AR Colleagues,

Clayman and I made it back to the range to yesterday to do some further testing on my Ruger 416 Rigby. We tested one handload and the Hornady factory ammunition this time around. Here are our results:

Date fired: 9 November 2007

Rifle: Ruger Model 77 RSM, 23†barrel, about 50 rounds through to date, Zeiss Conquest, 1.8-5.5x , duplex reticle

Range set up and conditions: Tested on Caldwell Lead Sled, total weight 35 lbs, all tests at 100 yards. Temperature 44 degrees F, 62% humidity, average wind speed approximately 0.5 mph average, gusts to 2.5 mph, cloudy, overcast sky. Oehler model 35 chronograph, 4’ screen spacing, 10’ muzzle to start screen distance.

Factory ammunition tested: Hornady 416 Rigby loaded with 400 grain Hornady FMJ Encapsulated, lot #3070186

Results: Fired 5 shots, allowing the barrel to cool approximately 2 minutes between shots.
Shot string = 2274, 2280, 2269, 2257, 2280 feet per second
Analysis:
High: 2280 fps
Low: 2257 fps
Extreme Spread: 23 fps
Average: 2271 fps
Standard Deviation: 9 fps
Group size: 2.77†Center to center

Summary: Hornady indicates a velocity of 2416 fps on the box and their Web site. The average of this lot as tested was 145 fps lower and did not make the 2400 fps mark. Overall accuracy was mediocre at 100 yards and not as accurate as the previously tested Norma factory loads with the 400 grain Swift A frame (Norma 416 Rigby Factory Ammo Test).

We know that this Hornady 400 grain FMJ ENC bullet is accurate as we also test fired one of my “light†handloads composed of Norma once fired, full length resized cased, Federal 215 primers, 102.0 grains of H4831 (standard cut), lightly crimped into the 400 grain FMJENC Hornady cannelure and it yielded the following results:

Results: Fired 3 shots, allowing the barrel to cool approximately 2 minutes between shots.
Shot string = 2422, 2411, 2414 feet per second
Analysis:
High: 2422 fps
Low: 2411 fps
Extreme Spread: 11 fps
Average: 2415 fps
Standard Deviation: 5 fps
Group size: 0.584†Center to center, with two shots touching


Thanks again for able assistance from Clayman in the testing and input.
Hope you find this useful information

Thanks
Paul, Clayman

Paul, every rifle varies -- some shoot faster than others. I found Hornady's claims on their .458 Lott ammo to be right-on hitting 2300 fps consistently over the chrono out of my CZ........