Booked a tusker hunt with CMS at DSC for 2015. Since Barnes solids are in short supply, I picked up some 400 gr Cutting Edge Solids and 370 gr Raptors. My rifle is a Rifles, Inc. Custom that loves the Barnes bullets. I am currently loading the 400 gr Barnes (both solids and TSX) with Superior brass with 82 gr of RL 15 with Federal Magnum primers. Any suggestions for loading the CEB's would be greatly appreciated.

Have you read this?

http://forums.accuratereloadin...4711043/m/8791089391

My load for the .416 Rem with the Barnes was with Varget and it was very accurate. I loaded the CEB's for last June's buff hunt with IMR4320 as per Michael's and while I didn't experiment with it too much due to time constraints, it took care of the biggest bodied bull I have killed to date with ease. Look at his thread or get on his website and download his reloading data. He knows how to load these better than I do.

quote:

Originally posted by drj:
Booked a tusker hunt with CMS at DSC for 2015. Since Barnes solids are in short supply, I picked up some 400 gr Cutting Edge Solids and 370 gr Raptors. My rifle is a Rifles, Inc. Custom that loves the Barnes bullets. I am currently loading the 400 gr Barnes (both solids and TSX) with Superior brass with 82 gr of RL 15 with Federal Magnum primers. Any suggestions for loading the CEB's would be greatly appreciated.

DRJ........

I am currently involved in doing some load data, and pressure tests with 416 Remington with only CEB and North Fork bullets. I have not finished by a long shot, but what data I have current is available on the B&M Website under "Additional Research"... pdf document as you scroll down the page...... Work is not complete, and will be updated as I get loads finished........ I will be working on it again this week.

Some points to ponder............ It does not take a 400 gr bullet in 416 for elephant, and in fact in many cases I prefer 350-370 because of twist rates available in various 416s. If your twist rate is above 1:14, you may be far better off terminally with a 350-370 gr solid. We find that even at 1;14 twist rate the 400s are terminally stable up to around 90% to 95% of total penetration, which is far more than enough to do the job in the field. At 1;12 twist rate the 400s are 100% terminally stable the entire way. At 1;16 or slower, you are much better off going with a lighter 350-370 gr bullet.

Second MAJOR point to consider... differences in POWDER. I have found this to be the single LARGEST INCONSISTENT FACTOR involved in load data. I can almost promise you this, My RL 15 IS NOT Your RL 15. I am also finding it hard to beat RL 15 in 416 Remington, it is among the top powders, but one must be careful. I conducted a test on 1/2/2014 with a 400 CEB #13 Solid with 83/RL 15 and was getting from 70000-76000 PSI, which is WAY over pressure. I am retesting this again at 81 grains this week to make sure it was not a wire, or electrical issue with the systems. However, it is entirely possible that your 82/RL 15 is just fine...... Yes, I have found considerable differences in RL 15 over the years, and even in the same lot#, but different kegs, or cans........ So one honestly cannot go by lot# at all. What I do here, keep all your old 8 lb and other large containers. When you get a batch of RL 15 or any other powders, if in 1 lb containers or other, MIX and Blend as much of that as you can together, and be sure and label it correctly. I add to the label the Date at which I blended. Currently I have 16 lbs of RL 15 blended, this will last some time, and during this time, all my RL 15 will be the same until that runs out. I have found large inconsistencies with AA 2230, X Terminator, IMR 4198, and a few lesser inconsistencies with several other powders as well. Regardless of this, always consider Powder Inconsistency when working up loads... MY POWDER AIN"T YOUR POWDER... and if that is so, all the manuals have the same issues as well... Their Powder Ain't Your Powder either................... There is a reason one starts at 10% or so lower than listed...

Michael