416 WSM first range trip

[AZDAVE]

Always good to know that they worked even if you weren't planning on using them on buff as a first choice. That 500 is a big hammer I remember backing a buddy up on his elephant. His 400gr 416 at 2300 and my 500 Jeff 570grt at 2295 on the video it was a marked difference in the impact and the reaction to the shot.

 

[Don416]

@TOBY458 It is solid performer. I have a 416 ruger and 500/416 so I have the bigger 416's covered.
This was just a neck up of a standard wsm case and fireform. I have included the case beside a 458 B&M for comparison. The B&M cases are bigger.

@Downandlow the neck is .323 long.

View attachment 591374View attachment 591375

I have a 416WSM in the works. How do you find the AA powder for case separation? B&M loads say spherical powders cause shorter case life compared to stick powder? The WSM case should allow longer bullets in a short action which is what I have. B&M cases are too long for short actions in my opinion.

 

[Downandlow]

I’m wondering on your 416 WSM what cartridge u used to size up. 325 is what I’m planning on using. There are subtle differences in case dimensions with 7mm the longest to shoulder followed by 325, and then 300 and 270. I’m leaning toward using the 325 but reaming the chamber to 7mm WSM shoulder length and hopefully gain a few fps.
Also do you have to anneal your brass? Thanx for the info. I’ll post some pics of my project as I go.

Silky

 

[AZDAVE]

I have been using the 300 WSM as my base case and it seems to work well. Haven't tried the 325's.
Looking forward to seeing how your project turns out.

 

[hoytcanon]

I'm using .300 WSM cases for my .375 WSM... I anneal first.

 

[Riflecrank]

I have a 416WSM in the works. How do you find the AA powder for case separation? B&M loads say spherical powders cause shorter case life compared to stick powder? The WSM case should allow longer bullets in a short action which is what I have. B&M cases are too long for short actions in my opinion.

Yup, the skinny-long .416-caliber bullets might be better off in the shorter WSM case if you need to make it fit into a short action.
Where the B&M case really shines in a WSM-length action is with .458-caliber bullets.

 

[Don416]

I tried some 300WSM cases for dummy rounds and they stretched out ok so far. Guy at Pacific Tool and Gauge where I got the reamer said some guys were just shootin 300WSM rounds in the 416 to fire form cases, NOT recommending but just saying.
I use a 300 to 358 tapered button then 358 to 416.

 

[Riflecrank]

The increase in bullet diameter from .308 to .416 = 35.06%
I have never had a problem necking up .338 Lapua Magnum to .458 Thumper.
That was with either RCBS neck expander in two steps (.30-375 then .375 -.45)
or with simply blowing it out in fire-forming.
That increase in bullet diameter from .338 to .458 = 35.50%, about same or little more than with .300 WSM to .416 WSM.

Using new brass or properly annealed once-fired brass should be no problem.

I used new Lapua brass that was beautifully annealed from factory.
Necking .338 up to .500-caliber caused about 3 split necks per 100.
I got basic cylindrical and necked it down for the .500 and .510 wildcats which had "improved"
shoulder anyway, really needed to be made from necked down basic cylindrical:

 

[AZDAVE]

I use basically the same taper expander that I use for the 400 whelen than the 416 wsm sizing die takes it up the last little bit. My rifle is built on a WSM win70 action.

 

[Don416]

Wondering where you are getting loading info?
I’m lookin at 416 Taylor data and figuring for the difference in case volume to get loads for similar bullets.

 

[AZDAVE]

@Don416 I got my basic load data from quick load program, then started low and worked my way up. So far has been very easy to develop loads for and is a very efficient little round.

 

[Certus]

I love 416 caliber, not for the reasons you might think however, it is still inferior for most really large game, like buffalo and such......... However, it does the best job ever, of allowing little girls to be able to handle a cartridge/caliber that replaces the Rat Guns/cartridges of Old, and that totally 100% useless caliber of .375 ................ 416 is so much superior on the larger rat species than 375 there is just NO comparison whatsoever, and hopefully will be the Death Nail in .375 finally............ Now all you little girls out there, that worship at the alter of 375, now have a great choice to move up to.... and that is 416 caliber...................


And see, @AZDAVE is already ahead of the curve in planning for his new cartridge......... Indeed, this would be a great and is a great big bear caliber. What @AZDAVE might or might not know is that there is a 225 gr Raptor made in .416 caliber that is a flat out HAMMER on big bears, and has been proven several times now...........

The 225 Raptor................ 416 WSM should be able to exceed 2800 fps with this, and it will blow thru the big bears like butter, and put them in the DIRT ...................

Rebate that rim and it would look like a little .500J

 

[hoytcanon]

I clearly have the winter blues... I have a donor rifle in my shop, and your project got me thinking that a .375 WSM would be cool too... particularly because I have lots of brass and bullets... before I finished my coffee, and cleared my head, I had the reamer, dies and barrel on the way! I need this like a hole in the head, but WTH, life is too short to be boring.

The .375 WSM is marvelous... shoots 235 TSX and 300 Sierra #3000's equally well. Will do a comprehensive range report when time permits, neck deep in bears at the moment.

Here are the guiding bevy, top to bottom; .450 Marlin, now converted to a .458 WM Carbine with NECG sights, should have it back in a couple weeks, 7.62X57 Hoytcanon, .358-375 Ruger and the .375 WSM.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

If you were much worth a damn as a Son, and really wanted to look after your Mom like you should, you would trade her up to 416 caliber to keep her safe!

I will give you something however, you at least used Bullet Tech to try and help her out, and teaching head shots only, which is good.........But I still think if you really cared, you would get her a 416..........

@michael458
If'n he really cared he would have got her a lovely tower of power, a 35 Whelen.
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[AZDAVE]

@hoytcanon nice 4 rifle stable.

Have a 450marlin built on a ruger 77. Kinda like a 458 american. i like the small 458 cal rifles, they provide a solid power in a handy package that are easy to load for.

 

[hoytcanon]

@hoytcanon nice 4 rifle stable.

Have a 450marlin built on a ruger 77. Kinda like a 458 american. i like the small 458 cal rifles, they provide a solid power in a handy package that are easy to load for.

I agree, but I made a mistake and should have just gone with the WM to start... for bears, I am using the same .450 bear load in the WM with filler, and getting basically the same velocity and accuracy, plus the option of more power when I want it. 350 RN's are perfect on bears, and 500 DGX if I am serious about putting on a hurt.

 

[AZDAVE]

I had a 458WM but replaced it with a 458 B&M, for the smaller 458's a 458 SOCOM, 450 Marlin, 45/70. Like shooting all of them for different reasons. You 350 and 500 approach will take care of anything you want to hunt.

 

[Don416]

Picked up my 416WSM from gunsmith today.
Using powders available IMR4031 from 416 Taylor loads I found in Handloader Magazine. Calculated volume difference and adjusted load accordingly.
Started with 53gr IMR4031, 1 shot was all we could take as he didn’t have a range, just a test station.
So far so good, no pressure signs, bullets 400gr HOR DGS are seated way into case to maintain max WSM COL.
18.5” barrel has a good bark when fired, surprised us both a little even knowing it would be loud.

 

[AZDAVE]

Sounds like you will have a great time developing loads. You will be surprised at the performance you get out of the small case. Look forward to hearing how things go. Congrats on a new rifle.

 

[Don416]

AZDAVE have you tried Barnes TSX BT bullets yet?
Lookin at some 300 or 350gr BT’s to get some more range out of my little Blunderbuss for moose this fall.