I bought a Oehler 35P Chronograph from one of the gentlemen who frequent this site. The last two days I've put it to some use as I test loads for my 416 Rigby. The rifle has a 24-1/2" Krieger barrel.

Here are some results:
All with Norma brass, H4831SC powder and Fed 215 GM primers

410 Woodleigh Soft
96.0 grains = 2235 FPS
98.0 grains = 2286 FPS
100.0 grains = 2347 FPS
104.0 grains = 2527 FPS

400 Nosler Partition
100.0 grains = 2343 FPS

400 Swift A-Frames
100.0 grains = 2381 FPS

400 Hornady Solids
100.0 grains = 2388 FPS
104.0 grains = 2456 FPS (edited posting)

370 North Fork
100.0 grains = 2404 FPS
104.0 grains = 2558 FPS

I've shot quite a few loads as light as 350 grain Speers at 2100 FPS and as heavy as 410 grain Woodleighs at 2525+. For me, recoil starts to get increasingly uncomfortable at velocities over 2400 FPS. DagaRon's posts prompted me to try some of the heavy loads including one too scary to post. Recoil from the bench was fierce with these heavy loads.

I was apprehensive about shooting some of my old favorite loads over the chrony. I was worried about an unpleasant dose of reality. In my pet 270, speeds were higher than I expected. Speeds were somewhat lower than I had expected in a 280. I had both positive and negative surprises in a 338. I'll try to post some of those results in another thread.

Forrest

[ 07-06-2003, 06:15: Message edited by: ForrestB ]

Forrets have you hunted with the speer 350 gr bullets. I use mostly woodleigh 410's they look great loaded in that big shell. I have a cz 550.

PC, I've never hunted with the 350 Speer. Though I'd be happy to use it on anything smaller than a buffalo. Seems like I'm always talking to myself about using a big gun for smaller game (deer, hogs, etc), but I seldom ever do it. I'll usually grab something else off the rack.

ForrestB,
Good show! Thanks for the data.

Maybe you have a fast .416 Rigby, like I got a fast 470 Mbogo. Those custom guns ...

I got velocities just under 2500 fps with 105 grains of ye olde H4831 and various 400 grain bullets. The Swift 400 grainer did 2482 fps with that charge, Norma brass, Federal GM215M primer. 24" barrel, Ruger 77 Magnum.

The GSC FN 380 grainer gave 2509 fps, with 105 grains of H4831, and the smallest 3 shot group I ever got with a big bore.

I may have to switch over to ye newe H4831SC. Sure meters better.
Aloha

Have you guys tried any loads with IMR 4350? I think I'm getting around 2350 or so with 90.2gr of IMR. jorge

Jorge I use AR2209 which is 5 grains thereabouts slower than IMR 4350. I load 100 gr behind the woodleigh 410 gr RN and I have no chrno but I figure around 2400-2500 fps from my 25" cz barrel.

Jorge, I plan on trying several powders between IMR 4350 and RL 22. I wanted to start off by "benchmarking" my rifle relative to published data and go from there. I'll give updates as I progress, but as DagaRon points out - every rifle is a beast unto itself.

If any of you guys are around the American Shooting Center in Houston this weekend, I'll be the guy with extra shoulder padding and a shot-up chronograph. Say Hi.

Forrest

Forrest,
Wish I could make it out that way.. i am stuck going to Willis...

I can save you some time and money...go buy a pound fof rl15 and don't look back.

jeffe

Was looking for a lighter load for North American game and worked out the following:

350 gr Barnes X Fed 215, Norma cases
98.0 gr IMR 4350 == 2687 fps @ 84F
KE = 5616 lb-ft

Load is accurate (< 1" at 100) but the MAD was not good on this string ... 26.2. May have to do with the first round being slow as it was fired on a lead fouled barrel. Ballistics will be a little better than a 250 partition at 2700 fps in 338 WinMag due to the better BC of the Barnes X projectile.

For relatively heavy play here is a cast bullet load:

400 gr NEI cast slug, Fed 215, Norma cases
105.0 gr 8700 == 1997.2 fps @ 84F SD = 6.1
KE = 3546 lb-ft
A small amount of fouling with this load. 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. Light recoil, but loud and quite a spectacular water jug killer!

Forrest: Thanks for keeping us posted. The load I use is out of the Hornady book, 90.2gr of IMR 4350. I use 400gr Hornady RNs and the OLD solids and 400gr Swift A Frames. According to Hornady, I should be getting right around 2350 fps. I shoot a Ruger MK-II. jorge

I just ordered a Ruger in .416 Rigby, will be in next week. Does anyone have a source for some brass that's less than $35-$40 a box?

The only shortcoming I can find in the .416 Rigby caliber is the cost of brass ... 'Taint cheap!

Cheapest I've seen for regular prices is at BeLL brass:

http://www.bellammo.com/caseprices.htm

and even at that its $159/100

If you find a good source of cheaper brass, please let us all know!

Well Gents I made it back to the range today. More results to post.

All with IMR 4831 powder, Norma brass and Fed 215 GM primers. I knew the IMR was a little faster than the H4831 I've been using, but it turned out to be a bit faster than I thought.

370 North Fork
98.0 grains = 2499 fps

400 Swift A-Frames
98.0 grains = 2478 fps

400 Nosler Partition
98.0 grains = 2429 fps

My brother-in-law shot up the rest of the of the 370 North Forks loaded with 104 grains of H4831 SC. They were a max+ load in his rifle, with sticky extraction. They clocked 2640 fps in his rifle versus 2558 fps in mine. He put 6 shots inside 1-1/4", with five of them in one (big) ragged hole.

Hornady solids have shot a 5 shot group of 3/4". Everything else has been shooting between 1-1/2 and 3-1/2". No clear winner for the softs thus far.

Next I'll be trying some RL 22 and IMR 7828 to see how we do with the slower powders.

ForrestB,
Thanks for the added data.
I looked at the containers of H4831 and H4831SC that I have on hand and saw that the load data from Hodgdon is identical for both these powders, according to them. They must have done some precision chemical engineering with the retardant coating on the H4831SC to accomplish that.

Today, I was trying out some Rigby loads with RL-22. Standard Deviation of velocity was much lower and groups tightened considerably with all bullets. Here are some results (all with RL-22, Fed 215 GM Primers and Norma brass):

370 North Fork
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2444 FPS (1.60")

400 Swift A-Frame
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2438 FPS (.785")

400 Nosler
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2375 FPS (1.20")

410 Woodleigh Solid
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2444 FPS (5 in 1.75 / 4 in .330)

400 Barnes Solid
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2368 FPS (.860)

All except the North Forks, shot within 1" of the same POI. The Swifts and Barnes shot to the same POI. Now, I could leave for my trip tomorrow if I had to.

Since I have time, I'll continue to do a little tweeking.

I had quite a day at the range today. 25 rounds out the Rigby, 15 rounds from a 338 Win, 15 rounds from a 300 Win, and about 20 rounds each from a 270 and a 280. I'll be cleaning rifles for 3 days.

Forrest,
I recommend at least trying the hornady 400 sp and fmj for cheap practice loads. you might also find what I have... they tend to be ~50fps faster than everything else... but the bullets plain come apart, softpoints, in game... 140~ hogs with bigger than expected exits... same kinda kit witha woodleigh... perfect...

if it shoots the solids and soft woodleighs, it looks like you've got your load.

I can give you 10 or 15 hornady SPs if you want.

jeffe

Jeffeosso-

Thanks for your offer, but I already have a bunch. I bought 600 of the Hornady 400 grain softs and solids from Lock, Stock & Barrel when they were having a blem sale a year ago.

I've tried the solids and they are very accurate in my rifle. I haven't played around with the softs yet, other than some light loads.

Once I find my hunting loads, I'll load up a bunch of the Hornadys and start practicing in earnest.

Forrest: From the velocities you are getting, it seems like the Hornady load of 90.2gr of IMR 4350 might be too optimistic? Although there is a similar load in the Swift book that is a bit less. The Swift guys freely admit that ALL their loads are extremely conservative. jorge

Just back from the range and I'm a little puzzled. Last time out, I was experimenting with RL-22 and had very good results, but most loads needed to be slowed down a little.

Today's session used the same set up -
RL-22, Fed 215 GM Primers and Norma brass. I reduced most of the powder loads but got even higher velocities. Here are some of the results with group sizes in parenthesis:

400 Swift A-Frame
Last time:
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2438 FPS (.785")
This time:
100.5 gr RL-22 = 2502 FPS (1.52")

410 Woodleigh Solid
Last time:
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2444 FPS (5 in 1.75 / 4 in .330")
This time:
100.5 gr RL-22 = 2520 FPS (.560")

410 Woodleigh Soft
This time:
101.0 RL-22 = 2373 FPS (.340")

400 Barnes Solid
Last time:
101.0 gr RL-22 = 2368 FPS (.860")
This time:
101.5 gr RL-22 = 2479 FPS (1.100")

Anybody have any ideas as to what's going on? The components were the same. I used virgin brass like before. I don't think it is my Chronograph, because other loads in other rifles seemed consistent with prior results.

I'm open for all comments. Looks like I still have some tweaking to do.

Any difference in temperature between sessions?

Was the chrono the same distance from the muzzle as previously?

Was the method by which you determined the charge weight the exact same as previous? You may want to get some object that you can use as a check weight assuming you're weighing charges. That way you can easily check your balance at the weight of interest. Perhaps a 100g bullet?

That's what quickly comes to mind for me.

Good luck.

Reed

Also, with use of an Oehler 35P you may see some variability between sessions due to minute differences in setup with the relation of the windows to the little bar with the dimples. I often attribute unexplained variability to that setup. I've also gone to setting up the chrono as far away as the cords will allow thus reducing the variability of distance to muzzle.

Reed

I have two loads that work well for me and my .416 Rigby, a Ruger Tropical #1. 98 grains of RL-22 and Fed 215M primer and 370 grain North Fork bullet that will crony about 2400 - 2450 fps, this one has shot one holers for me. 104 grains of H4831SC, same bullet same primer 2450 fps. Hornady 400 grain round nose soft with same loads, slightly slower and not nearly as accurate. Good luck and good shooting.

phurley. I have used ssc7828 with 400 grain bullets with excellent results. Ninety seven grains,215 federal caps gives single digit extreme spreads and very good accuracy.

A late reply but mt 2 cents.

In my Ruger, I use the following:

Norma Brass.
Federal 215M Gold Medal Match primers.
H4831SC 105 gr.
North Fork 370 gr.
2525fps.

When I used the Lee Crimp die with 1/2 turn, I was able to drop the powder down to 102.5 and kept 2525fps.

This is the load I used in Africa with great results. I shoot 1/2" 5 shot groups with this load and it was featured in a national magazine. When I use the solids, it prints 1/2 to 3/4" lower for a 5 shot group.

All the best,

Sam