?I am an unrepentant fan of short action bolt actions rifles for their quick easy handling and portability due to their light weight, compact size, and short bolt throws. I have recently been searching for a capable big game cartridge that would fit in one of the Mini-Mausers. I had all but resigned to chambering one for one of the handgun silhouette cartridges as a woods companion
rifle and staying with my 600 as the shortest that could handle a true game cartridge. The catalysts that provided the inspiration to take the next step and design the .416 The Americas Stalker, or .416 TAS, were the .416 Beartooth of Mr. Stanton and Mr. Gates and the Brockman .50 Beowulf.

First I want all to know that I am an absolute beginner at cartridge design with limited applicable background, thus "Wildcats 101 and Ballistics 201" advice and information are both needed and welcome. I am posting a similar message on several forums to gain information and opinions. A first time designer is also, I hope, allowed the indulgence of using his initials in his cartridge's name: TAS for Todd Anthony Servaes. The Americas Stalker was also chosen because it is very descriptive of what I believe the round can do. Because with a good stalk, which is aided by the handling qualities and portability of the rifles ( with some pressure cautions the 336ER and 94BB
levers can also be chambered for it ) for which it was designed, the .416 TAS should prove very adequate to excellent for taking any game in the Americas.

The .416 TAS is based on the .240 Weatherby case cut to 1.850" and necked for .416 bullets. This case length is the longest that allows a cartridge overall length with the Beartooth 375 grain bullet that can fit the magazines of some of the Mini-Mausers without modification. The .240 Weatherby was chosen because of its' belt for head spacing this straight rimless case and because its' .473" head diameter is the largest any of these mini actions can handle well and without modification. A scaled drawing is attached. In short the .416 TAS can be thought of as a ninety percent scale .450 Marlin, since it is by measure or by weight essentially 9/10 the size and should provide 9/10 the performance, but will easily allow a twelve ounce lighter rifle wit only eighty-five percent of the recoil.

Thanks,
Todd, aka Fireplug

Welcome to the forum. What'cha going to hunt with this round? What kind of velocity are you expecting with the 325 grain bullet?

Good Hunting,

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Andy Cooper

Have you seen the new 416 Maverick cartridge by Lazzeroni? It's a short action 416 that throws a 400 grain bullet out at 2450 fps. I'm not sure if it's the right size for your project - I didn't measure it at SCI.

I've been thinking of using it in a pseudo-scout configuration brush and mountain rifle.

Even if you wanted to continue designing your own cartridge (go for it!), it might be fun to experiment with Lazzeroni's.

mfw

Andy Cooper,
Thanks for the welcome to the forum. My primary planed use for the .416 TAS is for wild pig and elk, but I think that within its' range limits it would be very suitable for any game in the Americas. The only caveat other than range is that it may be a stalker but not a stopper for the biggest bears. I am new at this so my velocity projection for the 375 grainer is a range of 1700 to 1900 fps rather than a number.

Mark F. Ward,
No, I had not seen the Maverick. The Maverick seems to be a transfer of the .416 Express idea from the short belted magnum case to the newer short unbelted magnum case. Both the Maverick and Express are much to large for the mini actions. They bring full size magnum performance to short actions where I am working to approximate .45/70 and .450 Marlin in a truly small bolt action. Thanks for the encouragement.

TAS

Update:
I am looking at the first ever ".416 The Americas Stalker" cases as I type.
TAS

Check out the 416 Howell. A shortened 404 Jeff, necked up, blown out. Impressive numbers.

I would recomend you stick with a short .458", as component bullets are available in a much larger selection, as well as more suitable for the velocities produced by such a round.

I really can't see building a 416 that won't at least be capable of 350 gr @ 2400 fps.

Fireplug,

You could also take a peek at the Heavy Express cartridges. They are built on the .348 Winchester case with the rim turned off and shortened -- Winchester knocked off the .300 version for their .300 WSM.

The .416/350 grain load starts out at 2,700 fps.

jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

By not being as clear as I might have about a couple of points I caused some confusion about both the purpose of the .416 TAS and which actions I am building it for. The ".416 The Americas Stalker" is to be an adequately, but moderately, powerful close range big bore for American Game. Think a .45/70 specifically for bolt actions. The reason that it is a .416 and is based on the .240 Weatherby is that these are the largest cartridge and bore for that cartridge that will fit the mini actions. The cartridges suggested are more powerful and versatile, but they simply can not be used in these little actions which normally top out at the .22-250.

Fireplug