I just purchased a custom in 416 WBY. I have never done any loading for a WBY before. I have done some for the Rigby and I intend to load the WBY to the same level. Any of you have any experiance with this one?

Tons - one of my favorite cartridges. I've had three rifles in this caliber. What do you want to know?

The 416 Wby is a great caliber. In a particular caliber, I like to start with a big case, then load it to the level I need. The new 450gr bullets can be used in the Wby, as it has the case capacity to drive them to sufficient velocity. Or you can use a bulkier powder and load 400gr bullets at NE levels of 2,150 fps or so. POP (Fotis) loads his with 300 to 350gr Barnes or Northforks to create a flat-shooting long range rifle for Eland and the like. You can just about cover everything from a 45/70 to a 450-400 to a Lazzaroni 416 Meteor.

I have a Mark V Deluxe in 416 Weatherby. I changed the stock on it to an HS Precision stock when I thought I would use it in Alaska. The load it likes is Fed215M, 114gr of Re22 and 400gr Swift A-Frames at about 2650mv.

Do you need a "filler" in the reduced loadings such as Dacron?

Depends on how reduced and what powder.

quote:

Originally posted by Ezra4570:
Do you need a "filler" in the reduced loadings such as Dacron?

Be very careful with reduced loads.

If you are really after loads that are reduced a lot, then you have to use powders such as UNBIQUE, and in which case you would need to use a filler.

I load between 30-35 grains of UNIQUE in reduced loads for teh 460 Weatherby, and use a filler.

It can be tissue paper, Dacron or the filler used in shotgun shells.

My plan is to reduce to Rigby levels.

That should be fine, as the Rigby case has similar capacity. Have fun!

I would simply use the Rigby loads. When the 460 case was released, it was simply a Rigby case with a belt and the magic shoulder. The dimensions are the same within a few thousanths every where.

What Art S. said plus one!

Rich

Just a super caliber. Have had 3 rifles in this caliber, settled on a rifle based on a worked over CZ action. Have barrel No. 2 on that one now - a tefloncoated stainless Krieger barrel - shoots 1/2-3/4 moa groups...
My favorite load is 117 grs Norma MRP behind a 400 grs Barnes TSX and 116 grs MRP behind a 400 grs Barnes Banded Solid, both giving 2760 fps and same POI at 100 meters.

I agree with Buffalo on Norma MRP which I can no longer find but V N570 is also a great powder for the caliber at top velocities.

As others have said, anything that worked for the Rigby will work for the Weatherby.

This 416 Wby talk got me pumped up again. I just put a Zeiss 2.5x10x48 on my Wby Outfitter, and will head across to my range to put some rounds through it. The 416 Wby deserves a scope with some magnification, as it can really reach out there.

I have done a bunch of reloading for my cousin's .416 Weatherby using book Rigby loads. The case capacity and dimensions of the two are so close that you would be hard pressed to see a difference using the same load in both. The advantage of the Weatherby is that you have the option of published data for hotter loads. 350-grain TSX bullets make a great long-range hammer in the Weatherby.

Thanks for all of the input!