I'm looking for reports on 416 caliber Hornady 400 gr RN and 400 gr Barnes solids on African game. Handload information or measured velocities would be appreciated if available. Terminal performance on plains game up to buffalo would be of greatest interest. I'm wondering if the Hornady is a hard enough bullet if velocities are held to no more than 2350 fps?

I know I am not anserwing your questions but I shoot the woodleigh 410 gr SN and it shoots good in my rifle and will hang together reall well at those velocities. They have also toughned it up even more in an upgrade.

PC
Thanks for the info. How well does it group for you? I've found the Hornady to be really accurate in my Ruger #1 and I've been told they hold together pretty well at moderate velocities (around 2350 fps).

Hi Strawboss,
I have used the 400 grain Hornady at 2400 fps on Moose and it is a veery tough bullet. I think it holds together better than the 500 grain .458 Hornady. I wouldn't hesitate to use it one bit.

Take care,
470 Mbogo

Strawboss,
I use the 400 grain RNSP Hornady's as plinkers, in 6 different .416 caliber rifles. I also like the 350 grain Speer bullets for plinking. But there are so many great .416 bullets to chose from, that I wouldn't risk a shed core on big game.

For hunting, these are a few of my favorites:

380 grain GSC FN "expanding" solid: the ultimate DG bullet

400 grain Swift A-Frame

400 grain Nosler partition

400 grain Speer AGS solid (tungsten core)

410 grain Woodleigh Weldcore (soft) and FMJ (solid)

400 grain Barnes X-Bullet

350 grain Barnes X-Bullet

330 grain GSC HV

I can do it all with the 380 grain GSC FN at 2500 fps and the 350 grain Barnes X at 2700 fps. I have taken one cape buffalo with one 380 grain FN and an even larger water buffalo with the 350 grain X, as well as a small deer at 342 yards with the .416 caliber 350 grain X-Bullet.

The 400 grain Hornady RNSP might be best limited to an MV of 2150 fps and used effectively like the old traditional 404 Jeffery ballistics.

There will always be an uneasiness about the lack of a bonded core, but they are good, cheap plinking bullets.

470 Mbogo may be right about them being tougher than the .458 500 grainers from Hornady, but I have always been uneasy about Hornady RNSP's since I totally shed the core of a 500 grain .458 on a moose. The moose did die instantly however, and did a somersault in the process.

Dagga,
Both you and Ray Atkinson mention the GSC bullet. I'll look them up. Does anyone use Barnes monolithic solids anymore?

Strawboss,
Saeed uses them in his 375/404, as reported in the past.

I think we have made some progress in our understanding of solids, however, and the solids I listed above are better.

The GSC FN might be the best of all, on balance, especially since they only cost about $1/bullet instead of $5/bullet for the Speer AGS.

The FN is harder to come by but worth the wait.

StrawBoss, I use the 400 grain Barnes XLC @ 74.5 grains for a velocity of 2430fps.

I have used the Swift A Frame in a 350 grain bullet for plains game only hunts, as well as hunting bears and moose. It has become my favorite soft point bullet. RL-15 @ 82 grains, giving a velocity of 2650fps.

Thanks to one and all for your informed replies. Looks like I'll be ordering flat nose solids from South Africa.

Strawboss,

my best group to date is 1.7" at 100 yards. That load will shoot better, but at that point I was still getting used to the new level of recoil (previous to the .416 my 45/70 was my hardest kicker) and using low powered scopes. The rest of my shooting with the 410 gr woodleigh's has been done at hoppers. If I do my part out to 150-200 yards they won't miss, hoppers are no way near as big as cape buff either....

Give them a go, I think they will be a better bullet than the Hornady's.

HI,

Speaking of the 416 rigby, if a 400 grain can be pushed to 2600fps, should't a 350 be able to go around 2800 fps or is that to much, will have to start reloading for my 416 so I am just trying to see what I can get. Thanks,Kev

according to the manuals I have that is correct Kev, I can not verify if this is the truth as I have no chrono nor have I loaded anything lighter than 410 gr woodleigh's.

I too use the Hornady bullets for plinking. For hunting dangerous game , I use woodleighs exclusively. I'm a firm beliver in the .416 Rigby at 2450 fps at the muzzel. I've seen too many problems with the .416 Wby to want to load up the Rigby to those velocities.-Rob

Gents,

While not exactly 'on topic' I thought I'd throw this picture of several .416 bullets into the mix.



from left to right...

.458 500gr Hornady RN
.416 400gr Nolser
.416 400gr Hornady RN
.416 370gr North Fork
.416 330gr GS Custom
.416 325gr Barnes X
.416 300gr Barnes X (kinda old)
.375 300gr Hornady RN
.308 200gr Nosler

Sorry, no Woodleighs.

BW,
Thanks for posting those bullets!!!

my load for hornady is their starting load for 416 rem.(basically) in the book, 400 gr, fmj or sp, 87 gr win 760, mag primer. I get 2400 with it, over 3 different chronos.

in my gun, case length is important!!!

jeffe