Shot my Dakota 416 Hoffman from the Bench today.

I tried 2 different loads:

400 gr Swift A Frame, 78 grs Rel 15, Fed 215 - 2" groups.

400 gr Swift A Frame, 79 grs Rel 15, Fed 215 - 3.5" groups.

They both were seated right on the cannelure.

I'm amazed 1 gr difference in powder results in such a difference in group size. I have to say I was a little didapointed in the results, my 375 Win 70 turns in about 3/4" with 300 gr A Frame and 79 grs of Rel 19.

I'm curious if anyone has a load suitable for a 400 gr bullet they could recommend. I'm partial to the A Frame.

Thanks

Jim

Your particality is the source of your problem perhaps..The A frames are not famous for accuracy, but 2"s is good enough to kill a Buff at average range...

Start with your load, perhaps working up a bit more with the RL-15 and try a 400 gr. Nosler, that new 416 cal. 400 gr. gr. beefed up Nosler is the finest soft point bullet I have ever used in any caliber on Cape Buffalo. I shot a number of buff with it in the 416 Rem at 2400 FPS..My load was 78 grs. of RL-15..Your Hoffman has a bit more powder room than the Remington, but just a change of bullet may do the trick, can't hurt.

If the RL-15/400 gr. Nosler doesn't close up the group then go to the old standby IMR-4064

Thanks Ray, I'll try the Noslers. I met with you in January in Dallas and want to book a Buffalo hunt next summer/fall with Pierre.

Jim

Here are a few loads for this one.

416 Hoffman

gal,
We can sure handle that for you...We'll be in Dallas again this year and also in Houston..If Saeed doesn't get us tromped, chewed or turn Walter loose on us....

Jack Carter, founder of Trophy Bonded Bullets, gave me this load for my .416 Hoffman, telling me it is a 'real killing machine'. It was a 400 grain Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, 81.0 grains of Reloader 15 and a Federal 215 magnum primer. In my .416, that gave me 2,510 fps.

Jack was right, it is a fabulous killer that, for a big bore, is also relatively flat shooting.

those are great bullets especially for broadside shots, they expand greatly, kill quickly and come to rest on the off side skin most of the time..

I prefer to slow them down to 2350 to 2400 FPS with 78 grs of the same RL-15 and get a little more penetration and more exit holes for better blood trails, but just my take on that..