416 Rigby and filler

[1peggy]

Does anyone use a filler in 416 Rigby. I started working with H4350 and seem to have a lot of empty space in the case. Thanks in advance. Mike

 

[PARA45]

Does the book suggest using a filler? How full is the case?

 

[uplander01]

I've cut Kynoch wads down and used filler in a lot of calibers with no problems at all, it just burns up , and best to keep the powder column squared up within the case for consistent ignition. That being said I've shot a 416 rigby a lot and never felt the need.....take some pics if you can of a charged case without the projectile and let us have a look

 

[1peggy]

Swift book says its at 84%. Cannot find any filler use in my books. Thanks

 

[Dirtdart]

Once you burn up all of your stash of cordite the best option is a generous dose of something slower burning than H4350 to get a better "fill" with that case.

 

[PARA45]

I believe you’ll be ok at 84% without any filler. See what kind of grouping you get.

 

[86thecat]

You can try firing a few groups normally (or tipping mizzle down first), then fire a few by tipping muzzle vertical and lowering gently onto shooting bag for each shot. That should insure powder against flash hole consistently. See if there is a difference in group size. May even show a difference in velocity if you need filler.

 

[Luvthunt]

I use H4350 in my 416 Rigby and have shot it quite a bit. Did chrony work early on and vel spread was ok. Never used fillers and I load to app.2375fps. on the ave with 400 gr bullets.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

I emailed the staff at Shooters World powder asking about .416 load data (none available on their site) and they informed me that their 4350 was “the slowest burning of any commercially produced 4350 powder”. They recommended beginning with starting charges for any published 4350 data and work up, checking for pressure signs.
If you’re not satisfied with how Hodgdon fills the case you might consider SW4350.

 

[D.M.V]

I never used a filler but I'm using imr 7828 or 4831 and I'm shooting dead nutz accurate

 

[hoytcanon]

I do use filler, a product call Puff-Lon. I'm sitting at my loading bench loading 500 grain RN's in .458 WM using 56.0 grains of H4895 and then topping the case to the base of the bullet seating with Puff-Lon. Hodgdon has the 60% formula for reduced loads with H4895, but I have tested H4895 loads with and without filler and found better consistency with filler. It is cheap and easy to do, so why not. If there is extra space in a case, I am inclined to use filler to retain a consistent shape of the powder column... I'd far rather use filler than having to do a salsa dance with my rifle before every shot.

 

[cajunchefray]

I do use filler, a product call Puff-Lon. I'm sitting at my loading bench loading 500 grain RN's in .458 WM using 56.0 grains of H4895 and then topping the case to the base of the bullet seating with Puff-Lon. Hodgdon has the 60% formula for reduced loads with H4895, but I have tested H4895 loads with and without filler and found better consistency with filler. It is cheap and easy to do, so why not. If there is extra space in a case, I am inclined to use filler to retain a consistent shape of the powder column... I'd far rather use filler than having to do a salsa dance with my rifle before every shot.

I have used PuffLon as well in 416 Rigby and 500 Jeffery reduced loads. Clean burning, and insures some consistency, as tested by an engineer on another site who has done extensive work on big bore loads. It’s like adding insurance to your load, just not as expensive as home, car health insurance.
No downside.

 

[hoytcanon]

I have used PuffLon as well in 416 Rigby and 500 Jeffery reduced loads. Clean burning, and insures some consistency, as tested by an engineer on another site who has done extensive work on big bore loads. It’s like adding insurance to your load, just not as expensive as home, car health insurance.
No downside.

Agree... my black bear over bait load is 56.0 grains H4895 with 500 grain RN's topped with Puff-Lon for 1750 fps... gives 3400 ft/lb energy and does a great job on bears, completely pass through with very little damage to meat and hides. My full "back up" load in .458 WM is 75 grains H335 with the 500 RN @ 2100 fps... absolutely flattens bears.

 

[Rule 303]

Once you burn up all of your stash of cordite the best option is a generous dose of something slower burning than H4350 to get a better "fill" with that case.

Be careful of this. I use AR2209 (H4350) in my 416 Rigby and have never had a problem. SD is good and 3 into under an inch at 100Mts. Don't know why you would want to change things.

The Slower powders require more of it and they boot the shoulder a lot harder then the AR2209.

You can of course use way more AR2209 and take the Rigby just about to 416 Weatherby if you want.

 

[chutestraight]

Has anyone ever tried using shot buffer as filler when reloading bottleneck cartridges? (Ballistic Products shot buffer)

Here is a quote from cast bullet guru Veral Smith:

“Whenever ignition is poor due to too much [case capacity] or varying case capacity, the compression of fillered loads will get powder blazing uniformly.” You can fill “any empty space over the powder with granulated shot buffer, or second best, cornmeal, cream of wheat or other cereal.” “With this stuff you can expect wonderful things to happen. I’m not certain of exactly why it improves performance so much … . What is known is that it coats the bore with a film of plastic lubrication. … The film doesn’t build up, by the way.”

 

[uplander01]

I use 1/2 a kynoch wad to fill my 500 jeffery loads every time, a uniform powder column is very important. I have also used a similar technique on a 416 rigby load or two but the finished load for that rifle used enough powder to not need to. I like kynoch wads because they are uniform and no guesswork, you can cut them down if need be, never had any trouble with buildup in the bore at all.

While on subject of bore,…the only bore cleaner I use on any vintage rifle is wipe out, you will never see a cleaner barrel than after letting that stuff sit overnight. Brush scoring is a bad thing.