I'm agonizing over reaming the ol Savage 458 mag out to a Lott or 450 Ackley or selling/trading for a 416 rigby or doing nothing--but a question is if the Rigby shoots a 400 grain bullet at 2400fps and this is considered excellent fodder for almost everything that walks--what would be the diff if you use 400 gr. bullets in the 458 at 2350fps- can you obtain the 2350fps in the 458?...chris

CSutton7,

The difference is of sectional density of the two bullets, or weight per unit of square area of the bullet.

A .416"/400 grain bullet has an SD of .330, while a .458"/400 grain bullet comes in at .272. A heavier bullet in a given bore will have a higher SD, and will also give more penetration in animals -- which is what you want. Generally you need a SD>.300 for big critters.

jim dodd

To be brutally honest, the .416 Rigby is all you will ever need. I'd trade off the ol savage and get a .416 Rigby in a CZ550 and never look back.It is more shootable than a .450 Ackley/Lott etc. in the hands of even the most experienced shooters. The only time a 450 Ackley/Lott is of more value is when things go very wrong. Then the added power may help assuming you put the bullet where it counts.
Put up a target at 40 yrds, a 12 inch paper plate is fine. Take two shots standing in 3- 5 seconds with a .416 Rigby and a 450 Ackley and see which one you can stay on target with. This in my opinion is the best answer to your question. More power once your in this cartridge class isn't really the answer, ability to properly hit the target is.-Rob

chris, by all means go with the rigby!! i was in your place last week-- trying to figure out what the heck to do with my new m70 in 458 win. now after my sleepless weekend (see the Perfect Bolt Action Cartridge: 416 Rigby post for details) and a successful hunt, the answer is quite clear for me: sell it for more money to spend on bullets/powder/etc for my rigby!

seriously my new ruger m77 is all i could ask for-- it's the best rifle i've ever owned and the 416 rigby is bad-to-the-bone! so forgeddabout messin' around with that other stuff-- take a new ruger in 416 out of the box, make some handloads and go shootin'...you won't regret it in the morning, i promise ya!

[ 11-27-2002, 03:57: Message edited by: ppk1911 ]

A 416 Rigby CZ 550 Safari would be a cheap and great ticket to enter the big bore bolt action rifle world. You could turn it into something bigger later on if desired. Good luck!

Thanks for the replies--pretty much what I expected--

Rob--that's exactly what you told me in some emails a couple of weeks ago we passed between us and I figured you'd say as much again, as it is a most accurate statement--

one thing that is eating at me is I got a pretty good deal on the rifle-- stainless steel Savage Safari Express with muzzle brake and with 120 rounds of ammo with most of it being A Square Chono'd ammo in different weights for $600--I know about the A Square stuff and would use it in NON-DGR situations or just practice--for some reason I like the looks and I really like the muzzlebrake(which can be turned on or off) and it's a great option to have for practice---to put a brake on the Rigby looks like it make the rifle a tad UUUUgly and I'd most likely want to do this, --but I do like the look and feel of the Rigby--probably have to replace the stock on it at sometime--there's one at a gun store--been there 3 times now and the owner was gone for 2 of those times(1st time he was pretty busy and I didn't have the gun we just shot the idea around)--I get burned out by making the same trip and no one to talk to--like I'm doing the wrong thing-- well maybe one more trip--if I don't like the deal I'll think on it some more---thanks again for your replies---chris

HI,

I must say that I was looking all different rounds and after a great deal of time I have come to the conclusion that the 416 Rigby is everything that I was look for.I hear many people here talk about the 416 rigby as only a big game round, but I think with the bullet selection out there now it will work as a all around rifle.I even plan on getting the weight of a custom rifle in a 416 Rigby down to around 8.5 pounds, I never have had a problem with recoil.I have ordered a Mcmillan stock and a stailess steel barrel from PAC-NOR.I will move to AK and weather will be a problem, but believe the 416 Rigby to be a all-around rifle round. Thanks, Kev

The 416 Rem or Rigby has been my choice but the 458 Lott is a Lott more gun (pun intended) any way you cut it than the 416....if you can shoot it from all field positions. It is a real hammer. It is the cheapest way out also...

I still think I would trade for a Ruger or CZ 416 and get away from that Savage...

The 416 Rigby can be loaded hotter in a modern bolt action too, and if you drop down to a 350gr and look at the trajectory at a couple hundred fps faster than the book, about 2850-2900, which is easily attainable you might be quite surprized. The Barnes Manual lists a 400gr XLC at at 2673 fps just FYI and is no slouch either.

Chris- FWIW I've got a friend up in UKIAH who can fix you up with a .416 Rigby CZ. He will probably trade for your Savage also. It's also close to my ranch so we can go test it out. Give me a call or E-mail and I'll set you up. Get a .416 Rigby and don't look backl.-Rob

csutton7

Its a numbers game

A 416, 400 grain bullet has better sd than a 458. If you want performance from a 458 choose 480-600 grain bullets.

I have learned my lesson and tries to choose bullets in every caliber that has high sd and bc.

I would choose a CZ 550 in 416 rigby.

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Thanks again guys for all the input--

RGB--I'll be in touch---chris

Listen to Johan, he is telling you the facts of life....

Shoot 400 gr. bullets in the 416 and 480 to 500 in the 458...

400 gr. bullets, even monolithics are proving to be a mistake in Africa with penitration failures..perhaps a 450 monolithic would be a good choice but Man Magnum magazine recently referred to some 450 gr. failures..either by Gregor Woods or er a whats his name.