Rifle levitating in front of my 6'4" square Prince William Sound black bear rug.


You can almost make out the "416 Taylor" that was nicely engraved on the barrel. Excuse my photography please.


Above illustrates the Dakota front sight with no hood, soldered and screwed on ramp.


The bear's tail points to the rifle on the floor, and the shadow of my hand is seen waving "Hi" along with the toe of my sneaker. That was my thumb above, giving the "thumb's up" on this rifle.

This is a practical rifle that started with the action from a stainless Ruger Mark II M77 338 WinMag.

The stock is the latest Ruger synthetic that came off a 25-06 rifle and had its barrel channel sanded down to fit.

The barrel is a Shilen No. 4 Sporter Contour, stainless, 1 in 14" twist, 26" long. Recessed 90 degree muzzle crown.

The floor plate is stainless steel off a Ruger 25-06 varmint rifle.

The rings are Ruger chrome-moly gray parkerized.

The sights are Dakota express sights from Brownells.

Barrel band sling stud was placed in a bit close to the stock, but the Ruger stock is short, and it will do.

A Pachmayr slip-on pad went over the Ruger factory butt pad, to lengthen the pull to 14". If bulky winter clothing is being worn, removing the slip-on makes it fit well, for me.

This is the perfect Alaskan rifle for the big bears with 400 grainers at 2400 fps. That is the reason for the long barrel: easy Rigby ballistics.

300 grainers at 2700 fps are also easy in this rifle, for long range shots at "small big game."

The scope is a Leupold 1X-4X, perfect for this rifle.

The trigger is a Timney, with a crisp 3.5# pull.

As shown the rifle weighs a little under 9.5 pounds. Take off the slip-on butt pad and the scope and rings, and it is under 8.5#.

Sort of like having a 375 Weatherby and a 416 Rigby in one package.

[ 12-29-2002, 06:36: Message edited by: DaggaRon ]

Load data for the above and an interesting comparison to the 404 Jeffery was done with the Recoil Calculator at:

http://huntamerica.com/recoil_calculator

The 416 Taylor load (my data):
Remington 458 WinMag brass necked down
400 grain Hornady RNSP
F-215 Primer
RL-15 75.0 grains
Gun weight 9.5 lbs.
Velocity (26") = 2418 fps
Recoil Energy = 55 ft-lbs
Recoil Velocity = 19 fps

The 404 Jeffery load (A-Square data)
400 grain A-Square Dead Tough SP
CCI-250 Primer
RL-15 80.0 grains
Gun weight 9.5 lbs.
Velocity (26") = 2379 fps
Recoil Energy = 55 ft-lbs.
Recoil Velocity = 19 fps

I know the 416 Taylor is a great cartridge, so the 404 Jeffery is a good one too by this comparison of my data to A-Square 404 data. BUT , the 416 Taylor is more efficient and practical.

I mean this as no slight to the 404 Jeffery, and it is the hands down Nostalgia Queen. But the Rigby is King, and the Taylor is the Prince of the cartridge heap. Getting rid of the belt would only make it less practical.

[ 12-29-2002, 07:48: Message edited by: DaggaRon ]

DaggaRon,

Your .416 Taylor looks like a purposeful tool. It should do well in that environment.

What is the item on the scope objective?

jim dodd

Jim,
It is just a scope cap, a lens cover. These are the Blizzard Queen make with the clear plastic window in the center. Similar to the Butler Creek version, but you can see through them without popping them open, if you are in a hurry or it is raining and they aren't fogged. This is another bit of weather proofing. If they are not water tight, the fit can be filled in with silicone adhesive/caulking when they are put on the scope.

The scope is sealed in the rings with the same silicone adhesive. This stuff can be pealed off if there is ever a need to disassemble.

Some QD levers for the Ruger rings would be nice, for ready access to the iron sights if it is really raining cats and dogs.

In the field, I would have a piece of black vinyl electrical tape over the muzzle to keep rain and snow and mud out, of course.

RAB,
You and I both know this is just a 77/22 with a ton of duct tape over it, painted dull.. LMAO.. just kidding friend, of course.

Great looking rifle.... I wondered what effect the 26" tube would have... mike's only geting 2285 outta 23"...

cheers
jeffe

Jeffe,
Maybe I have one of those "fast" rifles.

My smith is a precision freak, so I am sure there is minimum slop in my chamber, and minimum standard throat. The Shilen barrel may be part of it too, 14" twist and stainless.

I would expect that I gain about 25 fps per inch in this length and velocity range. If mine were cut down to 23" that means 2343 fps estimated for my rifle.

Maybe I have a fast load too. Mine showed no pressure signs.

What was the load your friend was shooting?
What make of barrel and throating does he have?

RAB,
he's got a mark X (was in 7mag, i think) with a midway AB barrel (says 24.. finishs "outside" at ~23.25", that I recut the chamber for. 416 taylor finish reamer from reamer rentals, quality cart. brass, and i forget who's dies.

either benchmark or RL 15 (i forgot) in the mid to high 60 grain, with hornady 400 SP. I meaured the oal, once, wrote it in the "book" i gave him when we did it, and promptly forgot it. shoots VERY sub-inch, btw. Was just talking to him tonight about it, and "gently" reminded him the chrono said 2285ish NOT 2385

nice gun, hell on wells, mikes and yours.. he's got the richards microfit in redwood.. I give him shit that it's "pink"
jeffe

Jeffe,
I have the Quality Cartridge brass too, and is almost identical to the Remington 458 brass necked down, in case capacity.

If your friend is still in the high 60's with RL-15, he has room for more velocity, surely.

Stainless and plastic for Alaska, or anywhere else. But blued chrome-moly and walnut is so sweet for Africa, eh?

I have hunted Alaska enough to know that stainless and plastic is sweeter there.

BTW, some gray duct tape on the muzzle might look better than black vinyl, eh?

The 26" barrel unwieldy in the bush?

HORSE FEATHERS!

Just ask Ray when he gets back.

[ 12-29-2002, 08:47: Message edited by: DaggaRon ]

I wonder how many plastic milk jugs went into this stock? Hey, it works fine here.

Dagga,

that is an awsome looking rig. Very practical wet weather thumper.

I agree the 26" barrel would be fine in the bush and be better for off hand shooting. My long cz 25" barrels are fine and they swing just right. I doubt 4" makes any difference to handling in real life. I think infact it may aid the shooter more than hinder them.

Ron,

It is tastefully done. It is just pain cool to put a custom rifle together with some customized factory components. The end result would be to have a truly unique and inexpensive custom rifle that you can be proud of it while other people are impressed by it. Now you got me thinking about a 416 Taylor. Is this the same gunsmith who built your other big bores? I will have to give him a call one of these days. It is good to see pictures of some of your rifles. Best wishes for 2003 my friend!

PC,
I see you have good sense. Thanks, fair dinkum.

Ming,
I think this rifle is the most efficient, rugged, and practical hunting rifle anyone could ask for, thanks, fair dinkum.

Kevin Jenkins has been busy getting involved with a high dollar custom rifle outfit and ammo supplier to elite US government agencies. If you want his contact telephone number, send me an e-mail.

Jeeze Ron you've got it arse about
The correct way of saying it is:
"Fair dinkum PC, I see you have good sense, thanks." OR
"I see you have good sense PC, fair dinkum..... thanks"

Fair dinkum, you'd better get it right before you come down here, or we'll laugh at you,

Bakes

So I am fair dinkum bassackwards,eh? I will try to do better, Tony. To much laughter could spoil the fair dinkum stalk in the paddocks and billabongs.

Uh, what is a "billabong?"

Is a "grassie" a rabbit?

Or make him drink VB stubbies till he passes out

Dagga,

a grassy is a roo, and your .416 taylor loaded with soft taipans would be the ducks nuts for roo's

Ron

When an Aussie says 'Fair Dinkum' it is the same as an American saying 'Trust Me'

Nice rifle and very practical, even though it is not a proper caliber.

I am not familiar with the Ruger stocks. Are they better than the POS ones Winchester uses?

Hi Mikey1
Fair dinkum means "no bullshit".
Or if more politically correct then it means "I am speaking the truth"
Bakes has the correct usage for the term.

Hi Ron
Nice rifle.
A billabong is where the Yowie lives.
A billabong is a waterhole that occurs naturally as opposed to a manmade waterhole.
A yowie is an Aussie relative of Bigfoot.

Regards
Deafdog

A yowie is an Aussie relative of Bigfoot.

Aye lad and it has BIG nashing teeth

Bakes

Yowies are pussies. Its the drop bears that will get ya every time.....especially those that have been on the rum

Thats about the 416 I am working on now but I think I'll have a 23 in barrel put on and no sites. But other wise she looks just fine.

DaggaRon,

Thanks for the expanation on the scope caps. Does shooting with them on the scope change the point of impact?

I have used black electrical, duct tape, finger cots and even some vinyl muzzle covers that somebody gave me to keep the precip out.

jim dodd

Mickey,
'Fraid the new Ruger synthetic is the same sort of POS as the Winchester. It works for a weatherproof handle, and that is all. I actually prefer the plastic stocks to the veneer laminates.
A McMillan or real wood is the ticket. This plastic stock is a beater that will get hunted, and serve well.

Jim,
They keep the scope lenses clean of dust, etc. I try to get them on all my scopes. Pop them open and shoot, they will not affect the POI. I sight in with them on the gun. They stay on the scope in the safe too, between trips to the range, during cleaning etc. No scope is complete without these.

pdogshooter,
You show good judgement too, eh?

G'day to all me mates down under, and thanks for the slang lessons.

This 416 Taylor is a fair dinkum hunting rifle.

I might just have to get some nice wood for this one, just for show boating. It will go back into fiberglass or plastic to hunt, unless it is one of those gentlemanly safaris in Africa, where wood will do just fine.

HI,

DAGGARON, I like that gun looks great for bears in Alaska. I also like that big black rug what did it dress out at?. Thanks,Kev

Kev,
It was about a 350 pounder, measuring 6 feet 4 inches (squared hide). I was dropped off at the mouth of a bay, walked in alone, spotted and shot the bear with a 375 H&H at 200 yards, one shot, 250 grain Sierra GameKing, it dropped dead, I skinned it and packed it out, and got picked up by the skiff that took me back to the 40 foot cruiser.

The day before I had accompanied two fellow hunters who killed a 600+ pounder that was well over 7 feet square. That was a big black bear, fattened by salmon. I helped skin that one too.

Black bears were like varmints, no closed season, three tags per hunter per year, then, in that area, Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Dagga,
Don't know if you are interested in some Cordova news (Seems like you lived there for awhile?), at any rate, it looks like the Million Dollar Bridge is going to be raised this spring and put back into service.

Just thought you might like to know.
YJ

Yukon Jack,

That is good to know! The isolationists of Cordova have lost out to progress. Now there will be a road into Cordova ... eventually hooked up to the rest of the world. All kinds of riff-raff will be able to get to Cordova without a boat or aeroplane. There goes the neighborhood!

Who knows, maybe they will even be allowing a Subway franchise sandwich shop there someday? Horrors!

I hope to fly into Cordova in May for a reconnoiter of sorts. Thanks for the warning!

Well, admittedly, it's a road to nowhere without an extension if they just raise the bridge, but right now that is all that has been proposed (and money allotted for). Over the past several years, as I'm sure you are aware, many routes have been studied, surveyed and analyzed into oblivion. Looks like after the landslide near Woods Canyon (yeah I was there for that one), the Cordova to Chitina route has effectively been scratched (of course they are still trying to study a trail system through there, though). Looks like a route up the Tasnuna or Tiekel may be the most efficient route now for a road. However, from about Mile 38 all the way through Miles Lake, Allen Glacier, Abercombie Rapids, up to Cleave Creek is owned by Native Corporations now, though there is a road easement. Participation from those corporations would be required before the road comes to pass. At any rate, just thought you might like to know.