I assume most of you guys handload, so I'd like to know your favorite loads for the 416 RM. I just got my Ruger #1 Tropical, and I'd like to know some good loads. I have 400 gr. Hornady soft points and 400 gr. Nosler Partitions, but I'd like to use 300 gr. Barnes X's or 350 gr. Speer Mag-Tips for moose. I have RL15, IMR 3031, and IMR 4895.

Ant loads would be a big help.

I settled on 79 grs. of RL-15 or a bit more...It suits the 416 Rem better than any other powder.....

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

My final max load is 78 grains of RL-15 but I am using Barnes bullets. IMR-4320 does almost as well, as far as velocity, and shoots a bit tighter in my particular .416 Remington rifle. It does so, however, at somewhat higher pressure. My barrel is on the "slow" side. RL-15 is the only powder that has approached 2,400 fps with 400 grainers.

I get around 2650 fps from IMR4895 and Speer 350s, without pushing hard at all. I believe it was 80 grains, but I can't get to my book right now. QuickLoad predicts 2637 fps at a safe and sane 57,000 PSI from 80 grains of RL-15. I also get 2550 fps from 80 grains of some H380 I had lying around and used in practice loads for the Speer 350gr MagTip.

QuickLoad says that RL-15 and IMR4895 are just about equivalent (within a grain) in this case for the 350 grain Speer.

For premium bullets you cannot beat the GS Custom FN IMHO. I have not yet tested the HVs, but I suspect they'll be world-beaters, too. The driving band design seems to be very forgiving of barrel imperfections.

As always, start 10% low and work up. Let me know how the 350s work on game.

Don

This site is invaluable for such info. I wish it had been around when I worked up loads for my 416 Rem. I came up with RL 15 with 81 Gr. for both Barnes 350 x bullets and 400 Solids. They shoot to the same point of aim at 100 yds. All rifles are different, so work up to any of these loads.

------------------
JD

Don,

I wanted to get the 350 gr. Speer Mag-Tips and Barnes X's when I ordered my rifle, but they had run out of stock of the MagTips. I wanted to shoot the same bullet weight for practice and hunting, so I went with the cheaper Hornady bullets for practice, and the Nosler Partitions for hunting. I guess I'm still used to small bores, as I've always stayed away from non premium bullets for hunting. I really like the looks of the 400 gr, Hornady, and I've read Boddington uses them on Cape Buffalo. They should work for black bears! I would like to get the lighter bullets to extend my range, but moose season doesn't open again until Sep. 10th '02. Should give me plenty of time to work up a good load and practice.

I have another question. Is there a bullet maker that makes a .416" bullet lighter than 300 grs? Barnes is the only one making 300 gr., and most only make 400 gr. Since I'm going to to be using this rifle on bears and moose, I'd eventually like to go with a lighter bullet. Or does the 416 & 400's go together like the 30'06 & 180's?

[This message has been edited by todbartell (edited 11-04-2001).]

The GS Custom HV is 330 grains and it has some astronomical ballistic coefficient. I would not go lighter than that, but I'm prejudiced towards heavier bullets and high sectional density.

The 400 gr Hornady has a good reputation for thin-skinned game, as does the 350 magtip. I would have thought the 350 magtip better for bear than the 400, but since both are plenty big medicine I would not worry about it much.

The new Barnes bullets have bigger hollow points and are supposed to open more reliably than the older Barnes design, which had some problems in the .416. If your bullets are made after Jan 2000, then they should be the new ones.

Don