Some of you may have answered my questions a year and a half ago as I contemplated buying a LH Dakota in 416 Hoffman.

I did buy the gun and afterwards discovered only the action was Dakota, the gun had been built by Robert Winter out of South Dakota. He usually had a couple guns every year in the Custom Gun Section of the Gun Digest during the mid to late 80's. There is one of his guns in 416 Hoffman on a LH Wells action currently for sale at Champlin's. While the Dakota action isn't as desirable as a Wells, my gun is a near twin to that one.

I played a couple of times with 400 Swift A frames and Rel 15 and couldn't get the gun to shoot better than 2" at 100 yards and while that maybe ok to some I wanted better. I was a bit discouraged and thought about selling the gun to help finance an English Double. I then tried IMR 4064 with the Swifts and the groups inproved to about 1.5" at 100 yards.

Today I decided to try IMR 4064 and Barnes Triple Shocks. The first group with 76 gr of 4064 and the Barnes sent three shots into the same hole at 50 yards going 2400 fps, at 100 yards I got a cloverleaf. I then tried the same load with Barnes solids. They opened the group of up to an inch at 100 yards going 2425 fps.

I think I've decided it's a keeper and will be my backup gun for Buffalo in October.

Jim

It only goes to show you that if you think you have a sour rifle, try a different powder and it seems to be the holy grail for your rifle. Some rifles are finicky as hell and most don't have the patience to try as many combinations that they can to make it work.

Jim,
interesting story, and glad it worked out for you. My 416 rem LOVES win 760, which I used the starting load, right out the hornady book, got 2385 with a tight sd, and only "played" with other powders at friends request.

a subinch gun, no doubt about it.

congrats
jeffe

Every rifle is a law unto itself. My 416 Rem. Mag. loves IMR 4064 as well..........

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