I have thought about a 416 for a Buffalo trip next year(05)and assumed it would be a 416 Rem due to availability of components, rifles, etc.

I have come across a rifle in 416 Hoffman and was wondering any thoughts on this cartridge.

Is it effective?

Can you get Brass?

Would a re-barrel to 416 Rem be worth it?

Or should I just stick with my 375?

Jim

If the price is right, snag it up. The Hoffman cartridge is the daddy of the Rem version. There may be slight dimensional differences so maybe there's dies to go with it?

Jim,
I own a .416 Hoffman built on a Kimber BGR action.I've taken Cape Buffalo, Elk and Whitetail with it.I'm a huge fan of the cartridge.I've found it to be amazingly accurate and easy to handload.
When i had that rifle built, the .416 Rem and Weatherby didnt exist, so my options were limited given the action i had to work with.That said, i have enjoyed the cartridge immensely and would not part with it .
I dont know that i'd re-barrel a .375 unless you just really want a .416.
If youre a dedicated handloader,the Hoffman is a great choice.IF not, then the ballistically similar Remington would be the way to go.FYI,the Remington cartridges work just fine in the Hoffman in a pinch.They are that close.However, the reverse is not true.

Happy dilemna
Bob

Bob, thanks for the input, where do you get the Brass?

Jim

Jim,
i've been surviving on a supply of brass i got from A-Square.Those clowns are in/out/in/out of business it seems, and frankly, the quality of the brass is a little shaky.
The best bet for Hoffman brass would be Superior Ammunition. They are a quality outfit that loads all kinds of stuff includidng the Hoffman.Wheather or not they will sell you just the brass, i dont know.You could at least buy a couple or three boxes of loaded ammo from them, then you have your brass, all proper and headstamped.
Great cartridge if you decide to go that way.......besides, doesnt EVERYBODY have a .416 Rem?

Well I did it. It's a Left Handed Dakota 76 with a 1.25-4 Schmidt & Bender in Detachable mounts. What a Beauty! I hope it shoots as good as it looks.

Jim

Get George Hoffman's book and read it. Ray Atkinson can tell you where to get a copy. It'll make the gun a little more precious!

If Ray has a source for Geo. Hoffman's book, please post it here. I'd like to find a copy myself.
Regards,
HockeyPuck

Congratulations,
I cant imagine that it wont be but a wonderful rifle!

gal,
You did good, very good. If I were left handed, I would have moved heaven and earth to snag that Dakota in .416 Hoffman. And what a great scope to go with it. You got the perfect one-rifle battery for Africa.

Get some properly headstamped brass and save it for trips where it matters, then just shoot and reload the .416 Remington brass with your .416 Hoffman dies. As Bob indicated, the .416 Hoffman has just a bit more capacity than the .416 Remington, so a Remington will function flawlessly in a Hoffman chamber, but you can't close the bolt on a Hoffman round in a Remington chamber.

Find the perfect 400 grain soft and solid load at 2400 fps in your rifle for DG,
then consider a 300 to 350 grain soft at 2700 fps for a great PG load.

If there are any pressure differences between the Hoffman and Remington, the Hoffman has the advantage, slight as it may be.

Mary Hoffman, geomar@sonaratx.net "A Country Boy In Africa" by Geo. Hoffman...Mary can sell you a copy for about $85.00...

Mary will probably be at our table or Mims, at Dallas signing Georges books...