.470 Nitro Express

The .470 Nitro Express is a rifle cartridge developed by Joseph Lang in England for dangerous game hunting in Africa and India. This cartridge is used almost exclusively in double rifles. It is in wide use in the Southern and Central-East African region, favoured by hunting guides, primarily while out for hunting Cape buffalo and elephant.

TypeRifle
Place of originEngland
Production history
DesignerJoseph Lang
Designed1907
Produced1907–present
Specifications
Parent case.500 Nitro Express 3¼ in
Case typeRimmed, bottlenecked
Bullet diameter.474 in (12.0 mm)
Neck diameter.504 in (12.8 mm)
Shoulder diameter.531 in (13.5 mm)
Base diameter.573 in (14.6 mm)
Rim diameter.655 in (16.6 mm)
Rim thickness.040 in (1.0 mm)
Case length3.25 in (83 mm)
Overall length3.98 in (101 mm)
Case capacity146.0 gr H2O (9.46 cm3)
Rifling twist1-20 in
Primer typeBoxer
Maximum pressure39,160 psi (270.0 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
500 gr (32 g) SP, FMJ 2,150 ft/s (660 m/s) 5,140 ft⋅lbf (6,970 J)
Source(s): "Cartridges of the World"[1]

Overview

The .470 NE was originally designed by Lang's as a replacement for the .450 Nitro Express, after the .450 NE was banned in several countries including India. This wasn't because the .450 NE was underpowered or inadequate, but because its bullets could be removed from loaded rounds for use by natives in stolen .577/.450 Martini Henry rifles.[1] Due to the heavy bullet and powder charge, the gun has significant recoil but this is mitigated by the low velocity, resulting in recoil being delivered as a strong push rather than a violent blow. Rifles chambered for this cartridge tend to be heavy double-gun style, and are typically quite expensive.[2]

The .470 NE continues to be the most popular of all the Nitro Express cartridges.[3] Ammunition and components are readily available.[1]

Handloading

Like other 'dangerous game' cartridges, ammunition is expensive compared with standard hunting cartridges, often costing up to 10 times more per shell than typical cartridges such as the .30-06.[4] Because of this many shooters choose to handload the .470 NE.[1] Brass can be obtained from a variety of sources, and like most reloading components varies in quality. Lighter loads for practice can be created that are more enjoyable and cheaper to shoot.[4]

Author and adventurer James S. Gardner provides a realistic, detailed account of the capabilities of a Nitro Express during an ill-fated safari, and again in a graphical account of a desperate firefight against men and a helicopter in his book, The Lion Killer.[5]

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See also

References
  1. Barnes, Frank C. (1997) [1965]. McPherson, M.L. (ed.). Cartridges of the World (8th ed.). DBI Books. pp. 89, 92, 334, 341. ISBN 0-87349-178-5.
  2. "Twin-Tube Dreamin' Archived 2007-06-02 at the Wayback Machine" by Ted Hatfield, in American Rifleman
  3. "The .450 Nitro Express" by Charlie Haley
  4. "An Adventure with Lead Bullets In The .470 Nitro Express Archived 2007-11-07 at the Wayback Machine" by Leo Grizzaffi
  5. James Gardner (2009). The Lion Killer. Sterling House Pub. ISBN 978-1-56315-462-1.
  • Cartridge capacity: Donnelly, John J. (1987). The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions. Stoeger Publishing. p. 641. ISBN 978-0-88317-269-8.
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