awwright y'all, i took the plunge and ordered up a new ruger m77 in 416 rigby-- should get it tomorrow!! also got a variX-III 1.5x5 (heavy duplex) to top it off.

also ordered some RCBS dies (redding only offers them on a custom basis), Bell brass (they were all out of Norma), some 300gr and 350gr X bullets, 340gr woodleigh PRPs, and 350gr A-Frames...

anybody got any proven loads they'd care to share? i've got 3 days until our whitetail season opens-- nothing like waiting till the last minute.

also, does anybody know where i can get a nice "traditional" leather sling to complete the express rifle look? all my slings are some composite-gel-filled-new-age-synthetic-type, that just wouldn't look right!

thanks for any input
patrick

[ 11-23-2002, 02:42: Message edited by: ppk1911 ]

oops, i just found the post "416 Rigby Pet Loads" that looks like a good starting point....

I'm using the O'Conner load. 105grs H4831 (I'm using Short Cut) Behind a 400gr bullet. In this case a 400gr Hornady Soft. I'm getting Sub-MOA out to 300 yards. There's no arguing with 2.5" groups at 300yards. 100 yard groups you can cover with a quarter and get back change!

I have 3 boxes of Speer 400gr TBBC bullets that I want to try next. No time to get it done before deer season. I'll just have to shoot 1 or 2 with the round nose bullets.

My pet load for the .416 Rigby in a M77 is 100 grs of Rl-22 behind a 410 woodleigh. It hits 2435 fps and has MOA accuracy. A lot of African critters have given their all to that load.-Rob

I loaded 108gr. of Rel. 22 with 350gr. Barnes X and it was very accurate and a good all round load.
I think I tried 99gr. of the same powder with 400gr. Hornady's...softs and solids. That too was an accurate load but everything I tried shot well out of the Ruger.
Look at this site for a leather sling. I got the 1 1/2" long sling that he makes for the express type rifles with barrel band swivel.
http://www.murraycustomleather.com/press.htm
Good luck with your new rifle,
Terry

HI,

TERRY P, what was the fps with the 108 grains of REL with the 350 barns X. I will get a 416 cz550 soon and I also would like to try the X 350 grain, so I am interested in the load for that bullet and the fps.Thanks,Kev