I am looking to buy my first big bore rifle, and have decided on the .416 Rigby. Is there anything I should know before I buy?

I understand it packs one heck of a punch, and this is something I am not really used to. My largest caliber so far is a 30-06 which I shoot 220 grain bullets through. The charts I have seen on-line show the recoil for the .416 at about 58 lbs., thats quite a jump from around 25 lbs. with the 30-06.

Besides the recoil, what else is there to know about entering the world of big bores?

welcome...

Have you considered the 458 lott since you are a reloader?

What made you pick the 416 Rigby?

What you don't know you will learn here.

quote:

Originally posted by Ammo_Dog:
I am looking to buy my first big bore rifle, and have decided on the .416 Rigby. Is there anything I should know before I buy?

I understand it packs one heck of a punch, and this is something I am not really used to. My largest caliber so far is a 30-06 which I shoot 220 grain bullets through. The charts I have seen on-line show the recoil for the .416 at about 58 lbs., thats quite a jump from around 25 lbs. with the 30-06.

Besides the recoil, what else is there to know about entering the world of big bores?

Recoil is something that you can condition yourself to. Best to start with relatively light loads, shot a few at a time, and work up in load and number over time. Shooting fewer rounds more frequently is better than shooting more rounds less frequently.

BTW, they make strap on recoil pads for a reason and they do help. Probably a good idea to at least start with one.

While I am a 458 fan, your choice is a great one. Have fun!

JPK

boom stick,

I have nothing against the 458 Lott. I am just a bottleneck cartridge kind of guy.

The reason I chose the .416, is because the cartridge just looks damn sexy to me. No but seriously, I have heard that there can be problems reloading the belted magnums, and as far as I can see the .416 is the largest non-belted, bottleneck cartridge out there. This of course excludes the .50 Browning

I am new to all of the big bore talk, and possible wrong about the above stated. The little that I do know, I have learned from this site.

The one thing I don't like about the .416 cartridge is there doesn't seem to be a too many bullet choices when considering reloading.

500 Jeffery
505 Gibbs
450 Rigby

So, let me talk you into the 458 lott..
remington 405gr bullets for 25¢ each ... and if you load those to 2200 fps, your brass will last forever ..

Now, on the 416 .. what you need to know
get lyman dies, don't bother with $$$ dies
get hornady brass, ASAP
shoot 350 speer mag tips at 2400 to get you started
use fed 215 primers
use rel19 for the 350s
jeffe

I think your choice of the .416 Rigby is a good one, especially if you will be handloading for it. It's my understanding that it is very easy to obtain 2700 fps with the 400 grain bullet compared to most factory ammo at 2400 fps. I have both the 458 Lott and the 416 Rigby and find the 416 quite pleasant to shoot. Rodney.

I own the 416 Rem and that rifle Shoot a 400gr bullet at 2420 FPS. It doesn't hurt me either.
One thing about shooting a powerful rifle is that you hold it tight when shooting.

boom stick,

I don't think I carry a big enough frame to be able to "comfortably" shoot those calibers you listed (500, 505, 450).

What about accuracy and range? Is the .416 reliable at 300 yards? I am not looking for sub MOA, I just don't want to be wasting my time with expectations for something that will never pan out.

quote:

Originally posted by Ammo_Dog:
boom stick,

I don't think I carry a big enough frame to be able to "comfortably" shoot those calibers you listed (500, 505, 450).

What about accuracy and range? Is the .416 reliable at 300 yards? I am not looking for sub MOA, I just don't want to be wasting my time with expectations for something that will never pan out.

The 416 is a great choice. There are plenty of good bullets out there - Barnes, Swift A-frames, Nosler partitions as well as Speer (for plinking) amd others. There are the super premiums from GS as well.

Accuracy - my 416 can put three shots within a quarter at 100 yards all day long if I do my part and I took the elk below at 285 yards with one shot (recovered bullet below).

Recoil - remember - off a bench in sitting position you can "roll with the punch" a lot less than when standing. I think you will be surprised that it is not nearly as bad as you are imagining it to be. I have had my 75 - 100lb nephews shoot my 416 and each wanted to take a second shot and a couple took a third.

Ammo Dog,

If your still open on the cartridge issue, I'll throw in with the .458" crowd. I'm happiest with the 458wm, but the Lott can do all that the 458wm can do and more if your willing.

With a bolt rifle you can load and practice all day with a .458" rifle with cheap mild loads, including readily available cast bullets or cheap non-dg bullets. You don't need to do much of your prep shooting with full house loads and you'll never feel the recoil when your looking over the sights at something that might want to kill you.

Loading the staight case .458" is not an issue and brass is readily available, though some less expensive brands are only intermitently available.

If you want stoppoing powder you've got more with a 458wm, let alone a Lott, than you can get with a 416 and if you want range for pg, pick a good lighter bullet and your not loosing much if any. Fine accuracy is available from the .458" rounds too.

But a 416, Rigby or Remington is a fine choice if that is what you are into.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by Ammo_Dog:
boom stick,

I don't think I carry a big enough frame to be able to "comfortably" shoot those calibers you listed (500, 505, 450).

What about accuracy and range? Is the .416 reliable at 300 yards? I am not looking for sub MOA, I just don't want to be wasting my time with expectations for something that will never pan out.

Its about Mind over matter/technique and practice not so much frame size.

Canuck shows a video of this girl who looks to be only 100 lbs shooting a 470 Mbogo.

Ammo_Dog,

since I own a CZ 416 Rigby, and have owned three Lotts I think I see your issues. Let me suggest:

1. with the 458 Lott you can load cast bullets from the Laser-Cast (Silver Bullet Co)and load down to 45-70 levels. You can load up to 200fps past 458WM levels.

2. with the 416 Rigby, the bullet choices are fewer. I have an RCBS 350gr GC mould. I shoot them from 2000-2450fps and sub-2moa accuracy at 100 yds. On the other hand, I keep a loaded round on the computer desk here because it's just so erotic looking. And, it has this history...

Either will take anything on this earth, the Rigby shoots a little flatter. The Lott will always make more power if you become inured. Work up 100fps every sixty to eighty rounds over a couple week intervals, and stop where you choose.

The cool thing here is: there are no wrong choices. That said, I DO still have my 416 Rigby. Three good bullets are all you need, a soft point, a solid, and a cast for 200 rounds a month for practice.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

from a standing start (inexperienced shooter) there's not enough difference in recoil between the to to matter... from an experienced POV, the rigby can kick less.. from a reloaders POV, its is what you want to load to
jeffe

All good replies, thanks for all the feedback!

I think I will take a week or two to mull it over. The hard part is I just received my tax returns and it's already burning a whole in my pocket. It was already decided that this year it will be put towards a new rifle.

I guess either way I go I will end up with a new rifle. I wish all my decisions ended up that way

Before you make the purchase I would check the cost and availability of the Rigby brass.

But I'm with you they sure do look beautifull.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
So, let me talk you into the 458 lott..
remington 405gr bullets for 25¢ each ... and if you load those to 2200 fps, your brass will last forever ..

Now, on the 416 .. what you need to know
get lyman dies, don't bother with $$$ dies
get hornady brass, ASAP
shoot 350 speer mag tips at 2400 to get you started
use fed 215 primers
use rel19 for the 350s
jeffe

........................Yup..

AmmoDog,

Find some fellow shooters and shoot a 375, 416, and 458 .....BEFORE you buy. They are all good!

If you like playing around with lots of loads and have the opportunity to belt the shit out of lots of smaller animals like pigs and deer, then the big 45s in my opinion are the way to go, probably why they are the choice in Australia.

As to belted cases, simply ignore everything you have read In addition all the bullshit you read on belted cases does not apply to cases like the 458 Winchester and 458 Lott.


Mike