As I dont have any factory loaded cartridges to measure and no store handy carries it. I was hoping some of you that have factory loaded ammo could tell me there overall length.

If you could it would also help to know what bullet, and soft or solid.

Many Thanks

HBH

If you wait until I get home I can measure some Norma factory ammo with Barnes solids. The Norma tables recommend an overall length of 3.700" for the Woodleigh Weldcore SN.

Go to the Westley-Richards website and go to guns then go to ammo. They have loaded rounds photoed on a ruler that should give you a good starting place.

Maximum cartridge overall length is 3.750" Do have a specific need to know what lengths factory loads come in?

Wink,

Well, yes and no. I am just starting with the Rigby and lastnight I found that with Swifts AFrame in 400gr. that to have the case mouth at the crimping groove I end up at 3.630" . I do realize that I dont have to crimp at the groove, but just wondering about factory lengths.
The box on this rifle is 3.800" and that same length of cartridge doesn't touch the rifling.

Which makes me ask another question, is that typical of the 416 Rigby, or in this case the cz - 550 in 416 Rigby?

Many Thanks

HBH

The only factory ammo in .416 Rigby that I know of is Federal and Norma, if you don't count the designer loaders like A-Square, W. Romey and others. Norma loads the A-Frame (which they sometimes call a TXP I think) and Barnes solids. I have never purchased Federal cartridges in this caliber as they cost so much in France that you wonder if they can possible be worth it. In .416 some bullets may have been designed with a crimping groove more appropriate to the .416 Remington then the Rigby. In fact, I think Woodleigh even has two 416 bullets for just that reason. I would guess that 90% of the rifles in existence chambered for the 416 Rigby are Rugers and CZ 550's and were produced in the last ten years. So if you check the boxes on just two rifles you will know what the vast majority have. I have never done this. Nor have I measured the freebore. No doubt someone on this thread will chime in with this knowledge.

Wink,

Thanks for the quick reply. I spoke with Swift and was told that the .416, 400gr.bullets available to the public and those that Norma load for a soft in their 416 Rigby loading are one and the same with the canalure in the same position. As I am using new Norma brass I think that OAL of factory Norma would be close to what I measured, but I am not certain. I think you would be right that more .416 bullets are designed with the Rem. in mind more so than the Rigby.

Many Thanks
HBH

HBH: When I get home I can measure exactly, but suffice to say if you're using 400gr Swifts, crimp on the center of the cannelure and you'll be fine. I use 410gr old style Hornady solids and A Frames and both have significantly different OALs but they both shoot to the same POI with identical powder charges. jorge

The cartridges in my box of Norma factory loads with Barnes Solids measure between 3.632" and 3.635"

jorge,

That would be great if you get the chance to measure.
On the canelure(spellin?) is where I ended up last night. Lee requires an uncharged cartridge to fit for making a factory crimp die. When I spoke with a tech at Lee he said they want the cartridge at OAL, thus another reason for my questions. This Rigby is all new to me, just seems like there alot of room in the box for those big cartridges to move forward. Maybe that is a good thing in this round.

Many Thanks

HBH

Wink,

Thanks again! You posted when I was repling to jorge. I guess I am not far off then.

Many Thanks

HBH

HBH: A-Frame:3.610 ( about midway in the cannelure)
Hornady solid: 3.730 (all the way at the top of the cannelure)

Works fine in my Ruger RSM. jorge

jorge,

Thanks for taking the time to get the measurements for me.


Many Thanks

HBH