Just in! Ruger Magnum .416 Rigby.

[sestoppelman]

I tried to post this earlier but I got blocked and had to have J clear me,, again. Anyway, shot this beast today and results were good. Fired it standing for the first round to get the feel of it, then sat down on the bench with a few factory loads and sighted in, that took 2 rounds after a manual bore sighting. I had 3 handloads to try, two of 3 rounds and one of 4. I had some hangfires due I suppose to the amount of space in the case using reduced loads with slower powders but the loads came right out of the Hornady manual, but I did use a different primer than H did, I used a CCI 250 LRM where H used the Fed primer I think. I will use those next time because I HATE hangfires! 3 rounds of IMR 7828 went into less than an inch. 2 of 3 went into an inch with R25, the first was a hangfire. The last load with IMR 4831 had 2 hangfires, and was the smallest charge owing to being the fastest of the powders tried. Was trying to get loads in the Jeffery range as opposed to full power Rigby loads which produce about the same energy as the .458 Win mag and we know how much they are to shoot, not

 

[Rule 303]

I have two of these, one in 416 Rigby and one in 458 Lott. I also have a 404 J in a Model 70 converted from 300 RUM. I shoot Hendershots ammo in the 404 with 400 gr tsx loaded to 2350 fps. I have shot Hornady ammo in the 416 Rigby loaded to 2400 fps and, to me, the felt recoil is considerably more than the 404. I don't know whether it is just the extra velocity, gun fit or what. The Ruger is heavier than the Winchester by a half pound, so go figure. Either way, those Ruger RSMs are great guns. Congrats on your purchase!

I have found that basing felt recoil on the Hornady 416Rigby ammo to be misleading. Out of my Rigby they choreographed over a 100fps slower than my home loads with the same bullet weight and kicked a hell of a lot sharper and harder. I had 3 boxes fired one and pulled the rest. Talking the soft nose.

 

[Custom]

I have found that basing felt recoil on the Hornady 416Rigby ammo to be misleading. Out of my Rigby they choreographed over a 100fps slower than my home loads with the same bullet weight and kicked a hell of a lot sharper and harder. I had 3 boxes fired one and pulled the rest. Talking the soft nose.

That's good to know. I have also shot Hornady softs in the 404 and remember the recoil being sharper as well.

 

[Rule 303]

I tried to post this earlier but I got blocked and had to have J clear me,, again. Anyway, shot this beast today and results were good. Fired it standing for the first round to get the feel of it, then sat down on the bench with a few factory loads and sighted in, that took 2 rounds after a manual bore sighting. I had 3 handloads to try, two of 3 rounds and one of 4. I had some hangfires due I suppose to the amount of space in the case using reduced loads with slower powders but the loads came right out of the Hornady manual, but I did use a different primer than H did, I used a CCI 250 LRM where H used the Fed primer I think. I will use those next time because I HATE hangfires! 3 rounds of IMR 7828 went into less than an inch. 2 of 3 went into an inch with R25, the first was a hangfire. The last load with IMR 4831 had 2 hangfires, and was the smallest charge owing to being the fastest of the powders tried. Was trying to get loads in the Jeffery range as opposed to full power Rigby loads which produce about the same energy as the .458 Win mag and we know how much they are to shoot, not

Didn't have the following info at hand when I read this.

For reduced powder loads that are safe in the 416 Rigby case use 65 grains of AR2206H (H4895, IMR4895) as a starting load and work up. This gave me a MV of 2010fps with a hard cast Gas Checked 415grn pill. and 1960fps with a 445grn pill HC GC pill. I have not worked up any higher loads as I use these for practice.

The hang fires with reduced loads of slow powder in a big case worry me.

 

[sestoppelman]

They don't worry me in a rifle, but they are annoying as hell and make grouping difficult. The IMR 7828 shot best and had no hangfires so plan on shooting more of that.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Nice rifle in excellent calibre. Congrats.
Witold