I have a 416 Rigby and want to expand my enjoyment, research, and development. I'd like to develop a lighter plinking load for extensive practice so I can become one with the gun. As I was thinking, why can't I develop a light zippy load for deer? Not much availability below 300 grains? Are there some custom bullet makers that make a .416 around 250 grain? Paper patch a .41 cal handgun bullet? I'd like to get it up to 3000 or perhaps higher for some long range hunting of deer or antelope. I know the b.c. wouldn't be the best but I anticipate a long winter with time to putz. Feasible or does someone need to slap me ?

You can get 300gr from Hawk. At 2400fps this would be pretty mild compared to 400gr. I imagine you could drive them close to 3000fps but they would be explosive on impact. A 300gr 'X' might fare better.
http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg.taf?_function=cente...tdescr=Barnes%20300X

I believe there are folks that squeeze down the .430 diameter 44 mag bullets and use them in their big bores.

Squeezing one down .014 shouldn't be that hard to do.....maybe someone has dies to do this. It shouldn't be hard to make them from a piece of A-2 tool steel and size 240 grain bullets to .416 diameter...then just find a handload that suits you.....drine them to 2500'/sec and they will be pleasant to shoot and quite devastating to deer as well.

Possibly someone has data for some cast bullets as well.

I shoot some cast bullets in the .375 for fun and they work well. Use a gas check.

There are a multitude of cast bullet companies making bullets for the .416 bore, here's one.
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

Just an opinion but the case is so large that it is questionable as too viability as a reduced load shooter. Certainly it is one to avoid reduced loads with if you're looking for mild plinkers unless you're willing to use fillers etc. Best bet IMO is cast bullets. Paper patch would work too, but it isn't as easy as just patching something that's close to the right diameter, assuming you want something that shoots well. PM me if you want info on PP procedures, not loads.

For those taking exception to my sentiments about reduced loads for this case, note that I did not say it wouldn't work. I just think it's a poor case for the purpose.

Vapo is correct in you can size .44mag bullets down, I do this for my .404j but I'm only going from .429-.423. I'm not sure the core integrity would be intact if you went too much forther. I use a set of Lee sizing dies, first to .427 then to .423. They are quite accurate out to 100yds @ 2500fps & very "soft" shooting.

quote:

I just think it's a poor case for the purpose.

The one way to get this combo to work well is to use Accurate XMP-5744. I have vaporized quite a few ground squirrels, and potted some bonus deer (think ranch over run with does eating the valuable alfalfa crop) with 5744 behind 350 grain cast bullets. Make sure you get bullets with gas check. Most outfits will sell you 50 for ten buck. Beartooth make the best. Their bullets are heat treated and have a brinnell hardness of 21-22. You can run those up to 2,400 fps without significant leading. Keep the softer bullets to 1,900 fps or less. A Beartooth at about 2,000 fps is easy on the shoulder, light on the muzzle blast, and the deer just falls over with no blood shot meat.

Let's try it on poodles in Miami!.

lawndart

PS Magda killed my landlord's wife's pet Siamese cat, so Lois and I have to move. I'll post details on the small animal forum when I stop laughing.

John Charlie, aka Mr. ok for a Yankee.

I have resized 429 300 gr bullets with very good luck in my 416 taylor.

I have thought I would resized some 200 gr ones but haven't got around to it yet.

resizeing them done is easy.

So my idea isn't that far in the realm of insanity. Thanks for all of the input.... more please. P dog, are those cast bullets that you are resizing? Hmmm, what could be done with a 200 grain ...... maybe 3500 fps? more? yikes.... This could be a worthwhile winter project. Getting extreme min and max's from a 416 Rigby...

Lawndart has it nailed. RCBS 350 gn cast over 30 grains of XMP-5744..................JJ

Kazoo I have resized cast and jacketed. I have shot some really nice 1000fps 300 gr cast bullet groups at 50 yards. I have found in my rifle that the cast bullets 250s to 300s are dead on at 25 and about 2 inchs low at 50.

Any of those would kill deer nicely low recoil and noise.

I have shot the 300 grjsps from 2000 to 2650 at 2650 they kill deer nicely.

My rifle well not feed the 300gr cast wfn it is just to flat or should I say it only feed off the left side of the mag.

The 300gr jsps can be made to shoot from 45-70 vel or 444 vel or past 375 vel.

They are fun cheap and easy to make.

A good stout press is needed.

Guys, I know this a fairly old topic but I noticed in my last shooting magazine that Barnes listed a 250gn Triple Shock in 416. If this is correct I reccon it would be ideal, 250gn for Donkeys and pigs and 400grners for Buffs up the top end, Ill only need to take the 1 rifle then!

Are these available or is it a typo?

Regards,

Al.