Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 416 Wby to Rigby

I am going to 'detune' my .416 Wby. to Rigby velocities. I have ordered a cap for the recoil reducer, and am going to shoot this rifle without the brake it came with. I intend to hunt with this rifle in Africa and N. America, and don't want to lose what's left of my hearing to do so.
By most reloading manuals, loading for the 350 gr. Barnes bullet, with 100 gr. of RL 22, gets me to Rigby velocities, without seriously compromising powder density. I haven't tried this yet, but will soon. Any experience with this situation?

you guys sure like the hurtin'! 60 grns of 19 behind a 250 gives me a lack of oxygen. let me know if love hurts <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
woofer

Bighorn,



I haven't tried any 350 gr. bullets or any RL powder but 102.0 gr. of H4831sc gives 2,377 fps. with a 335 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw. Works great for large Wild Hogs and Black Bear. If you want low cost way of helping cut the recoil install a C&H Research mercury insert in the stock. This is what I have done to all of my big recoiling rifles. Works great too with no increase in muzzle blast. Lawdog

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bighorn,
I'm a new member & this is my first post, so "hello" to all. When I was looking for some reduced loads for my Rigby I ran across an article by Ed Matunas, "Handloading the REALLY Big Bores for Deer". Per Matunas, I use 90 grains of IMR 4831 behind a 400gr Hornady soft point for about 2225fps. That's about 404 Jeffery levels and it makes for a nice practice round. I actually shot my nicest whitetail with that very load, and it did far less meat damage than say a .270, even though the shot was something like 20'. For the 416 Wby, Mr. Matunas suggests 105gr of IMR 7828 behind the same bullet from Hornady for 2275fps or 110gr for 2425fps. He also strongly suggests sticking with IMR 7828 for reduced loads, for best accuracy, in the Weatherby round. In looking though my 1st Edition Barnes manual I see that it lists 111gr of IMR 7828 for 2533fps with the 350gr X-bullet. I believe that you mentioned something about 100gr of RL 22. The manual shows 114gr for 2654fps, as a starting load, with the 350gr. But when I put 100gr in a Rigby case it only shows 2324fps. As far as power goes you'd be all the down into the neighborhood where the 338 Win lives. That's not a bad place to be with a nice heavy gun. I hope I helped and didn't make things more confusing for you. BJ72

How have you made out with the reduced loads? I am considering a nice "practice" load. Though the recoil doesn't bother me, it would be nice to reduce muzzle blast at the range.
Thanks and stay well,
Paul

Hello,
Loaded up some .416 Weatherby Magnum rounds as "plinkers".
Here are the recipe and results:

2x fired brass
Speer 350g Mag Tip seated to OAL of 3.70"
100g Alliant Reloder 22
Federal 215 primer

Weather: 43 degrees

Oehler Model 35P

2257 from cold barrel (1st shot)
2281 fps avg - 40fps spread (I shot several strings of 3 as fast as I could rake the bolt, reloaded and did it again).

At 100 yards, 9 bullets clustered within 2.5" doing this from a bench with the the butt supported only by my shoulder and the forend gripped lightly in my hand and wrist supported by a rolled up carpet.

When I whip up the next batch, I will shoot more deliberately for accuracy.

After loading these up, I took a look in my new Swift reloading manual which ahs a starting load for the .416 Rigby with their 350g A-frame of 92g of RL22. I will probably give tht a try as well.

Stay well,

Paul

CCMDoc~Just curious to see if you're using anything to "fill up" the extra space in the case? How's the recoil with the new loads?~BJ72

Hi BJ72,
No, no filler. With RL22, though there is a bit of space left, the case is filled probably to 80-85% capacity.

Recoil is about 1/2 full power loads by calculations and feels like it as well.

Stay well,
Paul

Thanks,
I am going to load up some 100 gr. rounds, and give them a try this weekend. Just for comparison, I'm going to shoot some full-power, factory loads with the muzzle brake installed, then reduced loads with the brake, before I remove the brake, screw on the thread cap, and try the reduced loads.