I would like to know your favorite .416 Rigby load. I am starting a new rifle project with the Rigby, and wanted to know if any of you loaders out there had a "sweet" or favorite load, you have experience with. I ordered my brass from Superior Ammo in South Dakota. Give all details if you don't mind, including powder amounts, bullets, primer, brass, etc. I have all the reloading manuals available, and have refered to Steves Pages already. I will be careful with any load related to me, knowing all barrels are different. I know from my reloading experiences, sometimes that perfect load is out there, it is just up to me to find the one that fits my rifle. Thanks in advance for your help. Good shooting.

[ 09-20-2003, 17:08: Message edited by: phurley ]

Phurley. I believe that I have posted loads for Hornady 400gr. softpoints and for GS Custom 380gr. FN's on this forum. It was some time back but if you search on my number (267) you should be able to find some on the threads.
peter.

Woodleigh 410 gr RN Soft
Norma Case
Fed Magnum Primer
100 gr of AR2209 (About 5 grains slower than IMR 4350)

This load groups as well as I can shoot it at around 1.5-1.7" at 100 yards. It would do better but thats as as good as I can shoot it, but that will whop anything on this planet I would reckon. Rifle is a cz 550 with custom fibreglass/kevlar stock and a fixed 2.5x leupold in warne fixed rings.

CZ550 Safari rifle
Federal case
CCI 250 Primer
Hornady 400 grain soft point
103 grains of IMR7828
Muzzle velocity is 2397 fps
Consistant 0.625" three shot groups at 100 yards

judy

Good but "moderate" load with 350 grain Barnes X bullets (bc=0.521):

CZ 550 Safari Magnum
Norma Cases
98.0 gr IMR 4350
FED 215 primers

2687 fps, 5616 fpe, sub 1" groups at 100 yards ... and not brutal to shoot.

Great flat trajectory. Sighted at 300 yards, max rise is 5.7" and drop at 350 is 5.4". Easily good enough energy and penetration wise for anything in North America. Am betting is good enough for things in Africa not requiring a solid .

As always ... your rifle may require a lighter load. Always cross check data from the web with reputable reloading manual to assure that it passes the "good sense" test ... then start lower. ;>

Thanks for the loads, I hope to shoot my rifle for the first time today. I have the 400 grain Hornady, 370 grain North Fork, and 400 grain Swift A-Frame on hand to play with. ---- Judy and mstarling, those are excellent groups, what kind of scope do you have mounted. Thanks again for the help, it will be interesting to see how it compares to my .416 Rem. Good shooting.

[ 09-20-2003, 17:17: Message edited by: phurley ]

phurley-I have a Carl Zeiss Conquest 3-9 variable in a set of Warne QD mounts. Currently, I am trying out the Barnes 300 'X' bullet in my Rigby. I'll let you know how it works out. judy

Before you try any other load for the 416 Rigby, try Jack O'Connor's favorite.

You need to confirm, but I believe it is 105 grains of H4831 with any 400 grain bullet.

I use Norma brass and CCI Large Rifle Magnum primers with the above load (I actually use the newer H4831 SC powder). So far I can get under 1" groups with 400 grain Nosler Partitions, Swift A-Frames, Barnes X, Hornady Softs, Hornady Solids, and North Fork 370 grain bullets.

This is out of my Ruger M77 with a Leupold 1.5-5x 20mm scope at 100 yards. The 400 grain loads chronograph at just over 2,400 fps. Mostly at 2,425 +/- fps.

Try it, you will like it.

Tim

phurley,
Shumba has given good advice.
If your rifle won't shoot small groups with that load, I'd be surprised.

I used 105 grains of H4831 in Norma brass (H4831SC or Federal brass also will do),
with the Federal GM215M primer and the following bullets:

380 grain GSC FN, velocity 2509 fps in 24" Ruger 77 RSM, 0.147" 3-shot group.

There is enough leeway with this great round (low pressure) to try any 400 grain soft or solid with this Jack O'Connor powder charge, and I have used these, all 400 grainers, all with sub MOA accuracy and velocities around 2450 fps, +/- 25 fps:
Hornady RNSP
Hornady FMJ, steel jacket, solid
Swift A-Frame
Speer African Grand Slam tungsten core solid
Barnes X-Bullet

With 350 grain X-Bullets, use a little faster powder, such as IMR4350, H4350, IMR4831, RL-19, start around 95 grains and work up to an accurate load at about 2700 fps, for plains game.

The 370 grain North Fork, I have not used, but I bet it would do wonders with the Jack O'Connor powder charge of 105 grains of H4831/H4831SC.

I am superstitious about this load. It is supernaturally good with any of the heavy bullets in the .416 Rigby.

Hats off to Jack. 105 grains of H4831.

[ 09-21-2003, 06:31: Message edited by: DaggaRon ]

As always, I knew I could count on you AR shooters for years of experience in a matter of days. Judy--- I just happened to pick the same scope as you shoot. I have just shot it yesterday and am impressed already. Shumba and DaggaRon--- I will surely try the O'Connor load. Thank you guys and gal, after shooting the Rigby I too feel that magic some speak about. Good shooting.

[ 09-21-2003, 17:16: Message edited by: phurley ]

One more vote for the 104-105gr H4831 sc with most any 400 gr bullet, Norma brass, Fed 215 primers. Remarkable that 400gr Swift A-Frames, 400 gr Barnes X and GSC 380 FNs all had the same POI with 104 gr in my 550 CZ. These were all the bullets I tried. Oh, by the way the buffalo just laid down in under a hundred yards after a 400 gr SAF hit him using this load. Good hunting. "D"

[ 09-22-2003, 06:59: Message edited by: D Hunter ]

I have loaded the O'Connor load less two grains for the next session. In the mean time I shot a load of 98 grains of RL-22, 400 grain Hornady RN, Fed 215M primer, Norma Brass, yesterday and came within a .25 inch of having a one hole group. Average speed 2402 fps, according to my Oehler. My rifle is a Ruger #1 Tropical with gorgeous wood and a 3 X 9 Ziess Conquest scope mounted. Happiness is tweaking a new rifle, particularly when it is a shooter from the get go. Good shooting.

Try 90.2gr of IMR 4350 Fed 215 primrs 400 gr Hornadys or A Frames and Norma brass. I get consistent "one holers" ( and that's with a 1.5X5 Leupold with heavy duplex makng aiming at at bullseye a chore!)MV is about original specs of 2350 fps. jorge