Is the 416 Weatherby Magnum an effective BUFFALO gun? What load and velocity do you use, if you have one? AIU

Ima help you out here theres a search engine use it.

Very effective but it's better when Loaded to 2540fps with something like the 400 gr X bullet. The Full chat (2700) is not needed and in fact (IMO) is too fast for buff at close range.

I've got an old friend and hunting buddy who has uses his to great effect on buff!

Beats me but if the much cheaper Ruger made .416Rigby will take all, why wouldn't it be???? Do you know something we don't??

My point is that many talk about "not loading for too much velocity" - but, obviously, Weatherby had different ideas and created cartridges that produced incredible velocities and kinetic energies for maximum killing effect.

I don't hear many people complaining about how all those wounded buffalo are escaping from being shot with 375 Weatherbys, 378 Weatherbys, 416 Weatherbys, and 460 Weatherbys...etc. Do you think that the "bullet blow-up" problem is a bit overstated? I keep hearing anecdotes about how effective these cartridges are, and one would think that Weatherby would have got the message by now that they were on the wrong track.

Regards, AIU

They probably work better with the great bullets that are produced now.

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
My point is that many talk about "not loading for too much velocity" - but, obviously, Weatherby had different ideas and created cartridges that produced incredible velocities and kinetic energies for maximum killing effect.

I don't hear many people complaining about how all those wounded buffalo escaping from being shot with 375 Weatherbys, 378 Weatherbys, 416 Weatherbys, and 460 Weatherbys...etc. Do you think that the "bullet blow-up" problem is a bit overstated? I keep hearting anecdotes about how effective these cartridges are, and one would think that Weatherby would have got the message by now that they were on the wrong track.

Regards, AIU

LOVE my .375 Wby, he was certainly on track when he created that one.

short answer, yes, but whats wrong with a rigby or rem?

IMO the 416 Rigby and 416 Rem Mag are both underloaded, in fact way under loaded. The 416 Rigby is capable of anything the 416 Weatherby can do. Shooter fatique likely explains why they are not loaded to their potential. AIU

AIU, what kind of velocity are you looking for? What do you think is necessary or proper? I have a .416 hoffman, and I load it to 2505 fps with a 400 grain Trophy Bonded Bullet. Is 2500+ enough velo? Do you need that extra 200 fps that the Weatherby can get? Is there anything wrong with a 400 grain bullet @ 2300 fps?

Great case to take advantage of the newer 450gr 416 caliber bullets....more moderate speed and greater bullet weight.

Biebs,

What's the status of the re-stock of your Hein .450? Any pics yet?

Andy

I believe penetration and velocity are both important in maximizing killing power. The bullet needs to reach and pass through vital organs and the faster the better. As a fast moving bullet with abundant kinetin energy and momentum travels through organs the water contained (and other tissue components) are pushed out of the way and given lateral velocity, hence creating lateral hydroshock and a very large channel of tissue damage. The more velocity (kinetic energy) and momentum the bullet has, the greater and more devastating this effect. North Fork has shown that a well constructed bullet will penetrate very deeply, even when fired at very high velocity. Indeed, NF claims their bullets increase depth of penetration with increasing velocity. Why not combine the best of both worlds for maximum effect.

DLS, bullet placement into vital organs is more imporant that anything else. But, given one can shoot straight, why not go with a high-velocity, heavy-for-caliber, premium big game bullet. I also have 400 gr. TBBC bullets, which I'll load in my 416-375 RUM (416 UltraCAT). I plan to load them at 2700 fps and shoot the buffalo right through the heart, but I'll likely aim for a high anterior lung shot, hoping to hit the top of the heart. If I miss the heart, the damage to the lungs and nearby great vessels from the hydrostatic wound channel should be devastating, possibly even causing lethal injury to the heart as it passes nearby.

Regards, AIU

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
I believe penetration and velocity are both important in maximizing killing power. The bullet needs to reach and pass through vital organs and the faster the better. As a fast moving bullet with abundant momentum travels through organs the water contained (and other tissue components) are pushed out of the way and given lateral velocity, hence creating lateral hydroshock and a very large channel of tissue damage. The more velocity (kinetic energy) and momentum the bullet has, the greater and more devastating this effect. North Fork has shown that a well constructed bullet will penetrate very deeply, even when fired at very high velocity. Indeed, NF claims their bullets increase depth of penetration with increasing velocity. Why not combine the best of both worlds for maximum effect. Regards, AIU

A .416" or .423" 400 grain bullet (North Fork, Barnes, or similar constructed soft or solid) at 2350-2500 fps will reach the vitals and beyond on anything that walks the earth today....

To each his own but another 200 fps is just a waste of powder and adds a significant amount of recoil...just not needed at DG ranges.

Buffalo have been killed with arrows, which can reach the vital organs. But, which would you rather reach the vital organs with - an arrow or your 400 gr. TBBC bullet hitting the buffalo with an impact velocity of 2500 fps.?

Let me extend the question, which would you rather reach the immediate vacininty of the vital organs with - a 400 gr. TBBC with an impact velocity of 2500 fps or 2700 fps. Both will likely do the job, but given the choice I'd go with 2700 fps. 2700 fps is achieveable with modern technology.

Regards AIU

Sure - great for:


Cape buffalo


Kudu


Impala - a few of them, actually


and
an old, toothless Blue Wildebeest

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
Buffalo have been killed with arrows, which can reach the vital organs. But, which would you rather reach the vital organs with - an arrow or your 400 gr. TBBC bullet hitting the buffalo with an impact velocity of 2500 fps.?

Let me extend the question, which would you rather reach the immediate vacininty of the vital organs with - a 400 gr. TBBC with an impact velocity of 2500 fps or 2700 fps. Both will likely do the job, but given the choice I'd go with 2700 fps. 2700 fps is achieveable with modern technology.

Regards AIU

Since when were we talking about arrows?

Have you ever hunted with or for that matter shot an unbraked 416 or 378 weatherby, fully loaded in a 9.5+/- pound rifle? I have and in my view they are just not needed.

I have shot plenty of Buffalo with 375s, 416s, 404s, 458, etc, the velocity ranges you are considering are just not needed, in my view.

I will gladly take 2500 fps over the 2700 fps but make my bullet either North Fork or Barnes....

Have you considered going up in caliber, say a 458 @ 2200-2300 fps will give you a bigger thump than a 416?

quote:

Biebs,

What's the status of the re-stock of your Hein .450? Any pics yet?

Andy

Andy, all the metalwork is done (quarter rib, barrel band, etc) and the stock is in process.

quote:

and
an old, toothless Blue Wildebeest

Paul, don't talk about your father that way!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

and
an old, toothless Blue Wildebeest

Paul, don't talk about your father that way!!!!

Jon,
You are an evil bastard!

Now I have to give the friggin dog a bath again since he got a face full of coffee!

Besides, my father still has a tooth!

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
2700 fps is achieveable with modern technology.

Regards AIU

Even 2,800fps using Reloder 25, N570 and MRP2 with 400grain softs and solids.

I assume that's with a 416 Weatherby with a 24" barrel - correct? AIU

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:

quote:

Originally posted by Ackley Improved User:
2700 fps is achieveable with modern technology.

Regards AIU

Even 2,800fps using Reloder 25, N570 and MRP2 with 400grain softs and solids.

Yes though my current .416 Weatherby has a 26" barrel and with N570 can send a 400 grain Swift A-frame through the Oehler 35P at 2,897 fps with no signs of pressure in mid-90s temperature.

I keep it to mid 2,700s for the most part.

That's SMOKIN'!!! - ~2900 fps. The best I can hope for with my 416 UltraCAT will be ~2740 fps with 400 gr. Noslers. But, IMO that'll be enough. Regards, AIU

quote:

Yes though my current .416 Weatherby has a 26" barrel and with N570 can send a 400 grain Swift A-frame through the Oehler 35P at 2,897 fps with no signs of pressure in mid-90s temperature.

I keep it to mid 2,700s for the most part.

Layne Simpson in his book says the 416 Weatherby with a 400gr bullet@ 2700 fps is the most impressive buffalo round he's ever seen/