while on my recent trip with my family, a fellow asked for my advise. It has been 30 or more years since my husband had a 405 Winchester. I told him that from memory it would hunt out to 200 yards, but had less velocity and energy than a 45/70 and the 45/70 would also give him better bullet selections. However, If it was the 405 that intrigued him, he might want to look at the Ruger #1 405. ( but of course it is not a lever ) Personally if you want to play in the 400 sandbox, I would prefer the 450/400, 404 Jeff or even the 416 Rigby.
He was thinking the 405 Winchester might be a good follow up rifle for wounded game. I felt there were better options, ---- for plains game your follow up shot might require some distance.----- For leopard, I suggested a shotgun ---- for Buffalo I would prefer a 45/70 over a 405---(actually I would prefer a 450/400), . I also mentioned the cost and condition of finding an original. However, again from memory, I thought Winchester brought it back in some way for a short period of time, but if I am right those rifles would have probably been made in Japan------anyway -----I threw cold water on using the 405 with a 300 grain bullet as a follow up rifle, but I did so on "dated" information ( not to mention that my memory is also not what it once was ) I believe the 300 gr bullet was the only weight bullet made for it at that time, but that also may have changed or I am sure the rifle could be reworked to accept other weights---------anyway I told him I would ask a group of men and women with more knowledge than I and get back to him
If some of you gentlemen would give me some up to date information, as well as your opinions, I will forward it to him. Thank you
He was thinking the 405 Winchester might be a good follow up rifle for wounded game. I felt there were better options, ---- for plains game your follow up shot might require some distance.----- For leopard, I suggested a shotgun ---- for Buffalo I would prefer a 45/70 over a 405---(actually I would prefer a 450/400), . I also mentioned the cost and condition of finding an original. However, again from memory, I thought Winchester brought it back in some way for a short period of time, but if I am right those rifles would have probably been made in Japan------anyway -----I threw cold water on using the 405 with a 300 grain bullet as a follow up rifle, but I did so on "dated" information ( not to mention that my memory is also not what it once was ) I believe the 300 gr bullet was the only weight bullet made for it at that time, but that also may have changed or I am sure the rifle could be reworked to accept other weights---------anyway I told him I would ask a group of men and women with more knowledge than I and get back to him
If some of you gentlemen would give me some up to date information, as well as your opinions, I will forward it to him. Thank you