Preferred/Popular 416 projectiles

[Backyardsniper]

Since I recently acquired a 416, or two, I need a little help on projectiles. I assume it is the same as all the others. Swift and Barnes. I have several barnes bullets on the way and some of them are 350gr banded solids, are these suitable for anything you may need a solid for? Elephant, hippo on land, Buffalo or do I need to step up to the 400gr? Are there any particularly good bullets that everyone really likes, other than the obvious, Swift and Barnes. There are some CEB raptor and solids on Gunbroker.
Also any powders that are known to be better than others. I saw there is data for H4350, RL 22, RL 16, H1000. I have a good supply of all of those. The majority of the brass I sourced is New Norma so I assume that should work well. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[YancyW]

I would 400gr if possible, that is my plan for my up coming hunt. AFrames would be top choice for softs, but that can be pretty hard to source. Barnes TSX would be my second choice, I have tons of 400gr Partitions, I would use those, but not ideal.

If you have a good supply H4350, I would start there. IMR 4064 seems to be a popular choice with many.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I suspected the 400's might be the preferred. I'm going to attempt to find some swift A frames, maybe when thier next batch comes out I can get some.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I'm hoping speer releases.another batch of those 350gr Hot Cor. They are reasonably priced and would be great for trigger time at the range

 

[Rob.450/400]

I have several barnes bullets on the way and some of them are 350gr banded solids, are these suitable for anything you may need a solid for? Elephant, hippo on land, Buffalo or do I need to step up to the 400gr?

Based upon taking multiple DG trophies with a .416 Rigby, I would recommend the 400 grain .416 bullet with its sectional density of .330 over the 350 grainer. The .416, 350 grain bullet only has a SD of .289 (and falls below the recommendations of Doctari (Dr. Robertson)). On multiple Cape buffalo and a bull elephant, the 400 grain .416 bullets (Barnes TSX and Solids) had excellent penetration at a muzzle velocity of 2350 (I didn't push it). The same loads with 400 grain .416 bullets hammered PG and lion. Comparing a different DG hunt with multiple Cape buffalo and an elephant, I noted that the .416 400 grain bullets (both soft and solid) did not penetrate as deeply (distance) as 550 gr., .458 bullets (Woodleigh solids) with a SD of .375 out of a 450 Dakota at a muzzle velocity of 2250 fps (again, not pushing the limit for velocity, but fine accuracy). My limited experience falls into anecdotal data, meaning my limited experience. My opinion is to only use only 400 grain bullets of excellent design (Barnes/Swift/CEB/etc.) for the DG you list, including hippo on land. Wishing you, Backyardsniper, a great adventure. Did I miss it, but what cartridges in .416 do you have and are planning to use?

 

[Backyardsniper]

I picked up a couple of 416 rigby. One in a CZ and one in a Ruger RSM if all goes well on that trade. I plan to shoot both and see which runs best. I figured the 400gr was the way to go but figured I would check with the guys who have actually used them. I will use the 350's for banging steel at the range or save them for PG or whitetail and bear here at home.

 

[Dr Ray]

Since I recently acquired a 416, or two, I need a little help on projectiles. I assume it is the same as all the others. Swift and Barnes. I have several barnes bullets on the way and some of them are 350gr banded solids, are these suitable for anything you may need a solid for? Elephant, hippo on land, Buffalo or do I need to step up to the 400gr? Are there any particularly good bullets that everyone really likes, other than the obvious, Swift and Barnes. There are some CEB raptor and solids on Gunbroker.
Also any powders that are known to be better than others. I saw there is data for H4350, RL 22, RL 16, H1000. I have a good supply of all of those. The majority of the brass I sourced is New Norma so I assume that should work well. Any input would be appreciated.

I use 400 grain Swift A Frames and Woodleigh hydros.
If I cannot get Woodleigh bullets I don’t know what I’ll get.
I use AR2208 (Australian rifle) so check out the ADI (Australian defence industries) powder equivalents. ADI makes AR powders that are rebranded for the northern hemisphere market.
I use 78 grains of 2208 behind the 400 grain bullets (max load)
If you go to 450 grain bullets I suggest R2217.

 

[spike.t]

When I was using my 416 rigby I only used trophy bonded bearclaw and sledgehammer bullets in BELL ammunition....all that was available back then....worked great...

 

[Shootist43]

Backyardsniper, IMHO it is 400 Gr. Swift A Frames. There is an old adage about not messing with success.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Backyardsniper, IMHO it is 400 Gr. Swift A Frames. There is an old adage about not messing with success.

I agree and if I can get my hands on some that is exactly what I plan to run. Solids are more what I'm concerned with. The ones I have coming are 350's and I'm assuming I need to find myself some 400gr solids. I'll keep the 350's for another hunt where I might be shooting the super small antelope or cats

 

[C.W. Richter]

400 Swift A-Frames and Barnes Banded Solids. They print very similarly @ 2,450 fps. The 450 Woodleighs are even better (higher SD SP & FMJ in Norma PH Ammo or handloads) but I believe they've gone south. Not a problem taking the pygmy antelope using 400 gr solids. Waste of time/energy re-sighting gun for 50 gr less. The dik-dik won't know the difference!

 

[Backyardsniper]

True. I'll use up the 350's ive got coming for practice or sell them to buy 400's

 

[C.W. Richter]

350 would be a little more pleasant shooting on comparatively thin-skinned and/or longer shot bison/brown bear/moose in the US.

 

[browningbbr]

My two cents:
1. Use a premium weight retention bullet - A-frame, TSX, Partition, etc.
2. Heavier, 400 gn bullets are better, IF they group well
3. Use the bullet that gives you the best, repeatable accuracy - placement is the most important factor
4. Shoot multiple tests - you'll learn about the consistency of the load and get used to the recoil

Good luck with your efforts!

browningbbr

PS: I got the best accuracy with 400 gn TSX. Luckily, 400 gn Barnes Banded Solids grouped the same, so I took both for my .416 Rigby on my Tanzania hunt.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Although I love nosler partitions at home and for PG they're not recommended for DG in Africa. Read what Kevin Robertson has to say about them... They even grouped slightly better than the swifts but since the A-frames perform better on big things I stuck with them. What do you plan on hunting with this 416?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

400Gr Rhino Solid Shank

400Gr Barnes Banded Solids

 

[Fred Gunner]

This Swift 400 was all that was needed to take this Buffalo. One shot one kill.

 

[Backyardsniper]

This Swift 400 was all that was needed to take this Buffalo. One shot one kill.View attachment 451228View attachment 451229

Always.

 

[TOBY458]

In speaking with @michael458 , the 350gr flat nosed mono metal solids actually penetrate better than the 400gr. They maintain stability during penetration better than the longer bullets. I believe this is due to the extra length that the mono metal bullets have due to being made out of brass. The lighter weight of the brass, makes the bullets longer in any given weight. So the 350gr Barnes banded solids or CEB solids may be just the ticket.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I was curious about that. When you couple the extra length and extra velocity you can get with the slightly lighter bullet it does seem like they would have good penetration