I'm new to this forum and my computer skills are not the best, however that said, I was wondering if anyone had any practical experience with the .416 Taylor cartidge, if it was adequate for african dangerous game etc.. I am thinking of a project for this winter, after I get back from Namibia, and have heard good things about it.

Canuck has one and is his smaller bore for Africa.

howdy fred,
If you click on the "find" tab, and type in 416 taylor, you'll find a ton of stuff

jeffe

here's some loading data



400 Hornady roundnose Alliant RL-15 72.0 2,313
400 Hornady roundnose IMR IMR-4320 69.0 2,343
400 Hornady roundnose IMR IMR-3031 67.0 2,335

I think many on these forums would consider it adequate for all the world's largest game.

Thanks for the info! The S.T.C. cartridges are very interseting! I was wondering if they will work in a Ruger MKII standard magnum action ( not the long magnum action), the reason being that I have a stock with a full length bedding block in a beautiful piece of french walnut for that action and was trying to find a caliber suitable for dangerous game that would fit those parameters. Will look again but did not see the ballistics for the S.T.C.cartridges mentioned. The .470 is partcularly interesting

If you work at it you can get 2400 fps out of the Taylor w/a 400 gr. bullet, or close to it, and hence the same as the nominal velocity of most other 416's (Rem., Rigby, etc.).

Fred,
Thanks. The 416, 458, and 470 AR rounds are what you are asking about, right? SOme of my friends and I are in the STC hunting club, and well, don't ask

On the ruger, the AR rounds will certainly fit in a standard length ruger, as Frank's 416 and my 470 are both on rugers. Frank's is an early roundtop tang safety, and mine is a mkII. Both had 7remmag barrels on them. The mkII is VERY easy to make feed.


I am also do load development with different powders on these rounds, but it's been TOO HOT in houston. i've been using mostly h335, and need to try some slower powders.

all the AR cases have 3 to 4% more case capacity than the 416 rem, 458 lott, and 470 capstick

416 AR - nearly 2500fps with a 400gr hornady, 26".
458 AR - easliy hits 2380, with a TWENTY ONE inch barrel, 500gr hornady
470 AR - 26" - 500gr woodleigh 2350 easy, working on load dev for this one.

You can order reloading dies from CH4D.

Not to just be disagreeable, but there's no possible way you can have the 416 taylor go 2400 FPS without exceeding the pressure of the 416 rem. it should be considered to be a 400gr at 2300-2350fps .. but what's 50fps between friends....

jeffe

Jeffe,

As you say, who is going to know the difference betweeb 2350 and 2400 fps? But I can get 2400 fps.

The "problem" with all this is trying to have your cake and eat it too. To get high velocities you have to have case capacity and that converts to long or fat cases, and long actions or smaller magazine capcity.

Cake anyone?

I have been shooting my Taylor for close to 25 years. I setteled on one load 72 gr. H 4895 and most any 400gr. bullet. My preference is the Swift A frame. I have seen 10 buffalo, and over 20 big pigs killed with it. It is really a great caliber and should have been factory offered years ago.

Will,
you don't have to settle, today!!
there's the 416 howell, 404 dak, and, of course, our own 416 AR!!

I think a firelapped barrel will give you 2400, if long enough... in the taylor.. I just don't like how the primers have looked in the couple I've worked with to get there.

jeffe

Both Dave E and I get over 2400fps with our Taylors with absolutely no indication of excess pressure.

I know, I know...velocity comes from pressure, cause-effect, can't magically produce velocity, etc, etc. And you guys have heard this all before about he 416 Taylor.....

But, I think we both may be blessed with good chambers, good barrels, etc, and like your example of a fire-lapped barrel, the conditions may allow for increased area under the pressure curve without increasing peak pressure or causing a spike.

Anyway, I am anal about pressure signs (having messed with my somewhat finicky 6.5 Gibbs A LOT, and having a Rem factory round blow a primer in my 375), and I have to say, even at 2450fps (with a Swift A-frames from my 416 T) my cases and primers show NO indication of pressure at all. In fact, the soft Fed 215 primers remain rounder than in any of my other firearms.

Anyway, I feel completely safe at 2400fps in my rifle. I don't recommend anyone else jumping directly to 2400fps in a Taylor without some careful load development and gradually building up, etc.

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

any practical experience with the .416 Taylor cartidge, if it was adequate for african dangerous game etc..

To answer the original question, check this out...Will's Ele Hunt 2005

I believe Will took 4 elephants with his 416 Taylor, include stopping a charging cow in its tracks.

I think the little Taylor can stand tall with the 416 Rem and 416 Rigby any time.

Cheers,
Canuck

Once again I'd like to thank everyone for thier time and all the information. The story of Will's elephant pretty much says it all. Well in three weeks I'll be of to Namibia for plains game and maybe something else if I get lucky. Will be taking my .338 on this trip, however, if I end up going back

Sorry about that, as I was saying,if I end up going back I'd want to have something for the big stuff. Will be going to work for the next week so I may not be able to reply ( no computer access ) so once again thanks to you all and take care.

fred...

the 416 taylor is good and will get the job done but the 470 a.r. is a better stopper and you have a range in bullets from 275 gr cheap plinking deer stomping to over 500 grain elephant smashers at roughly the same price. the 470 or 458 a.r. is far more versitile.

el jeffe...i am going to do my rain dance so you can get to the range and shoot those barnes xpb's! hoye hoya hoye hoya....

What are the AR cases based off of?

I'm thinking about a Taylor myslef... I personally don't think that any animal I'll likely hunt with it will be able to tell if he's killed with 400gr bullet at 2300fps or 2400... LOL

quote:

Originally posted by Ivan:
What are the AR cases based off of?

I'm thinking about a Taylor myslef... I personally don't think that any animal I'll likely hunt with it will be able to tell if he's killed with 400gr bullet at 2300fps or 2400... LOL

They are based off of 375 Ultra mag cases, shortened and necked up.