Solving Bullet Setback in .416 Rigby

[Rule 303]

Good afternoon.

I have loaded 416 Rigby for a CZ and now I reload it for a Rigby Big Game. I use Hornady dies, and I have never had bullet set back. Last year I broke down and bought a Lee factory crimp die and use it for ammo I load for Africa. My Barnes 350gr load is moving just over 2400 fps so it shoots to same POA/POI as the 400gr loads (in my rifle). It does a lot of damage on plains game, alomost removing the off shoulder on some.

My question is, does your Lee Factory Crimp Die fit in a standard 7/8"-14 thread Rock Chucker? Mine is a large series die (1 1/4" - 12 thread) and I have it in a Lee Classic Cast press that will accommodate the larger die.

Safe shooting

The LFCD for the 416 Rigby requires a press that will take the 1 1/4" dies. My old Lyman Orange crusher has a removeable 7/8th thread insert that screws into the 1 1/4" thread. I think, not sure, that RCBS now has that insert.

I also had ribs soldered into the magazine to prevent the bullet noses hitting the front of the mag during recoil. Unfortunately it was not a good job and one of the ribs went walk about.

 

[Al Burke]

My question is, does your Lee Factory Crimp Die fit in a standard 7/8"-14 thread Rock Chucker? Mine is a large series die (1 1/4" - 12 thread) and I have it in a Lee Classic Cast press that will accommodate the larger die.

The LFCD for the 416 Rigby requires a press that will take the 1 1/4" dies. My old Lyman Orange crusher has a removeable 7/8th thread insert that screws into the 1 1/4" thread. I think, not sure, that RCBS now has that insert.

Yes, my RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme has a removable bushing that allows use of the 1 1/4" - 12 thread LFCD for the larger cartridges.

 

[Shootist43]

Wswolf, your post is spot on. I first read about this "opportunity / method" to increase neck tension in a book written by Nathan Foster. Using this technique along with a Lee Factory Crimp Die will eliminate the OP 's bullet set back issue.

 

[Woodcarver]

Thanks for the validation, gents. I loaded up some rounds tonight and tightened the Lee Factory Crimp Die down enough that I had to hmph to get it to cam over in my Rock Chucker press. On the first one I was concerned about what I'd find, but the brass and bullet both look unharmed.

Doing this will actually damage the LFC die. Max crimp is achieved if the die is set so the fingers just touch when the ram is fully raised. Lee's recommendation is ~20lbs of down pressure (that's really not much) to get the full crimp effect of the die. Lowering to the point of a felt cam-over with "hmph" will ruin your die in fairly short order.

@fourfive8 spells it out well to get your seating die and the LFC to play nice together.

OP stated he uses Lee FCD. Be sure to back bullet seating die out some so the crimp shoulder in that die doesn’t contact case mouth. That crimping shoulder can be counter productive to increased neck tension and decrease effectiveness of the FCD. Trim all brass to same length. Seat bullet so case mouth is at front edge of bullet crimp groove. Set FCD die for full compression. Watch top of die as collet fingers compress the leading edge of the case mouth. Setting deeper than that will not increase crimp as the collet fingers cannot compress each other. Using compressed powder column to prevent bullet setback is not a wise way to prevent bullet set back.