Lever Action or Double Rifle?

[miroflex]

Miroflex: There is nothing complicated or clumsy about a SxS, or O/U for that matter, shotgun/rifle combination. For your previously stated purpose of home defense, it would be the best of both worlds, and possibly give you double the cartridge quota.
Better than a .405 SxS, in my opinion. Though with 25% heavier recoil. While the .450/.400 3" N.E. is again in production, finding it in India may be another matter.

Thank you very much for your advice, Two Rivers. I am glad that you wholeheartedly endorse the combination gun. It is a side by side I believe.

The difficulty will be in getting it entered on a rifle licence by the Arms Clerk in the District Magistrate's office. I hope I will be successful. Your point about doublinng the ammunition quota is very well taken and relevant to my situation.

Regards.

[miroflex]

I absolutely agree with TwoRivers; Double guns - shotguns, double rifles or combination guns - have got to be fast handling because that`s what they are intended for .... guns that will come to the shoulder and point QUICKLY.
Whilst I`m not altogether a fan of the combination/Cape gun concept I admit that`s a personal bias and have to concur that this might well be `the best of both worlds` ...... There`s no doubting that both the .450/400 NE and 12-bore are decidedly authoritative ...... and if a buffalo stampedes through the front door into your living room you have just the calibre to deal with it ! There must be .450/400 NE ammo in India because I know someone who has a double rifle in the calibre .... with ammo I believe. It`s a fine calibre ..... somewhat excessive maybe for home defence weapon ( athough I largely agree with the maxim `There`s no such thing as too much gun` ) but by heck anyone who sees you shooting that thing is going to let their friends know that you have a shoulder cannon.

Dear Grumpy,

I must confess that I share your aversion to combination guns. I had always regarded them as a compromise response to a two gun i.e. a rifle and a shotgun requirement. Now that I am faced with a practical problem in a three weapon licence regime, I am veering round to a pragmatic solution.

The .450/400 was a popular bore for tiger shooting in India between the two World Wars and it still has many adherents in this country even though shikar is completely banned. Cartridges are available with some difficulty.

One aspect that kept me away from the calibre was that the .450/400 came in at least three different sizes and black powder as well as nitro loadings. The combination gun offered to me by the dealer is claimed to be chambered for cordite loads.

I am grateful for your support. The main difficulty will lie in getting the combination gun endorsed on a licence.

Regards.

[Kittu]

Hi mirflex kindly tell us is seller selling combination of 12gauge and 450 rifled barreld.

[miroflex]

Hi mirflex kindly tell us is seller selling combination of 12gauge and 450 rifled barreld.

Hi Ashok,

Yes he is.

Regards.

[Skyman]

How will it be endorsed?

[miroflex]

First off, "collateral damage" from the .405 , except for a bigger hole, would be equal to that of a .30-30. A 300 grain bullet of .412" diameter has the same sectional density as a .308" 168 grain bullet. At 2200 fps the .405 mirrors the .30-30 in penetration and trajectory. A .30-06 would give that same bullet 2800+ fps. Muzzle blast would also be less than a .30-06 will give.

One thing to consider would be the slow loading of the 1895's magazine with rimmed cartridges. After the first one, cartridges have to be inserted vertically, slid back, and then rotated to horizontal and pressed down, to prevent rim over rim stoppages. To reload the magazine of a 1895 Winchester quickly, and under stress, takes a lot of practice. (That's why mine is built on an action originally chambered in .30-03, and takes a belted .405 wildcat.) The ones made for Russia during WWI had a magazine interuptor like the Russian M1891 rifle. And yes, with her standard stock, she'll kick like a mule. At both ends. A good cartridge to adjust a bear's attitude towards you or your horse.

Well, a .405 would not be my first choice for home defense. But I'd pick the double over the Model 1895, recovery for a second shot would be much quicker.

Two Rivers, I was just glancing through a table of "Average Centerfire Rifle Cartridge Ballistics And Prices" in an earlier issue of Gun Digest and was struck by the appositeness of your remarks reproduced above.

A .30-06 Springfield cartridge with a 220 grain bullet would have an energy of 2216 foot pounds at 100 yards, only 66 ft. lbs. less than a .405 Winchester with a 300 grain bullet at 2282 ft. lbs at the same distance. Thereafter the energy levels of the .405 fall behind those of the .30-06. The .405 cartridge ballistics belie the fearsome reputation projected in some of the posts of fellow members in this thread. At medium and long distances it is in no way more powerful than a .30-06 although the heavier weight of the former's bullet will undoubtedly have a telling effect.

I too have picked the double rifle as the weapon of choice over the Model 1895 and have been negotiating with the dealer. The owner has, however, not yet been able to acquire the necessary permission for sale. and hence the dealer has his hands tied. I hope my licence and the permission for sale come through very soon so that I have the weapon in my hands.

Regards.