Which solids have you personally used with good performance on elephant brain shots? Right now I have some Barnes banded 400gr and Hornady 400gr Encapsulated. The Hornadys are accurate and have the same point of impact as my 400gr Swift softs.
What loads have you used with the Barnes solids? They look like awsome bullets but are longer than the Hornadys. Any info is appreciated.

I have been shooting the 400 grain Barnes Banded Solids in my 416 Rem. The load I have been using is 76 grains of RL 15 in a Norma case. The groups are 1" at 100 yards. I also load the 400 grain TSX wih 78 grains of RL 15 with the same accuracy. The point of impact between the two loads is 1 1/2" at 100 yards. I called that close enough and spend most of my range time shooting offhand. I have not shot any animals but will be heading to the Selous (LU5) for two buffalo and plains game in less than 4 weeks.

BTW no pressure signs and it has been hot as hell in South Louisiana, the rifle is a Ruger No. 1.

dulxdog:

I don't have any experience with elephant but I do have some experience with the .416 Remington. If I were looking for a solid in that caliber, I don't think you can go to far wrong with a 410 grain Woodleigh. I am pretty sure that the Hornaday is copper clad steel. They should work great too.

Dave

Stay away from the Hornady Encapsulated, btw they have been discontinued...I would opt for the GS Customs flat nose solids, as they are the best for elephant or anything else in the 416 or whatever big bore..

I don't like RN solids in any form..although I used them for many years, but you will always get suspect bullets upon recovery even though most of them worked..

The GS customs flat nose solids are good insurance on an expensive elephant hunt IMO>

I have some GS .416cal 380gr FN on the way! thanks for the help and thanks to Northern Lights for the great service!!!

I have used the 410 grain Woodleighs in my Blaser 416 Rem and they shoot and work great. One big jagged hole at 100 yards!

You can't go wrong with a 20-50 yards frontal brain shot on an elephant with this load. IMHO

I've used the 416 Barnes Banded Solids from my Rigby at 2400 FPS on a PAC elephant hunt in Zim this past May. They worked great and the PH was very impressed by the penetration. Dropped a charging bull at 12 yds. A finishing shot to the heart while he was laying on his side gave complete penetration. This shot was placed into his chest between the front legs and exited his back. I'd use them again without hesitation. My rifle is a Ruger RSM which has a 1/14 twist vs. the 1/16.5 of the CZ. I've read some posts of people having stabilization problems with the long Barnes 400 Gr. triple shocks when fired from a CZ.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Stay away from the Hornady Encapsulated, btw they have been discontinued...I would opt for the GS Customs flat nose solids, as they are the best for elephant or anything else in the 416 or whatever big bore..

I don't like RN solids in any form..although I used them for many years, but you will always get suspect bullets upon recovery even though most of them worked..

The GS customs flat nose solids are good insurance on an expensive elephant hunt IMO>

Ray, have you had any experience with the new Hornaday DG solid? They are copper clad STEEL with a flat meplant. They should work pretty well I would think.

Dave