Would you like to share your real field hunting experience between these 02 cartridges ?

Ballistics

Availability

Effective range

Disadvantages / advantages ?

Thanks

Field experience please not quoting from website if possible

Do you actually mean a Rigby in a double rifle? I would take the 450/400 in that case as although it gives up quite abit of velocity it more than makes up for it in reliability of feeding and extraction.

Since you can buy a 416 Rigby in a DR, I would hazard a guess that the added velocity makes it the winner. But, does the added recoil balance it out?

Rich

I have a Rigby 450-400 DR and a 450#2 DR but no 416 Rigby's. Both of the other guns are Extremely accurate. I'd say the 450#2 definately has the edge in power. Game usually runs a little farther with a good hit from the 450-400 in my opinion. Both guns are a real pleasure to shoot. Recoil in this class is non-existant as far as I'm concerned.-Rob

I did not respond to the question as I did not think I fully understood it. However some answers have led me to suggest the 500/416 in a DR. Krieghoff makes them, I have one, and I love it. Same ballistics as a 416 Rigby ie. 400 grain bullet at 2400 fps.
Peter

The .500-.416 NE would seem a more relevant comparator than the .416 Rigby? It is rimmed, or flanged as you would say. Better DR round than the rimless Rigby.

And far superior ballistics to the .450-.400 NE.

Yes, I don't know why that caliber has not turned out to be much more popular. 416 Rigby ballistics in a DR....what's not to like? It just shows how important tradition is in folks' decisions about double rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Yes, I don't know why that caliber has not turned out to be much more popular. 416 Rigby ballistics in a DR....what's not to like? It just shows how important tradition is in folks' decisions about double rifles.

My understanding is that the factory loads were very erratic, sometimes generating excessive pressure and velocities. Without a reliable factory load to serve as a 'baseline' for regulation, I guess alot of makers stayed away? IMHO a .450/.416 even at a chronographed 400gr at 2,250fps from a 24" barrel would have been a better choice... (or a .450/.423 with a 425gr)

On the original qyuestion, comparing a .450/.400 to a .416 Rigby at factory specs is effectively comparing a 4K ft/lbs cartridge to a 5,000 ft/lbs cartridge. I'd still pick the .450/.400 for a double though, of the two...

OK guys
I really should clarify more in my original post however I went away for a few days and left everybody guessing.

I own and shoot a 416 rigby double. I have been very happy with this rifle and have dropped everything I pointed at.

I have been speaking to a double rifle maker and we were talking about making me another double. The caliber came up as being a 450/400.

I have very little experience in this caliber so I posted the thread.

I was hoping somebody will have hunting with both calibers and came back with some kind of comparison.

I have no intention of getting rid of my 416 Rigby. rather a new addition to my collection with more ornamental decorative engraving.

So has anybody shot both calibers in real hunting situations that can enlighten us with their experience ?

For comparison, the 450/400 is the rimmed/flanged equivalent of the .404 Jeffery.