I need some help from persons with exsperiences on this field: .416 Rigby and safe loads!

I’ve been loading .416 Rigby for my farther for several years now. Always used Federal 215 and Norma Brass, Full sized. First I started with Norma 204 and Hornady 400 grains SN and FMJ. It worked well on three safaris. Then the original 102 grains of 204 gave sticking bolts when loading, due to differences between lots, and we loaded 98 grains of 204.This load did well in CAR. But when he returned we shifted powder to H4350.

I settled for H4350, because I read that Hodgdon powders are less affacted by tempratur than other brands. Second I like a powder which don’t fill the case completly when loading for Big game, so you can make sure by the sound that their is powder in! (I have a ritual where I shake my cartdrigdes before loading the rifle!)

I loaded 100 grains as I recalled and the Hornady bullets. Then a Hornady SN ”failed” on a buff. And he was ready to use another soft point bullet. We settled for 400 grains A-frame.

I choose to use the powder interval from theese pages; 95,0 to 103,0 grains, for developing loads. Non of them gave sticky bolts or flattened primers. But since I guessed that the plus 100 grains was hot, and since the best accuraccy was with 98,0 grains, we settled for that. And with 96� grains the Hornady FMJ was into the same point at 100 meters.

This combo did a fine job in Selous last year, and I’ve just send him of for Ethiopian with this combo to. But before he left we were trying some of the new Hornady encapsulated FMJ. And even with 95,0 grains the primers was very very flattened!

And during zeroing the rifle, one (the first one out of app. 100 round fired with this load) of the brass ”broke” �” in front of the cases buttom.

Now I’ve learned that Swift say that 88,0 grains of H4350 is max with the 400 grains A-frame?
I know that there is very big differences in the max loads recommended if the go by the old original preassure standards or by new once.

Unfortunatly I don’t have a Chrono, but actually Ijust wishes to have 400 grains bullets at 2400fps from this rifle.

Any relevat info would be appriciated.

Regards

Mads

Norma MRP, H-4831, H4831SC, or Reloder 22:

All of these powders are about equivalent grain for grain in the .416 Rigby. I think 100 to 105 grains of any of these powders is bound to produce a good load with 400 grain bullets at 2400 to 2450 fps, at pressures on the low side.

If you want to hear the powder shaking in the case, try 90 grains of H4350 with a 400 grain bullet. That ought to be close to 2400 fps.

Have you chronographed your other loads?

Hodgdon says 100,0 grains H4350 with 400 grains bullet for 2414 fps on their website.

Can velocity realy vary that much from rifle to rifle and preassure barrel to rifle?

Regards

Mads

MADS,

Hi! We used H4831SC in all 3 of our .416 Rigbys. It is in their 'Extreme' class of powders. We had temps in the 90's and no problems what so ever.

This powder was also very accurate in all of our rifles.

Give it a try with some than RAB mentioned. I think that you will like it. Be sure to get the SC (short cut), and not the standard.
Good luck in you quest.

SAM

Here is another vote for H-4831sc for the .416 Rigby. H-4831 is my only big bore powder. I am loading 103 gr of H-4831sc behind a 410gr Woodleigh Weldcore and achieving 2350+/- fps from a 24" tube.

The max Hodgdon published charge wieght for H-4831 with 400gr bullet is 106gr netting about 2422fps.

One more vote for H-4831 SC. I use 104 gr in Norma brass and Fed 215 GM primers behind 400 gr Swift A-Frames. Very accurate. Good hunting. "D"

I give the nod to R22. 97-100grs will give 2400fps with 400gr Swift A frames from my 24" barreled 416. 400gr Speer AGS solids take a couple of grains more. No pressure signs of any kind. In fact brass lasts...I don't know...still not worn after 25 reloadings.

Here's another one for you: 90.2 gr IMR 4350 ( right out of the Hornady Manual) with 400gr Swift A Frames and OLD STYLE Hornady FMJs and SPs. I get an unbelievable 1/4" groups with the solids about 1/2" from center of the Swifts. jorge