I have just picked up some 435 gr, cast, gas checked bullets in 417 cal. Does anyone have any suggestions for a suitable (practice) load for a 416 Rigby? I plan on also using this in my 500/416, but I can develop loads for that based on the 416 Rigby.
Thanks, Peter.

Peter,
for my 500 jeffe, i used the starting loads for X powder for about the same weight cast... you'll wanna keep it under 2200.

jeffe

Peter: Check for data on the Accurate Arms site. In my Ruger No. 1, I used 52 grains XMP 5744, Fed. 215, Norma brass and the RCBS 350-grain gas-checked bullet and got groups just over an inch at 100 yards and about 2,000 fps. Very pleasant to shoot and lots of fun.

Have begun to play with cast 400 gr NEI's in the Rigby. Projectiles are from The Bull Shop. Rifle is a fully bedded CZ from Heritage Arms. Shoots less than an inch w 350 Barnes X's.

First cast load is 105 gr or 8700 with a Fed 215 primer.

Load is substantial, but not hot. Good for practice in that it isn't a mouse load, but doesn't lead the bbl up. Grouping abt 1.5" at 100 yds. Probably about as fast as one would care to push a lead bullet.

Does a fantastic job on gallon water jugs at 100. Generates plumes as much as 40 feet in the air!

Tom Kessel indicated he had used 100 grains of 8700 and it too was OK.

Same bullet with 95 gr H4831 was shooting patterns even at 50 yards. No good!

Finally got some XMR 5744 and will also try it.

Good luck,

Well, I am going to repond to my own thread! After wasting much time looking for AA XMP5744, I gave up and went to the burning rate charts, looking for powders that I had, that had rates similar to XMP5744. I found quite a few, including VV N130, VV N133, IMR 1498 etc. Having a supply of VV N130, I decided on that. The AA book showed a max load of 55grains for XMP5744, so I reduced it by 10% to 50 grains. I reduced it futher to 45 grains as I was using a 435 gr. bullet as opposed to a 350 gr, bullet. As my wife is into quilting, I had a supply of "filler". A couple of rounds of 416 Rigby at 45 grains N130 gave velocities in the low 1600 fps range. I had one round that I forgot to put the filler in, and this gave upper 1500's, but otherwise no obvious adverse effects. I also loaded up 2 rounds at 45 gr. and 2 rounds at 48 grs. for my 500/416 double. The 45 loads gave me low 1600's again, while the 48 grs. gave right around 1700fps. This will be my practice load for the double. Not a wimpy load by any means, but a good practice load for "paper plate" shooting and relaoding practice.
The extra effort for the filler was minimal.
peter.