You guys and your strange cartridges....

by JohnKDM, Friday, December 13, 2024, 09:17 (8 days ago) @ AaronB

The early 450bpe used a coiled case with a separate base, sort of like a shotgun shell. The later version with a solid brass case has different dimensions and the brass case will not fully chamber in the earlier guns. Not an issue with a Handi, but mind the early originals. They can be opened up with a 450NE reamer, which is what the 450bpe solid case became with the introduction of nitro powders.

This 1870s one belonged to a customer and had some issues, particularly in the locks. I like to think it was dropped out of a howdah in India when a tiger attacked, but I am weird.