridges. The transition from black powder Express cartridges to the new 'Nitro Express' loads was driven by the enormous velocity gains smokeless powder offered. At 2,150 fps with a 480-grain solid, the .450 NE generated more energy than anything that had come before it at comparable bore size. It was banned in India and Sudan in the early 1900s (to limit the effectiveness of rebel arms — a British colonial policy decision, not a technical one), which drove the development of the .470 NE as a substitute. Professional hunters who had used it called the ban absurd; the .450 NE had established an unmatched reputation on dangerous game. Kynoch, Hornady, and specialty makers still produce ammunition for the significant collector and active safari market.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .450 Nitro Express use?
- .450 Nitro Express typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .450 Nitro Express?
- .450 Nitro Express uses a 0.458″ (11.633 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .450 Nitro Express still in production?
- .450 Nitro Express is limited; typical availability is specialty.
- What is .450 Nitro Express used for?
- .450 Nitro Express is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 21 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →