Rifle · CIP
.450 No. 2 Nitro Express
Oversized, low-pressure British dangerous-game cartridge designed to duplicate .450 Nitro Express ballistics..
- Caliber
- 0.4579″ · 11.63 mm
- Introduced
- 1903
- Case
- Rimmed
- Parent
- .450 Black Powder Express
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1903
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Eley Brothers
- Manufacturer
- Eley
- Standard
- CIP
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 155.2 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:15
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 40,611 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 4900 yd
- Recoil
- 111.9 ft·lb
Introduced by Eley
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .450 No. 2 Nitro 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.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 11.63 | 0.458 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 12.24 | 0.482 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 13.97 | 0.550 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 9.7° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.35 | 0.565 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 16.76 | 0.660 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 2.03 | 0.080 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 11.43 | 0.450 | ≈ |
| Case length | 88.90 | 3.500 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 109.98 | 4.330 | ✓ |
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 No. 2 Nitro Express is highlighted below.
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
Eley Brothers, 1903; among the lowest chamber pressures of the NE cartridges — an independent branch, not a simple child of the .450 NE.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .450 No. 2 Nitro Express use?
- .450 No. 2 Nitro Express typically uses a 1:15 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .450 No. 2 Nitro Express?
- .450 No. 2 Nitro Express uses a 0.4579″ (11.63 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .450 No. 2 Nitro Express still in production?
- .450 No. 2 Nitro Express is limited; typical availability is specialty.
- What is .450 No. 2 Nitro Express used for?
- .450 No. 2 Nitro Express is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .450 No. 2 Nitro Express based on?
- .450 No. 2 Nitro Express is derived from the .450 Black Powder Express case.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Épreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives) — CIP TDCC datasheet — 450 No.2 N.E. 3"1/2 Eley (Tab. II, rimmed) · bullet ⌀ archived
- Reference Gun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World, 13th ed. — Frank C. Barnes · grain weights, velocity, year
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
