Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 416 taylor

this is what i was thinking, i'm never going to the dark content and i will not be going to frozen land up north, i just want to satisfy an itch some thing to play with

FWIW: In 1988 I executed my first of 24 trips to Africa. My rifle(s) of choice: Pre '64 Model 70's. Light rifle: .270win/150gr Nosler Partitions for plains game/leopard. Dangerous game rifle: Custom pre '64 Model 70 .416 Taylor with 25" bbl shooting 400gr Jack Carter original bullets, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw soft points, and Trophy Bonded Sledge Hammer FMJ. Velocity for this rifle was originally 2400fps with both bullets. Ultimately, I reduced the load to average velocity of 2350fps. The reduction in velocity improved the accuracy shooting both SP, and FMJ bullets. (The reduction in velocity had nothing to do with pressure, or extraction problems.) The .416 Taylor" behaved" perfectly in all conditions, and temps (85F-100F) This rifle/caliber successfully accounted for nine buffalo, eleven elephant, one lion, one hippo, and more plains game than I can recall.
Mooshoo, if you're looking for a forty caliber rifle in today's world, there are several other choices which will be sufficient for big bears, or any of the African DG. But, if you're keen on the Taylor, go for it. As an aside; South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe customs never gave me any grief regarding my wildcat ammo.
When I began planning for my safari in 1987, there were not many choices in forty caliber rifles. Remington had not introduced their cartridge, and I certainly couldn't afford a Rigby, so I concluded a custom forty was the way to proceed. That decision was quite fortuitous. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

thanks again loved it!

Well, if I can't kill it with a 400gr bullet at 2150fps, I shouldn't have been there in the first place.

I'll be putting my 416 Taylor up for sale soon. It was built by a great gunsmith on a Remington 700 action and a McMillian stock.

I love the 416 Taylor, talk about efficient bang for the buck, my rifle is a 24" barreled BRNO Mauser with two position Winchester model 70 type safety, it looks about like Phil's old ugly 458 WM, 400 gr Partitions at a case friendly, and very accurate 2400 fps with CFE-223 is a hoot to shoot, the barrel express sight was filed dead on at 50 yards with that load before cerakoting, it wears a 1.5-5 Leupold in Talley lever rings, the receiver and bases were drilled and taped for 8x40 screws.

A B/C syn stock with spacer and new pad added for a LOP of 13-7/8ths then repainted by Darren75 right here at the fire, it's and all weather, all game basher that I'd be glad to hunt any animal anywhere with, donsm70 here at the 'fire generously gave me some proper stamped casehead A-Square brass if it ever needs to make a trip to Africa.

I bought a Ruger 77 in 7mm RM with the idea of making it a 358 Norma Mag or a larger caliber. First thing, I changed out the stock to a B&C stock, as the Ruger's stock wasn't right for me and I think the barrel is too light on that 77 for a rebore that big, so a new barrel would be in order. A 416 Tayler would be one of the cartridges I'd consider. Another would be a 375-338 or rather a 338 WM necked up to 375. I have never had a 700 extractor fail, but all of my bigger bore cartridges 338 Win and up now have claw extractors, just because of all the whining I read about extractors.

I have two other 7mm RM's on 700 actions and I really don't need a third 7mm RM all that much. For me, I've come to realize I have more larger caliber rifles than I'll probably ever use.

Back to your situtation: I think a 416 Taylor would be a hoot. Go for it.

I don't have any experience with the 416 Taylor, so can't comment.

The 416 Ruger idea is a good one as it will duplicate the 416 Rigby ballistics with a 400 grain bullet. At 2400 fps MV it can handle anything, including elephant, if that's what you're after. Cases are easy enough to find - or form - from the 375 Ruger or the Hornady 375 Ruger Basic brass.

I favor the 404-375 Ruger wildcat, as it has pretty much the same relationship to the 404 Jeffrey as the 416 Ruger has to the 416 Rigby. If you're looking for something unique, the 404-375 Ruger is worth a look. I've turned both of my Ruger 375 Hawkeyes (African & Alaskan) into the 404-375 Ruger and have no complaints.

I have owned a Taylor, a Remington, and a Rigby. I prefer the Taylor and the Remington. The Rigby rifles are just too chubby. A 22” barrel is just right. Loading a 400 to 2150-2200 makes either much more pleasant to shoot. For practice, Trail Boss is your friend.

No fear about head stamped brass...buy 416 Remington cases and cut shorter. 40-50 will be plenty. Have your barrel marked “416”. No problem. Mostly use 458 Winchester cases.

while I think about it, I might as well clarify what my "custom" .416 Taylor entailed. The rifle originally was a tired pre '64 model 70 .264 FWT. The barrel was pulled, and a Krieger barrel installed. Basically, the barrel swap, and check for proper head space and function, and adding hidden x bolts in the stock was just about all. I had this beater .264FWT, and a dead Super Grade stock (with pad) so the parts/pieces were available for the switch to the .416 Taylor. This was all accomplished for about what a standard model 70 would've cost in 1987 dollars. The rifle was such a hit, my wife suggested I sell her model 70 .375H&H SG, and have another .416Taylor built for her. She is 5'6" 130lbs, and swears the Taylor has no more recoil (her estimate) that the .375H&H. Well, it must work...she shot two buffalo, and one elephant plus plains game with HER rifle. Having my wife enjoy African hunting as much as I, is a special experience.

TSIBINDI,

Your 416 Taylor sounds perfect! I have had the urge to build one for years. When I do It will be very similar to yours.

Went back to the loading data my father used for africa. We used varget as the propelent and woodleigh 400 weldcore as the slug data says a little shy of 5k foot pounds of energy. Dad said his buffalo rolled on his back hoofes in the air from the impact. Woodleigh's 410 solid shot to the same point of impact with the same load data. He never used the sollid in africa.

Taylor VS Rem Mag...if a .308 makes sense to you, you will like a Taylor. If you would choose a 30'06 over a .308, then the 416 RM would add up. .358 or Whelen? ...Same situation.
My Taylor was a Howa with a no name barrel it cost me $300. Since then I built 3 Rem Mags a 26" Sendaro clone a 22" Brno square bridge Scout gun and a Remington KS. The Brno (5 shot!) was the fastest by far for first shot and follow up shots, by stop watch... twice as fast as any other 416.
Currently my RM KS is on consignment the others are hopefully still hunting in Alaska.
In America I would go 411KDF or 400Whelen or 400 H&H if you want to shoot a lot, that is!

Just FYI, a buddy has a .375 Taylor, uses .338wm brass and seats .375 boattails directly in the brass for his reloading of the Taylor.

When Wooters wrote the article, looking at primers and brass were pretty standard indicators of pressure at the time. As you mentioned, we now know that isn't necessarily the case so I'm not sure what you're getting at. I've never had any indication of high pressure with mine. As others said, SAAMI spec ammo is/was available for standard loads.

What is questionable about wet newspaper as a test medium? So long as all else is equal, results can be compared. John didn't use wet newspaper to try and simulate flesh, although we did place cattle bones several inches behind the first layers at times to see the results. Funny thing is, wet newspaper does give an indication of bullet performance and penetration capabilities.

My Taylor is built on a CZ BRNO Mauser. I shot it for years with the steel butt plate on the original stock before I finally had Randy Selby finish it with a nice piece of wood and a two position model 70 type safety. I've made brass out of everything from 7mm Rem Mag to .458 Win Mag brass. I've shot mostly cast bullets through it. It's good for 500 yard steel silhouettes on a regular basis. It's a handy little rifle and fun to shoot.

These are the SAAMI specifications from ANSI Z299,4 for 416 centerfire rifles:
416 Remington Magnum 350 2,525 650 666 691 400 2,400
416 Rigby 400 2,370 520 533 553
416 Ruger 400 2,410 620 636 660
416 Taylor Magnum 400 2,370 650 666 691
416 Weatherby Magnum 400 2,655 Piezo Pressures Not Established
The headings for the data did not copy to this reply but are bullet weight, velocity, max average pressure, max probable lot mean and max probable sample mean. Note that the 416 Ruger pushes a 400 grain bullet 40 fps faster at 3,000 psi lower pressure than the 416 Taylor.Also note that at equal pressures (65K) the 416 Remington is 155 fps faster than the 416 Taylor but the bullet weights are not the same.

All this data, while contributing, does not negate real world physics and the fact that most if not all African PHs suggest that a bullet of sufficient weight having SD above .310 and a magical speed of 2,150 fps will dispatch most anything on earth. Bottom line is that with no undue pressure the 416 Taylor without breaking a sweat will hurl a 450 gr Woodleigh bullet with SD .371 at 2,200 fps . The 416 Taylor is more than capable of stopping any bull elephant, just like all the rest, only a matter of preference for the 416 shooter.

Hear, hear!

My Taylor is my favorite .416, my .416 Howell is probably the rifle with the most sentiment since it is the first .416 Howell, and my .416 Remington is my most generic in a Model 70. They all perform pretty much the same. I'm sure the Rigby I'm building will be in the same ball park as the others.

I'm curious about all the expert opinions and their experience with any .416, other than what they've read in books and magazines. Sounds like nothing more than a bunch of hypothesizing.

bobmn, I'll see if I can glue a strain gauge over the chamber of my Taylor in a week or two and see just what I get.

Thanks Paladin. Will you be testing a 400 grain bullet? When I finally acquired the resources to afford Africa I chose a 416 Ruger for my cape buffalo hunts. I first tried a CZ in 416 Rigby but the extra long action and weight made it cumbersome. The 416 Ruger operated at a slightly lower pressure than the Taylor. The other consideration is that while the Ruger is not common in Africa the Taylor is impossible to find if you get separated from your ammunition as happened to me. If I were to do it over I might live with the higher pressure of the Remington in exchange for greater ammunition availability in Africa. If Africa is not a consideration I find the Ruger perfect.

I got separated from my ammo for 3 days. Fortunately my buddy brought his .470NE so I was able to use a round or two of his. Of course the PH had a .470 also, so it really wasn't a problem. I'll probably take the Howell when I go back. I doubt there's one round for it on the Dark Continent. On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise me if there's someone there that has one.It's

Yes, 400 gr is what I have but I'm not sure what I've got. I probably have Swift Breakaways, cast bullets for sure, and possibly North Forks. Wait. I've got a bunch of various bullets I got with the Howell. We'll see what I can come up with.