Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Advice on .416 bullets for buf

I checked my notes and the 350 gr. .416 Rem loads I did were with 4064, not 4320. But, I have both.

Like Jorge said, those big bores are pretty forgiving. A number of mid range powders will work

Barnes shows the 400 gr accuracy load with A-2520. Don't have that one, but it's on the same burn rate line as IMR-4895 and Varget.

I'll figure out something.

DF

If you call Swift direct you can probably get good data on the solids. I’ve called them before and Bill was always very helpful.

Barnes data I have shows Re-15 as a good option. Which is good for me as I use it also in my 375 H&H and 338-06.

Nosler has the Partition load data online. Looks like 4064, Varget, and Re-15 are good to go.

I have those powders. I've also heard that Big Game is good in the .375 H&H, which is another RL-15 popular round. Seems the old H&H uses similar burn rate powders recommended for the .416 Rem.

Hope those Swift and Nosler bullets hit pretty close to the same POI. I'm gonna have to do some good guessing, as shooting multiple combos with $6 bullets many not be that productive...

Probably work up loads with the Partition, shoot a few Swift solids just to check POI, then load ammo for Africa.

DF

Sounds like you’ve got a good plan going.

Dirtfarmer, it sounds like you have plenty of experience, so whatever you come up with should be good enough for your buddy. Those Nosler Partitions should do great.

I've played around with a bunch of bullets and powders out of my .416 Rem, both solids and softs. I ended up using the 400 gr. A-Frames for softs. My backup was the 350gr. TSX and I'm sure that would have worked just fine, but I prefer the bonded lead bullets and the A-Frames have an excellent reputation in Africa. I did mess around some with the 400 gr. TSX, but that bullet was a tad too long and the velocity, of course, was reduced. For solids, I preferred the old North Fork solid. Not sure if they are available now or not, but I'm sure the Swift solid you just purchased should do the trick.

As for powders, RL-15 was the best for both the 416 and 375, in my experience. I did use IMR-4064 some and that did OK as well.

By the way, my PH in Zim had the same philosophy, i.e. load a soft up the pipe and fill the mag with solids. Not really what I would have done, but he was the boss so I listened.

Great info, guys.

I will hook up with Bill at Swift next week just to see what he says.

Varget may be the most temp stable of those disucssed, H-4895, may be as good. Big Game is reportedly pretty temp stable for a ball powder, RL-15 probably the least..

Thinking about few loads with RL-15, BG, Varget and H-4895 with the NPT's and see how they do. I'm gonna try for 2,350 fps or so, not push the envelop. I'll shoot a few solids with the best NPT load and check POI.

DF

I forgot about H-4895. That’s where I’d want to be on velocity also.

400 grain 416 swift A frames and break away solids are in stock directly through swift. Could change in a moment if folks start ordering them up:

https://www.swiftbullets.com/pages/bullets

Doctari is certainly a "gun guy", and then some.

He gave good, objective praise to the dgx bonded:

R15 has long been my go to powder in the 416 Rem. Tried Varget but it wasn’t as accurate so have stayed with R15. Your bullet choices are fine but I’d personally use a 350 TSX. I’ve never hunted with a PH that didn’t love them.

Thanks for that info. I've already got the NPT's ordered, will stick with them and the Break Away Solids.

I didn't know about direct access from Swift. That's good to know.

DF

If you can find it RL-15 would be my #1 choice for the .416 Rem.

Thanks, Elk. I have a can.

DF

Then you're GTG.

You killed any wabbits with that new .404J?

That's one classy gun. Expensive. I heard you'd promised Judy that was gonna be your last gun.

How long before you lied?



DF

I couldn't log in today DF, reason for the pic and text, great, you got a handle on it, always remember, if in need, bounce a rock off my doghouse, I can hook a Brutha up.

Thanks, gunner.

You da man.

DF

You're most welcome Neighbor.

Sounds like you're set. The bullets you chose should be fine. I would be tempted to try the Woodleigh,s both Weldcore and the Hydrostatically stabilized bullet as it may be more disruptive than a conventional solid. The Weldcore is a good choice for herd situations as an on the shoulder shot will usually stop on the hide on the off side. You can order directly from them so should be available.

R-16 is showing promise in the 375 H&H for me, might work well in the 416. Top velocities and temperature stable. A little faster speeds than R-15 which was my previous go to.

Not a major issue but if you find accuracy a grain or so below max I would stay there. Always good to have a margin of error for hot weather shooting. Full length size each case for the same reason and cycle all of them through the action.

I would get some Hornadays or the ACP for load work up till you do the final load tuning.

I need to head to the shop but too lazy at this point in the day but thinking it was RL-15 with the 350 gr TSX via 416 Remington M70.

Not yet and I said it will be my last .404 Jeffery.