My thoughts after shooting my new .416 for a couple of months

[Forrest Halley]

What I have found is that a big gun increases the trigger pull like Holy Moses. It will break if a butterfly flaps its wings when empty, but get thumped a few times and that trigger is perceived to be nearing ten pounds and a mile long. Then you learn to manage it and the perceived trigger weight drops considerably.

 

[Rule 303]

I have to say the 416 Rigby is about my recoil tolerance threshold. Some good advice already given. Most I can do off the bench in a 3 hr range session is about 16 rounds. Standing and the tolerance goes up.

Sitting have the seat as low as possible so back is straight to allow you to roll back with the recoil. DO NOT use Hornady factory ammo. I do not know what powder they use but it is 100fps slower then my home loads, uses less powder and kicks like a mule. AR2213SC (H4831) com use more powder than AR2209 (IMR4350, H4350) and kicks harder.

I use lighter loads including Trailboss to get use to operating the rifle. I stand and shoot targets out to 50 meters. Raise rifle and fire. I now shoot clay pigeon placed on the mound at 30 mts using this method and full hunting loads. Same with using sticks.

Your rifle is most likely capable of 3 shots under an inch at 100mts. Continue as you are slow and steady with reduced loads and build up.

 

[njc110381]

I've never had a bad CZ, so my thoughts too are that the rifle can probably shoot very well. It's just me who's struggling to get the groups.

Shame about the Hornady ammo - I just picked up three boxes of solids for the price of one. Maybe I'll pass those off on people who want to have a go with it?!

I've got a mould for it now to cast 350gr bullets. I can't get Trailboss but Vihtavouri N32c (Tinstar) is available here and is very similar. I have load data for that at around 42gr for a maximum load giving somewhere in the region of 1800fps. That is a shoot it all day load and will be great for getting used to the gun. I plan to use quite a lot of those off hand at a gong. Something I used to enjoy very much with my .45-70.

 

[Milan]

I found a CZ .458 Lott more pleasant to shoot than a .416 Rigby Ruger RSM (the .458 Lott Ruger RSM was just vicious). Not sure how .416 Rigby CZ feels, as while I had the chance it sold quicker than expected and I never shot it. Either way, I'm sticking with 9.3x62 and .375H&H. If I ever need bigger, I will just get a CZ 550 in .458 Lott but as I get older I'm going smaller in caliber. Shooting is supposed to be fun and pleasure. I no longer find pleasure in being knocked around (even if she were a lady ).

 

[TTundra]

Shame about the Hornady ammo - I just picked up three boxes of solids for the price of one. Maybe I'll pass those off on people who want to have a go with it?!

Shoot them and then reload. Be the cheapest practice rounds and brass you can find. I picked up a lot of Hornady 416 DG ammo for that reason. Cheap, great for practice, then reload the brass for your desired load. My hand loads are hotter than the Hornady factory, but I didn't notice a difference from the factory federal 410gr to hornady 400gr.

 

[fourfive8]

I wouldn't worry about the velocity at all. Just use it for practice. It’s the Hornady bullets I wouldn’t use for hunting. If I can find them cheap enough I use their DGS and DGX bullets for trigger time and shooting paper.

 

[Rule 303]

Shoot them and then reload. Be the cheapest practice rounds and brass you can find. I picked up a lot of Hornady 416 DG ammo for that reason. Cheap, great for practice, then reload the brass for your desired load. My hand loads are hotter than the Hornady factory, but I didn't notice a difference from the factory federal 410gr to hornady 400gr.

Its the felt recoil from them that is the problem with using them for anything. As Fourfive8 says I wouldn't use them for hunting dangerous game.
I would pull the bullets empty the powder and reload with a better powder so they do not kick as much and use those for practice.

Now those with a better recoil tolerance than mine might not notice the difference in the Hornady factory recoil and what they use but I do. As the OP is having trouble with the recoil is why I made the recommendations I did.

 

[bruce moulds]

at the risk of sounding repetitive, I will repeat myself.
the human psyche will naturally try to be protective when subjected to violence.
in the case of shooting a rifle, this violence is from both sound and a sudden buffeting, and can be made worse by a scope in the head.every time we shoot the rifle, we react in a protective manner, and these reactions can become a habit, good or bad, that will ingrain.
the bad habits ingrain more naturally and tend to dominate.
they demonstrate as a flinch.
sound can be dealt with by wearing protection, and now electronic protection is more hunting friendly.
double protection can be worn in practice.
there is only one way to truly deal with recoil.
this is to develop what is called follow through, which is to be aiming the rifle after the shot is fired.
this must be done so much that it becomes the predominating habit.
the best way is never to do it wrong from the start, as then you don't have to get back to zero before moving ahead.
however most of us have done it wrong, and have to work on it 'till we die.
the best way to develop and maintain follow through is to fire the best shot you can, and call that the count of 1.
then count 2 and 3 while still doing the best aim possible.
do this with an air rifle, a 22, and any other rifle you fire not in anger.
with big kickers, as mentioned above, do not fire too many shots.
many serious shooters will dry fire at least 10 times a day doing this, making sure that each shot is perfect as is its follow through which is part of the shot.
in the end, if you do not cheat or be a wanker a good habit will form.
when you hunt it might go back a little, so you keep training.
people play lip service to this and then forget it proptosaurus because it means work, and there is no glamour or instant gratification in it.
however, like all the really good things in life, you only get out of it what you put in, and no amount of money thrown at it, or short cuts will do it for you.
bruce.

 

[thi9elsp]

I am by no means an expert on the big bores nor do I shoot as much as many on this forum do. My first move was to a CZ 375 H&H back in 2011 to prepare for my first Cape buffalo hunt. A few years ago I got a very good deal on a CZ 404J Custom. I never shoot more than 6 shots out of either one when I go to the range. 1 set of 3. Take a break. Then a second set of 3.

My break consists of shooting my Ruger 10/22 - probably 20 shots. I had an upgraded trigger put on it, BSA scope and it breaks at a similar poundage to all my other rifles. Even when I shoot my 30-06 or 7mm08 I use the same process although with those I will shoot 5 shots, then break and shoot the 10/22.

The 22 let's me get back to shooting basics - breathing, squeezing, site picture etc.

Lastly, when I shoot the 375 H&H or 404J I use a back sand bag and a front bag and I hold the fore-end (like I would be in the field) as well so that the rifle and I are one piece. Note: the range I'm at doesn't allow stand up shooting. I use the set-trigger to eliminate as much chance of a flinch or pull as possible. I allow my body to move with the recoil and then come back to the initial shooting position. That's how I shoot when I'm in the field - my body gives with the recoil. On the range I tend towards trying to stay stiff.

I also got a great deal on the Hornady DGS. I am keeping a 3" group at 100 yards off the bench on the 404J. Very satisfactory for me.

 

[Dr Ray]

Best way to appreciate the recoil of a .416 Rigby :
Borrow a Friend's .460 Weatherby Magnum and shoot it 8 times .... Then , get back to your .416 . You'll realize how light the recoil is
Jokes Aside , in all seriousness , you are already getting there Put in a nice recoil pad , wearing a shooting vest with good padding and you'll do it. I have fired a .505 Gibbs loaded with 600 grain Monolithic meplat brass Solids and the recoil was manageable by following these " tips "

I agree with you on that.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

I agree with you on that.

You can like ANY caliber after you shoot a .460 weatherby

 

[bruce moulds]

at the risk of sounding repetitive, I will repeat myself.
the human psyche will naturally try to be protective when subjected to violence.
in the case of shooting a rifle, this violence is from both sound and a sudden buffeting, and can be made worse by a scope in the head.every time we shoot the rifle, we react in a protective manner, and these reactions can become a habit, good or bad, that will ingrain.
the bad habits ingrain more naturally and tend to dominate.
they demonstrate as a flinch.
sound can be dealt with by wearing protection, and now electronic protection is more hunting friendly.
double protection can be worn in practice.
there is only one way to truly deal with recoil.
this is to develop what is called follow through, which is to be aiming the rifle after the shot is fired.
this must be done so much that it becomes the predominating habit.
the best way is never to do it wrong from the start, as then you don't have to get back to zero before moving ahead.
however most of us have done it wrong, and have to work on it 'till we die.
the best way to develop and maintain follow through is to fire the best shot you can, and call that the count of 1.
then count 2 and 3 while still doing the best aim possible.
do this with an air rifle, a 22, and any other rifle you fire not in anger.
with big kickers, as mentioned above, do not fire too many shots.
many serious shooters will dry fire at least 10 times a day doing this, making sure that each shot is perfect as is its follow through which is part of the shot.
in the end, if you do not cheat or be a wanker a good habit will form.
when you hunt it might go back a little, so you keep training.
people play lip service to this and then forget it proptosaurus because it means work, and there is no glamour or instant gratification in it.
however, like all the really good things in life, you only get out of it what you put in, and no amount of money thrown at it, or short cuts will do it for you.
bruce.

further to the above post, I would like to add this.
everyone from john taylor to david tubb to tony boyer recommend and practise dry firing relentlessly.
once a good follow through is developed the opportunity exists to learn to "call the shot".
in fact it is more than an opportunity, as it will just happen.
you will not shoot well, game or groups, until you can call the shot, as good shooting is defined as not firing a bad shot.
to do this you must not shoot unless the sights are exactly where they should be.
dry firing develops the consistency, and adjusting the sights puts the consistency where the bullets should go.
again no free lunches, just hard continuous work with mental acuteness attached.
some do not have the desire or the g&d for this, and they will never make their potential.
they could also end up dead.
firing a shot when the sights are not right is less effective than spray and pray.
if the rifle is zeroed properly it is in fact a guarantee of a miss - why fire that shot.
bruce.

 

[Rule 303]

thi9elsp good points. I start and end range sessions with the .22 and in between if using heavy recoilers.

Bruce M, I agree with almost every thing you have said however "firing a shot when the sights are not right is less effective than spray and pray". I disagree with. Spray and pray can most likely end up with a wounded animal/animals that you loose or do not know about. Firing a shot when the sights are not right should not be done but you are most likely going to end up with wounded animal but one that you know about. Also some times the shot is still in the vitals just not where you wanted, still have a dead animal.

 

[Dr Ray]

You can like ANY caliber after you shoot a .460 weatherby

Agreed!
Had the Kahles scope remind me a few times

 

[bruce moulds]

rule 303,
you make a good point and I should have made my point with more clarity.
I meant full auto.
then there is some possibility a good strike might happen, albeit a low probability.
your point is a good one, and illustrates the point that even in benchrest all bullets never go through the same hole.
by setting the goal high and developing a habit that is correct, the probability of the group of all the shots you ever fire will be smaller.
of course you also have to aim in the right place, which is the next step in the equation.
aiming at the heart, which you cannot see, and requires a different point of aim on the body, depending on how the animal presents, is another skill altogether.
your group must be centred on the heart and small.
the place to start is being able to shoot small groups, and then put them in the right place secondarily.
calling your shots accurately will tell you if the shot was true or if it is off, without witnessing the strike.
I remember doing this on a bull (cattle) with a headshot to the brain, using a light 338.
the thing had savage recoil, yet I followed through enough to see it go down like a thunderbolt, and knew exactly where the hit was from calling the shot.
I also remember shooting an offhand black powder match, and my group was forming low left.
a guy there suggested aiming high right, but calling my shots told me that my sights are not on the bull as the trigger broke.
in fact they were exactly where the bullets were going, 2moa out at 10.30.
if I had taken his advice, I would have practised a bad habit and ingrained it.
as it was I pulled myself into gear and won the shoot by improving correctness of technique.
bruce.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I learning a lot guys keep it up. Also I feel sorry for people who have to go to a range. I can open my back door and shoot my 100 yard target right off the porch. I used to have an 8 inch dinger target I would shoot once every day with my M16 styled AR with the military sights. The chains won’t handle the 375 though it just pulls them in two.

 

[bruce moulds]

there is a famous quote about building a house on sand.
in essence, the house will fall down due to not having a foundation.
shooting comes under the same heading.
we all like to dream about sophisticated advanced specialist techniques, taking short cuts. and assuming we have an innate sixth sense, and this will do it for us.
however no basics and the WHOLE thing is wasted.
in fact trying to underpin a house built on sand is just wasting time, even though it must be done to save the house.
better to have built the foundation first.
if like most of us you did not, then start underpinning, and do it for the rest of your life.
bruce.

 

[bruce moulds]

wyatt,
you can dry fire in your house anytime.
and this is the best of all, because you can do follow through the best.
bruce.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Thanks Bruce. I like most have built on sand and am going to be underpinning