Hi All. Can you please name some lower priced .416
caliber bullets from 300 - 410 grains for paper target
practice?
Thank you,

You need to discover the joys of shooting cast bullets in the big bores even if you do not cast them yourself, at least buy some and try.

With lighter loads they are a real pleasure to shoot and easy on cases, gun and the pocket. A great way to get far more use out of a big bore on paper than you ever will shooting full power jacketed.

I loaded up at Midway when they had a blem sale, dirt cheap 400 grain bullets. I didn't even own a 416 at the time.
Just watch for sales.

I resize a bunch of .429 300gr jacket pistol bullets worked well then I lucked into a bunch of Barnes 416 bullets cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by eagle27:
You need to discover the joys of shooting cast bullets in the big bores even if you do not cast them yourself, at least buy some and try.

With lighter loads they are a real pleasure to shoot and easy on cases, gun and the pocket. A great way to get far more use out of a big bore on paper than you ever will shooting full power jacketed.

Yes indeed! I load the RCBS 350 grain cast bullet ahead of 30 grains of Trail Boss. This load does around 1,250 fps and nothing will hold that bullet.

Eagle,
I will indeed be getting a mold to cast my own, most certainly!!!!!
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P D S,

I don't know how yet, to resize .429 pistol bullets down to .416 caliber.

quote:

Originally posted by D R Hunter:
I will indeed be getting a mold to cast my own, most certainly!!!!!
I don't know how yet, to resize .429 pistol bullets down to .416 caliber.

I would not recommend trying that. The difference in diameters will result in you collapsing the lube groove to the point it will not hold sufficient lube for you to shoot without severe leading.

Go to Accurate Molds and take a look at what Tom offers. I think you will be impressed...

I am having lots of fun with Beartooth Bullets

335 gr LFNGC
https://beartoothbullets.com

also had a bunch coming in .459 for my 458 B&M SS


these are inexpensive bullets and I have a ton of fun with them on Hogs and varmints.

P D S,

I think you meant you resized .429 pistol bullets down to .416 caliber.
Am I Correct?

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I resize a bunch of 329 300gr jacket pistol bullets worked well...

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MS Hitman,

Seems NO One has Trail Boss in stock that I can find.

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Snellstrom,
Blem sales are surely a great way to save $$$
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Doubless,

I appreciated your words of caution very much!!!
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S Russell,

Thanks for the beartoothbullets.com site info!
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D R Hunter

I am shooting Sierra 300gn jacketed, flat point bullets in my 404 Jeffery. You have to size them down from .429 diameter to .424 diameter. You do this with a die and punch available from Lee Engineering. You need to have a "beefy" press with a good amount of leverage and Imperial Die Sizing Lube to get the job done. You are only reducing the diameter .005 but it takes some effort to do so. In my rifle I have to seat the bullets a little deeper than the canulere in order get the bolt to close as the rather blunt ogive of the bullet engages the rifling resulting in closing the bolt has to seat the bullet deeper.

I did get a mold from Accurate Molds in a 400gn spitzer, gas checked bullet with a small flat point. The mold I got was an iron one and it casts a "bitchin" bullet. I have not been able to shoot the bullets yet as I am waiting on the sizing die that will be delivered next week from a fellow in California. His name escapes me right now but, he is recommended by Accurate Molds. Gas checks. I am told that you can use the gas checks intended for a 44 mag. I have some on hand and I will know for sure when my sizing die arrives and I can install them on my cast bullets.

Other than stated above, the cheapest, and they are not cheap by any means, is the Swift A Frame bullets.

Tenga cuidado,

Hoot

I just looked up the fellow's name who does the sizing die for the 404 Jeffery. He is:

Richard Tunell
501 Lime St.
Redlands CA 92374-5313

I might add that I started this whole endeavor about two weeks ago. I got the mold within a week so they must have them on hand. The die will be here Monday according to the USPS notification. Richard delivers the dies quickly.

I forgot to mention the load for the Sierra 300 gn bullet. I use 35 gns of A 5744. I have no idea what the velocity is, but I will know Monday as I loaded up some to take to the range and chronograph the load. I contacted Accurate Powders for a load with their 5744 powder with the 400 gr cast bullets. Their recommendation was to start at 35 gn not to exceed 43 gns. The velocity with the 43 gn load should be about 1700 fps. I chose the 35 gn load with the 300 Sierra Bullet as I was not interested in high velocity to punch holes in paper from shooting sticks. Because the Sierra bullet is intended for revolver shooting, I did not want to have high velocity that might have the jacket shed from the core. I don't know how thick the jacket is and I am sure that there is probably some slight damage to the bullet resulting from the sizing down .005. Is this a valid concern, hell I don't know, but the bullets I have shot, shoot well and group fairly well at 50 yards.

Tenga cuidado,

Hoot

DRH
one of my biggest regrets is that i did not start casting bullets earlier....i spent thousnds upon thousnds of $$$$$ on proj plus worn barrels
i now cast for my 416 and 375 Ruger and 06 and the fun of shooting a 400 gn 416 cast @ 1500 fps has to be experienced to be understood

give it a go and you will never look back

just a bit of advice.....give your mould maker correct throat dimensions...helps with accuracey

Daniel

Hornady makes 0.416" gas checks. No need to size down 0.429" ones.

The RCBS bullet has a good me plat on it. I may try to find a mold weighing 400 grains with the round nose profile.

quote:

I don't know how yet, to resize .429 pistol bullets down to .416 caliber.

I took a lee 410 push through sizing die polished it out to 416 put the die into my biggest press and shove the 429 jacketed pistol bullet through it. Put a little lube on them makes it easier.

Very simple and they worked well one hole groups and they kill deer very well even at 2650fps.

quote:

would not recommend trying that. The difference in diameters will result in you collapsing the lube groove to the point it will not hold sufficient lube for you to shoot without severe leading

I also resized 429 315 hard cast down to 416 and shoot them at around a thousand fps without any trouble never had any leading at that velocity.

I thank all you fellows for your fine input to my question!!!

(Tenga cuidado - You Bet I'll Be Careful!!!)

It's a shame that Hornady stopped production of the 400 gr Interlock. I've shot lots of them blasting and they were a fine hunting bullet also. I have shot even more of the 350 gr Speer Hot Core 416 bullets. 3 or 4 times as.many. they were affordable and also a very good hunting bullet for anything in Alaska.