quote:

Originally posted by michael458:
Well for those of you that are scared of the lighter guns then by all means carry one that weighs 13 lbs and be done with it!

I will take the lighter ones, thank you very much!

Thanks Will, as always!

Y'all have fun toting those big heavy guns, believe me I have done so for many years and many a damn mile. While in the field I won't have any part of someone carrying my rifle for me either, although I have wished many times someone would have.

Thanks
Michael

.

X2 .
I think I would put a brake on a 6 1/2 lb 458 tho ... I have one on my 458 and it is about 8 lbs with out the brake or scope .....But I have had some pretty major whiplash injuries also so getting a gun headache isn,t much fun anymore ..... I will have the muzzle slotted when I get a 416 Ruger .....Just makes things funner for me ....

Have you tried the 300 gr Barnes TSX in your 416 B&M ,??? For Alaskan general purpose use, it would be pretty ideal .....It should zip out the muzzle of the 416 Ruger @ 2800-2900 fps ..........

Hey Gum
I have tried the 300 Barnes X with great effect, and you are 100% correct, it would be perfect for Alaska. In the 416 B&M I can get 2700 and change with it, more than plenty. Can't say what the Ruger might do. I have used the 350 Barnes, and 350 Swift lately, and again that had been a big winner too, at 2450 fps.

Michael

In all reality it is hard to beat the 350 gr weight in the 416 s.. A friend who uses a Taylor for bear guiding has up ended a few big bear fleeing the 300 wonder guns ... Upside down with feet in the air , using 350 gr X bullets and 350 gr Speer Hot Cores @2350 fps .. His has an 18 " barrel ,but weighs a ton , well 9 lbs or more .......... My custom Rem mag is over 10 lbs but it is purpose built and is very gentle to shoot ...... The new 416 Ruger will be a dandy ,, I may retire my 458 when it comes out ...........
Well , maybe not . just reserve it for the more extreme situation ..

Gumboot

In the "short" 416s the 350s do a great job, still have good sectional density, good weight, and good velocity. I used a 350 Swift/350 Barnes for buffalo last year. This year my boys used the 350 Barnes X on Kudu, oryx, wildebeast and a few other things to great effect.

With my experience with my 416, I also thing the 416 Ruger will be great for the masses!

As stated before I have a 458 B&M Win M70 Ultimate, stainless, 18 inch barrel--100% equal to 458 Winchester with 24 inches of barrel. This thing at 6.5 lbs is a little wonder gun to carry, with 350 Barnes X at 2400 fps is a near perfect Alaska gun too. I carried it in Alaska as second gun in September and what a pleasure. I am taking it to Russia in January too. Now I do admit, as I have before, start pushing 500s down this thing at 2100-2130 fps you start to notice it, but with the 450s it tames down some. And of course 400s and 350s are fine.

The 416 Ruger is a fine idea and will be a good rifle/cartridge.

All the guides and PH's that I have hunted with the last 3 yrs with my little short/light rifles all ask the same question. Why am I carrying this (meaning their long/heavies) when I could be carrying this (meaning one of mine)? To a man! Problem with my stuff for those guys is getting it in country, loading for it and those sort of things. Of course they carry far more than they shoot, but if they have to shoot they need enough bang to sort the job at hand out. The B&M series does that---so will the 416 Ruger if one decides on 416 caliber.

Michael

michael458,
For posterity sake, wildcatting lore, what does "B&M" stand for?

B And M = BAM!
.458 BAM!
.416 BAM!
500 BAM! BAM!: powerful little cartridge

Hey RIP
I trust all had a wonderful Thanksgiving? I have been out of town for the weekend, so sorry for not getting back to this sooner.

The B&M--The "B" is a life long friend of mine that inspired me with a phone call, one of our several weekly conversations. He wanted a 500 S&W in a lever gun (most of us do), I told him he could not have it because a 94 was a bit small and the 1895 and 1886 a bit too big to make an easy job of it. While stating this I happened to notice a 338 WSM that I was playing with and it looked about right for .500 caliber bullets right below the shoulder. Quick work with a hacksaw, little trimming, and stuffed .500 caliber bullets in it like a charm, 50 B&M Super Short! Then I discovered a WSSM Winchester Action-the rest is history. His name is Billy Bruton--I am Michael McCourry--so B&M either last or first name, makes no difference either way. The 50 B&M Long--458 B&M--and 416 Followed-from RUM brass and WSM actions, then I had to have a .500 in a lever gun, so I squeezed the 50 Alaskan down to .500--50 B&M Alaskan. All this from one 30 minute conversation, I keep telling him how much he cost me over that little talk on the phone that night! He is not much of a handloader, great shooter, and life long friend so I give him the "B" for the inspiration, I was left with the hard work and the costs! Heh! But it has been great fun, and I actually came up with some good things that are now proving themselves in the field, by myself and others. Nothing like it in the world, but that is preaching to the choir here, eh?

Now I find myself working on a few other things.

Michael

Michael,
WHAM BAM and B&M forever!
I understand.
Thanks!
Ron "Rip" Berry