I own a CZ 416 rigby I,m looking for a good buffalo load probably using a barnes X bullet. would like around 2,400 ft

Call Barnes, they will be happy to help you.

I would recommend the 350 grain X bullet. Penetration will probably still equal any other 400 grain soft. I have a really good article written by Ross Siefried describing the 350 grain X bullets performance on Cape Buffalo and other African game. If you want it, let me know, and I can either Email it or post it here. You can get 2700 FPS out of it if you want to.

However, if you are using 400 grain solids as well, you might want to stick with the 400 grain X, so they shoot to a similar point of impact. They also have the 400 in the XLC coated version. 2400 FPS will be no problem at all in the Rigby. With the XLC, you can get over 2600.

[ 07-09-2003, 07:18: Message edited by: Ken Cline ]

I agree with Ken Cline on the 350 X bullet, and I have seen a lot of Buffalo shot with the 400 gr. X bullet and it did them in every bit as good...I'd load 78 or 79 grs. of RL-15 with either bullet...Thats below max, but you will never end up with a sticky case or rupture in the middle of a Buff herd, and reliability rates way over velocity IMO....thats about 2400 FPS with either bullet and thats more than enough.

Ken,

I'd like a copy of that article. Remember reading back when I thought I would never own a 416 or hunt buffalo. Today, I am halfway there with my Rigby. Thanks.

Ken.

I'd love to see the article too. Just by chance, the 350 X has turned out to be my CZ's favorite food. 98.0 gr of IMR 4350 gets them to 2687 fps at a nice low pressure.

Thanks,

I'll post the article here within a day or so.

This is excerpts from an article by Ross Seyfried in Guns & Ammo magazine:

The 400 grain bullets are still the mainstay of the 416�s diet. The new technology in .416 is the ultra-high quality 350 grain bullets which are the Barnes X bullets. This is a copper bullet with a sophisticated hollow cavity in its nose. The bullet contains no lead or other core. It�s virtually impossible to tear one apart even on buffalo, and I�ve gotten violent expansion on 150 pound animals at 250 yards. To date, the .416 X bullet has penetrated the full length of an 8 foot brown bear and from rib to shoulder of a big Cape buffalo. They can be pushed 100 to 200 fps faster than the 400 grain bullets depending on which 416 you use. With their high ballistic coefficients they slide through the air like the 7mm and 30 caliber bullets we are used to. Barnes offers a 350 grain super solid as a companion to the X bullet. This ensures that all of the 416�s can have a great solid with an identical point of impact to the X bullets. Their little 300 grain 416 is nice for reduced loads or smaller game, but I wouldn�t take it seriously against large or dangerous game.
Most of my personal hunting was done with the Barnes X bullets. I wanted to give these new bullets as much work as I could. This was the only time I have ever intentionally shot a Cape buffalo with a �soft-nose� bullet. I played hide and seek with a herd of 500 in the thin thorn bushes for over an hour. I saw lots of bulls but never had a clear shot at anything I wanted. The day was getting short and the buffalo were growing tired of my presence as they crossed a big open meadow. I employed a last-ditch tactic�charge the buffalo. I used one small bush as imaginary cover and ran right at the herd. The run dissolved 300 yards of the distance between us. As often happens a good bull turned to see what was following. I slid to a stop and shot him as he turned to run with his brothers. The bullet hit with that tremendous walloping sound that comes with the .416�s. My tracker caught up with me and said, �Bwana, I think one is wounded.� I said, �Peter, I think one is dead.� I had the benefit of seeing my crosshairs on his last rib when the rifle recoiled.
The herd and attendant cloud of dust were settling into the bush on the far side of the meadow as we walked to where the bull was when I hit him. There was a spray of lungs across the yellow grass, and by the third stride ropes of blood were pouring out of the exit wound. The �damu� was spread on the tracks like somebody had poured it out of a 5 gallon bucket. It isn�t my intention to paint a gory picture, but to relay the extreme performance of this �underweight� (350 grain) soft nose on the biggest, toughest critter any of us will ever shoot with a soft. My bull only ran 50 yards and was stone dead at the end of the trail. The bullet hit the back of the ribs on the right side, broke the point of his left shoulder, and exited! This is the kind of penetration we expect from a great 400 grain solid.
A few days later I flattened an impala at 150 yards, then followed that by taking a Grant�s gazelle at 250. Both 350 grain X bullets expanded with the violence I expect from a 160 grain 7mm magnum. These animals are the size of small and large whitetail bucks, respectively.
Plain and simple the Rigby is not the fastest or the littlest or the most practical, but it is jolly well still the .416 Rigby. It will give you great ballistics and reasonable pressures with almost any good load you throw in it. It heaves the 400 grain bullets at 2400 fps and never works up a sweat. It can be driven to levels that approach the Weatherby. There is a factory load from Federal at something around $5 a pop. There are lots of rifles out there, but they will probably always be more expensive than the standard sized versions. I doubt if Rigby�s will ever be cheap or easy, but I will never be without at least one. If you are a professional hunter working against dangerous game or following wounded critters larger than deer without a .416, I see you as being almost unarmed. If you are a trophy hunter looking for big animals and can handle a �heavy�, the 416 may be the best tool for your pursuits. The 416 will do anything you ask.

has anybody used the woodleigh 450gr RN? if so what velocities were you getting?

Rock

Randy, You do not want to much velocity...Staying between 2300 to 2400FPS will make the bullet very potent but IMO I like the bigger bullet...

Mike

Freedom is not Free

[ 07-11-2003, 06:40: Message edited by: retreever ]

Guess Ross didn't shoot a cape buffalo as big and tough as the water buffalo that I shot with the 350 grain Barnes X at 2700 fps MV. The first shot was at 150 yards range, in an open field (not guite a pasture, it was a "game farm"). The bullet was a little high but a double lung and scapula hit, lodging under the hide in the off side. I walked up to fifty yards as the bull staggered around in circles and shot him in the neck. He finished dying promptly then. That second 350 grain X had heavier bone to deal with and it lodged under the hide of the off side also.

On cape buffalo, at 75 yards for me, the 380 grain GSC FN "expanding solid" at 2509 fps MV penetrated the thorax including a direct hit on the heavy humerus and heart, exited the other side and death bellow within a few seconds. No second shot needed.

The 350 X will do, but the 400 grain X at 2400 fps would be better on buffalo.

Oh yeah, that 350 X at 2700 fps did knock a fallow deer down at 342 yards, for me, with a shot low in the chest.

Use IMR 4350 just under 100 grains, or IMR 4831 just over 100 grains with the Barnes 350 grain X-Bullet and you will find a 2700 fps plains game load for your Rigby.

Use H4831 or H4831SC at 105 grains with any 400 grain soft or solid bullet and you will have an accurate >2400 fps load in the 416 Rigby: Buffalo Medicine.

.416 Rigby is King.

Randy,
I apoligize, the loads I gave you are for a 416 Remington not a Rigby...I misread your posts....

Shoot the 400 gr. BarnesX at 2400 to 2500 FPS with whatever load shoots best at that velocity....

I'm getting 2388 FPS (5 shot average) with the 450 gr. Woodleigh...I can get 2400 but it is about max in my gun....I prefer 2350 FPS and mild loads..

I've shot fourafrican cape Buffaloand one aussie water buff with my trusty .416ruger Rigby. The load was 101 grs of Rl-22 with a 410 gr Woodleigh!sp or solid None went farther than 20 yrds and none required more than two rounds. Damn fine cartridge!-Rob

[ 07-13-2003, 08:10: Message edited by: Robgunbuilder ]

HI,

I am happy to hear this as I am waiting for my 416 Rigby from MR. Brockman. Kev