I just got back from the range with my first experience with my 416 Rigby. I am in the process of breaking in the barrel - shot 3 rounds and cleaned, etc. I shot 20 rounds total, so I'm not an expert. I'd say the 416 Rigby's recoil is about 20-25% more than my 375 H&H (i.e., a little more momentum heading south). It is an impressive round - sort of like a train wreck down range! I was shooting 2 differnt reloads: one with 96.0 grs of H4350 and one with 105 grs H4831SC (this was the most accurate of the 2, gave 1" groups at 50 yards with open sights). I was using a 400 grain Hornaday Solid - cheapest bullet I could find for barrel breakin purposes.

I used the 416 Rigby on my last Cape buffalo hunt this last September. My first shoot was 40 yd. well placed in the front shoulder. The second shot was 50yds running quartering away. I hit him a little high in the shoulder taking out his spine. The buffalo bull hit the ground as if it had ben hit by lightning. I have watched most big 5 hunting video on the market, and I have never seen a bullet have such a unbelievable impact ! I have got to tell you, I would never look forward to the day I had to shoot 20 rounds at the gun range. I am starting developed a flinch thinking about it.
Robert Johnson

There is nothing wrong with the Hornady solids for practice or hunting (when a solid is needed) and they are cheap. My boy used them on buff last year with good results. They probably build up a lot of brass in the barrel, like Barnes solids, but what the heck they're cheap, and good.

I can only shoot the 416 (Rem) offhand about 6 to 8 times til I start getting a headache.

More power to you!

The 105 grain load of H4831 is the Jack O'Connor load for the .416 Rigby and 400 grainers. Like magic, always accurate. Hodgdon says the H4831SC is to be used interchangeably, with the same ballistics. Precise chemical engineering of retardant coating on the SC, eh?

If I can't get the GSC FN anymore, I still like a flat nosed solid like the Speer AGS 400 grain tungsten core, or how about Bridger?

Those Speer AGS solids will out penetrate anything, IMHO, but they are pricey.

Daga Ron,

Are bridger bullets now being sold retail..

MHC..Congrats... waiting for my Lott to shoot...

Mike

Freedom is not Free

retreever,
Will have to look into that, hence my "?" above. I have a 470 Mbogo that could use some 540 grain flat nosed solids as suggested by the cartridge originator. The .416 Rigby with its generous case capacity would be a natural for the long/heavy/flat nose solids also.

www.bridgerbullets.com

has been "temporarily shutdown."

BTAFE compliance for licensing?

Glad you like the rigby. The Hornady SP 400 grains, at 20� each on speacial is a damn good deal. 20 rounds, for your first outing with it, is a tough one. I generally take 15-20 for a shooting session, then go home, and i think I am a recoil sponge.

enjoy the hell out of it

jeffe

I have always wondered about just turning the barnes solids(or X's for that matter) around backwards to get a FN solid. I have not tried it. It may have teething problems in some rifles. I still have some GSC Fn's and will use them up but when they are gone I will have to start looking. Has anyone tried this with the Barnes? In a few weeks I will get back with you on how the Rigby worked on buffalo for me. Good hunting. "D"

[ 07-09-2003, 08:56: Message edited by: D Hunter ]

D Hunter,

quote:

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I have always wondered about just turning the barnes solids(or X's for that matter) around backwards to get a FN solid.

---

I seem to remember a similar post a year back! Was it yours?

By that time I sugested that a GPA solid bullet could be what you were looking for.
Take a look at http://www.cartouchegpa.com

B.Martins

I'm anxious to give mine a try, I pick up my Ruger Magnum in .416 Rigby tomorrow. I'll load some ammo, fix the standard Ruger trigger and be ready to shoot tomorrow evening.

I'd concur on the 20 - 25% increased recoil vs my .375. I also shoot 105 grains of H4831sc. I love that powder and also shoot it in my 7 mag, 8 mag and several others. It's usually the 1st powder I go to.

I don't consider myself particularly recoil sensitive and thoroughly enjoy shooting my .375.... But I don't look forward to shooting the .416. It feels like the recoil is both heavier and sharper. Like a .338 on steroids.

Just walked in from shooting my CZ550 416 Rigby for the first time.......I used Speer 350 mag tips over 98 grains of IMR4350.....recoil was "brisk"! I have a few 400 grain Hornadys to try next time.

I just got my Ruger .416 and I'm really impressed with the wood, the barrel rib with express sights. Looks like a hell of a nice rifle and has the nicest piece of dark grained wood I've ever seen on one of the Ruger Magnums. I wish like hell they'd make a medium weight version of this rifle in something like 7x57, 9.3x62, .338-06. I'd order one of those tomorrow. I'll get it out and give it a range test tomorrow.

I have a Ruger Magnum Rifle in 416 Rigby and 375 H&H, the wood matches on each. I had a muzzle brake and 2.5 pound trigger with no creep installed on each. These rifles are scoped with a Luepold 3.5x10 and are accurate to 300 meters! In 2005, the 416 will take a buff or two! These are great rifles for the money!
Jeff

2 questions, 1st what does your guns weigh? and have anybody used the 450gr RN from woodleigh?

Rock

Barnes Bullets has these 416 on sale at their web sitem...no shipping charges to USA

416 .416 400 RN Solid (coated)50 $30.00#41661
416 .416 400 X (seconds)50$18.00#41690

go to http://www.barnesbullets.com/, then PURCHASE then DICO....

My 416 Rigby weighs a shade over 10 pounds (bathroom scales) without the scope and unloaded. My 375 H&H weighs 9 1/4 pounds with a scope. I would agree with the above comment "the recoil is like a 338 on steroids". You can't quite roll with it like you can with the 375H&H. In fact, it is Friday and I still have a bruise on my shoulder, but I'm going to shoot it again this weekend (just got some 410 grain Woodleigh solids in and the Northfork softs are on the way).

I just returned from Africa where I used my 416 in a CZ550 to take a buffalo and a kudu. I used the 370 grain Northforks. The buffalo traveled less than 25 yards after being hit through the heart. If I were to hunt buffalo again, I definitely would use this combination.

Rock,
The 450 Woodleigh just hit the market.. BTW I was somewhat instramental and corresponded with Geoff McDonald for a year on its development along with the 350 gr. 375 H&H...We are now conspiring to make a Woodleigh Flat Nose conventional solid....Geoff donated me 4 boxes of each (375 softs and conventional solids along with SN 416) for testing and to use in Africa.

I will be using the 450 gr. 416 RN softs in my 416 Rem on a Mauser action this year on Buffalo along with some 400 gr. Bridger FN solids. I will report these results...Geoff tested them on Aussy Buffalo and reported outstanding results...

I am of the opinnion the 450 gr. 416 will up the 416 to 458 Lott killing specs or close...and the 350 gr. 375 will up the 375 to 416 status....at least in the field....They are superbly accurate in all my rifles as most RN bullets tend to be...

My recent test indicate that the PP will penitrate a little better than the RN as Geoff predicted, but either will give plenty of penitration for Buffalo...It is an exciting bullet..

JLB,
I used the 370 gr. Northforks last year on 3 Buffalo and shot into some dead ones for bullet recovery, also used in on all plainsgame ...What an outstanding bullet, I recovered every bullet perfectly mushroomed on the far side under the skin...

Mike tells me if I would push them faster I could get an exit hole, I would like that, but suspect it won't happen in the 416 Rem. unless the expansion could be slowed down and the cross section was considerably smaller...they expand to a huge cross section and destroy a lot of tissue. One sure might get it done with a 416 Wby..I bet that bullet would blow a basket ball size hole in a buffalo out of a Wby or hot loaded Rigby at 2600 FPS..

I just fired my ruger .416 for the first time. I guess recoil is just about like I expected, it's certainly there, although if the pad was a little softer, it would be more comfortable. I haven't scoped it yet, my first group was at 35 yards with the iron sights and the three shots made one hole. The elevation was perfect, about 3/4 inch to the left so I'll have to move the sights some. I was shooting the 410 grain Woodleighs in the Federal factory loads. Should have my dies, etc Monday so I can load some of my own.