HI,

Shumba,I almost forget to say with that 400 grain X you use it can shoot really flat it has a great BC and SD. And can be load to 25oo-2600 fps without any pressure problems, why they have the Rigby so under loaded I do not know ,Kev

HI,


Shumba, thanks for the information,if I ever get there I would also bring two rifles, but I like the fact that if anything happen to the other rifle the 416 Rigby could be used for plains and DG.With a 400 grain bullet it will shoot out to 300 yards, it seems many people feel it is just a close range rifle and do not look at how flat it can really shoot,Kev

And who said factory ammo was the best stuff? It is expedient stuff, easy for a machine to load, and powder charges vary +/- 1 grain quite often for those rattlers. If I want a lower recoil and higher pressure for 2350 fps with a 400 grainer, I will use the .404 Jeffery with 78 grains of Varget. I might notice how light that is.

Old factory ammo or rattler hand loads bouncing around into the next season might deteriorate faster than my non-rattlers, but this is no chip-on-my-shoulder issue. Have at it Jorge.

Keep em coming guys. I had a friend suggest in a PM that 96 grains of IMR 4831 w/ Federal 215 primers and any 400 grain bullet was a good accurate combo.
Rich Elliott

Is there any proof that this "rattling" causes the powder to break down? I think we're teetering on that thin line between the sublime and the ridiculous here, but I am willing to learn if presented with facts. I've tested that IMR 4350 loads in 100 (F) weather and down to the low 30s with no apparent pressure or POI deviations.

Went and checked most of my factory loaded ammo and they ALL rattle, even the Weatherby a little bit. Regardless, I'm getting 2375 fps out of my Rigby with respectable accuracy. Adding another 15 grains of powder for an additional 50-75 fps seems to be a diminishing returns proposition. Think I'll keep the "rattlers." jorge

HI,

Shumba, with that load in your 416, if you wanted to shoot to 300 yards ,would you? I say this as everyone thinks the 416Rigby as not a plains gun,but if you look at a 400 grain at 2500-2550 fps,which a rigby can do it will shoot flat,in fact I think it could be used as a one rifle in Africa from what I see as I never have hunted there,but sure would like to,Kev

I'm shooting a Ruger M77 with a 23" barrel. Actually, when I said +/- 2,400 fps, I was more on the + side at closer to 2,450 fps.

An important note is that 105 grains of H4831 is a load favored and referenced by Jack O'Connor. Once I tried it, I stuck with it.

With respect to the 416 Rigby being an all around gun for Africa, it certainly can be. Especially where I have hunted (two safaris) in the heavy brush of Chewore North, Zimbabwe. Most shots in this area are under 100 yards and this is also an area that you can bump into a lion, buff, elephant, hippo, leopard, etc. around any bush.

I took eland, impala & buffalo with my 416 Rigby and 400 grain Barnes X. The only reason I did not use the rifle as my single rifle is because I am a gun nut (like most people on the AR board) and I wanted to try another rifle while in Africa.

Tim

I use any 400 grain bullet with 104 grains Imr-4831SC or 98 grains of RL-22 and a Fed 215M primer. My favorite bullet and most accurate load is the North Fork 370 grain bullet with the 98 grains of RL-22. I have tried Hornady, Swift A-Frame, Barnes and North Fork bullets. Good luck and good shooting.

The reason the .416 Rigby is loaded that way is two fold: 1)Because the original loading of a 410 gr. bullet at 2350fps has done an admirable job for 92 years, 2) The case was designed to be overly large, not to accomodate more powder, but to keep pressures low and hence ease extraction in hot climates. This last point is a factor often overlooked by handloaders and gunmakers alike (case in point .416 Rem). There is no need for additional speed nor energy in this caliber, 2350-2450 fps and 5000-5225 fpe will kill any land animal quickly and easily with proper bullet placement. It is no wonder the .416 Rigby is enjoying such a groundswell of popularity recently. Truly one of the great rounds of all time.

Geronimo

Wow, you guys are using a lot of powder. I duplicate Rigby ballistics with 90.2gr of IMR 4350 and 400gr Swifts or Hornadys, Fed 215 primers and Norma/Federal brass. I get groups under 1" to the same POI. jorge

This is the load I used in Africa for the solids. They are the 400 grain Bridger, Flatnose solids. Unfortunately, they are no longer made. This group was shot at 100 yards with my Ruger M77 and a Leupold VariX III 1.5-5x heavy duplex scope in Warne QD rings. My Barnes X loads shot to the same POI. Can't ask for much more than this. (please note that I pulled one of the shots)



By the way, I will probably be selling this rifle soon to make way for my 404 Jeffrey that is being built. Anyone wanting a great African rifle that is super accurate, let me know.

Tim

Ja,
The old Jack O'Connor load of 105 grains of H4831 or H4831SC with 400 grainers is THE LOAD for the .416 Rigby. Even if Jack was using old WWII surplus powder different from today's new and improved Hodgdon Extreme stuff, the load translated well to the modern powder.

Velocity will be about 2450 to 2500 fps in most rifles with most 400 grainers.

Accuracy will be spooky.

Your cartridges will not rattle when you walk, like they will with 90.5 grains of IMR4350.

It will be a one-shot killer, and you might as well plan on giving away all the left over H4831-loaded ammo to the PH's, who will mostly be carrying .416 Rigby rifles anyway, and will be thouroughly amazed by the precision lightning strikes from your rifle, and beg you for the recipe and any spare ammo for their rifles.

Boy, I wonder when this pissing match will end ?

Geronimo

I tried that H-4831 load in my Ruger and the recoil was noticeably more than the 4350 load and it only gave me about 70fps more. I could not ask for better accuracy with the 4350 load. Too bad the "search" fucntion is down as you could do a search for the previous postings regarding Rigby loads. There you will find a picture of a "one holer" showing 400gr A Frames and the old style Hornady solids. I never heard bullets "rattle" before, and mine certainly do not. jorge