.400/360 Nitro Express

The .400/360 Nitro Express (2​3⁄4-inch) cartridges are a number of very similar, but not interchangeable, centerfire rifle cartridges developed by James Purdey & Sons, William Evans, Westley Richards and Fraser of Edinburgh, all at the beginning of the 20th century.

.400/360 Westley Richards
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Production history
DesignerWestley Richards
Designed1900
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, bottlenecked
Bullet diameter.358 in (9.1 mm)
Neck diameter.375 in (9.5 mm)
Shoulder diameter.437 in (11.1 mm)
Base diameter.470 in (11.9 mm)
Rim diameter.590 in (15.0 mm)
Case length2.75 in (70 mm)
Overall length3.59 in (91 mm)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
314 gr (20 g) SP 1,900 ft/s (580 m/s) 2,520 ft⋅lbf (3,420 J)
Test barrel length: 28
Source(s): Cartridges of the World[1] & Kynoch.[2]
.400/360 Purdey
Production history
DesignerJames Purdey & Sons
Designed1900
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, bottlenecked
Bullet diameter.367 in (9.3 mm)
Neck diameter.389 in (9.9 mm)
Shoulder diameter.417 in (10.6 mm)
Base diameter.470 in (11.9 mm)
Rim diameter.520 in (13.2 mm)
Case length2.75 in (70 mm)
Overall length3.59 in (91 mm)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
300 gr (19 g) SP 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s) 2,537 ft⋅lbf (3,440 J)
Test barrel length: 28
Source(s): Cartridges of the World[1] & Kynoch.[2]
9x70mm Mauser
Production history
DesignerMauser
Designed1900
Specifications
Parent case.400/360 Westley Richards
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
217 gr (14 g) SP 2,477 ft/s (755 m/s) 2,970 ft⋅lbf (4,030 J)
Source(s): Cartridges of the World.[1]

Design

The .400/360 Nitro Express cartridges are all rimmed, bottlenecked cartridges designed for use in single shot and double rifles. Whilst almost identical in appearance there were slight variations in both the cartridge dimensions, bullet weights and, with the Purdey cartridge, calibre.

As is common with cartridges for double rifles, due to the need to regulate the two barrels to the same point of aim, each .400/360 Nitro Express cartridge was offered in only one loading.

.400/360 Evans

The .400/360 Evans fires a .358 in (9.1 mm) calibre, 300 gr (19 g) bullet at a velocity of 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s).[1]

.400/360 Fraser

The .400/360 Fraser fires a .358 in (9.1 mm) calibre, 289 gr (18.7 g) bullet.[1]

.400/360 Purdey

The .400/360 Purdey fires a .367 in (9.3 mm) calibre, 300 gr (19 g) bullet at a velocity of 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s). These cartridges were usually marked .400/.360P or .400/.360B.[1][2]

.400/360 Westley Richards

The .400/360 Westley Richards fires a .358 in (9.1 mm) calibre, 314 gr (20.3 g) bullet at a velocity of 1,900 ft/s (580 m/s). Westley Richards also produced a rimless version of this cartridge, also firing a 314 gr bullet.[1][2]

9x70mm Mauser

The 9x70mm Mauser is a German version of the Westley Richards cartridge which fires a lighter .358 in (9.1 mm) calibre, 217 gr (14.1 g) bullet at a faster velocity of 2,477 ft/s (755 m/s). The 9x70mm Mauser can be fired through rifles designed for the .400/360 Westley Richards, although this is rarely satisfactory as these rifles are usually regulated for a different loading.[1]

History

All versions of .400/360 Nitro Express cartridges appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and were initially very popular for use in Africa and India.[3]

The .400/360 Nitro Express cartridges gradually declined in popularity with the increased popularity of the magnum lengthed Gewehr 98 bolt action rifles, being supplanted by such cartridges as the .350 Rigby and the .375 H&H Magnum, whilst in European rifles, the 9x70mm Mauser was superseded by the 9.3×74mmR.[1]

The .400/360 Purdey and the .400/360 Westley Richards cartridges can still be sourced today by manufacturers such as Kynoch.[2]

Use

All versions of the .400/360 Nitro Express are suitable for use for hunting medium-sized game.

In his African Rifles and Cartridges, John "Pondoro" Taylor wrote that the .400/360 Nitro Express cartridges "all killed game, but failed to satisfy."[4]

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See also

References

Footnotes
  1. Barnes.
  2. Kynoch.
  3. Cartridgecollector.
  4. Taylor.

Bibliography
  • Barnes, Frank C., Cartridges of the World, 15th ed, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2016, ISBN 978-1-4402-4642-5.
  • Cartridgecollector, "400/360 Nitro Express 2​3⁄4 inch", cartridgecollector.net, retrieved 28 April 2017.
  • Kynoch, , "Big game cartridges", kynochammunition.co.uk, retrieved 28 April 2017.
  • Taylor, John, African rifles and cartridges, Sportsman's Vintage Press, 2013, ISBN 978-1-940001-01-2.
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