.416s are great rifles. Certainly not needed here but they work great. I’ve had several over the years. First was a custom Sako back in ‘89. Couldn’t get factory ammo yet. Took my first Elk with it. Took my only Grizzly with a Safari express. I know some here don’t like copper bullets but they work really well on big animals in the bigger calibers. Had sold off most of my big guns, and am normally a crf guy but my current .416 is a Sako Fiberclass, bedded with good pad and barrel cut to 22”. Sights off one of my Safari expresses. More hitting power than a .375 and better reach than a .458.
.416 owners, the ultimate big game hunting cartridge?
- Thread starter Northern Shooter
- Start date
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
And any long action Model 70 with a magnum bolt face.
To the OP, I bought my 416 Rigby a couple of years before my first trip to Africa. I grew up reading Ruark, so the 416 bug was firmly planted in my brain long ago. And if you're going to shoot a 416, it should be a Rigby, because it's the only real 416. To my mind, the 416s are a step up from typical client rifles. The 375 is perfectly adequate for picking fights with big things, but not quite able to bridge the gap to be an effective fighting rifle. I wouldn't want to wade into the long grass with a 375, or try to pick a fight with a hippo up on dry land with a 375. And forget elephant...that, to me, is like hunting deer with a 243. Doable, but the juice isn't worth the squeeze. But the 416 will do everything that the 375 will do, and do it better. Not an order of magnitude better, but noticeably better while still maintaining the capability to shoot flat enough for open country plains game while not kicking the holy hell out of you. The big Weatherbys are too much of a good thing. Unshootable my most shooters without brakes or excessive weight Harry Selby's 416 (the most famous 416 ever) weighed 9lb 4oz which is a pretty nimble rifle to fight with, and even the Ruger RSM is only a pound heavier at most and it's a beast of a rifle. But anyone can shoot it, even people with next to no rifle shooting experience.
Do you need a 416? Probably not. Really, I don't need one either, unless I make a bunch of money and start going to Africa frequently. But even so, it sure is nice to have.
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That's how I view all of these African cartridges, not required for North American game but they are welcome additions that provide a level of comfort/reassurance when hunting in grizzly territory. The extended reach of a 416 over a 458 is another benefit and apparently they penetrate better than the big bores.
I feel like the .375 and .416 would have me covered for any game on earth, given the opportunity.
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Thanks for your input, as someone who has hunted Africa did you find that many opted for the .416 over .375 for plains game? I may have underestimated the long range capability of the Rigby. I always viewed the 375 as ideal for plains game up through Cape Buffalo and 416 as a great tool for Cape Buffalo and up.
I chose CZ550 416 Rigby to fill the spot between 375 to 458 Lott. It was interesting and intimidating to be loading 100 grains of powder in the case only to take it to the range and shoot it at paper to dial in the load and scope. My CZ550 is the hog back style stock. I did not find the recoil off the bench acceptable. I installed a 1 lb. Mercury recoil reducer in the stock and now find it acceptable. The gun, scope, and sling package is a little heavy for a long carry. I used it one a medium sized cow bison. 400 gr Nosler Partition @ 2430 ft/ sec . Shot was 100 yds. It flattened the cow. Wrecked the off side shoulder and a fair amount of blood shot affected area. Thinking it was a little excessive for that size animal at that distance. I would certainly like to use it on the xtra large bison in the 2000-3000 lb. Range.
From my understanding the big bores ie 458 are meant for immense stopping power at close range under 100m.
If the 416's can produce similar energy but also have the advantage of reaching out 200-300m and have the same effect, well that's a bonus in my books.
Why the preference for 416 (rigby/ruger) shooting 400 grains at ~2400 vs 458 win shooting 400 grains at ~ 2470. Or 416 rem getting similar results with 400s
Are people shooting 350’s?
Just seems like 458 win might be preferable; heavier bullets if needed and similar or slightly faster performance than the rem or rigby in a short action with cheaper brass
Are people shooting 350’s?
Just seems like 458 win might be preferable; heavier bullets if needed and similar or slightly faster performance than the rem or rigby in a short action with cheaper brass
Hhaving shot a friend's medium and big bore rifles in 375 up to the 450-500 3 1/4", and reading various books and articles about the medium and big bores, I was interested in the balance and performance level between the 375's and 45's. Some of his big bores were more than I want. I did not mind the 458 Win shooting the 350 gr bullets, but definitely preferred these to the 500 gr loads.
I also shot another friend's Brno in 416 Rigby with hot 400 gr loads. Definitely noticeable recoil. One of two rifles I have ever shot where the scope lightly touched my brow.
After reading several items about the 416 Taylor, I was intrigued by the similar performance while using way less powder, and being able to use a regular magnum faced long action.
Awhile later I met Ralf Martini when he was still located in NEBC and he had a Ruger 77 in 416 Taylor he has built and was selling for a client for a reasonable price and I bought it.
That rifle would put 3 bullets in a true clover leaf pattern @ 100 yards with open sights with 300, 325 and 350 gr bullets, and recoil was very manageable with medium to max loads of powder.
I never had the chance to soot any big game with it while I owned it. I ran into another fellow that wanted it more than I did, as it was right handed, and I wanted to build one left handed, so I sold it. He later told me that he had shot a bull elk with it as it ran through the aspens in front of him. Turned out the 350 gr Barnes X Bullet centreded alarge aspen, then hit the elk on the shoulder and it crashed to the ground, leaving a long skid mark. He was impressed.
I have built another on a left handed M77, and it is shooting the 350 gr TSX into 1/2" groups @ 100 yards w/ 70.0 gr of Re-15. It has a Bevan King 22" barrel, that keeps the weight and handiness of the rifle nice and balanced. It is stocked in a laminate stock. I have a Trijicon 1-4 with the green triangle post mounted on it, and have a NECG ghost ring sight that fits the Ruger integral bases for back up. Still waiting to take it on a bison hunt. When I do make it to Africa for a dangerous game hunt, it will be going with me. Not sure of its weight, but it isn't overly heavy, yet has enough weight to help with recoil. Should I ever need it to be a "fighting" rifle, it should do the job!
Yes, it has more recoil than my 376 Steyr and my 9.3x62, but with the lighter bullets, it isn't objectionable. I have shot the 400 gr bullets too, and while more felt recoil, still not bad. For here, for now, the 350's will suffice.
I also shot another friend's Brno in 416 Rigby with hot 400 gr loads. Definitely noticeable recoil. One of two rifles I have ever shot where the scope lightly touched my brow.
After reading several items about the 416 Taylor, I was intrigued by the similar performance while using way less powder, and being able to use a regular magnum faced long action.
Awhile later I met Ralf Martini when he was still located in NEBC and he had a Ruger 77 in 416 Taylor he has built and was selling for a client for a reasonable price and I bought it.
That rifle would put 3 bullets in a true clover leaf pattern @ 100 yards with open sights with 300, 325 and 350 gr bullets, and recoil was very manageable with medium to max loads of powder.
I never had the chance to soot any big game with it while I owned it. I ran into another fellow that wanted it more than I did, as it was right handed, and I wanted to build one left handed, so I sold it. He later told me that he had shot a bull elk with it as it ran through the aspens in front of him. Turned out the 350 gr Barnes X Bullet centreded alarge aspen, then hit the elk on the shoulder and it crashed to the ground, leaving a long skid mark. He was impressed.
I have built another on a left handed M77, and it is shooting the 350 gr TSX into 1/2" groups @ 100 yards w/ 70.0 gr of Re-15. It has a Bevan King 22" barrel, that keeps the weight and handiness of the rifle nice and balanced. It is stocked in a laminate stock. I have a Trijicon 1-4 with the green triangle post mounted on it, and have a NECG ghost ring sight that fits the Ruger integral bases for back up. Still waiting to take it on a bison hunt. When I do make it to Africa for a dangerous game hunt, it will be going with me. Not sure of its weight, but it isn't overly heavy, yet has enough weight to help with recoil. Should I ever need it to be a "fighting" rifle, it should do the job!
Yes, it has more recoil than my 376 Steyr and my 9.3x62, but with the lighter bullets, it isn't objectionable. I have shot the 400 gr bullets too, and while more felt recoil, still not bad. For here, for now, the 350's will suffice.
All well and good, but at 300 meters you would be better off with a .30 cal or .338 cal magnum. Sure you can shoot the .416 with more energy, but there are significantly diminishing returns... and you don't shoot dangerous game at 300 yards. Even your .375 H&H would be a better choice in that scenario. Might aswell make your choice in the likely scenario rather than the "what if" scenario. Having said that, if you just want a .416 go for it... we all like guns, some of us even like big guns.
.416 Ruger is great if you can't handle the recoil of a real .416, like a Weatherby. Or a Barrett.
not srs
I agree though, you don't need a reason to buy/build a .416 - just go for it! Might be a fun project that never gets used and just moves along to someone else, or it might become your favorite tool in the chest.
not srs
I agree though, you don't need a reason to buy/build a .416 - just go for it! Might be a fun project that never gets used and just moves along to someone else, or it might become your favorite tool in the chest.
I've hunted dangerous game (Cape Buffalo and leopard) and plains game with a .375 H&H (Ruger RSM)- using 300 grain Swift A-Frames, 350 grain Barnes TSX, 300 grain Barnes Solids and 380 grain Rhinos. All satisfactory. My PH commented that the heavy-for-caliber Rhinos performed "more like a .40", that is, the effect (on giraffe) was noticeably "harder" than the 300 grain bullets.
On another trip I used a 404 Jeffrey (400 grain A-Frames and 400 grain Barnes Banded Solids) on Cape Buffalo, lioness, assorted plains game and a charging elephant (solids only on the elephant). They all performed flawlessly. My primary rifle was a Heym Express Rifle (in 404 Jeffrey) and a Ruger RSM in .416 Rigby as a backup.
The Rigby ammo was 400 grain TSX at a chrono'd 2,400 fps. The Jeffrey was 2,350.
Recoil with both was very manageable. You're shooting standing up, so the recoil is the last thing you're paying attention to.
Typical distances were between 30 and 60 metres, with exceptions. The elephant was five paces and one unlucky baboon was shot out of a tree at 250-something metres (baboon with the 416). Longer distances happened a couple of times and only as a novelty on baboons. Everything else was taken close up.
Weight of your ammo is something to be mindful of, as well as the available of ammo locally (which may be an issue).
For plains game only (excluding eland and giraffe), I've hunted with a .270 Win and 7x57 with excellent performance, in both cases using monometal (Barnes TSX) bullets - 130 grain for the .270 and 140 grain for the 7x57. Their excellent penetration translated into fabulous lethality. The .375 H&H is an excellent "do it all" choice, but it is something of a compromise. Bullets make a huge difference in terms of performance (lethality).
None of my African rifles (.375 H&H, .404 Jeffrey,.416 Rigby, 450-400 3" NE) would be my first choice for North American game. Too heavy, overpowered for any of the game that most people here hunt. A .270, the 7x57, 30-06 will take care of 99% of most people's hunting requirements. A .338 WM or .338-06 (or.45-70) with superior bullets would fit the bill for anything bigger. Having several tons of p-o'd elephant doing his best to stomp you calls for a different tool. Same for Cape Buffalo. You want to end it right there and not let that critter have any say in how the encounter ends. Anyways, my 2 cents worth.
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Good results with .416 300gr & 350gr TSX. Now loading 350gr TTSX (0.44 bc) & 340gr CEB (0.78 bc) for my .416's. Long range capability. https://i.imgur.com/vtz0vGF.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/V0OjRKQ.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/bXabTo1.jpg
I shot a timber wolf at ~250 yards, off-hand shot. 400gr NP iirc (but a 400gr bullet for sure). The wolf collapsed in it's tracks.
I walked over to the wolf and checked for a bullet hole, blood etc.
There was absolutely no bullet hole that I could find and zero blood. That big bullet zipped through the shoulder/lung area and likely didn't even expand on that thin skinned wolf.
I mean it looked as if the thing had died of fright.
About a week later I shot a 50" bull moose at 250 yards, offhand shots. Two round both in the engine room, moose collapsed on impact of the second shot.
When I fired the first round my buddy also hit the moose a split second after I fired, with a 250gr .338WM.
Nothing wrong with 250-300 yard ballistics on the .416RM.
This is the 50" bull I shot with the .416RM. This is before David Henry worked it over.
Sling is just tied onto the barrel with a leather lace.
Here's how the rifle looks in the McMillan stock.
See the funky Brno set trigger and barrel band.
It's a fabulous rifle.
I have a Custom built 416 Taylor - I originally was gonna go with the 416 REM BUT. It uses 1/2 longer brass and a bunch more powder to do 100 or so ?fps over the Taylor SO I decided on the Taylor ! I passed on the Ruger 416 to make sure I would not have feeding problems in the WBee Vanguard action. RJ
https://www.northwestmagnum.com/416-taylor
https://www.northwestmagnum.com/416-taylor
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