Hi my wife thinks the 338wm is not enough.she thinks we need a 416 rem . could you be kind enough to give me the good and the bad of this cal. i will not tell her any different . a chance to buy another gun with her approval. and best yet she was the one to reccomend this cal .

[ 09-29-2002, 17:05: Message edited by: BobReed ]

Good:

Cheap, compared to other big bores.

Components are cheap.

Dies are cheap.

It is popular.

With 300 or 350 grains, it makes a perfect elk rifle.

Bad:

To get a true 2400 fps with a 400 grain bullet the pressure needs to be pushed a bit high. If you will be happy with 2200 fps, then it should work out great.

Also, if you get a Win model 70, be very very certain everything works perfectly, because winchester has had some quality and feeding problems lately. Nonetheless, winchester is probably the way to go, just send it to a competent gunsmith for a tune up.

Just say " yes honey " then go buy it!

I love the 416 REm. I have used it for a long time and shot a lot of Buff with it, prior to that I used a 416 Hoffman, basically the same round...They are accurate, easy to load and components are available...you can utilize a std. action and make a lighter, slimmer mean green gun. I am also a fan of its counterpart the 404 Jefferys.

I have never had the "pressure problems" claimed by some of the 416 Rem. and truly believe that is pure bunk and mostly a rumour started by some who fear the demise of the 416 Rigby, which of course is folley as the Righby is here to stay. No difference than a 06 or any other hi intensity round.

I get a chronographed 2400 FPS and nice rounded primers in my 22" barrel. I did all my testing with that load and then cut it a grain and a half just to be sure and now I get 2360 FPS and that was ample this year for two one shot kills (one instant) with heart shot buffalo.

Yes, I have used it in the extreme African heat so often touted which btw always miffs me as the US has temps just as hot and hotter than Africa, they don't hold a ace card on heat.

All said and done, the 416 Rem is a grand caliber and anyone who has used it knows that.

Thanks for the replies so far . Is this cal tempermental in what it likes to eat .how about does it kick the snot out of you compared to the 338 or is it manageable ? boy this is going to be interesting .

I can't quote pounds of recoil but my shoulder feels a huge leap in recoil going from 338 Win. to 416 Rem. Having said that I think 416 recoil is tolerably punishing. The lighter bullets help with recoil some. The 350X is a particular favorite of mine.

As near as I can figure RL-15 is all you need for powder. 79gr. of RL-15 and the 400X gave 2460 fps in my Mod 70. with no particular pressure signs. In another gun the 350X gave 2675fps with 84gr. of the same powder.

An interesting side about 350x load is that it would shoot to the same point of impact as a 400 Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solid loaded on top of 81gr. of RL-15. I never got to try it but that combo certainly sounds like the all around Africa, one gun battery if I ever heard of one.

You are right about the .416 being interesting. I just started with my Model 70, after seeking advice at the Dallas SCI show from Atkinson and Echols. With the powder capacity it has it does wonders, without any pressure problems some mentioned. Mr. Young told you about all you need to know about the loading, RL-15 has also proven to be my magical powder. I would add that you should certainly try the 370 gr. North Fork bullet, it is an accurate son-of-a-gun in my rifle. I have tried 78-80 and 82 grains with no problems, and upwards of 2600 fps in speed, from memory without consulting my log. I cheated and ordered 100 pieces of brass from Superior. My past experience told me I can get 3-4 firings without trimming because they start with the trim-to length instead of maximum. I also got a box of their loaded ammo to zero with and gain more brass. Good loading and shooting.

Dear BobReed

Buy the .416 Rem, You'l never regret. The recoil is not THAT bad and when shooting at something that can bite, stomp or stand on you the recoil is not even noticeable!!!! And finally love your wife, looks like there are ladies with brains out there....

Good luck

In general the .416 bore size is great and I love my CZ .416 Rigby, go ahead get whatever .416 rifle you like you will not regret it.

The recoil of my Searcy custom 416 Rem is nothing more than a maidens caress..but I can handle recoil quit well up to but not including a 458 Lott, whereupon it gets to be a problem, I have to remind myself to squeeze, not jerk the trigger with the 458 Lott and up....I don't like that, its unnatural....