I agree but would add this caveat. If you are hunting buff 2x1 it is a better idea to shoot buff on two different days. That way the herd has a chance to calm down and all the old boys aren't high on adrenaline when the second hunter shoots. Jim's buff quietly died with a "lethal triangle" shot with a .375. Mine was shot about a half hour later and was spitted through the brisket with exactly the loads you're talking about here. He was dead but didn't admit it. Even though blood was pouring out of both his mouth and his nose, he still managed a very serious charge. I put two more rounds into him before my PH spined him at 25 yards. That's about 2 seconds in buffalo time. What was the difference? The first kill upset the rest. Avoid that?

Similar procedure here. I have a 25" barrel on the CZ .416 Rigby. I've started with H4831 and a 400 grs Nosler. I was at 2300 fps when the misfit of stock and shooter became painful (cheekbone). I've temporarily fitted the stock with one of those neoprene-type of combraisers (dreadfully ugly) so I'm good to go with the following two batches...this Sunday I guess. Someday I will have to get a custom stock done, or figure out a more durable and aesthetically pleasing solution to the low stock.

2400 fps is what I'm aiming for. Shouldn't be too difficult according to the experts out here.

Frans

2150 or there abouts in a 404 Jefferys is plenty for a 400 gr. bullet and it has worked for me in the past without complaints, and 2400 FPS is even better or so appears to me...

Most of my 404 loads that I have shot buffalo with are about 2350 FPS according to my records with 5 or 6 Buff at 2653 FPS with a 400 gr. bullet in the 404, just for comparison, and I saw no apparant advantage to the faster loads on those 5 or 6 head, but 5 or 6 head is not enough buffalo to draw any kind of a conclusion IMO.....

However with the advent of monolithic HP bullets and simi monolithic bullets,one might gain something by shooting them at 2700 to 2900 FPS. I have observed Saeed shoot quite a number of Buffalo with his 375/404 with a 300 gr. monolithics at 2700 to 2900 FPS and it kills them as well as anything else I have seen buffalo shot with including the 505 Gibbs, 500 N.E. and others...You simply cannot discount velocity out because some hunter from the 1920s says so...

Bottom line and an answer to your particular question is a 400 gr. bullet at 2300 to 2350 FPS in your 416 Chatfield Taylor will certainly kill a Buffalo with ease and room to spare, the rest is merely conversation, opinnion and speculation on everyones part, self included..........

All right, I accept that faster is often better like 2200fps vs. 2400fps. But I want to know in 416 caliber where is it "enough" to properly do the job. what were the old african hunters hoping for when they loaded their guns? I am thinking specifically of the 416 Taylor with bullet weights from 340-400, without making the pressure dangerous what is a comfortable point to shoot for with a 22" barrel?

Red

I have the same question regarding my .404 Jeffery but I already have a plan of attack and it's based on what I've read on these forums at AR.

I'm quite comfortable working up safe loads for a bolt action rifle.....and I assume you are as well.

I'm picking the 400 grain Woodleigh and adding RL15 until I reach either 2,400'/sec or I find pressure concerns.

Then repeat the process with H-4831 and again with H-4350 and again if necessary.

Frankly I'm far more concerned with my ability to handle the recoil than I am of the rifle's ballistics.

If I can manage 2,400'/sec in my 23" barrel.....I'm one happy camper...... I built this thing to abuse Cape Buffalo.....not me!!!

From all that I've read here.....a 400 grain bullet, properly placed, at 2,400'/sec is all one needs. Your Taylor should be about the equal to my .404