I mainly wanted to make this post to thank a few folks responsible for constructing my new .416 Rem that I just got back from the range shooting, and walked away with a sub 1" group at 100 yards.

Anyway, over a year ago, I asked this forum for some info, and RIP recommended Rusty McGee who is about 2.5 hours from me in KY. He took my .300 Win TC Icon, and reworked it into a .416 Rem, and had it weather coated in a brushed silver color. He rebarreled it and built a custom box for it in the process.

Then I sent it to Hotwoods in Montana, and they made me a beautiful stock, bedded it and put in a recoil lug. If you haven't looked at Hotwoods, check them out. They have a really neat heat treating process to make stocks extremely strong and they do beautiful work.

I got it home and topped it with a 2.5x10x42 Nikon Monarch X scope (their top of the line). Shooting 400 grain Winchester Safari ammo with both Nosler Partitions and solids, it shoots lights out, and as I said, it consistently shot 1-inch groups, and my last group was well under an inch. Anyway, thanks to this group, and especially RIP as even though he is close, I would have never found Rusty ...

Tim, I'm pleased to hear that you are excited about your new rifle. What is your barrel length and did you chronograph any of those loads? I too shoot a lot of .416 RM, however, I've never shot a factory round through my rifle, but I am always interested in what others are are getting in terms of performance with their chosen ammo. I typically shoot Swift A Frame and North Fork bullets.

Eric

23" barrel. I have not chronoed the loads. The box says 2500 fps, which seems hot to me. I know the other .416 Rem loads I have here all say 2400fps. No matter, I am sticking with these as the gun really likes them.

Congrats Tim.

So is the lesson to be learned here that with enough work, refinement, modification, alteration, money and patience even an T/C Icon can be turned into a rifle? Just kidding of course, but I do feel for you and others from time to time having to support sponsors.

I do wish they made some larger calibers. Their custom shop made my .458 Win that I love, but it is no longer there, so I had to take matters into my own hands for a .416

That ICON action seems large and robust enough to make into just about anything. Larry Weishuhn talked me into one from their Custom Shop at the DSC several years ago. Very nice piece, with high-grade wood, matte stainless metalwork, and a match chamber in 308...it was more accurate than I could shoot.

Tim,

You may now have the best all around Africa rifle available. I'm a huge 375 fan but the 416 shoots almost as flat and carries more thump.

Did the Winchester softs and solids shoot to the same POI?

Guys,

As for the Icon say what you will but the 300 Icon Tim had on our AZ deer hunt was a f!@#$ing death ray.

Mark

Mark - yes pretty well same POI...This is actually that same gun I had in AZ. If you remember someone at airline threw it and put a flat place on the crown. I figured it was a good candidate. The .416's have always been my favorite all around African caliber.

Tim,
Great to hear that your .416 Rem Mag turned out so well.
I knew it would, since Rusty has done about umpteen such good re-barrel jobs for me.
Did Rusty weld some steel plates together for your new magazine box?
I saw your rifle with new barrel and old stock, can only imagine what the new stock looks like, since you have not posted a picture of it.

quote:

You may now have the best all around Africa rifle available.

Actually that would be a 416B&M

I will try to get a photo of it today if I have time. I always have trouble with guns and glare in photos like that. The stock really is beautiful. Only problem is I am going to have to get a synthetic stock made for it in the next year or so before I take it to AK. No way I would fight through the alders with it as is...

cloudy day so maybe this will be OK.

Nice looking rifle Tim. Glad it is a good shooter for you.

Nice stainless and wood look! Good choice on coatings.

I love my .416 rifle it thinks 350gr TSX bullets are match bullets. You might give them a try if the opportunity arises.