I just received some 370 gr. North Fork .416 bullets, including softs, solids, and Cup Points.

Who has handloaded these for the .416 Rem. Mag.? I'd like some suggesttions for powders, etc........

Thanks in advance!

AD

Allen ----- I used the 370 grain .416 North Forks on my Safari in 2004 in the Selous. I have a Ruger #1 in the Rigby and a Model 70 Winchester in the Remington. I took the .416 Remington for obvious reasons. All my shooting was with either IMR-4064 or RL-15. I settled on RL-15 and shot from 76 grains up to 82 grains with Fed 215M primers. My most accurate and consistent load was 80 grains with speed from 2400 to 2450 fps. I shot my Buffalo with the soft and then a Solid flat nose Mike made for me, with excellent results. The soft retained 99.2% of its original weight with a perfect mushroom, after traveling from the last rib through everything the old boy had to the neck bone where the first rib attachs, with the solid blowing through the shoulder and exiting the offside lung. ----- The solids printed about one inch lower than the softs at approximately the same speeds. ----- As a side note, my .416 Remington seating die would seat the solids much to low in the case compared to the softs, I had to use my Rigby die to seat the solids where they needed to be for accuracy and still fit the magazine. The .416 North Fork bullets are unbeatable for this hunter. Good luck and good shooting.

Pat, all of that sounds right to me. I may order an additional seating die to set up exclusively for the solids.

Did you have any trouble seating the bullets straight into the case by using a .416 Rigby seating die?

Thanks!

AD

I just used the same loads that I used with any other bullet of the same weight or near the same weight, just substituted the bullet in most of my guns, as those loads were proven accurate, and BTW the Northforks improved the accuracy in everyone of them if I recall...In other words book max was easy and at what appeared to be less pressure..The one exception was my 450-400s, in both cases I had to add a grain or two to bring the velocity up a tad to POI and this indicates to me less pressure with Northforks...

I have used all of the North fork bullet in 9.3, 375, 404, 416 and 470 with picture perfect results in every case and that includes a lot of game shot..

Allen ----- I had no trouble with the solids seating straight in the case. I could have readjusted my .416 Rem die but once I get my seating die set and the load is accurate, I don't want to mess with it. That is when I reached for the Rigby die and with minor adjustments it worked perfect. Even another Remington seating die would do. Good shooting.

Allen:

I can't reply to all of your query, but I have a nice load of 81.0 grains of RL-15 for my .416 Remington Magnum and the "soft" 370-grainers. I started at 78.0 grains; groups just kept getting tighter the faster I went.

Russ

Allan,

I use them exclusively. Had one shot kills on all of my game and perfect bullet performance. I was one of the ones that was 'field testing' the cupped tiped solids in 2002. I did several test shots on my second buff after it was down. ALL of the bullets went through the buff, front to back and side to side. I understand that they do mushroom easier now. Extremly accurate.

.416 Rigby

102.5 gr. H4831 SC
Norma Brass
Federal GM Match Magnum primers
Lee Factory crimp die

This all gives me 2525 fps. W/O the crimp die, it takes 105 gr. of powder to get that. I don't how this data will work for your .416. One thing for sure, you wil LOVE those bullets.

All the best.

Sam
eclemmons@hotmail.com

I mean this with all sincerity, but... are North Fork solids needed for Cape buffalo when the so-called "softs" are bonded so well and have a very excellent reputation for weight retention? I've pretty much been of the mind that, with the original North Forks, solids pretty much weren't necessary.

I have lots and lots of the originals but, if the consensus is that I should get some of Mike's "cup-nosed" solids, I guess I will.

Thanks, folks.

Russ

Russell:

You've got all you need, already... at least as expanding bullets go. You probably won't need a solid-type bullet, but do you plan to have some in the magazine for an up the rear follow up shot if the buff doesn't "give it up" immediately?

BTW, the 370 grain NF will do just fine on the plains game you take. In fact, I plan to be watching over your shoulder when you shoot them and your buffalo, so I guess I'm kinda putting my money (or better, yet, my butt) where my mouth is.

Have you gotten tickets yet? Five and one-half months until I meet your charter in the Selous.

JudgeG:

I contacted Mike (Brady) after my last post and asked him about the solids. He replied a moment ago and said he's going to send me some samples to see if they'll feed in my rifle.

As for buff' killing, don't worry, I'll take care of your butt. I mean that in a non-faggy way, of course.

Haven't gotten my tickets yet, but Kathi gave me a rough quote. I have two weeks of active duty coming up in Germany at the end of this month and the money from that endeavor will buy my plane tickets.

Between now and the time I leave, I'll be putting a lot of rounds through my .416 Remington Magnum.

Take care.

Russ

Russ: Welcome to Europe! Should you be heading north up Sweden way on any leave, there is always a bed for you here. Not much hunting season left or I should have arranged something for you.

Godspeed,
Martin

Allen,

John Barsness recently re-did his Handloads that Work article for Handloader (#231 Oct-Nov '04). He likes RL-15 and Ramshot TAC for the .416 RM, both powders are less temperature sensitive than older powders. His 400 gr loads are 78.0 gr of RL-15 and 69.0 gr of Ramshot TAC for about 2,400 fps. John says these are not max loads.

I have talked to Mike about loads for his North Fork bullets, and he says that you do need to work up as the loads will be a bit different with his bullets.

jim

Mike seemed to be worried about feeding problems with the flat nosed solids. In my .416 Rigby, the flat nosed solids feed at least as well, maybe smoother than Woodleigh round nosed bullets. I haven't worked up a load with them yet, all I've done is dummy one up to check feeding.

quote:

Originally posted by Marterius:
Russ: Welcome to Europe! Should you be heading north up Sweden way on any leave, there is always a bed for you here. Not much hunting season left or I should have arranged something for you.

Godspeed,
Martin

Well, I appreciate the offer, Marterius, I truly do. This time, however, we'll be going straight to the field and will be there until we fly back home. Not much time for goofing off, this trip. However, if you ever get anywhere near Silvis, Illinois, I'd like to reciprocate the offer you extended me.

I've never been to Sweden, but I always enjoy seeing Europe. Maybe I can take you up on it another time.

Thank you, Marterius.

Godspeed.

Russ

Russ, thank you very much! My offer stands, so it looks like we have a deal.

Regards,
Martin

Inasmuch as I shoot 99% of my Buffalo in the tall grass, I want a flat nose solid that I know will put two holes in a buffalo, so I have little use for any soft as no soft can be relied on to punch two holes consistanly..

Two holes leaves blood spewing out both sides at waist level in tall grass, One hole drips blood out the nose and mouth down low on the grass and in the dirt...

If I have to follow a bull in the tall grass I want the blood up there in front of me so I don't have to squat down and look for it knowing he may by 5 or 10 feet in front of me...
I also don't like shooting a big bull up the Keyster with a soft, that is really stupid, and I can just about guarentee your second shot will be up the old keyster...

I recently found the Northfork cup point to be the best of both worlds, and my all time choice as a buffalo bullet...Saeed likes his monolithic hollow points, both react about the same, and both get two holes from about any angle...

Well, okee dokee then, Ray. If the solids feed okay, I'll buy some. I got the original North Forks primarily because of the success you had with them. I should get the samples soon and I'll load some dummies and see if they cycle.

Russ