Does anybody have a pet load or favorite powder using the 400gr Barnes TSX and Solid?

Try H4831SC at 100 grains, +/-.

quote:

Try H4831SC at 100 grains, +/-.

What he said. Many think that H 4831 is THE powder for the .416 Rigby.

Geronimo

I've been happy with RL22 and IMR 7828 SSC. They seem interchangeable, at least in the 416 Rigby.
I load 102gr under the 400gr Barnes Banded Solids, and 100gr under the 400gr TSX. All loads yield 2380 fps. Federal 215 primers. Accuracy was excellent.
I tried the 7828 when I couldn't get RL22 a couple of years back, as the loading manuals indicated pretty much identical loads. I obviously don't suggest not working each load up from scratch.

I haven't tried the Barnes Solid, but with the 400gn Barnes TSX 95.0gn AR2209 (H4350) gives 2470fps. I have 3 loads, the one above plus the next two:- The 410gn Woodleigh RNSN with 96.0gn AR2209, and the 400gn Swift A Frame with 95.0gn AR2209. Both these other two exit at the same velocity (2470fps) and all 3 shoot to the same Point of impact at 100 yards in my rifle, and they all shoot around 1" 3 shot groups. These loads are OK in my rifle, but are above maximum in some books, so start from 91.0gn and work up from there for safety.

I shoot a Ruger RSM in 416 Rigby. I've used the Barnes 400 Gr. solid with good results on one elephant. Great penetration. Even the PH was impressed. When I started reloading for this rifle/bullet combintion I started with 105 grs. of H-4831. Velocity averaged 2439 with the Hornady soft, but only 2295 with the Barnes solid (both 400 gr. bullets). I contacted the Barnes tech folks about the reduced velocity with their bullet and they informed me that this was quite common with the banded bullet and suggested I slowly increase the powder charge.

108 Gr. of H-4831 produced an average velocity of 2398 fps. with the Barnes solid. This is the load I used since accuracy was very good. All loads were with the Fed. 215 primer. Using the same powder charge with the 400 Gr. TSX produced good groups but they impacted 1 inch left and 1.75 inches low @ 100 yds. in my rifle as compared to the Barnes solids. I didn't run any of the TSX bullets over the chrono.

You may also want to try some IMR-4831. I tried a few loads with this powder and I got a velocity of 2442 fps. with only 94 grs. of this powder. Accuracy seemed good, but I only loaded and shot a few rounds over the chrono. I never got around to doing more development work with the IMR powder.

These loads work fine in my rifle, but obviously you should start well below these powder charges and work up slowly watching for the usual pressure indicators.

Now if I could only find a non exportable bull elephant hunt I'd drag the Rigby out of the safe and do some more load development work. My Rigby is in danger of becoming a safe queen.

I will try some of the H4831 before I settle on a final load. My first trip to the range today, I tried some 350gr TTSX with IMR4350 and 400gr TSX with Re22. I loaded everything at moderate loads to get started. First, I fired three 3 shot groups with 350gr TTSX loaded with 91gr, 92gr and 93gr of IMR4350. The groups measured 1.04", 1.01" and .87" respectfully. Next, I fired three 3 shot groups with 400gr TSX loaded with Re22-99gr., 100gr, and 101gr. Those groups measured 1.0", .575" and .832" respectfully. I have to say that with a heavy crosshair and shooting at 100yds with a rifle I never shot before, I think its a keeper. I did not set up the chronograph today but I will on the next trip to the range.

In this size case, would 10 grains difference in case weight make any noticeable difference in loads? I weighed Norma brass vs Hornady and there is on average about 10-11 grains difference in case weight.

I had the same concern. My loads were originally worked up with Hornady, then I got a deal on some once fired Norma brass. Velocities were identical. I am surmising that the case capacity is so large to start with that a few grains of brass didn't change the case volume appreciably. As an aside, I had the same experience when I switched from Norma to Hornady brass in 470 nitro.

Thanks Marty, that was my experience with Jamison, Hornady and Bell brass in my 470 with 20-30 grains difference. I have a lot more Hornady brass than Norma, so I think I will use the Norma for load development work. I shot several sub 1" groups last weekend at 100yds but did not chronograph them. This weekend I plan to load some with H4831sc and some more with Re22 to check velocity and accuracy.

I have mostly used 105 gr H4831 and the 370 gr North Fork in my RSM. It literally shoots like a varmint rifle with this load and they go 2530 fps. The 400 Barnes solid does require more powder to reach velocity and to shoot to the same POI. I have loaded RL22, velocity will go way up there with it, but just not as fine in the accuracy dept. 106 gr and the 370 NF will go 2700 fps, with RL22. With H4831 it is .5-.7 for three shots every day. I don't feel any urge to shoot 3-4 5-shot groups at a sitting with the .416 Rigby for some reason.

On my 416 rigby CZ the sweet spot for the barnes solids in my rifle has been 101 grain of H4831 and running about 2400 fps.

i take it, your happy with the rifle.

gohip2000, absolutely. It has convinced me to send my 458 Lott out to Wayne at AHR and work his magic on it. I think if I had a plex crosshair instead of the heavy crosshair in the Leupold I put on it, every group would have been sub 1".

Ed

In my RSM I use 97 Grains of RE19 for the barnes TSX and 96 for the solid. Same POI at 100yards and MOA accurate.


.

H4831 is perfect and start at 95 grains and find the most accurate load for your rifle for both the BBS and the Barnes X, chronograph that load and stick to it once its MV is between 2300 and 2400 fps for 400 or 410 grain Woodleigh Bullets.

I chronographed the Re22 load I shot last week that grouped .57" and today it was about .75" today in hot humid tempratures and it was running 2366. I also shot some 400gr Hornady DGX with 101gr of H4831 that grouped about 1.25" and clocked at 2460.

How much Re22? What bullet? Pretty much duplicates my load of 102gr under a 400gr TSX.
What rifle are you shooting?

Its a CZ 550 worked over by AHR with a new 24" barrel. I'm loading 100gr of Re22 with 400gr TSX and GM215M primers. I'm still tinkering with the loads and powders. I want to try H4831 with the TSX bullets and the Hornady DGS and DGX.

I had a brain cramp when I posted. I am also loading 100gr of RL22. The 102gr load was for the banded solids.
I haven't loaded the Hornady DGX, but the old Interbonds gave me 2410fps with 100gr, and they shoot to the same POI. Groups from my rifle are right around an inch. I've stopped tinkering with the loads, I'm pleased with them. As I said before, IMR7828 seems interchangeable with RL22 in this cartridge.
Sounds like an outstanding rifle. That's fantastic accuracy, you must be very pleased with it.

It seems that everyone is happy with the 400 grain weights in this thread.

something to consider: The 400 grain brass solids are not quite as stable with the 16.5" twist of the CZ. I've had three CZ 550 in 416 Rigby. My recommendation is to go down to 350 grain bullets for TSX and solid, both.

A pet load:
350 TTSX with 102.5 grains Reloder 17 (seventeen) and Fed 215 Gold Match in either Hornady or Norma cases.
This produces 2800 fps, which gives 338 WM trajectory for plains game and 6100 ft pounds for buffalo. Try it, you may really like it.

his CZ has a new match barrel that is 1:14 twist

If I zero my 416Rem at 100yds on the bench and then shoot it off the sticks, it shoots about 3" left and about an inch low. With this Rigby, it is zeroed dead on at 100yds on the bench and it is dead on off the sticks. I am pushing a 400gr Swift A-Frame at 2400fps in the 416Rem and right at 2400fps with the TSX in the Rigby.

quote:

Originally posted by Ed Scarboro:
If I zero my 416Rem at 100yds on the bench and then shoot it off the sticks, it shoots about 3" left and about an inch low. With this Rigby, it is zeroed dead on at 100yds on the bench and it is dead on off the sticks. I am pushing a 400gr Swift A-Frame at 2400fps in the 416Rem and right at 2400fps with the TSX in the Rigby.

Since the thread is dealing with Rigby loads it should be pointed out that duplicating the 416 Remington ballistics is not exactly making use of the extra 30 grains of powder capacity in the Rigby.

The 200fps increase that is available can be put to good use should anyone want to shoot an antelope that presents a nice pose at 200-300 yards. O'Connor claimed that 2600fps with 400 grains was not worth the recoil, but I find 2800 with 350grains to be nice for hunting. It shoots flat and it hits hard.

G'day,

I haven't really experimented much. I chose a really safe, low load, back when it was so in the Nick Harvey reloading manual, of 94 grains of 2209 to push Woodleigh 410 grain RNSNs. I've stuck with it, not owning a chronograph, and have rolled quite a few scrub cattle, buffalo and camels, not to mention the smaller stuff. It works. The funny thing is that my load is now considered extreme in the latest manual. It seems pretty accurate for the bush, and even placed second in the SSAA NT BGRC Group 2 Nitro event the other week.

Cheers,

Ben

Hi Benkk, I have used up to 98.0gn AR2209 behind the 410gn Woodleigh. I settled on 96.0gn for about 2470fps. In my rifle 98.0gn was a safe max, and it did about 2550fps. I prefer to keep the Woodleigh bullets close to their recommended velocity for big game (eg Buff). My rifle is a custom rifle on a Dakota 76 action with a 23 inch Lothar Walther barrel. The same load did almost exactly the same velocity in my freinds CZ550 with a 25 inch barrel. Unless your rifle has an extremely tight chamber your load of 94.0gn is not likely to be a problem. Anyhow, if case extraction is easy, and primers are not excessively flattened, and the load works on game, I wouldn't give it another thought. I shoot BGRC in Brisbane most months for practice. We have quite a competitive shoot here, it's great fun. Are you going to Canberra for the BGRC nationals this year? If so I may see you there.

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
[The 200fps increase that is available can be put to good use should anyone want to shoot an antelope that presents a nice pose at 200-300 yards. O'Connor claimed that 2600fps with 400 grains was not worth the recoil, but I find 2800 with 350grains to be nice for hunting. It shoots flat and it hits hard.

I use 109gn AR2209 (H4350) behind the 300gn Barnes TSX. That gives 2910fps, I zero it at 220 yards, and it shoots flat enough to give a 4.6" PBR of 257 yards. That hits pretty hard too, it goes right through pigs from any angle.

quote:

I use 109gn AR2209 (H4350) behind the 300gn Barnes TSX. That gives 2910fps, I zero it at 220 yards, and it shoots flat enough to give a 4.6" PBR of 257 yards. That hits pretty hard too, it goes right through pigs from any angle.

Now we're talking "Rigby".
That sounds like a nice load. Our Reloder-17 102.5 gr with the Barnes 350 TSX is nice.
(Still to be determined for the 350gr TTSX because of its longer length--we might drop a grain or more)

We use a 3.0" max height model,
so our 100 yd. sight-in is +2.7"
and 200 at +1.6" (crossing zero at 231 yards)
and 300 at -5.9"
and 400 at -21.2"


We look forward to using the TTSX because of the following improvements:

at 100 yards +2.7",
with 200 at +1.7" (crossing zero at 236 yards)
and 300 at -5.1"
and 400 at -18.9"

While not big, we'll take a 1" improvement at 300 yards for substituting a newer bullet with a blue tip. And up to two inches over that rarely used stretch from 300-400 yards (3%).

Had Barnes done the bluetip in 300 grains we would probably be loading up quite a few of those, but because of walking the bush in Africa we are happy to stay with the 350 grain. It is a 'do it all' weight bullet, though it does not exit a buffalo from all angles. For that one should choose a FlatNose solid.

That's the big attraction of the Rigby. You can load the 450gn Woodleigh to 2400fps (95.0gn AR2209 gives 2400fps, and 96.0gn is max in my rifle), and you can take anything on earth with that. Then you can use a 300gn bullet and hunt plains game out to 300 yards plus. I have two scopes for my rifle in Smithson QD mounts. A 1.5-5X VX3 Leupold zeroed at 150 yards with the 410gn Woodleigh (or 400gn Barnes TSX, or 400gn Swift A Frame), for buffalo etc, and a 2-7X Leupold zeroed at 220yards with the 300gn Barnes TSX for plains game. After I have used up all my 410gn Woodleighs I plan to re-zero for the 450gn Woodleigh with the 1.5-5X scope. One rifle for everything in Africa! I have also asked Barnes to bring out a 300gn TTSX BT. I hope they do.

quote:

I have also asked Barnes to bring out a 300gn TTSX BT. I hope they do.

I did, too, and they promised something. When they came out with the 350 TTSX I thanked them in any case