I just started reloading for my .416 Rigby and ran some test loads to work up to a maximum last night. I reached a max. load of 108 grains of RL22 behind a 400 Nosler Partition that went 2699fps from a 23" Ruger. Case head expansion was .0008, so that is about it. It still shot to point of aim (about 1/2 in. low) at 100 yards with the open sights. I don't think I will make this my everyday paper punching load though, somebody here said the recoil on the .416 was 'exhilarating' and it sure as hell was that. It's kind of like dating a nymphomaniac, fun but you just can't take that kind of abuse for a lifetime. I think I'll back down to about 105 grains and try the 370 North Fork next, this should give about 2650 and about 3 tons of muzzle energy. Hopefully that will catch the attention of a Tanzania buffalo!

jstevens,

Your post brought a smile!

I said exhilarating ... and you further interpreted what I meant with high clarity!

Finding a good practice load and one for NA hunting has been my goal. a 400 gr cast bullet from NEI molds with 100 to 105 grains of 8700 seems fine for the practice end of things. Is 1900 to 2000 fps, loud, and still delivers huge geysers from bottles of water at 100 yards.

The 350 Barnes X at 2687 fps is pretty comfortable to shoot, delivers 5600 fpe, has a nice flat trajectory, and demonstrates really spectacular geysers at 100 ;> Should be more than adequate for NA hunting.

Keep us informed!

90 pounds of recoil,@ 25 fps.

Somehow I don't think that's what Rigby had in mind when they designed the cartridge.

However, you and Roy Weatherby seem to think alike...

s

In my opinnion your running them to hot for African hunting and needlessly so..2400 is more than enough and you will never know the difference...neither will the Buffalo..

Thre is less chance of extraction problems, less chance of bullet integrity problems..Velocity in big bores is less important than in long range rifles, they kill my bullet cross section and mass and penitration...

For what its worth...

I don't think anyone seriously thought this was to be an everyday hunting load, I just had to see what the big case would do. I can't see any reason to not load a good bullet like the 370 North Fork to 2550-2600 though. By the way I am not too concerned about extraction in hot weather since it was 94 degrees the day I fired these, plenty hot and the cases fell out of the barrel even with the 108 grain RL22 load. As I said recoil was plenty rough, but was shootable in the heavy rifle.

Socrates- In your post you talk about Linebaugh's .45 Colt, I don't think that's what the originator of the Colt had in mind either. I know John Linebaugh (he's an old Missouri boy) and his are plenty hot too, when he moved to Wyoming, his Missouri loads blew some primers in the hot, dry air out West.

jstevens:

Been there, done that. I'm not talking from conjecture, but experience.

John L would be the first to tell you, if you can't get it done with lower pressure, go to a bigger caliber, and a bigger case.

Guy who got Linebaugh off the deep end, or was off the deep end himself, was Ross Seyfried, loading a 45 Linebaugh/colt to 1550, with a 345-360 grain bullet. 27.5 grains of H-110, IIRC.

Anyway, I shot some of those, and, like your 416,
well, lets just say they recoil at:

Recoil Energy of 51 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 36 fps, in my Seville. That's with 360's.

I also used to put a case of H-110, load 230 grain super hard ball, and plink away.

Only 36 pounds of recoil...

Anyway, we learned. Sevilles came back, broken after heavy loads, and I went down to moderate loads. 260's at 1450, and 325's at 1350.

PLENTY for anything but the great bears. If I move to Alaska, I'll buy a 475 or 500. Go with a bigger case, heavier bullet, lower pressures...

s

PS No mystery about what that big old case will do. Just look at the Roy WBY stats for the 416 and 460. Funny, the 416 WBY works to about the same exact velocity you got your gun to work too...

If you really want to do something cool, find a 500 grain bullet, and see what that puppy will do in a 416. Why? Because it's there!!!

[ 08-07-2003, 09:15: Message edited by: Socrates ]

so I guess what you're saying is that a .416 Rigby loaded to 2600 isn't what it was intended for, but a .45 Colt with 325 grain bullets at 1350 fps is what is was made for? As for pressure, I don't think these will even work in a Ruger .45 LC without one of Linebaugh's tight chambered cylinders, at least that's what he told me, not conjecture on my part. Also for some reason, I don't trust a lot of people who hide behind a fake name and address, or pay attention to their advice.

Whatever. If you where a school teacher in the communist country of Kalifornia, where a liberal-facist is behind every bush, you might use another name, and address.

You are right, and that's exactly what I have, 45 Linebaugh built on a Seville frame. #25 to be exact.

I'm not saying it isn't fun loading up to max loads. KNOCK YOURSELF OUT!!!

Is your ruger bolt action, or breach loading?

Speaking of ignoring advice, feel free to ignore Ray Atkinson, and anyone else here that's actually done what he's talking about. Ray loves the 416, and has forgot more then most will ever know about that round.

You can ignore mine, since I've only worked up to 375, and have no intention of detaching a Retina, or taking a beating like I did when I was boxing from a rifle.

My only point is that if you really want to get their attention, and use that case to it's fullest potential, get a 500 grain softpoint bullet. You should be able to get 460 WBY ballistics, and really nail any buffalo you are going to run into.

Barnes X are a good option, as well.

You are at that place where one can't say, go up to the next caliber, so you can work at lower pressure, unless you go to a 505 Gibbs, or BMG based round.

Ganyana is a member here, and he's another guy you shouldn't listen too.

http://african-hunter.com/a_guide_to_rifle_choice_-_part_iii.htm

I guess from his experience, you should be loading that 416 down to 375 levels, and make damn sure you hit exactly what you aim at...

s

PS Feel free to call John L, and tell him that pain in the ass from Kalifornia, that he wrote a book of information too, in the early 80's, before he would order a gun, is telling you how to load your Rigby.

You can also tell him my book on 45 Colt is almost done, and he'll get the first, autographed, copy.

He should be able to figure out who I am from that...

He should get a kick out of that.

[ 08-08-2003, 01:23: Message edited by: Socrates ]

I think the interest in velocity with big bores is due to misplaced faith in kenetic energy as a measure of effectiveness on big and dangerous game. In point of fact, ft-lbs are a poor measure for effectiveness on these animals because too much velocity WILL diminish effectiveness and drives the quantity of propellant up to the point where recoil is a limiting factor as well. The olny excuse for high velocity is for very long shots on big tough trophys, but then they are not "dangerous" 300 yards away.

Except possibly when using solids, a 416 Weatherby will penetrate LESS at 50 paces than a 416 Rigby or Remington, in spite of a big energy advantage. The advantage of the Weatherby is 200 yards out, after shedding some velocity.

My interest in the larger bores was strictly for use against the Woods Bison of the Northwest Territories. In that particualar environment, the range can easily stretch far beyond what would be normal for shooting dangerous game, and therefore a gain in flatness of trajectory was useful, in my estimation.

Starting with the .404, velocities around 2400 fps with the 400 RN worked very nicely, and 200-yard shots were relatively simple. This was my self-imposed range limit, by the way.

Lately, I find my #1 in .416 Rigby will drive a 300 X-bullet at 3000 fps, which is plenty "flat" enough for typical Western hunting. NO, the energy delivered by such a load is NOT needed, but if one favors his .416 rifle to the extent of wanting to use it on elk, for instance, then this Rigby load will reach wayyyyy out there. This is about the only reasonable excuse for such a load, and I'd happily use the original Rigby load on buffalo at shorter ranges. Besides, 300 @ 3000 just plain hurts!

Regards from Bren Mk1