Looking for some info about this bullet. I just ordered a box of them for my Ruger No1 416 Rem Mag.

What has been their performance on game been like? I plan on using them on black bear this spring. Ranges should be 100 yards and in, max of 200 yards.

What loads have you tried? In the Barnes #2, they show RL15 & H4895 as the top velocity loads. I have these 2 on hand, as well as some Varget. Any preferance for powder in this weight of bullet? I was thinking that the faster 4895 could be the one to try first. My goal is 2800 fps.

Thanks in advance.

I have only had my .416 for a month now but I have a perpetual bruise on my shoulder as I have been testing so much ;-)

I have used Varget and RL-15 in my 416 Rem with a 22" barrel. I just tested both with R-P cases, Federal 215 M primers and 350 Barnes X bullets. I found that RL-15 is the powder to use with less than 400gr .416 projectiles. With 400 grainers Varget and RL-15 have done equally as well. I found that RL-15 edges out Varget for highest velocity with no pressure signs. I have gotten 2650+ with this setup. I would imagine the difference between these two powders would be even more pronounced with lighter projectiles. You should have little trouble achieving 2800 with the 300gr Barnes X especially with more barrel. When working up a new load, I have been starting with 78-79 grs of RL-15 and working up in half grain increments.

Good luck and please post your results.

...Catter

I can't tell how they shoot in the 416 Rem. but they work very well in my 416 Rigby. Over a heavy dose of R-19 for 2800+ fps killed two elk last season both one shot kills with immediate drop. Did not recover either bullet but you could stick your thumb in entry and exit holes. Both shots at 280 yards(killed both elk within a few feet of each other). Should work for anything on our side of the pond.

TWCracker

Thanks for the replies.

I think I will try H4895 first, as I have 1 lb of it, and it produced good velocity in the Barnes data. If I can't hit the broad side of a barn, I'll go with RL15. If that don't work, I'll go back to the 350 gr. Speers.

I will for sure post my group sizes and chronographed velocities. Just got to wait for the bullets to arrive!

If I want to shoot 300 gr. bullets I use a 375 or a 9.3....Why shoot a pitifully short bullet at high velocity in a 416, it looses velocity very quickly and you do give up a lot of penitration, in general you just deplete the reasoning behind the 416...I would not consider less than a 350 monolithic and a 400 gr. standard bullet in my 416. The difference in how flat a 416 will shoot between a 300 and a 350 will amaze you since the 350 will shoot flatter, at least in my gun...the 300 suffers from flutter factor...like throwing a Kleenex....

HI,

I agree with MR. Atkinson, I will be shooting a 416 rigby when I get it back from MR. Brockman. I look at the trajectory of the 300 X and the 350X and there is very little difference so I would go with the heavier bullet with a higher SD. Thanks,Kev

HI,

TODBARTELL,I am not saying I would not use it, I would. I have even heard very good things about the 300X and its effectiveness on game. I just think I would have added insurance with a heavier bullet. I would even hunt deer with a 350X if I had already work up a load for it nothing against the 300X as it seems to be a very good bullet.Thanks,Kev

I was just wanting to free up some velocity and stay with a bullet that will still probably shoot through a bear lengthwise. The 325 X is now discontinued, and the 350 X just seemed like too much bullet for my intended use. It has a higher BC, but I'm pretty sure it isn't as high as Barnes claim, as their X's have almost a small flatnose. Anyways, BC doesn't really matter much in a .416. I won't be shooting past 220 yards max, so I'll be fine. And I already have a deer rifle, so I only use my 416 on moose and black bear.

I'll let you guys know how the 300 X's shoot in my rifle.

Perhaps like many of you, I tried the 300gr. "X" bullet in my Rigby "just to see". I've found it quite reliable and effective when loaded to just above 2900 fps. To date I've taken three blacktails, seven impala, blesbok, caribou, a crocodile, and a Cape buffalo with the same load. Penetration was emphatically complete with chest shots. The brained lizard only twitched twice, and the buffalo ran forty yards with the top of his heart gone and the 200 grains of remaining bullet lodged in the muscle in the off shoulder. Yes, I recognize that losing one third of the bullet is commonly considered undesireable. However; the effectiveness of the shot/bullet is operationally proven. All chest shots were drop-in-the-tracks kills with one exception. That impala ran about sixty yards before realizing he was dead. Overall, I've found the Barnes 300 grain "X" provides a nice diversion for those interested in experimenting.

Inyati ,

Good to hear. I'm not exactly going after cape buffalo, but good to know in case I happen to cross paths with one!

BTW, my rifle made 2750 fps with the starting H4895 load in the Barnes #2. Group was alright, but not as good as it can do, I was shakin' like a dry leaf. P.S., Tested the accuracy some more, and it isn't very good. Good enough I guess for hunting shots inside 100 yards, but far from satisfaction.

[ 03-26-2003, 01:22: Message edited by: todbartell ]

Todbartell,
Welcome to the .416 Rem. Certainly one of north America,s most useful big bore.
I used the .416 with the 300 grain X for several years. Reloader 15 is as good as it gets.
I have tried all powders and nothing matches RL-15 for velocity and consistency. The 300g X is another story.
I had my .416 built after stepping on a sow grizzly and here large (I think yearling) cub in some very thick x-mas tree country. No shots were fired nor blood spilled but the.340wby. in my hands felt like a pea shooter. The .416 was built light (8Lbs.2oz. scoped) to suite my hunting style, and I chose the 300X to keep recoil down. It turns out there is not much difference in recoil with max loads between heavy and light bullets. The 300X has always performed well on game and as far as north American game goes penetration is not an issue ( I never recovered one). I did observe that the 300X didn't penetrate in as straight a line as I thought it could after hitting heavy bone, so I switched to the 350 grain X and have never looked Back.
Don't be Afraid of the 400g Nosler not expanding.
My friend shot a moose out of a rocking boat at 280 yards. Not surprisingly the shot went bad, hitting the moose above the spine. At the shot the moose tiped over. My buddy walked up to it and observed that the moose now had a HUGE gunsite in its back. No backbone or vitals were hit but that moose was stone cold dead.
I am an X-man but that 400 Nosler is no slouch!
Happy hunting!

I don't doubt the performance of the X, or any .416" bullet really. I tried the 300 X's, couldn't get them to group well. 3-4" groups. Figured I'd tinker during the summer, try RL15. So I loaded up some 400 gr. Hornady RNSP over H4895, and I'm getting good accuracy, and 2400 fps.

i am getting 2760 out of a 22" 416rem mod.70 with the 300gr x bullet, and good groups. it will hold up good i think because it,s all copper and it,s longer than a lead bullet. the only thing i don,t like is cleaning the copper out of the barrel.

Tod,
Sorry to stir you up, and no, the reason I don't like the 300 gr. bullet in a .416 is because I think it is too short, same with a 125 gr. 308 bullet for shooting big game..Has nothing to do with "because I don't use it, its wrong", I was just answering your question as I see it, if that offends then why did you ask, you apparantly had already made up your mind and only wanted agreement from everyone, I suppose...

I call them like I see them, your not required to agree with me, I don't care what you shoot, it has no effect on me what so ever...Again I am sorry you took my post as a condimnation of your decision, I thought you wanted everybodys opinnion...

Tod,
Not the Rem but know a guy who uses them in a 416 rigby. 2850fps for pigs, deer etc.
Most bigbores here never take anything larger than pigs and deer- x bullets are very common since they come in the lightest weights.

The way I see it for us bigbore fans.

1.We are going to take an oversized monster hunting(for whatever reason)
2. Any bullet from the monster will do the job.
3. So why hurt yourself with more reocil than need be.

Karl.