400 H&H ammo needed

[PGG]

A friend has a Holland and Holland 400 H&H I understand this is a 375 H&H necked up.
He is not a reloader and needs ammo for a African trip any suggestions?
This is not something I know anything about but he asked so I started here.
Thanks PG

Ps: I also post this in reloading. Thanks

 

[judgedelta]

If he's got time, RCBS can make him about any kind of dies you can think of. I don't know if I'd want to take homemade ammo to Africa to chase anything I'd need a .400 for. I trust my handloads, but I never have had to trust my life to them. Also, I don't know what his PH might have to say about handloads some stranger did for him. Just sayin'.....

 

[Beyschaefer]

I think with a non standard caliber like .400 H&H (it's not a catalog cartridge that I'm aware of, but I've been known to be wrong once in a while), you're going to be limited to "handloads". I put that in quotes because I'm sure somewhere out there is a custom load-shop that could produce some for you - and then the line between handloads, and "factory" loads gets a little blurry.

If you need dies in a hurry, forget RCBS... their wait time for dies starts at 90 days, and goes to a year when they actually have your money. At least, that was my experience.
You might call CH4D and see if they have a set on the shelf.

If I was handloading it, I would take more precautions than usual loading it... (keeping things clean, wearing gloves, not contaminating the primer, powder, etc... using a sealer on the primer, etc).

 

[ORD]

Tell your "friend" that he bought a one-off cartridge not popular in the states and otherwise next to impossible to source loaded ammo for (brass, bullets, powder, etc. for reloading are readily available from even common sources like MidwayUSA, etc., but he's also further SOL since he wants oddball cartridges that he can't be bothered to reload for)!! Why people buy gorgeous H&H rifles that don't have, can't make or otherwise can't source @#$%ing ammo for them is a question that drives me nuts...especially when they then get a wild hair to go off into the bush on a dangerous game hunt with said unproven rifle and ammo (if they ever find any that is)!!! Has he even shot the @#$%ing rifle at this point?!? Sorry...rant off (and assumptions contained in said rant with it).

The ONLY 400 H&H ammo, commercially loaded, I have ever seen in the US has been that offered by Quality Cartridge out of MD, (they got out of the loaded ammo business a while back if memory serves but you might try a Google to see if you can locate them), and that offered by H&H themselves with Woodleigh bullets legally imported into the country as loaded ammo. When Quality Cartridge did make it...I want to say it was $10/round and the H&H stuff wasn't much if any better (and I'm thinking it was worse). Depending on where he'll be going in Africa and what kind of outfit he's going to be hunting with, he may be better off to have them source ammo for him locally or obtain it from the European market where the 400H&H has a somewhat larger following. Other than that...try getting with H&H's NY office (they have a showroom for new/used firearms there that is simply AMAZING to put it mildly, but I don't know if they offer ammo sales or not)...contact info should be on the H&H website. The only other thing I can suggest is to get with a custom ammo mfg that specializes in oddball/obscure/European/etc. cartridges outside the mainstream...Reed's Ammo comes to mind as one possibility, but there are others around as well.

 

[PGG]

wow Ammo-one.com has loaded ammo for this it looks like in stock. Incredible. Thanks everyone PG

 

[PGG]

Everyone thanks for the help.
ORD I didnt say my "friend" bought one I said he has one.
It was a business gift he received so I dont think he is going to bitch about the hard to find ammo.
I think the hour spent finding loaded ammo or the components will work out just fine.
I doubt I would ever shoot one if I had it I am not a hunter nor do I own any pretty guns.
I do own two GA Precision .308's but thats a different kind of pretty I am sure all would agree.
Thanks again everyone. Great info at the tips of our fingers on SH. PG

 

[ORD]

Be cautious of the ammo-one link/ammo and be sure that your friend calls/confirms availability before placing his order. From the link in the reloading forum that was provided, it appears that they are selling the Quality Cartridge ammo I mentioned above. If that's the case, then they have some old stock around or perhaps a working relationship with Quality Cartridge that allows them to still get ammo...I'm almost sure that QC stopped making it though. That price, however, is on par with what I've seen it go for over the last 4-5yrs.

As for the "friend" and my comments...joking doesn't translate well on the Internet (even with the occasional thrown in). No offense intended toward you or toward him whatsoever. The H&H rifles are truly functioning works of firearms art in every sense. He should really get a good quantity of ammo for it if he can source it loaded or otherwise plan to get into reloading as that is a hell of a cartridge in an even more impressive package capable of taking just about any dangerous game animal out there with the proper ammo and a hunter who can effectively do their part. Out of curiosity...where exactly is he going and what's he going for?

 

[S391]

I used to work for Holland & Holland and I had never heard about the 400 H&H (why anyone would want to screw with the classic 375 H&H is beyond me).... you learn something new every day. That said, I hope your friend doesn't lose his ammo on the trip over..... At least with the .375 H&H you can find it if you lose your own....

 

[MikeeBooshay]

If the ammo one thing does not work out, try Larry at Superior Ammo, he makes a lot of African custom ammo. THe 400 H&H does not appear on his website, but I'll bet he has made it before.

I am supposed to be working on some 375 Ultra, basically a necked down 416 Rigby.

 

[PGG]

S391 thanks for that info.
ORD no worries I was just thinking about the story my "friend has a burning issue with his penis" etc etc.
I didnt ask him where he was going or hunting for. I am not a hunter really nor have I ever looked into an African trip.
I shoot prairie dogs in Wy although they seem to have all been killed off by the Plague where I go & hope to someday shoot some Texas wild hogs thats big game for me.
I should see him in a week or so and I will ask him the plan. PG

 

[Wyfox]

Go with Superior Ammo, Holland Holland in New York, New York, or the Cabelas Gun Libraries.
It's a new cartridge that they introduced a few years ago to match the 450-400 Nitro with the same .411 diam bullets. They also introduced a 465 H&H at the same time. If its a Holland and Holland rifle that is a tremendous gift and a heirloom piece!

http://www.hollandandholland.com/gun_single.php?i=387&l=london&v=&c=

 

[aam]

You can try this site. Very popular for all the big bore and big game hunters. I'm sure someone will steer you in the right direction.
Forums.NitroExpress.com

 

[pawprint2]

Is the 400/375H&H the same round as the 400A-Square? A-Square makes a large selection of African big game rounds.