Just wanted to say that I shot my 4 sample .416-370 grain North Fork CPS at the range today.

The 4 shot group was just under an inch, but I was not using sandbags - just my elbows on the table. I suspect they'll shoot very well after load development.

I was using RP brass, 3.57 OAL, 73 grains IMR4895, WLR primers, Lee Factory crimped. I did not get a velocity as my chronograph would not work.

I actually got out the calipers and measured the group. Outside-to-Outside measures 1.032, meaning the extreme spread is 0.616.

I was going to get some RL-15, since everybody says it's best for the 416, but I may stick with the 4895. It worked fine my last trip to Africa. Why mess with a Good Thing?

Good results Don !! You Americans are lucky you have a better range of bullets than we do here in Oz.

I really want to try some GS 330 gr HV's .416 bullets.

Thats good shooting not off Bags for a big gun !!

Thanks, PC, but I was using a Pussy Pad (Past Magnum) since I learned years ago that the 416 punishes me off the bench.

I never notice it offhand or while hunting, but I do off the bench. To prevent developing a flinch I got the pad.

One thing I forgot to mention about the North Fork CPS is that I had no fouling at all after the 4 rounds.

I can't wait to load up the full order I got on Friday!

quote:

Originally posted by Don_G:
I actually got out the calipers and measured the group. Outside-to-Outside measures 1.032, meaning the extreme spread is 0.616.

I was going to get some RL-15, since everybody says it's best for the 416, but I may stick with the 4895. It worked fine my last trip to Africa. Why mess with a Good Thing?

Sounds to me like you just made REAL short work of your load development! You certainly don't need to waste those good bullets and more powder on trying to improve on a group in the 6's! But I expect you probably will.

Cheers,
Canuck

Don,

what is the purpose of the cup point?

I'm just curious because a sharp edged cup
is the form adopted by virtually everyone
for use in Armor-Piercing naval artillery shells.

Yeah, I know they look like "bullets" but most of the shape of those big naval bullets is actually an aluminum "nosecone" that serves much the same purpose as the aluminum nose on a Hornady 50cal A-Max

Is this bullet supposed to resist glancing off of bone?

Just curious...
(and leaving you a mile wide opening to talk about it

AllanD

Allan,

I think the cup has nothing to do with armor piercing - it's just the only version of "hollow point" that works with copper solids. (Some hunters would like that, though!) The bullet is rounded on the outer edge of the meplat and has a 90 degree corner where the cup starts.

The meplat is about .340 diameter and the cup about .250 diameter on my 416s.

It allows controlled expansion to about 1.4 diameter, giving it more expansion than a solid and about half the frontal area of a Swift or NF soft or other quality soft. (The expansion essentially stops when the bottom of the cup is reached.

True softs in 416 do not reliably exit on cape buffalo - the hide stops them on the far side even if no major bone is hit.

The cups go right on through on broadside shots, but leave a big wound channel.

Here's some talk on the subject. My post has links to pics that explain a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:

Sounds to me like you just made REAL short work of your load development! You certainly don't need to waste those good bullets and more powder on trying to improve on a group in the 6's! But I expect you probably will.

Cheers,
Canuck

Canuck, you know I can't leave well enough alone! The new barrel is a joy to shoot - no copper fouling with the NF bullets, and only very light fouling with the 350 gr Speers that I am breaking the barrel in with.

If I get brave I may try my cast bullets, but I am fearful of starting fouling problems. It's sure a lot cheaper to practice offhand with cast bullets than even the thirty cent Speers.

I shot about 40 rounds on Saturday - most of the time was spent on the scope setup and cleaning routine.

I'd forgotten how much fun it is to shoot that 416. I just wish they hadn't closed my good rifle range. Now I drive 30 minutes to get to a 100 yard range.