The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Norma factory 416 Rigby ammo velocityGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Has anybody ever measured the velocity of the Norma factory 416 Rigby ammo with the 400 grain Swift A-Frame bullet? If so, what did you get? _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | ||
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Wink, Not just yet but I will... I meant to test them in my Ruger last week but my range was undergoing some work and I could not shoot. I plan to use them for Buffalo next year but will probably eventually reload my own (Norma brass, Swift 400 AF, probably H4831SC) due to their high cost. I'll post my results as soon as I finish the test. Paul "Diligentia - Vis - Celeritas" NRA Benefactor Member Member DRSS | |||
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if you measure the velocity of the Norma factory loads......don't be surprised if the achieved velocity is not quite the announced speed..... Here over in Europe Norma (as well as BLASER CDP) is known to be one of the companies that is most optimistic regarding real life velocity ;-) | |||
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Paul, by all means let us know the results. I am guessing you are going to get closer to 2,300 fps than 2,400 fps but that is what I am trying to find out. _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | |||
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I look forward to hearing the Norma .416 Rigby velocity as well. Regards, Dave | |||
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Me too! It sure worked well on my one and only Buffalo shot last month. On the shoulder at 50 yds.,lurched up and forward, then fell and didn't get back up. ............................................. | |||
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Hmmm, looks like you better get to the range, Paul. You might need some help in testing that ammo. Who could we get to assist?.... _____________________________________________________ No safe queens! | |||
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AR Colleagues, Apologies for the delay but I finally got to the range to today to do some testing on my Ruger Rigby. I tested some handloads and the Norma factory ammunition with 400 grain Swift referenced above. Here are my results: Date fired: 20 September 2007 Rifle: Ruger Model 77 RSM, 23†barrel, about 20 rounds through to date, Leupold 1.5-5 VXIII with heavy duplex Range set up and conditions: Tested on Caldwell Lead Sled, total weight 35 lbs, all tests at 100 yards. Temperature 76 degrees F, 76% humidity, average wind speed approximately 0.5 mph, clear sky bright sun. Oehler model 35 chronograph, 4’ screen spacing, 10’ muzzle to start screen distance Factory ammunition: Norma 416 Rigby loaded with 400 grain Swift A Frame, lot #09606 Results: Fired 5 shots, allowing the barrel to cool approximately 2 minutes between shots. Shot string = 2349, 2306, 2299, 2314, 2294 feet per second Analysis: High: 2349 fps Low: 2294 fps Extreme Spread: 55 fps Average: 2312 fps Standard Deviation: 21 fps Group size: 1.83†CTC, slight vertical stringing, four shots tight at 0.83†CTC Summary: Norma indicates a velocity of 2348 fps on the box (converted from meters per second). The average as tested was 36 fps lower and did not make the 2400 fps mark as predicted by our colleagues above. The ammunition was accurate and I may have pulled the fifth shot to open the group up (a bit punch drunk after firing 20 rounds previously) but certainly accurate enough for hunting. Thanks to Clayman for his very valuable assistance in the testing and input. My next steps are to work up a reload with either H4831SC or IMR7828SSC with the 400 grain A frames to try to achieve an accurate load that makes the 2400 fps level and use it on a Botswana buffalo hunt in June 2008. In our other testing today working up a “plinker†load with 400 grain Hornady FMJ Encapsulated, we found IMR 7828SSC to be more accurate overall than H4831SC in this limited test. Hope you find this useful information Thanks Paul "Diligentia - Vis - Celeritas" NRA Benefactor Member Member DRSS | |||
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excellent report! in my 416 with 23.5" barrel, 103 gr H4381 gives 2400 fps approx with great groups.
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Paul, Nicely done. Now we've got the average velocity (at least out of one rifle) for a factory load with Swift A-Frame bullets. A velocity easily matched by anyone handloading. I have a box of the Norma .416 Rigby with Barnes solids. I will test them in my CZ 550 and see what I get. _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | |||
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Good work Paul. I like the Rigby at 2350 FPS. It's an easy shooting cartridge at that velocity. To me there is a noticeable difference in recoil when velocity is increased to 2450 FPS. Over 2450, I just don't enjoy shooting my 416. ______________________________ "Truth is the daughter of time." Francis Bacon | |||
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I have shot the Rigby at 2700 FPS plus and the 404 at 2600 FPS plus in good strong rifles and they are no pleasure to shoot at that velocity..2350 to 2400 is just fine with me. The Rigby is basically a 416 Wby with no belt. It can be an awesome force. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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This discussion leads me to tell of my .416 Newton, I use John Wootter's reloading data for the .416 Taylor... The .416 Newton is quite similar, except slightly more volume, larger shoulder diameter, but of course, an unbelted case. I size .375 Ruger cases in the .416 Newton die, then trim 'em up shorter. And the .416 Taylor reloading data works just fine. I can get 2400 fps with the 400 gr. bullet using 73.5 gr. of IMR4320 in my 22 inch barrel. I think I can reach 2550 fps with 350 gr. bullets, but haven't experimented enough to say so yet. The 350 gr bullet is fine for all except when the heaviest penetration is wanted on the heavies in Africa. Its an interesting cartridge & will equal .416 Rigby factory loads, no problem. The .416 Newton is easily made by using .35 Newton Brass run through a .416 Newton die...but .35 Newton brass is not a current product, until Marc Jamison makes it as he has said he will do in the future. So, until then...I'm reluctant to use my vintage (read "old") .35 Newton Brass...and use instead the .375 Ruger Brass which works easily & is a strong case too. Best Regards, Tom from Cody | |||
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The best results with the .416 Rigby and 400 grs. A-Frames out of my CZ550 Safari Magnum I got with MRP. 103 grs averaged with 2490 fps, OAL was 3.740" That's plenty power, a little less would do also, although it is within the maximum pressure level, it is not really fun to shoot several rounds in a non-hunting - situation but during hunting you do not feel the recoil. | |||
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I like the .416 Rigby pushing a 350 Barnes X or TSX to a chrono'd 2700 fps. Recoil is positive but not insane, trajectory is flat, penetration is excellent, and pressure seems mild. I think I'd not enjoy pulling the trigger on a 400 grain round loaded to deliver 2700 fps! Mike -------------- DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ... Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com | |||
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At that level, you're basically touching off a 416 Wby, so you know recoil will be a little stiffer. The nice thing is, while we (Paul Reed) and I were testing these loads, recoil wasn't really that much of an issue. We were using a lead sled to take much of the recoil away, but even offhand loads w/ 400gr bullets at 2400+ FPS isn't insane. I wish I knew how to post videos. We made a nice one of us shooting the Ribgy at the range a while back. It really illustrates how controllable the round is if the shooter does his/her part. _____________________________________________________ No safe queens! | |||
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Just back from the range where I measured the velocity of Norma .416 Rigby ammo with the 400 grain Barnes Solid, item number 11050 according to the box. Inside one flap on the box is the stamped number 07203 and then a smudge. I don't know if this is the lot number, that is what I assume. Rifle was a factory CZ 550 barreled action in a MacMillan stock. Barrel length is approximately 62 cm measured from the front of the receiver. Chrono was at around 20 feet since there is an overhang at my range which forces one to set it out in order to get enough light. I shot 4 rounds: 1st shot: 2208 fps 2nd shot: 2180 fps 3rd shot: 2216 fps 4th shot: 2212 fps for an average of 2203 fps. I don't know how much difference the distance to the chrono makes (as opposed to 7 feet from the muzzle), but this is a rather slow factory round. I would love to hear from others who may have measured the velocity of this cartridge to compare results. _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | |||
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I have an Outdoor Life from January 1970. In it, Jack O'Connor speaking of his .416 Rigby states: "For 'solids' I had a supply of British ammunition loaded with the famous steel-jacketed Rigby bullet. All of my cartridges with expanding bullets were handloads. The 400-gr. Barnes softpoint bullet in front of 105 gr. of No. 4831 shoots to exactly the same point of impact at 100 yd. as the British solids. Velocity is 2,550 f.p.s. and energy 5,776 ft. lb." ............................................. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Norma factory 416 Rigby ammo velocity
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