Bigger than .375H&H but with factory ammo readily available

[Forrest Halley]

416 rigby has some pretty nifty performance, I’m especially intrigued by it’s penetration of armor. But I’ve never seen it for sale on a gunstore shelf. I can usually count on seeing 458 win mag next to 375 h&h at larger gun stores.

Whatever are you referring to? World War I era counter sniper operations?

 

[geoff rath]

416 rigby has some pretty nifty performance, I’m especially intrigued by it’s penetration of armor. But I’ve never seen it for sale on a gunstore shelf. I can usually count on seeing 458 win mag next to 375 h&h at larger gun stores.

I have punched early-production Barnes X through 1/2inch bisalloy plate; made some observers scrape their chins on the gravel ...

 

[DLSJR]

Lots of people talk about it but in all my trips to Africa, I’ve never lost my own ammunition.

I’ve never had ammunition lost, but I did have a scope break on one of my rifles due to a bad drop and ended up having to use my 416 on nearly everything over a 24 days hunt in Botswana. I ended up having bumming some 416 Hoffman ammo from Neville Peake (some of you know his wife, Debbie Peake) in Maun. I was damn fortunate that he had a 416 Hoffman.

I came home with about 40 rounds of 338 and just a few leftover 416 rounds. BTW, the 416 is a hell of a springbok caliber!

 

[RR 314]

Currently in SA. I vote Lott. . Effective on buffalo and impala. Dang it. Pictures won’t attach from the bush. In any event, .458 win/Lott is a solid choice.

 

[RR 314]

Oops. Maybe just one at a time. Will limit it to one buff. Just rest assured to Lott is a fine impala rifle.

 

[RR 314]

Just made it back for breakfast. Proper impala rifle in a pinch. .416 is a great rifle in several flavors, however, the relatively moderate distinction between the .375s and the .416s would make the .458 my choice.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Having checked my yearly journals, here’s what I can list to help.

.416 Rigby
.416 Remington Magnum
.458 Winchester Magnum
.458 Lott

Factory loaded ammunition for these 4 are offered by:
Barnes (T.S.X & round nosed monolithic solids)
Federal (Trophy Bonded Bear Claw & Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solids)
Hornady (D.G.X & D.G.S)
Norma (monolithic solids only)
Nosler (Partition only)

 

[Northern Shooter]

As someone who has recently started looking for all of these big cartridges I have to say that of the >0.40 stuff, these would be the most to least available (and affordable)

.416 Rem > .416 Ruger ? .416 Rigby

.458 WM > 458 Lott > .404 Jeffery

.470 NE > All other NE cartridges

of the really big stuff Ive only ever seen 500NE in stock (at $270/box!).

Haven't seen any 505 Gibbs or 500 Jeffery in stock anywhere.

 

[Inline6]

416 Remington or 458 Lott.

This having both, they are easier to come by. I can't comment on 458 win,

470NE is also readily available as far as double rifles.go.

Just what I have noticed, I try to research before I buy. Looking at ammo seek and see what has the most stock. That will help you better than any pole you can make.

 

[NDWoods]

You fine gentlemen present a plethora of experience and fine advice.

The 416 Rigby I will use my own term and say is just a damn sexy cartridge with great penetration.

The 458 Lott is a damn heavy hitter without the Fabio sexiness but with performance and stats that cannot be denied.

I did not anticipate it coming down to two (to me exotic) calibers so easily but it has. I also understand the 416 Rem is on par with the Rigby, but when nostalgia comes in to play, emotions get the better of me and again make it a two cartridge game.

Thank you to all who have contributed. It was an interesting discussion and much research is still to be done.

Personal Bias: I was very happy to see the Barnes TSX being an available option for both. It is my primary hunting bullet of choice.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

416 rem very readily available and generally way cheaper than most big calibre ammo

 

[Hunter4752001]

re 458 WM vs 458 Lott availability. Checked the South Africa Safari Outdoors website:
4 different offering for 458 Lott and they are all in stock,
Only one listed for 458WM and its out of stock.
Add to that, in a pinch you can use 458WM in the 458 Lott but not vice versa.
Hopefully lost ammo will never be a problem, I just don't trust Murphy.