.470 Nitro Express

{{Infobox firearm cartridge

| name =

| image = Munit01.jpg | image_size = 300px

| caption =

| origin = England

| type = Rifle

| designer = Joseph Lang

| design_date = 1907

| manufacturer =

| production_date = 1907–present

| number =

| variants =

| is_SI_specs =

| parent = .500 Nitro Express

| case_type = Rimmed, bottlenecked

| bullet = .474

| land = .467

| neck = .504

| shoulder = .531

| base = .573

| rim_dia = .655

| rim_thick = .040

| case_length = 3.25

| length = 3.98

| case_capacity = 146.0

| rifling = 1-20 in

| primer = Boxer

| max_pressure = 39160

| max_cup = 35,000Max chamber pressure - saami specs. Return to the index to LASC. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm

| is_SI_ballistics =

| bw1 = 500

| btype1 = SP, FMJ

| vel1 = 2150

| en1 = 5133

| bw2 =

| btype2 =

| vel2 =

| en2 =

| bw3 =

| btype3 =

| vel3 =

| en3 =

| test_barrel_length =

| balsrc = "Cartridges of the World"{{cite book | last = Barnes | first = Frank C. | editor = McPherson, M.L. | title = Cartridges of the World | edition = 8th | orig-year = 1965 | year = 1997 | publisher = DBI Books | pages = 89,92,334,341 | isbn = 0-87349-178-5}}

}}

The .470 Nitro Express / 12.7x83mmR 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.

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 British colonies including India in 1907 (its bullets could theoretically be removed from loaded rounds for use by natives in stolen .577/.450 Martini Henry rifles). 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."[http://www.nrapublications.org/sh.%20illustrated/twintube.asp Twin-Tube Dreamin'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602182234/http://www.nrapublications.org/sh.%20illustrated/twintube.asp |date=2007-06-02 }}" by Ted Hatfield, in American Rifleman

File:470 Nitro Express 3Dview tech data.jpg

The .470 NE continues to be the most popular of all the Nitro Express cartridges.{{cite journal |last1=Haley |first1=Charlie |title=450 Nitro Express |journal=African Hunter |date=April 1999 |volume=5 |issue=2 |url=https://soulofacarp.com/africanhunter/classcart/450_nitro_express_03.htm |access-date=23 November 2022 |quote=Alas, of all the old Nitro-Expresses it would seem that the one currently riding the crest of popularity is the .470.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123173917/https://soulofacarp.com/africanhunter/classcart/450_nitro_express_03.htm|archive-date=23 November 2022}} Ammunition and components are readily available.

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."[http://www.african-hunter.com/lead_bullets_in_a__470_nitro.htm An Adventure with Lead Bullets In The .470 Nitro Express] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107114424/http://www.african-hunter.com/lead_bullets_in_a__470_nitro.htm |date=2007-11-07 }}" by Leo Grizzaffi Because of this many shooters choose to handload the .470 NE. 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.

In popular culture

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.{{cite book|author=James Gardner|title=The Lion Killer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZehJPgAACAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Sterling House Pub|isbn=978-1-56315-462-1}}

References

Cartridge capacity: {{cite book | last =Donnelly | first =John J. | title = The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions | year =1987 | publisher =Stoeger Publishing | pages = 641 | isbn = 978-0-88317-269-8}}

External links

[http://www.ammo-one.com/470NITRO.html .470 Nitro Express] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928061338/http://www.ammo-one.com/470NITRO.html |date=2007-09-28 }}
https://web.archive.org/web/20180123113335/http://www.458express.com/
[http://www.470mbogo.com/BigBores/BigBores6.html Comparing the Big Bores]
"[http://www.accuratereloading.com/470ne.html 470 Nitro Express load data]" from Accurate Reloading
"[http://www.chuckhawks.com/bigbore.htm The Big Bore Nitro Express Cartridges]" by Chuck Hawks
"[http://www.norma.cc/content.asp?Typ=55&Lang=1&DocumentID=49&Submeny=2&Rubrik=African%20PH&Title=470%20Nitro%20Express 470 Nitro Express ballistic data]" from Norma
"[http://www.norma.cc/content.asp?Typ=59&Lang=2&DocumentID=316&Submeny=4&Rubrik=Calibers&Title=470%20Nitro%20Express .470 Nitro Express history and loading data]" from Norma

Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges

Category:Rimmed cartridges

Category:British firearm cartridges