I planning on using Reloader 15 in my 416 Taylor.

I plan on starting at 69gr. but where is the top load, I know it depends on each gun, but where would you not go go to?

I have seen on the web some say 72g and others say 75g is the top?

I will start at 69g and work up in 1/2g increases, watching for pressure signs.

Thanks

It would help to know what bullet. Just looking at loadtech it shows capacity not pressure as the limit.

OH YES!!! that would help

it is a 400g Hornaday rn.

We been there Before.
I know this one by heart.
With the old 400-grain Hornady RNSP I stop at 75 grains of RL-15, and that is my best load for the .416 Taylor.
R-P .458 WinMag brass necked down or QualCart proper headstamp, which seems to have the same weight and capacity as the Reminton-Peters brass.
F215 primer.
80 degrees F.
26" Shilen stainless 1:14" twist.
COL = 3.3" to 3.4" or whatever it was crimped on the middle of that cannelure, IIRC. I told you this was from heart.
Play with COL in that range and powder charges worked up from 69 as you planned, but 1 grain steps instead of 1/2 grain steps.
2418 fps is what I got in my rifle with 75.0 grains of RL-15.

Your mileage may vary depending on the bullet you use, the powder lot you use, the looseness or tightness of your rifle, and your barrel length,
if other factors above are constant.

My WW (Winchester) brass is lighter, and greater capacity and that decreases velocity and pressure a bit.

DRG says: "Kiss my liberal grits!"

According to the Lyman reloading manual if you are loading cartridges with a minimum of I think it is 45 grains of powder and above, you need to go up or down in 1 grain increments. 1/2 grain is too little to make a difference to that volume of powder. Unless you are on the very upper limit of any load which is not where you want to be anyway!

If it is a smaller cartridge like a 223 or whatver then 1/2 grain movement would make a difference....

Thank You.

I like the idea of 1 g increases, I fire formed 50 cases today, so I am typing with only one hand, ( can't feel my shoulder )(maybe thats a good thing?)

Use W-W brass and stop at 2,350 fps. Less pressure, less wear and tear on every thing, and you still have a "Pocket Battleship" that equals the venerable 416 Rigby.

What RIP said.

I use RL15 for my 416 Rem.And I use 81grs For a 400gr bullet. It moves that bullet at 2420FPS
I do not know much about the Talor.

Loadtech isn't going to be a lot of help. It stops at 75.1grs of RL15 with that bullet showing 2380. This program stops at what it considers 105% compression and you can't change it. It doesn't take it to a pressure limit.

You need to work up as every gun and brands of brass can be different, but typically in the 75 gr. range to get it to 2400 fps.

Rip/Will have given the most accurate info re: the .416 Taylor.

FYI: I've been shooting a Taylor since 1988. Achieving 2400fps seemed to be the "Holy Grail" for the 40cal 400gr bullet. The velocity was attained, but the accuracy (in my rifles, both M-70's one Douglas bbl, and one Krieger bbl) was not as good as I had expected. As soon as I dropped down to 2385fps, the accuracy improved significantly.

Of course the .416 is NOT a varmint cartridge, and one inch groups at 100yds is quite acceptable for DG hunting.

My loads consist of necked down .458 WW brass, Fed 215 primers, and only two powders I've found to be consistant for velocity/accuracy. Again, in MY rifles...IMR 4320, and R-15

I won't bore you with load data going back 21yrs, but I've shot Barnes, Swift, Nosler, Hornady, Speer, Trophy Bonded, Woodleigh, and Kynoch bullets for accuracy/velocity/pressure.
Of all the loads tested, the following has proven to be the "Best" for me.

72.5grs IMR 4320, 400gr TBSH=2385fps
72.2grs IMR 4320, 400gr Swift=2387fps

72.2grs R-15 TBSH=2372fps
72.2grs R-15 Swift=2380fps

Same loads utilizing Hornady bullets, the velocities were virtually identical.

In todays world, the .416Taylor won't be high on the list of rifles chambered in 40 caliber.
Certainly not in a production rifle. IMHO, it's a shame.

Most of us shootists have a particular rifle/caliber combination in which we have the utmost confidence, In 1988; mine was the .416 Taylor. In 2010; the .416 Taylor. If I'm going to Africa as a client, I don't leave home without it!

All velocities mentioned were shot across the screens @ 15', then adjusted to the muzzle.

On average for .416 Taylor rifles with
the average lot of RL-15 and
the average 400 grain bullet,
the average velocity change per inch of barrel is about 25 fps.
Max loads will be near when you start to exceed these velocity levels:
22": 2300 fps
24": 2350 fps
26": 2400 fps

26": 2400 fps

quote:

Most of us shootists have a particular rifle/caliber combination in which we have the utmost confidence, In 1988; mine was the .416 Taylor. In 2010; the .416 Taylor. If I'm going to Africa as a client, I don't leave home without it!

I know that thinking that a Taylor is any different or better than a 416 Rigby or Rem or Ruger is total bullshit, but I do love my Taylors.

75 gr RE 15, WW mag primer, 2397 fps, 23" bbl. no pressure

Will, what flavor is the stock on you rifle?

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Use W-W brass and stop at 2,350 fps. Less pressure, less wear and tear on every thing, and you still have a "Pocket Battleship" that equals the venerable 416 Rigby.

Curious, what load do you use?

The stock on mine is a laminated wood stock, from fagen.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
Use W-W brass and stop at 2,350 fps. Less pressure, less wear and tear on every thing, and you still have a "Pocket Battleship" that equals the venerable 416 Rigby.

Curious, what load do you use?

Guessing: 75 grains of the average lot of RL-15 in a 24" barrel of average tightness/looseness with the average 400-grain bullet and the average Large Rifle Magnum primer.

Are the RL15 loads with a 400 grain bullet very compressed? I loaded 72 grains of RL15 with a 400 grain Nosler Partition and it is pretty compressed.

Mike,
The 400 grain Nosler is not your average 400 grainer.
With copper partition and sleeker nose, it is longer than
the old RN Hornady soft.
Do start low and work up.
You will get higher pressures and velocities with
lower charges than required for the shorter bullet.
I consider 105 per cent loads to be peachy keen as poured in.
Drop tubes and vibration of case can be used to settle it in.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Are the RL15 loads with a 400 grain bullet very compressed? I loaded 72 grains of RL15 with a 400 grain Nosler Partition and it is pretty compressed.

I've never been able to stuff 75 grains of RL 15 in my cases. 72 has been about max for me....I think I may have gotten 73 in once.

I still get 2350 fps with 72 grains.

The Hornady 458 brass is the toughest, but I can get an extra 1 - 2 grains in the Winchester brass.

As RIP alluded, the bullet design affects ultimate load capacity. I had to cut new cannelures in Swift A-Frame 400 grain bullets to get everything to work (I used and like the CH cannelure tool).

This sounds awful, but since all the round nosed, cup and core soft nosed bullets (e.g. Hornady and Woodleigh) like to blow apart, (and I try to design loads that emphasize shootability), I have been using Hornady bullets at 2,300 fps. That has been at 69 - 71 grains of RL-15, depending on make of brass.

When I finish my anti-viral chemotherapy (valganciclovir) and can get out and hunt again, I will work the load up with North Fork bullets. I suspect that I will have to move the throat out a bit (the North Forks thrive on velocity).

The limiting factor on all of this is feeding. The whole geometry of Mauser magazines, rails and feed ramps is pretty critical with the Taylor. Using cup and core (read shorter) bullets helps, but 75 grain loads spit the bullets out, even with a hard crimp.

I'll cut this long winded ramble short - Hornady (or Woodleighs) at 73 grains in Winchester brass (72 in Hornady brass) gives me 2,350 fps +/- 20fps. It also goes "crunch" when loading. The 75 grain load goes "crunch, crunch, oh dear God, cruncchh!"

I went to the range today, with my Chrony, and my 416 Taylor. I had 5 of each load 72g, 73g, 74g. of Reloader 15. my primer was CCI 250, case winchester 338 win mag brass reformed.

Here are my results;

72g ave fps 2360 group @100 yds 3.25" x 3.75"

73g ave. fps. 2362 group @100yds. 4" x 2.5"

74g ave fps 2354 group @100 yds. 2.5"x 2.75"

ALL 15 SHOTS were in a 4.5" circle.
Minute of MOOSE! maybe?

More powder didn't much increased fps. would 75g do better?

Oh yea, stats 50 deg. no wind, light constant (poor) raining lightly.

Chrony set @ 15 feet from muzzle.

DLH,
You better stop at 72 grains.
No matter what length your barrel, that diminishing return with higher charges is not an indication to add more powder!
If your barrel is 24 inches or less, that's good Taylor velocity.
I know Canuck has a 23" barrel.
Wish everyone else would specify their barrel length when talking Taylor.

quote:

Originally posted by DLH4570:
I went to the range today, with my Chrony, and my 416 Taylor. I had 5 of each load 72g, 73g, 74g. of Reloader 15. my primer was CCI 250, case winchester 338 win mag brass reformed.

Here are my results;

72g ave fps 2360 group @100 yds 3.25" x 3.75"

73g ave. fps. 2362 group @100yds. 4" x 2.5"

74g ave fps 2354 group @100 yds. 2.5"x 2.75"

ALL 15 SHOTS were in a 4.5" circle.
Minute of MOOSE! maybe?

More powder didn't much increased fps. would 75g do better?

Oh yea, stats 50 deg. no wind, light constant (poor) raining lightly.

Chrony set @ 15 feet from muzzle.

You might want to stop at 70 I'd think that 72 grain load might be a tad much in 100 degree temperature

100 deg????

I plan on hunting Moose and Big BEAR in Alaska! I hope it doesn't get that hot?