.416 strauss from .303

[44minimum]

I found this on the firearm blog and thought some of you may be interested. I hope it is OK to put it on here. It did include pictures but apparently they would not copy and paste.



.416 Strauss : a .303 wildcat
Piet, a South African, emailed me information about a wildcat he shoots. The .416 Strauss aka. the 416-03 Strauss in named after the inventor, a friend of Piet.


.303 British (left), .416 Strauss (middle, loaded with a 350 gr Speer bullet in a Norma case)


The parent cartridge is the .303 British. It is blown out to .416 caliber and loaded with a 300 grain Barns-X or 350 grain Speer bullet and S265 Pistol powder (a local South African powder). The 350 grain bullet is propelled at 2300 fps and generates 4112 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. The lighter bullet is pushed out at 2500 fps and generates 4164 ft/lbs of muzzle energy.

The performance seems similar to the .375 H&H Magnum. According to Cartridges of the World (11th Edition), the .375 H&H can push a 300 grain bullet at 2530 fps, generating 4265 ft/lbs. The small caliber .375 bullet would have greater penetration than a .416 bullet. The cartridge works about to be about 20% less powerful than a .416 Rigby

Piet uses the cartridge in a with with a P14 (Pattern 1914 Enfield) action. The groups are not all that great as he does not have a custom die set and has to use a .405 Winchester die for seating the bullet.




The .416 Strauss P14 (click to expand)


I think this is a very compelling cartridge. I am surprised I had not heard of .303’s necked up and turned into big game cartridges before. It seems like a good idea as I am sure Africa is has more than its share of .303 surplus rifles.

A big thank you to Piet for emailing me the photos and information.

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[Hardcast416taylor]

44minimum, Dang! I wish the pics would have loaded. I might be interested in something like that.Robert

[Adam10mm]

[captainkirk]

JD Jones at SSK has done some similar to this one. I think either his 8mm or 338 JDJ is based on the 303, while most of his other biggies (for the Contender) are based on the 444 Marlin. He has a 411 JDJ and 416 JDJ which would be very similar to your friend's cartridge but probably loaded to a lower pressure in deference to the Contender's frame. Looks like it was Taylor-made for the Enfield, should work well in Africa.

captainkirk

[mroliver77]

Sure looks like a killer!!
Having a 45-70 and 38-55 I am appreciative of straight wall rifle cartridges.
In a P14 this could be loaded to the gills if needed.
I dont understand the SA fellow going to the expense and work of building this gun and not getting at least a set of Lee custom dies for it.
You know them rear sight "ears" look right at home on an African dangerous game rifle. Anybody know who makes a stock like that? I have a "P17"project that I was gonna whittle the stock down on but I am becomming partial to plastic stocks on serious hunting rifles.
Jay