Got an answer back from Hornady Tech Infowith all their test results on the 416 Ruger. Posting here, and will also put into the Reloading topic.

Had trouble converting files from TIFF to an image, so hope this works.

thanks for postig .. surprisingly slow vels., more like 416 taylor results

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
thanks for postig .. surprisingly slow vels., more like 416 taylor results

I noticed that.

However it doesn't say anything about pressure signs etc and
whether they stopped because of them or what reason.

It warns about Max loads but doesn't say if the load data they
show are max loads or just where they decided to stop.

Thats a 20 inch bbl. Oh yes, Ruger does NOT offer this in the Hawkeye African, so the 23 inch barrel is not available

Is any of that a surprise? I thought that folks were already loading the 416 R anyway.

Same powder charge in a larger case gives lower velocity. Seems right to me.

Do I sense another challenge? Barrel cutting 416Rigby v. 416Ruger.

I find that all rather strange, I am doing better than that with my 416 B&M with the 18 inch barrel. Staying under pressure too! I think those must be rather conservative numbers!

But on the other hand, so what, those velocities are still plenty to do anything you want to do! Want more velocity, drop to 350s!

Michael

my 416 AR uses, well, a bunch more h335, and far exceeds 2400fps .. and its only 2-3 grain larger than the ruger

I was surprised to see the original promises of the 416 Ruger making 2400fps with a shorter barrel and slightly smaller case capacity than the 416 Rem (which is near max pressure to make 2400 with a 400 grain slug).
Do expect to see the Ruger do a little better at max loads though.

i never had any trouble getting a 416 rem to 2400fps .. first and starting load out of the hornady manual, with win760, resulted in 2387 or so, at 15' .. sub moa accuaracy ... never bothered going faster and could reload the brass 6-8 times.

guys getting 2400 with a taylor, well, surprise me.. but the taylor is ALOT smaller.

Jeffe

Way back in the day I had a Taylor, 22 inch barrel. I was determined to get 2400 fps. I can't tell you why, just was. Stupid I suppose. I did finally, but I was pushing limits and beyond! Once I did that during one test session, I dropped back to 2250 and 2300, and that was fine. Sometimes I swear we get caught up on stupid missions like that, I do sometimes I know, later can't say why? I think for some reason that 2400 fps has been the "holy grail" for 416s, animals don't really care if it's 2250-2300 or 2400, I never saw a critter toting a chronograph. Some of our bullets just plain work better at lower too.

The 416 B&M was not even built with 400s in mind, it was built as a medium to work with 350s for mostly thin skinned game. It does just that too. At one time it's sole purpose in life was built around that wonderful 340 gr Woodleigh. That bullet at 2450-2500 is a hammer on all thin skinned critters.

Like I said before, I suspect the load data for the Ruger is very conservative. I thought there were plenty of folks loading that????

Michael

The reloading data above made me curious so I took my Ruger .416 to the local indoor range at lunch and shot it through a chronograph with a factory 400 grain Hornady DGX. It read 2308 fps about 20 feet from the muzzle. If I remember, the last time I did the same with DGS bullets, I got 2320 fps.

Works for me.

I had been looking for data and not finding much for a lot of powders, so I went to Hornady for info. Not sure what recipe they use for the factory loads, but the few times I chrono'd them before my Zim trip, they were in the 2300-2325 range for both DGX abd DGS.

I plan to get the 350 Barnes TSX shooting well and see how it does around 2500 fps. I bet it will be an Arizona elk killing machine this Fall!!!!!!!

If you pay attention to the ballistics for the 416 Ruger are taken with a standard SAAMI 24" test barrel...here's a link to the Hornady website:
http://www.hornady.com/store/416-Ruger-400-gr-DGS/

So...2300 to 2325 from a 20" barrel is certainly within reason.

quote:

Way back in the day I had a Taylor, 22 inch barrel. I was determined to get 2400 fps. I can't tell you why, just was. Stupid I suppose. I did finally, but I was pushing limits and beyond!

How do you know that?

I get 2400 fps with 400 gr. bullets in my 22" Taylor.

Will

How do I know that? It was pushing pretty hard. This was not a Hornady, this was 400 gr Barnes Solids, and it was pushing believe me.

How do I know, because I am pretty damn smart!

Michael

Oh yeah?
Will get this:
In my .416 Taylor, I got 2415 fps with Hornady RNSP .416/400gr cup&core bullets using 75 grains of RL-15,
and a 26" barrel length, Shilen stainless 1:14".
No XS pressure signs,
but I suspect it was near max.

Subtract about 25 fps per inch shortening of barrel between 26" and 20"--for this combo of cartridge, bullet, and powder.

That would give me a max load of 2265 fps with the 20" barrel length.

The .416 Ruger does a bit better than that, eh?

I always marveled at Will getting 2400 fps with a 22" barrel.
I would not want to go more than 2315 fps if my Taylor was a 22-incher.

Aye, sounds like Doc M was prudent.
The long Barnes solids will jack up pressure due to the long length of the bullet, blah, blah, blah ...

I am going to out-magic Will's .416 Taylor magic wand for elephant training.
Doc M is so smart, he has provided the means for me to do so: a six-pound .458 B&M.

JackPhantomHuckleberryHoundDog RIP

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:


Aye, sounds like Doc M was prudent.
The long Barnes solids will jack up pressure due to the long length of the bullet, blah, blah, blah ...

I am going to out-magic Will's .416 Taylor magic wand for elephant training.
Doc M is so smart, he has provided the means for me to do so: a six-pound .458 B&M.

JackPhantomHuckleberryHoundDog RIP

Yeah, when you start having a sticky bolt that is a pretty good sign you are getting close! I am glad a I figured out that 2250-2300 was just as good. I can get that with an 18 inch 416 B&M now. But still like the 350s for that rifles. I actually hit 2405 fps with the 416 B&M in a 20 inch gun with 74/AA 2520 and a 400 gr Hornady SP. Later when I was running pressure data on the 416 I found that 68/AA 2520 was running 62000 PSI. So I figure 74 was a bit over. Although no sticky bolts? I did find my 400 Swift As with 72/AA 2520 giving 2326 fps was at 72000 psi, dropping to 71 grs made it 66000. 400 Woodleigh with 74/WW 748 giving 2307 fps and 62000 psi!

Your 458 B&M with 20 inches barrel a 500 Hornady 77/AA 2520 gives you 2161 fps and 61000 psi, while a 450 Barnes Banded and 450 Swift with 78/AA 2520 gives up to 2270 fps and 59000 psi.

Just FYI some observations.

458 B&M, 6 lb sledgehammer! Should not be too long, have not spoke to Brian in a week or two now?

Michael

quote:

Originally posted by michael458:
How do I know, because I am pretty damn smart!

Michael