I just started casting bullets last week. I don't know why I put it off so long, it's fun.
I ran some 500gr for my 470, and will use the same light 5744 practice loads I have used with Woodleigh softs. Woodleigh's are getting SO expensive!
I just got the mould for 350gr 416 cal. I'll be using wheel weight metal with gas checks. Can anyone suggest a light practice load for this round?

Have tried 400 gr commercially cast bullets with a CZ 550 American in 416 Rigby. Was not impressed with any powder including AA5744.

Did have some luck with 100 to 105 gr H-8700. Higher loads gave velocities around 2000 fps. Sorry, did not record group size ... so it likely was not extraordinary.

Have recently acquired an NEI 416 375 GC mold. It casts a 390 gr bullet with WW. Plan to try again at 0.417" with WW and Carnauba Red lube in the Rigby and the .376/.416 Steyr Improved wildcat.

Will start with AA5744 which has worked for me in 9,3x62, 9,3x74R, .375 H&H, .458 AR, and .470 NE with cast bullets.

For fun, use Unique say 10-14 grs. You will get velocity in the 900-1100 fps range. It will shoot like a 22 hornet.

Which 416?

In my Rigby, my whitetail load is a 350gr. Speer HotCor over 55gr. of Accurate 5744. Makes about 2000fps and recoils about like a 300 WM. Start at 50gr. if I remember right. Go to accuratepowders.com and email them (Johan) for information. They used to have these loads on their website, but sadly, they've removed them.

David

Sorry, it is a 416 Rigby. My mould is an RCBS 35gr round nose, and gas checks will be used. Your load sounds like a dandy white tail killer! I've been loading 35-40gr of 5744 in my 470 with 500gr bullets, and getting 1200-1400 fps in light practice loads. Your numbers were the starting point I was after for the 416 Rigby. Thanks.

Those were the loads that Accurate used to have on their website for cast 350's. I emailed them and Johan came back and said they'd be fine with jacketed bullets. The 50gr. charge is fun. recoils like a .270, maybe, and makes about 1700-1800 fps. Have fun with it.

David

My cast-bullet hunting load for the .416 Rigby uses the same bullet as yours. ("Hunting" for deer, elk, etc....NOT the Big Five!)

55 grains of 5744 gives a consistent muzzle velocity of just over 2000 fps, and my Ruger #1 RELIABLY groups three rounds under 1.5" at 100 yards. On one red-letter day, I fired a TEN-round group of 7/8" from 100 yards, outshooting the .223 loads I was testing on that occasion. These groups were obtained from a benchrest, of course.

The RCBS bullet works great, and nothing more is needed for a good cast-bullet load. I believe 2000 fps gives enough recoil to be considered a viable "practice round" for shooting the full-power loads. The shooter certainly knows that something happened!