Rifle used to develop load: Ruger 77 Magnum, 24" barrel, factory .416 Rigby chamber.

Bullet: 400 grains, Swift or Speer AGS solid.

Brass: Norma (or Federal nickel plated)

Powder: H4831
Charge: 104 grains

Primer: F215GM

Velocity: 2450 fps
Accuracy: sub-MOA

Comments: This load has the blessing of George Hoffman, who said Jack O'Connor used a similar load, regarding 104-105 grains of H4831 with a 400 or 410 grain bullet. All bullets of 400 grain weight seem to go to same point of impact in my heavy barreled Ruger. Also tested were the old FMJ Hornady, and Barnes X-Bullet.

The Swift and Speer AGS solid were particularly compatible and uniform regarding velocity and accuracy and point of impact. They make a good soft-solid combo.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
Bwanawannabe, Daktari Ron

R A

A year ago I read a few Capstick books, then watched a few African hunt videos. Then I started following this forum and you know where this is leading, now I've become infected with big bore fever.

Just recently I aquired a Ruger 77 RSM in .416 Rigby. I plan to mount a Leupold 1X4 Vari X II. Mine is the heavy barrel version.

I plan to do some load development with 300 gr Barnes X (Texas hogs and whitetails) and 400 gr Hornady S P (Cape Buff)

So keep those .416 Rigby loads coming. Also what kind of optics are you using? And is your bedding factory or have you glassed it?

Good Hunting,
Craftsman

Craftsman,
You have made good progress, IMHO.
I have shot 0.6" 3-shot groups at 100 yards with the factory bedding so I am afraid to change it unless something goes to hades.
My scope is the Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5X in the standard Ruger rings. I will add other loads later. If memory serves, 101 grains of IMR 4831 and a 350 grain Barnes X-Bullet gave 2700 fps and has taken both water buffalo (first shot in the chest at 150 yards had the bull staggering around in circles so I walked up and dropped him with a neck shot at 50 yards) and a fallow deer at a laser measured 342 yards, resting off a tree trunk with my hat under my hand.

The 350 grain X-Bullets did not exit the one ton buff, though they did produce a most satisfying "whomp," but I figure the 400 grainers would break the off-side hide. The 350 grainers sailed right through the deer and skipped across the plain, kicking up a puff of dust every hundred yards or so. LOL. I have it all on video.

George Hoffman picked a great caliber for his wildcat, but now the Rigby is so available, and will do the same or more at lower pressure. I like that fat case.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
Bwanawannabe, Daktari Ron

If I may add my results with Ruger 77M using
Federal nickle brass, Rem.9 1/2M,
400gr bullets
IMR4350 92gr 2397fps Nosler part. 1.32"
IMR4831 95gr 2386fps Nosler part. 1.28"
H4831 104gr 2442fps XLC 0.42"
H4831 100gr 2334fps Nosler Part. 0.60"
H4831 100gr 2354fps Horn.soft 0.50"

Accuracy for 3 shots @100yds for all above loads.

350gr Bullets (so far)
IMR4831 104gr 2759fps Swift A-frame 1.45"
IMR4350 95gr 2600fps X-bullet 0.67"
IMR4831 104gr 2730fps Speer MagTip 0.41"

Will add data from H4831 when complete.

Remember these loads have been proven safe in my rifle, not yours. Be careful. Bill

Bill in NE,
Thanks for the data. Looks like your velocities are very consistent with mine. I will use this as a guide for my load development. Nothing wrong with those Rugers, nor your shooting. This will make a great reference point for .416 Rigby shooters. I will be adding to it later. Hope others will too

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

R.A.B., I was happy as a clam with IMRs 4831 & 4350 till I read how much luck you were having with H4831. Of course I had a half pound laying around and tried it. All I can say is thanks! It is looking like this may be THE powder for my 77M. Thanks again, Bill

380 grain GS Custom FN solid, soon to follow. And then there will come the 335 grain HV.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

Has anyone worked up any loads using any of the Alliant powders like RE15 or RE19?
Ed

Edmac,
I have done some work with RL-22 in the .416 Rigby. I get 2350 fps from a 400 gr Hornady RN, a Fed215M primer, and 101 grains of RL-22. My CZ550 barrel is only 22" long. I'm not real satisfied with the accuracy (1.5" to 1.75" @ 100 yds) so I guess I'll work a bit with the H4831 loads. Good shooting! Andy

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Andy Cooper

Rifle: Ruger No. 1, 24" bbl, Barrel free floated
Scope: Leupold VXIII 1.75-6xE
Rings: Ruger Double offset, high.
Bullet: Barnes 325 gr. XS
Brass: Norma, inside neck reamed
Powder: IMR 4831
Charge: 110 gr.
Primer: Federal 215 Match
Velocity: 2925 fps
Accuracy: .750"/3 at 100

Near Max, reduce 10% and work up. 6000+ ft-lbs energy and recoil is quite stiff.

[This message has been edited by Big Bore (edited 02-26-2002).]

Big Bore,
Thanks for the load data. I am using IMR 4831 with the light bullets and H4831 with the heavies until I find something better. Your experience seems to bear this out. I have some 325 Barnes X's, but I bet GS custom 335's would work great with IMR 4831 also.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

I have loaded 101.5 gr RL-22 Fed 215M with 400gr swift groups are around 3/4 of an inch.I have found that a if I load 100grs of RL-22 and the 400gr Barnes solid it groups 1 to 1 1/2 inch but it prints the same as my other load at 50 and 100 yards.I shoot a custom CZ with a 22 inch barrel.Both loads are 2360 to 2390 fps.I think I would like to get away from the Barnes bullet and use a fmj type solid I just do not know what one I should try.

Drum Roll Please

Rifle: Ruger M77 Magnum (out-of-the-box)
Barrel: 24" Ruger factory, 0.810" muzzle
Scope: Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5X
Rings: Standard Ruger
Bullet: GS Custom FN 380 grains
Brass: Norma
Powder: H4831
Charge: 105.0 grains
Primer: Federal GM215M
Velocity: 2509 fps
Accuracy: 0.147" for 3 shots at 100 yards
COL: 3.710"

For more ranting and raving about this bullet, see Don G's post on the Big Bore forum.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

[This message has been edited by R. A. Berry (edited 07-15-2001).]

RAB, that is an outstanding group from a thumper. That is an outstanding group from anything.
(now if we had a US distributer of GS bullets....)
Thanks for sharing the load, Bill

The O.147" load with the GS Custom FN 380 grainer was seated down to COL = 3.670" and crimped. Accuracy went to 0.541" 3-shot@100 yards. Velocity changed little at 2501 fps. Another good variation on this load, FWIW.

Also, in the same setup with this load, I loaded two Swift 400 grain A-Frames to a COL = 3.59" and got a one-hole two shot "group" of 0.008" center-to-center.

Velocity on the two shots was 2484 fps and 2480 fps, just two shots. The Swift has a long bearing surface and the 416 Rigby has no freebore, just a leade over about 0.3" travel from case mouth to bore.

This is definitely a load worth testing . Later.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

Here is a new one out of my M77 Ruger MKII Magnum. 24" bbl, light weight new style barrel.

Norma Brass inside neck reamed after first firing.
Federal 215 Match Primer
Barnes 400 gr. X bullet
H4831 Powder
103.0 gr.
2461.7 fps, ES of 19 fps
OAL 3.661 crimped 1/2 turn with Lee Factory Crimp die.
Accuracy 5 shots into 1.195 at 100 yards.
Pressure normal
Groups perfectly round.
Load shoots to POA with Factory fixed rear sight.