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.400 Jeffery Nitro Express
Type Rifle
Place of origin Flag of the United Kingdom UK
Production history
Designer W.J. Jeffery & Co.
Designed 1902
Manufacturer Jeffery
Specifications
Parent cartridge .450 3¼ BPE
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 .040 in (1.0 mm)
Case length 3.00 in (76 mm)
Overall length 3.75 in (95 mm)
Primer type .254/Kynoch #40
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
400 gr (26 g) SP 2,100 ft/s (640 m/s) 3,920 ft·lbf (5,310 J)
Test barrel length: 28

The .400 Jeffery Nitro Express or .450/400 3 inch Nitro Express is a .411 caliber rimmed, bottlenecked cartridge designed by Jeffery in 1902.[1]

General Information[]

The .400 Jeffery Nitro Express is based on the .450/400 3¼ inch case. The longer neck of the .450/400 3¼ inch case had been causing extraction difficulties in the Nitro Express version of that cartridge particularly in rifles which may have pitting or rusting. The shortened neck of the .400 Jeffery Nitro Express was an attempt to alleviate this condition.[1]

Unlike the earlier .450/400 Nitro Express cartridges, this cartridge was designed exclusively for use with cordite. The .400 Jeffery Nitro Express fires a 400-grain (26 g) jacketed bullet propelled by 60 grains (3.9 g) of cordite at a muzzle velocity of 2,100 ft/s (640 m/s). In this loading the .400 Jeffery Nitro Express is more effective on game that the 300-grain (19 g) loading of the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.[1]

John "Pondoro" Taylor considered both 3 inch and 3¼ inch .450/400 Nitro Express cartridges adequate for any African game species under any condition as long as it is used by an experienced hunter. Elmer Keith noted that this cartridge would be his first choice when hunting brown bear in Alaska.

Unlike earlier .450/400 cases the .400 Jeffery Nitro Express was standardized on the .411 caliber bullets. With the renewed interest in the .405 Winchester more bullets are becoming available in the .411 caliber. Hornady [2] and Bertram Brass offer cases for this cartridge, bullets are offered by Barnes and Woodleigh, and factory ammunition is offered by Hornady [3] and Kynoch.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Barnes, Frank C. (2006) [1965]. Skinner, Stan. ed. Cartridges of the World (11th Edition ed.). Gun Digest Books. p. 395. ISBN 0-89689-297-2. 
  2. http://www.hornady.com/store/450-400-3-400-Jeffery/
  3. http://www.hornady.com/store/450-400-Nitro-Express-3/
  4. - .450/400 3 inch Nitro Express Ammunition "Kynoch 450/400 3 inch Nitro Express". http://www.new-kynoch.apt-sites.com/450-400%203in%20NE.htm - .450/400 3 inch Nitro Express Ammunition. Retrieved 25 August 2010. 
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The original article can be found at .400 Jeffery Nitro Express and the edit history here.
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