Today I inspected my recently ordered Winchester 416 Rem Mag at my local gunshop. I am now awaiting the required Police Permit to Acquire before taking delivery of it.

Here are my initial impressions :-

1. The stock is of reasonable quality, fits me well, but the fit of the recoil pad (pachmyer with Winchester written on it?) is avereage.

2. Open sights of piss poor quality, too high for me and the rear sight was loose and I could move it around with my fingers.

3. The bolt action although brand new was very smooth - much better than either Ruger`s or CZ and no doubt my smith will be able to improve this easily.

My plan is to shoot the rifle in and then take it to my local gunsmith for some decent open sights and a refit of the decellarator pad. I have no doubt it will end up being a good rifle.

I will fit a Leeupold 1-4x20 Vari2 and was wondering what sort of QR mounts are best on the Winnie?

Any advice/commments from you Winchester guys muchn appreciated!

I have become a big fan of the Leupold QRW, the quick release version of the old Weaver-style mounts. They appear to function well.

replace the pad with the pack f990, triple mag.

replace the sights with new england custom gun, have them screwed AND soldered on

jeffe

Congrats MLG !!

I want an M70 at some stage so keep us posted, how much was it mind me asking ??

The rear sights on my 416 Rem APR are too LOW...opposite problem. If one wants only iron sights, is there a peep that will go on the rear of the receiver?

peep sight?

oh yeah
http://www.aosights.com/

make SURE you measure the rear hole spacing... the early classics are pre-64 spacing, but I understand the new one's are...

jeffe

Will - thanks I will be looking at those QR mounts.

PC - $2200-00 Australian.

Jeffe - What is a pack f990 triple mag and where do you get them?

sure...

get em from brownells or midway

the pachmayr f-990 triple magnum recoil pad

Dave and Rob turned me on to them

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=9743&title=TRIPLE+MAGNUM+RECOIL+PADS

get it a tad longer and have your smith fit it... you'll thank dave for it

jeffe

Thanks Jeffe.

As soon as I get the rifle and figure out which size to buy I will get one - probably the large will do.

Looks like a good pad

MLG

Hi MLG,
You have to have a very large stock to require the large. They have the dimensions on the link Jeffe gave you. Just take them down and have them measure your stock and order one up. You will like the shootability it gives your rifle.
Take care,
Dave

Dave,

Yes I figured that after I made the last post. Went to the Winchester Web site to see if they had the dimensions but they do not so I will get them off the rifle in the next couple of days and then order one.

Thanks.

MLG

MLG -

Don't forget to try H4350 with 400 gr bullets. I know R15 is THE powder for the 416 Rem with all bullet weights, but with 400 grs you will find top velocities, low pressure and excellent consistency.

The neatest sight for a big bore is Wisners screw gizzie shallow V like on a few old M-70s combined with New Englands barrel band front with the adjustable set up...real slick with lots of adjustment, so you can use different loads.....

I also picked up a couple of bolt peeps made in So. Africa this year. Peirre brought them to me in Tanzania and they are real cute...very well made...

I picked up the same rifle at a gun shop closing here in North Carolina on Wed. I wasn't shopping for a 416 Remington as I have a buddy with a Remington that has had problems making 2400fps without pressure signs in the summer but at $600 new in the box I couldn't resist! I'm sure that with the right load 2400 with 400 gr bullets is possible and if not 2350 will do fine. I could always rechamber in 416 Hoffman ...
Jason

sharps54, I hate you.
[begin hate]

I'm a 911 dispatcher it's not like I make much money I have to take them where I can find them! My bud had to send his 700 in 416 back to Remington because the headspace was off and their fix might not have been perfect explaining his lack of ability to make velocity at acceptable pressures. I look forward to working some loads up for my Winchester. I will post the results as I get them. It may be a week or tow before I get to it.
Jason

sharps,

You obviously got a screaming deal on that gun . . . but don't worry about the round yielding 2400 fps in hot weather! I hunted with the published barnes maximum charges under x-bullets and solids in Zim with no pressure signs at all. It was 120 degrees at the time.

Best,

JohnTheGreek

if you like winchester powder, the hornady starting load of 760 is more than enough to get you started with your first rounds. just get some hornady sp's, seat em to the crimp, and start with the bottom load.

it's a ball
jeffe

I should be able to load some .416 Monday or Tuesday of next week and will see then. I am off Wendsday and Thursday so I will test them then and post the results then. I ordered both 350 Mag Tips and Hornady 400 Softpoints and will try both.
Jason