.400 Jeffery Nitro Express

.400 Jeffery Nitro Express
Type Rifle
Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
Designer W.J. Jeffery & Co
Designed 1902
Manufacturer Various
Produced 1902 to present
Specifications
Parent case .450/400 Black Powder Express
Case type Rimmed, bottlenecked
Bullet diameter .411 in (10.4 mm)
Neck diameter .434 in (11.0 mm)
Shoulder diameter .518 in (13.2 mm)
Base diameter .545 in (13.8 mm)
Rim diameter .613 in (15.6 mm)
Rim thickness .042 in (1.1 mm)
Case length 3 in (76 mm)
Overall length 3.75 in (95 mm)
Primer type Kynoch #40
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
400 gr (26 g) 2,100 ft/s (640 m/s) 3,920 ft⋅lbf (5,310 J)
Test barrel length: 26 inches
Source(s): Kynoch[1] & Barnes.[2]

The .400 Jeffery Nitro Express or .450/400 3-inch Nitro Express is a medium bore, bottlenecked, Nitro Express cartridge designed by W.J. Jeffery & Co in 1902, intended for use in single shot and double rifles.

Development

The W.J. Jeffery & Co developed the .400 Jeffery NE from the .450/400-3¼ inch Nitro Express, following extraction problems with the latter cartridge.

The .450/400 3¼-inch NE was recreated by loading the old .450/400 3¼-inch Black Powder Express with cordite, transforming a low-velocity deerstalking cartridge into a genuine big-game hunting round capable of tackling even the largest Indian and African game. The conversion was not initially entirely successful, under the increased pressures of the cordite loading the long neck could stick in the chamber causing the rim to pull off at extraction,[2] a problem not encountered with the milder black powder loadings. To counter this, W.J. Jeffery & Co reduced the length of the case to 3-inches and moved the neck further forward, creating this cartridge,[2] as such it was never loaded with black powder.

Unlike earlier .450/400 3¼-inch NE cases the .400 Jeffery NE was standardised on the .411 caliber bullets, renewed interest in the .405 Winchester meant more bullets in this caliber were becoming available.

Use

The .450/400 NE in both the 3-inch and 3¼-inch versions were extremely popular in Africa and India, prior to the introduction of the .375 Holland & Holland they were considered the best all-round African hunting caliber. Both cartridges were extremely popular in India with Maharajas and British sportsmen.[3]

Karamojo Bell started his elephant hunting career with a Jeffery built .450/400 double rifle prior to moving to his famous .275 Rigby.[4] Jim Corbett switched from a .500 Black Powder Express to a W.J. Jeffery boxlock double rifle in .400 Jeffery NE which he used along with a .275 Rigby.[5]

In his African Rifles and Cartridges, John "Pondoro" Taylor stated the 3-inch and 3¼-inch .450/400 NE cartridges to be "the grandest weapons imaginable for all big game hunting" adequate for all African game in almost all conditions when used by an experienced hunter.[6] He further stated "I derived greater pleasure from using the .400 than any other calibre; and no weapon behaved more successfully in my hands. I would happily finish the remainder of my career with a pair of them and nothing else-unless it was a third!"[6]

Major Percy Powell-Cotton wrote the "Jeffery .400 ejector express rifle I first carried in my Abyssinian expedition is my favourite weapon for dangerous game. With all nickel-covered bullets it is excellent for head or heart shots at elephant. With the lead just showing at the nose they do good work on rhino and buffalo; whilst with half the lead exposed I do not think you can get a better weapon for lion."[6]

Elmer Keith stated this cartridge would be his first choice when hunting brown bear in Alaska.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kynoch Ammunition, "Big Game Cartridges", kynochammunition.co.uk, archived 21 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Frank C. Barnes, Cartridges of the World, ed 13, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2012, ISBN 9781440230592.
  3. ↑ Paul Roberts, "Nitro big game rifles", ezine.nitroexpress.info, retrieved 13 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Ganyana, "The 450/400 Nitro Express", soulofacarp.com, retrieved 21 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Terry Wieland, Dangerous-game rifles, ed 2, Down East Books / Shooting Sportsman Press, 2009, ISBN 978-0-89272-807-7.
  6. 1 2 3 John Taylor, African rifles and cartridges, Sportsman’s Vintage Press, 2013, ISBN 978-1-940001-01-2.
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