Just picked up a 416 remington . I like the 400 grain swift a frame for a soft but who loads the best solid in a factory load??

gunny, Barnes solids or Woodleigh can't be beat...I used custom made Bridger solids and took a bull ele with a frotal brain shot with absolutely no deformation...That is what you want...

Mike

My vote goes to Woodleigh, Barnes or Stewart...The worst (IMO) is the Trophy Bonded.

Gunny

I used Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Sledge Hammers in my .416 Rem. Mag.to take my buffalo in Zim last year worked well. The bullets recovered looked like they could be reused.

CFA

I used the Barnes for the longest time. These days I am leaning a bit more toward the woodleigh for reloading. HOWEVER, for cheap factory ammo, you might consider HSM who uses the Hornady solid (though I think you could order whatever you wanted). The ability to get FACTORY .416 Rem for under $40 per box is really a blessing.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

ANY solid today will work on Buffalo, I don't think solids ever failed on Buffalo, but many have on elephant....

I agree with retreever, the hard as hell, yet not brittle Bridger flat nose solid was the best solid every made, unfortunatly they are no longer available, but the upside is I still have enough to get me by for the next 10 years if I am conservative with them...I will save these for Elephant...I have shot a number of Buffalo at all angles with them but have yet to recover one....Loaded up some for some African PH friends and they shot some elephant with them and they knocked two holes in all the elephants shot. its just a great solid....

Another vote for Woodleigh 410gr Weldcores and Solids.

Gunny,

I believe the only readily available factory solids are the Trophy bonded Sledgehammers loaded by Federal and the Barnes monolithic loaded by Remington for 416 Remington. Personally I've had good luck with the sledgehammers but evidently Steve has seen them fail. You could call Superior Ammo and Larry could load anything you want or better yet what he has had the best feed back on. He literally loads thousands of rounds each year for safari bound hunters. He knows his stuff. Superior Ammo 1-800-677-8737.

Regards,

Mark

Ray, Hold on a bit. Bridger bullets is down but not out. I may yet make a come back.
John

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
My vote goes to Woodleigh, Barnes or Stewart...The worst (IMO) is the Trophy Bonded.

Can you tell us how many Trophy Bonded solids you have seen fail, and under what circumstances?

I don't know if anyone factory loads them, but I had great luck using the Barnes solid in a .416 Rem. on an elephant last year.

Kyler

Hi Gunny:

My vote is ofr Barnes first, Trophy Bonded Sledge Hammers second.

Regards... Jim P.

Thanks for all the information guys. I used woodleigh solids in my .375 and they worked quite well also you all seem to like barnes. I guess I will just reload and use woodleigh or barnes whichever shoots best. The only time I used sledgehammers they wouldnt group or shoot to the same point of aim as my softs.

Federal Trophy Bonded Sledge Hammer! hands down, Shot a elephant with it last year, with the Remington .416, the finishing shot, you know the one to make sure its done. well, we recovered the bullet from the skull, looks as if it was never shot! Perfect!

Has anyone here had a FMJ Hornady .375, .416, or .458 fail???

Not that I have heard.

Bridger's are probably C3600 "free machining brass," same as Barnes or A -Square. BFD.

Andy

Andy,
Wrong !! That information I'm not giving out.
John