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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles

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AUSSIE_1
.224 member


Reged: 26/06/08
Posts: 3
Loc: S.E. South Australia
info. on 416 Rigby
      #111417 - 09/08/08 11:46 PM

Hi all, am seriously thinking about getting a 416 Rigby probably in a CZ. Before I start I have to say I have absolutely no need for this rifle and the main animals it will be used on are Deer. Has anyone loaded a very mild load for this purpose? I read somewhere that the 416 was surprisingly pleasant to shoot, I find this hard to believe of a cartridge burning over 100 grains of powder. The biggest gun I have used to date was a Ruger No.1 in 458 Winnie, what would the recoil be like compared to this? I plan to reload this rifle, wondering where all you other Aussies get your Brass from and how much$ I know the 505 required a bigger press due to the size of the dies, is the Rigby in the same boat? Sorry for asking so many questions but just trying to find out peoples real experience with this calibre and/or rifle before I part with my hard-earned!
Many thanks and good to be here,
Aussie
P.S. Possible Pig shoot coming up in 6 weeks or so, already have a hundred 300gr.XTP's and a hundred 265gr. Hornadys loaded up for my Pig shooting virgin 444!


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josef_frey
.224 member


Reged: 03/11/07
Posts: 42
Loc: Germany, southern part
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: AUSSIE_1]
      #111823 - 14/08/08 07:41 PM

Here wo go what I did:
Got a second hand CZ550 in 416 Rigby complete with Leupold 1-4 scope for EURO 850.00
Made up some handloads with copper clad lead bullets (see thread here somewhwere) in order to get accustomed with it. (350grs at 450m/s or 1500 ft/s) About 1 moa groups at 50 meters were good enough for that. It is shooting like a smallbore.
Next step for plains game worked out a reload with 350grs Speer bullets and 84grs of Vihta N160 in Norma cases. Chrongraphed they were way below published Lapua figuers only clocking 650 m/s or about 2130 ft/s.
In the meanwhile I got a can of N165 powder and made cartridges with the same bullet and 86 grs of this new powder. Same velocity,
then stepped up to 95 grs of N165. I didnīt yet measure them but expect them to be around 700 m/s or 2300 ft/s.
It was no big problem to make 10 or more shots of those rounds in the sitting position. They definitely are not made for prone shooting though.

If you want to have cheaper brass and accept belted cases go for the 416 Rem.

Edited by josef_frey (14/08/08 07:55 PM)


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ozhunter
.400 member


Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: josef_frey]
      #112375 - 24/08/08 11:29 AM

Suprisingly pleasant to shoot. what a load of #@&%.
Ok maybe with Woodleigh 350grainers at a very low vellocity.


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shinz
.300 member


Reged: 11/05/08
Posts: 135
Loc: New Zealand
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: AUSSIE_1]
      #112401 - 24/08/08 07:29 PM

In my experience, having owned a 416 Rigby built on a ZKK602 (rebored 375 H&H) & shot a friends Ruger #1 in 458 Win, the 416 was much more user friendly. Be that as it is though, after 10 or so rounds from the bench, I was only too happy to let someone else have a go for a bit. It was much more comfortable offhand but you still knew it had gone off. Most of my loads were pretty much full power , in either 400 gr or 350 gr but the sort of loads that Josef is referring to would be not too uncomfortable. 416 Rigby dies come in 7/8x14 threads, Hornady is probably the cheapest for a factory set. Norma brass is good & should be available, might have to wait for the next shipment though, the Speer 350s get some good press on the net, especially at those speeds. Taipan 400grs if still available might do OK at more moderate loadings, I've heard they're too soft for buff but good for practice & would be OK on deer at slower speed, maybe 2100-2200fps.
Steve.


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Ben
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: shinz]
      #112403 - 24/08/08 07:56 PM

G'day,

I have been hunting with my CZ550 in .416 Rigby for only four years, but have had a lot of fun in that time. Between my mates and I, my rifle has accounted for seven buffalo, three scrub bulls, ten camels, four donkeys, one brumby, and about seven pigs of various sizes.

I haven't fiddled with loads much, choosing a medium load of 94 grains of 2209 to push the 410 soft point Woodleigh. It works, so I stick to it. It's not the bottom load (93 grains), but it's not the maximum load (98 grains).

I do believe that my rifle is user friendly, and to me the jolt it gives is part of the thrill of such a calibre. It's only the first couple of times that you let off seven or eight rounds that you can feel it for a day or so. After that, you seem to toughen up. So, in my opinion, it is pleasant to shoot.

I bought my brass from Horsley Park. The brass is made by Norma, and I'm very happy with it. I think they cost about six dollars each. Or was it three dollars? It was awhile ago. Somehow, six dollars rings a bell for first load, and three dollars for each one after that.

The press I use is not fancy. It is a Lee Anniversary kit, and at first glance seems too small. However, I just insert the projectile up into the die and hold it there before bringing the brass up to it to seat it. Hopefully you can follow that. The point is that I have a lot of success with a not-very-fancy press.

The only issue I am having now with my rifle is that the magazine spring seems a little weak, and one has to be aware of this in hunting / back-up situations. I stretch it out a bit to fix this.

I've never shot a .458 so I can't compare the recoil.

I hope this helps, and I believe you'll have a lot of fun!

Cheers,

Ben



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Aussiesteve
.275 member


Reged: 30/03/08
Posts: 73
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australi...
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: Ben]
      #113358 - 02/09/08 07:25 PM

I also have a CZ 550 magnum in .416 rigby. I use RCBS dies (neck size so far only will FL before attempting to shoot DG) and find it a very versitile caliber to load for. I am able to load 410 grain bullets anywhere from 2200 to 2750 fps, with no signs of pressure in both federal nickel plated and localy made bertram cases. I can also beat 2850 with 340 grain woodleighs and 3000 fps with 300 grain barnes X bullets.

As far as recoil goes, it can be pretty tame when down loaded or an absolute brute when loaded flat out, even to the point where it kicks harder than my .577 NE. I load it pretty warm with 410's doing about 2600 fps. Bruce bertram in Seymore vic makes cases and bullets for the .416 if you cant get anyothers or prefere to by aussie made, and of course who could forget about woodleighs.

I'd just get it if I were you, the biggest rifle I'd shot before the .416 was my .340 wby and I found it OK to shoot, and just down loaded ammo untill I was comfortable with it. If you do get it though, do yourself a favour and get a die set, ammo is just too expensive for a rifle that needs to be shot ALOT to get good with

Steve

P.S pitty you are in SA otherwise I'd let you have a shot of mine


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Ben
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/08
Posts: 1917
Loc: Northern Territory, Australia
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: Aussiesteve]
      #113369 - 02/09/08 09:09 PM

G'day Steve,

Does Bruce Bertram have a website? I didn't realise there were Aussie-made shells.

Cheers,

Ben


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Aussiesteve
.275 member


Reged: 30/03/08
Posts: 73
Loc: Melbourne, Victoria, Australi...
Re: info. on 416 Rigby [Re: Ben]
      #113467 - 03/09/08 07:18 PM

Hi Ben, yeah Bruce does have a website, though he only does brass cases and bullets not loaded ammoo. I looked under bertram bullets on the internet and found it OK, he's in Seymmour Victoria and does do mail order stuff if you cant find it anywhere in stock.

Steve


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