Anyone near Birmingham got a 416rem I could shoot? I'm thinking of buying one and moving up from a 375H&H but I'd like to see if I can handle the recoil first.

I'm about one hour east of Atlanta. If no one else is closer you're welcome to try mine when it gets back from the teflon man in a couple of weeks. I had this built without having shot anything bigger than a 375 H&H or a Guide Gun in 45-70. The recoil is a little stronger than a 375 but hasn't bothered me yet. I'm sure a long session of bench shooting may wear you out but from sitting or offhand the kick isn't anything to worry about. So far all I've shot are 400 grain Nosler partitions over 80 grains of Rel 15, been too lazy to chrono this load but it should be up in the 2300 to 2400 fps range.

Mark,

You crack me up....just bought the .375 and already upgrading!
If you like, you can fly to SLC and shoot my Winchester! I should have let you shoot it in Idaho!

Best,

JohnTheGreek

I'm in Destin if you don't mind heading south. My .416 is on a Sako action in a McMillan stock with 1.5-5 Leupold. Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Lewis50:
I'm about one hour east of Atlanta. If no one else is closer you're welcome to try mine when it gets back from the teflon man in a couple of weeks. I had this built without having shot anything bigger than a 375 H&H or a Guide Gun in 45-70. The recoil is a little stronger than a 375 but hasn't bothered me yet. I'm sure a long session of bench shooting may wear you out but from sitting or offhand the kick isn't anything to worry about. So far all I've shot are 400 grain Nosler partitions over 80 grains of Rel 15, been too lazy to chrono this load but it should be up in the 2300 to 2400 fps range.

The rifle is a left handed Montana 1999 action, Kreiger barrel, a MacMillan stock with a Leupold 1.75X6 VX111, total weight 91/2 lbs.

Mark,
If you come to Destin, you can also try out a 458 WinMag and a custom .460. Should give you an idea of your recoil tolerance. Bob

quote:

Originally posted by JohnTheGreek:
Mark,

You crack me up....just bought the .375 and already upgrading!
If you like, you can fly to SLC and shoot my Winchester! I should have let you shoot it in Idaho!

Best,

JohnTheGreek

What can I say with the trip we've got planned I'm having second thoughts about the 375 being enough gun. But at the time I bought it I'd never shot anything bigger than a 340wby and wasn't sure if I could handle the recoil of a big bore. I've shot the 375 about 50 times now and don't find the recoil to be that bad. So I'd like to try a 416rem and see if I can handle it, if so I'm thinking of rebarreling the 375. After talking to few people who have "been there and done this hunt" most think a 416 would be a better choice IF I can shoot it well and I want know that until I shoot one. Besides you know I tend to over think most things anyway. That and this is just part of the fun of planning the hunt.

You going to meet me in SLC? If so I'll buy the first round, if you drive me to the airport after a night at the bar We need to make plans to do that again!

Lewis50, thanks for the offer but I'm right handed and live about an 1 1/2 hours West of B-ham. Maybe I can find one a little closer.

VFR1, my wife is planning a trip to Gulf Shores near the end of May if I don't come up with anything before then I'll give you a shout.

Mark:

You may be close to Memphis, TN?

If so and you want to make a trip...I have a 375, 416 Rigby (that can and has been loaded to 400 grains at nominal 2400fps), 458 Lott, and 470 NE. The 375, 416Rigby, and 458 Lott are all CZ's.

Let me know if you have an interest...

Jim

If you are that doubtful about the .416 where you have to shoot one first it is probably too much gun for you. Stock design, recoil pad, etc. make a big difference in percieved recoil. So one .416 may kick the hell out of you but a better fitting one may just smack the hell out of you.

quote:

Originally posted by M16:
If you are that doubtful about the .416 where you have to shoot one first it is probably too much gun for you. Stock design, recoil pad, etc. make a big difference in percieved recoil. So one .416 may kick the hell out of you but a better fitting one may just smack the hell out of you.

Then again you never know what you can handle,do or like until you try it.

quote:

Originally posted by M16:
If you are that doubtful about the .416 where you have to shoot one first it is probably too much gun for you. Stock design, recoil pad, etc. make a big difference in percieved recoil. So one .416 may kick the hell out of you but a better fitting one may just smack the hell out of you.

I'm with M16 on this. Cowboy up or get off the damn horse!

Sounded like a reasonable way to approach this to me. I mean do you buy a car without driving it first? Did you go out and buy a pack of cigarettes without ever smoking or did you try one of your buddies first, decided you liked it and then bought some yourself? As to the horse, I seem to recall someone being thrown by a horse recently. As I recall this guy bought a horse named .458Lott and then decided it was a bit more than he wanted. But hell, that’s one horse I don’t want any part of to begin with.

Touche'

Not that I want another Lott, but the trick is to just download it for practice. So if the 400gr/416 is too much at 2400 fps, then just shoot it at 2100 fps. And do whatever for hunting.

There isn't that much difference in the 375 (~4300 ft-lb) and 416 (5,100) for me, but it goes to hell at any higher energy level than that.

Buy a 416. If you don't like, give it to me.

Mark,
If you like my .416, you can have it, dies, brass and bullets for $1350. Seems the scope is about $400 now. Bob

PS. My range is at Hurlburt Field, an AFSOC base. Not too far from Gulf Shores. Bob

VFR1,

You have a PM.