416 Rigby & 400gr North Forks

[Rule 303]

I have considered it as they expand slightly. Performance was phenomenal.

I disagree that their penetration is “in the middle”. My experience and several PHs comments after witnessing it are very different.

You may well have miss interpreted what I said. If you read the whole post you will get the idea that by in the middle, it is somewhere between the performance of a soft nose and a decent sized metplat solid. The Metplat Solids have been shown to penetrate further then the cup nose solids, though the CNS do more damage.

 

[BC Tal]

So, I’ve had a philosophical revelation. I’ve decided I don’t need 2375fps out of the 416 Rigby and that 91.0gr of N560 creating 2322fps will do just fine. I think the reduced recoil is advantageous and the 400gr semi spitzer at 2322fps will still get the job done on a Cape buff.
3 x 2 shot groups at 100m off the bench. The first pair low and left, the second pair slightly low and right, and the last pair 1.5” high and .5” left. I’m using a Zeiss 1-4 power scope with 1/2 MOA clicks. I’ll come down 2 clicks next range visit and call it a day.
Whoever said a Ruger No 1 can’t be accurate didn’t own one… or at least not this one. Very pleased with the accuracy of this load out of this rifle.
And now on to the CPS loads.

 

[Green Chile]

There ya go. We don't have to eke out every ounce of energy and speed on these guns. The animal never knows the difference but we can feel it. It's not "downloading" either...it's just not redlining our gun and the life of the gun is extended. It also helps when we get into a different environment with different temps and pressures. I think it's foolish to squeeze these big guns for every bit. That could really come back and bite you someday in the field when your gun won't extract, etc.

 

[Rule 303]

There ya go. We don't have to eke out every ounce of energy and speed on these guns. The animal never knows the difference but we can feel it. It's not "downloading" either...it's just not redlining our gun and the life of the gun is extended. It also helps when we get into a different environment with different temps and pressures. I think it's foolish to squeeze these big guns for every bit. That could really come back and bite you someday in the field when your gun won't extract, etc.

The 416 Rigby with normal loads that develop around 2400 fps is downloaded or just not uploaded to potential. The round is capable of 416Weatherby area velocities, just over 200fps faster.

With other big bore cartridges I agree with you and yes there is no need to achieve 2400fps with the Rigby 2250 should do the job..

 

[BC Tal]

The 416 Rigby with normal loads that develop around 2400 fps is downloaded or just not uploaded to potential. The round is capable of 416Weatherby area velocities, just over 200fps faster.

With other big bore cartridges I agree with you and yes there is no need to achieve 2400fps with the Rigby 2250 should do the job..

Not sure if 2250 is referring to my load or not, i am tucked in at averaging 2322fps.

 

[Rule 303]

Not sure if 2250 is referring to my load or not, i am tucked in at averaging 2322fps.

Nope. Just a figure that is quoted by a lot of people as all you require to get the job done. Some even say 2150 will do the job.

 

[Luvthunt]

Well, if you are a reader you know that in 1898 a 480 gr bullet at a published 2150 was the end of the black powder era, or almost anyway.History and modern chrony tell us the vel of 2150 for that cartridge was never achieved.

 

[Rule 303]

Well, if you are a reader you know that in 1898 a 480 gr bullet at a published 2150 was the end of the black powder era, or almost anyway.History and modern chrony tell us the vel of 2150 for that cartridge was never achieved.

As is the case for most of the claimed velocities of the early smokeless powder cartridges.

 

[BC Tal]

So I worked up a ladder for the cup point solids, 2 rds each at .5gr increments, and hit the range this morning. Remember my goal is to put them in the same hole as the semi spitzers, reference the photo above. I’m looking for 1.25” high and .75” left at 100m.
Just as expected, as the velocity increased, the rounds started to walk up. The last pair, rds 7 and 8 are 1” high and 2” left so just a shade over 1” left of where my semi spitzers are. Think I’m going to leave it there and call that my CPS load to match the semi spitzer load.
Again, while I acknowledge they are just two shot groups, and I was a little off for the first two pairs, but once I settled down the last two pairs tell me those North Fork cup point solids like the N560 in that Ruger No 1.
Oh, and the splatter marks are from some clown (@Just a dude in BC) shooting a gong just out of picture to the right with his Ruger No 1 in 500 NE.

 

[BC Tal]

416 Rigby, Norma brass, Fed match magnum large rifle primer, 400gr North Fork cup point solid.

 

[BC Tal]

Next range visit is final check of the iron sights and final adjustment of the Zeiss and I’m good to go.

 

[BC Tal]

Prophet River order 5 boxes 416 400gr SS in this shipment. Depend on how many boxes you need I would maybe talk with Ed at Prophet River so they book the boxes you want, or increase the order. Hopefully we have all license within a week and then the pallet is out of here.

Do you have any information on the status of the Prophet River order? When was it sent and was it by air or ship?

 

[wildcatter82]

Do you have any information on the status of the Prophet River order? When was it sent and was it by air or ship?

Jay with North Fork here. The Prophet River order is being picked up by the transportation company from our shop on Monday. It is being air freighted to Canada. We apologize for the delay!

 

[BC Tal]

Jay with North Fork here. The Prophet River order is being picked up by the transportation company from our shop on Monday. It is being air freighted to Canada. We apologize for the delay!

Thanks for the information.

 

[450 Rigby]

Hello BC Tal, I'm one of the partners with North Fork. We hope to have a restocking shipment for Canada out the door by end of next week. Please contact Prophet River for more details. According to their website they already have .416 400gr CPS in stock. Looks like they also have a box of .416 430gr SS available, which would also be a fantastic choice for your Rigby. The 430gr really hammers buff. I have personally used the strategy of 430gr SS & 400gr CPS/FPS out of my .416 with great success. Sticking with the 400gr SS, your plan of load dev and practice with the PP is a sound one. My 416 Taylor puts 400gr SS & PP in the same small group with same powder charge. Best of luck on your safari!

Do you have load recommendations for the 416 Rigby with the 430gr SS & 430gr CPS?

Also, I realize the PP is designed for cats but with the base being a solid shank wouldn't it still be very effective on Buffalo & large plains game such as Eland, Gemsbok, etc.? Seems it would mushroom out quickly & with the high SD 0.355 wouldn't the 430gr PP penetrate as well, given a velocity around 2200 to 2300 fps out of the 416 Rigby.

 

[Rule 303]

Not exactly what you are after but I use 103grains of AR2213SC(H4831SC) with a 450 grain Woodleigh in my 416 Rigby. MV 2360. I have not tried AR2209 (H4350) but it would be a lighter load of powder for same velocity.

Just mentioned it so if needed you have a starting point.

 

[wildcatter82]

Do you have load recommendations for the 416 Rigby with the 430gr SS & 430gr CPS?

Also, I realize the PP is designed for cats but with the base being a solid shank wouldn't it still be very effective on Buffalo & large plains game such as Eland, Gemsbok, etc.? Seems it would mushroom out quickly & with the high SD 0.355 wouldn't the 430gr PP penetrate as well, given a velocity around 2200 to 2300 fps out of the 416 Rigby.

Jay with North Fork here. I'll PM you our load data sheet for the Rigby and provide some further context.

The PP is indeed highly effective for large plains game. But for buff we will always recommend the best tool for the job, which is either the SS or CPS, depending on the application. More thoughts on this in the PM.

 

[450 Rigby]

Not exactly what you are after but I use 103grains of AR2213SC(H4831SC) with a 450 grain Woodleigh in my 416 Rigby. MV 2360. I have not tried AR2209 (H4350) but it would be a lighter load of powder for same velocity.

Just mentioned it so if needed you have a starting point.

That's rockin along for a 450gr bullet. I'm sure that's got some serious "swat" on the receiving end, both directions. My thinking was to try H4350 since the powder charge is a little less to help mitigate some of the recoil, however it may be a moot point.

Have you taken any Buffalo or other dangerous game with the 450gr Woodleigh? Are you regulated both for softs and solids in 450gr?

I haven't seen much of anything available from Woodleigh since the shop fire. Northforks are available from Reloading International.

 

[SStomcat]

When will SS be available in 286 grains for 9.3X62 ?

 

[450 Rigby]

When will SS be available in 286 grains for 9.3X62 ?

https://www.northforkbullets.com/north-fork-bullets/north-fork-bullets/caliber-366/north-fork-semi-spitz-ss-bullet-in-caliber-366.html