I'm just starting out with this cartridge, and would like to use a Lee Factory Crimp die. Do I need a custom die from them, or will a .416 Rem Mag die work? I asked them, but they just said it works off the case length. If that were true, which it probably isn't, I could use the Rem die, since there is only .05" difference in case length. But it looks to me like the shoulder pushes the die up. Maybe I couldn't even get the fat Rigby case into the die at all. I 'spect someone out there knows the answer for real, and will tell me. Thanks in advance.

BTW, any other comments on loading for .416 Rigby are certainly welcome. I've ordered RCBS dies, Davidson comparator nose (may not need it), Norma cases, and a few different 400gr bullets.

The shell holder pushes the die up. O50 is too big of a difference.

They are right that the crimp works off of height. The Rigby is a longer case so the 416Rem won't work for you unless you glue or solder a .050 shim/washer to the bottom of the die. I can check tonight to see if the inside diameter of the 416 Rem Lee crimp die will handle the Rigby, but it's probably better to get the custom die than mess with the shim.

Don

[This message has been edited by Don G (edited 05-16-2001).]

Thanks, Don. I guess I didn't look carefully enough this morning at my .308 die (didn't stick a case in and watch it). Never time enough to do it right; always time enough to do it over.

No need for you to check tonight; I'll order a custom die from them as soon as I get my cases and bullets.

Thanks again!

O.K. At the risk of sounding really stupid, I'm going to ask my questions. I have reloaded quite a bit, but I don't think I've ever leraned much about it all. I'm really getting into now, so please bear with me.

I have just purchased RCBS dies for my .416 Rigby. Does it automatically crimp the bullet? What are the advantages of a Lee crimping die?

Waht overall length should I be loading this bullet to? I have a Ruger 77, and as yet, have not gotten a dummy from Stoney Point to get my true overall lentgh. Just looking for what the book says.

Has anyone tried CCI magnum primers? How about IMR 4350?

Thanks for all of your help.

1Shot

Unless they've changed lately, the RCBS seating die will perform a roll crimp when the die is set deep enough into the press.

The roll crimp works fine ONLY if all the cases are exactly the same length. A few thousandths extra and it crushes the bullet or case or both. A few thousandths under and no crimp at all.

The "Lee factory crimp" is a collet crimp. It is set from the factory for one case, and is essentially not adjustable for different case lengths. (I grind some off to fit my preferred "trim to" length.) But it doesn't matter much if the cases vary a few thousandths.

Read the other thread on finding the max OAL you could load to. This usually results in ammo that won't fit the magazine. As a general rule you wind up loading the rounds so that they're .005 or .010 shorter than the magazine. (On a DGR you never want to get a jam in the magazine.)

Check the Reloading Pages for Rigby loads.

I usually use WLR or WMLR or Fed210 or Fed215 primers, as the CCIs have given some problems in cold weather due to the hard cup.

Don