WB
An extremely unique collector/shooter .400!
Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 07:49

The performance should be identical to the ancient .401 Herters Super Mag. of 1961. It should have ecliplsed the .41 Magnum in my opinion. I think the .41 and .44 (.43 actually) are too close. A .400 is right between a .357 and .45. A 180-210 gr. at 1400+ fps is a Goldilocks shooter. 10mm projectiles are all over and perform fine, even with no crimp other than tapered. 10mm Magnum brass is available from Starline and a neat round.

If George Herter had not rubbed so many the wrong way it probably could have caught on, the .401 cal. Norma made the brass, the ammo was a little dirty for the bore. But performance was there. Cops were begging for a little more than the .38/.357, but for a maker to side with George Herter was the kiss of marketing death. Elmer Keith, Askins, O'Connor, and others didn't like Herter and totally shunned him in publications. He was too over the top, and basically a self promoting liar. A spade is a spade. Ruger filed suit against Herter over the "Single Six" mame. My .401 is marked "Single Six" but overstruck. It adds some interest and dates the piece to the legal conflict. 10mm Magnum Auto is a great round, 1.25" long and a true .400 cal. Exactly the same dimensions at the .401 Herters except no rim. I push lubed jacketed .41 Mag. projectiles through .401 sizers to make some interesting 10mm bullets. They work, cast or jacketed.

Pic is my Reeder Cylinder'd .401 Supermag (a dead caliber) rechambered to .38-40. I do have two cylinders. The pink .38-40s are experimental historical replica shotshells.

I have several unique Reeder customs in .400 caliber. His .401 GNR is a barn-burner too! The .400 GNR (.30-30 straight) is a performer as well in the single shot.