I have never used anything like the NorthFork Cup Point simi solid or simi expanding bullet, whatever you want to call it...We have used it in the 404 and 416 and recently in the .375 H&H...It is an awesome Cape Buffalo bullet..

I suppose it could be used in conjunction with the Northfork flat nose solid; GS Customs Flat nose solid; or the Bridger flat nose solid...

I used the cup points this year with the North Fork flat nose solids, but came home with a lot of flat nose solids that simply were not needed...

The Northfork monolithic Cup Point pretty much covers the whole spectrum of shooting Buffalo from any angle IMO....

What is your favorite .416 (Rem Mag, Rigby or otherwise) bullet for buff and hippo? Why?

Dogcat - - -

I'm no expert on different loads, but I've been using a Remington 416 for a few years, took Hippo, Buffalo, Eland, Zebra with it, I shot with iron sights. Used Federal factory loads, solids on the Hippo and softnose on the rest. I'm very happy with the performance. A friend of mine used my 416 last June in Africa to take a Elephant & Lion, he was very pleased with the bullet performance, hell, on the Elephant, the PH shot just after the hunter, (the hunter asked him to, he was nervious about dropping it himself). The PH was using a 458, both hits were just behind the shoulder, within in 2 inches of each other, the PH was very impressed with the 416's "out performing" his 458. I like the Federal factory loads..................................

As always, Good Hunting!!! Widowmaker416

410gr Woodleigh Weldcores for .416 Rigby. They are very accurate and they mushroom and track perfectly. With Rigby velocities, you generally achieve an exit wound with massive internal damage. Unlike some of the �designer bullets� they are readily available via overnight delivery - no lost bullets in the mail for months or years on end or other import problems.

I like Swift A Frames as well. Only shot two buffalo with them, but both died with one shot.

I did a lot of reading/research here, spoke and corresponded with several of you. I settled on the 400gr Swift A Frame and from an accuracy standpoint, I couldn't be happier(believe it or not, right at .5"@ 100 yds and within 1" of the solids). Unfortunately, my field report will have to wait until June, when I return from the fields of Zimbabwe. jorge

I haven't yet tried my new CZ 550 in 416 Rigby on any game but a friend is bringing back some Rhino bullets from South Africa? Anybody have any experience with this bullet?

When I started searching for a load for my .416 Rem and Rigby I used 400 grain Hornady and Swift A-Frame, as well as the 370 grain North Fork. The Hornadys and North Forks won hands down on accuracy. The North Forks and Swift A-Frames won the toughness test with the North Fork having the edge. The perfect mushroomed North Fork I recovered from a Buffalo last week in Tanzania was the final test. The bullet entered the at the last rib and racked the Buffalo throughout lodging in between the 1st and 2nd rib where it adjoins the backbone at the neck. It knocked him down, he got up walked away and I put a North Fork solid through his lungs, he walked in a couple circles and dropped with all four legs in the air. I also took a Hartebeest, Impala, Zebra with the 270 grain .358 North Forks with my STA, recovering one perfectly mushroomed bullet from the Hartebeest that had lodged in the off side skin after penetrating the shoulder, neck-backbone. I couldn't have been any happier with my North Fork bullets. ----- I also shoot them in Alaska and Colorado with my .358 STA's, having taken several Elk, etc. Good luck and good shooting.

Another excellent bullet in the 416 is the new 400gr. Nosler bullet, and it has a world of penetration, it will punch two holes from broadside to slightly turned. It expands beatufully..It is one tough bullet with the jacket nice and thick...I really like it...It also works great on plainsgame as it opens up quick but not with a big cross section like the Northfork or Swift, thus you get some expansion and lots of penetration....an excellent bullet for Buffalo, Lion, and plainsgame. I shot a number of Buffalo with it last year...

The 450 gr. Woodleih is a beatifull bullet in RN, PP, and solid persuasion...I shot a number of Buffalo with these bullets year before last..I liked both softs extremely well and perhaps it gives a 416 a one up with the extra weight..The PP has all the penetration one could want and the RN has just a tad less, they both expand to a big cross section with a lot of base left to push them forward...

I have allready praised the great Northforks in my previous post above..

We have to praise the bullet makers out there today, they have done a bang up great job, hunters of yesterday would be awe struck with todays bullets, I know that I am...I remember bullet failures and about all the handloader had was Sierras, then later Hornadys, and they failed from time to time, as did most factory bullets with the possible exception of the old round nose peters/Remington Corelokt..

I have also used the Trophy Bonded Bear Claws as well as the Trophy Bonded Solids with good success on my two buffalo as well on one eland last year:


But I would also not hesitate to use A-Frames, Partitions or Woodleighs...

Best regards,

Erik

Ray,
Are you referring to the Partition Gold or the regular Partition?
Thanks

I used 400 gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw on a buff this summer. Wonderful performance, dropped him within 50 ft of where he was shot. Wasn't much of a test as I only fired one of them on the whole trip. The Hornady 400 gr "encapsulated" penetrated straight thru on the "insurance" shot that wasn't needed. Both are very accurate in my 416 Rigby.

For the buffalo I prefer the 400gr "X" and 400 gr Barnes solid. You do have to be careful since the "X" bullets perform like solids in that they have great penetration and will shoot through buffalo at most any angle. They do open up well and seem to be very effective. I also used them on lighter game with equal affect. I would use them on any large/very large game.

JB,

Thats some bullet. Thanks for details. I will have to try them. I have a very lightweight 416 (8 1/2 pounds with sling, scope and ammo) that is a factory Dakota. It also has a very straight pistol grip and it just plain kicks.

So Ive always been looking for a lighter bullet.

I do think RL-15 is used in facotry Remington ammo. Sure looks like it.

Ive had no trouble reaching 2425 fps with the 400 gr Nosler using RL15 and/or Varget. Both are very "dense" powders. (It just kicks too much in my lightweight Dakota).

Ray, I agree, the nosler is a conventional nosler not a partition gold. I looked at the one I sawed in two and believe you are right. Both partition and thickness of ogive are substantial. But Im going to try some of those 350 gr Swifts.

Andy