I just bought one the Ruger M77's in 416 Rigby and plan on reloading for it. I plan on sticking to 400 grain bullets (or 410 grain Woodleighs).

What powders, brass, primers should I be trying?

What kind of velocity/accuracy has anyone gotten out of the .416 Rigby in the Ruger bolt-action rifles?

Also, what is the best brass and where is the best (lowest cost) place to order it from?

All help and advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Tim

I have been using Norma brass,Fed 215M & RL-22.I use it in two different rifles with very good luck. The rifle with the 23 in. barrel it gets 2480fps and in the 21 in. barrel 2410fps.I use A-Frame Swift bullets,also shoot the old hornady fmj bullets I still have a good supply.I got luckly in my 23in. barrel rifle both bullets shoot to the same point of impact with 101grains of RL-22. Have not shot the fmj bullets out of the 21 in. barrel gun yet it is not finished.I hope this info helps you.

EJ GENTRY III

Mine was a Ruger and all I used was H4831 and 400 grain Hornady's. I thiink I started at 96 grains and worked up to 2350 fps and that was all I needed. I had Bell and Norma brass and used Fed 215 primers.

FN

Gotta remind y'all of Jack O'Connor's favorite load that seems ageless.

105 grains of H4831 gives one-hole groups with any good rifle and 400 grain bullet, and velocities over 2400 fps. Work up from 96 grains and see what you think.

I used a Ruger 416 Rigby, Norma brass, F215 primer, GSC 380 grain FN, and the magic 105.0 grains of H4831. Velocity was 2509 fps, 0.147" center to center for three shots at 100 yards.

A cape buffalo fell to one shot of this. He didn't get up. The bullet exited, through both shoulders and his heart.

The best prices I have seen on the best brass is the Norma stuff at

www.midwayusa.com

and

www.huntingtons.com

Thanks guys for the info.

I ordered brass from Huntingtons (Midway USA was out of stock) and I should receive it shortly.

I was able to pick up a couple of boxes of the old style Hornady solids and I will work up some loads with these.

Thanks again.

Tim

IMR-4831
Federal 215 primers

Hi Tim,

The most consistent load I had with my 416 Rigby was 101 gr RL-22, Fed215M primers, Norma brass and 400 grain Hornady and Swift bullets. Chronographed velocity was 2450 fps from a 23" barrel (CZ550 Mag cut down). Groups averaged .75" to 1" (3 shots) depending on how much I had been shooting.

Good Hunting,

Based upon the responses, I will try both H4831 and Reloader 22 (both of which I have on hand) with the 400 grain Hornady solid. I will also try the Swift AFrame and maybe the 400 grain Hornady softs as well. I ordered 100 Norma cases and I also have a bunch of the Federal 215 primers. Now I just have to wait for the rifle to arrive and then wait the required (in California) 10 days.

Thanks again.

Tim

Tim,
Good plan. One correction on my post. I did use the Federal Gold Medal Match primer, GM215M, instead of the standard F215 primer for the most accurate load with H4831. I don't think there is much difference between these two primers, however. RL-22 and H4831 are both excellent choices for the 380 to 410 grain bullets.

For fast loads with the 350 grain Barnes X, 2700 fps, IMR 4831 worked well at about 100 grains, IIRC.

HI,

I have ordered a cz550 with a 416 bolt face, I will get the parts I needed and send it out to a gunsmith to have a 416 Rigby. My question is this gentlemen could you give me a load with a 350 grain bullet, any as I am looking for the powder and fps that will go 2770 out of a 25 inch barrel or more and a load with a 400 grain bullet going 2600 fps. Thanks,Kev

Kev
After shooting a cz550 right out of the box on saturyday morning, I'll have to let you know you might be wasting money. Offhand, at 50, with federal loads (it's a friend's gun and his money for the bullets) we both shot 5 rounds into a 2" bull, iron sights, ZERO adjustment.
With a scope, on sand bags, I fully expect it to be a sub inch gun, with factory loads.

The RL 22 might be too slow as those huge cases like a little faster powder.
jeffe

my ruger 77 was shooting one hole groups with 350gr barnes Xs and 340 woodleigh PPs-- cases were MAST/Bell, federal gold match 215s, and 108gr of RL-22. haven't chrono'd it yet, but no signs of high pressure.

HI,

A little late on this post, but JEFFEOSSO the only reson for the Mcmillan stock and stainless steel barrel is not that the CZ rifle is bad but more to due where I will locate within a few years. I will move to SE Alaska and it rains a great deal there also will have to deal with sea spray.Thanks,Kev

O'Connor's load in my Ruger 77 clocks 2500-2535 with 400 gr. Swifts and F215's. Groups are around 1" @100y.
C.G.B.