Downloaded 416 Ruger??

[wlc]

I've been reloading for years, but always pretty much going by book loads. Not to much experimenting as my main goal was for accuracy and/or thump and book loads gave me what I was looking for. I bought a 416 Ruger a few years ago on a whim. It is quite the thumper and that is its name. I've only been casting for a couple of years, mostly for my handguns and 500S&W in my Encore and again going by book loads when loading. I've recently bought a 416-350 RCBS mold from a forum member. I would love to shoot this thing more and I'm not recoil sensitive, but, my shoulder and retinas would appreciate some reduced loads so it would be more fun and could be shot more than 5 or 6 times before putting it up.

I know I can do trailboss loads, but what other loads could be used. I do know that the .416 Rem Mag and my .416 Ruger are close in total case capacity if that helps. I really don't know where to start or what powders to use. Any help appreciated.

[singleshot]

There are more options than can be listed here. What velocity are you trying to achieve with your 350 gr cast? What powders do you intend/want to use? That will give a good basis to start.

[BruceB]

The 416-350 RCBS bullet shoots beautifully in my .416 RIGBY....not "Ruger". (The rifle is a Ruger #1, however.)

My "standard" reduced load uses XMP5744 powder and a velocity of 2050 fps. This should be easy to duplicate in the Ruger cartridge.

If it was my project, I'd start at around 38 or 40 grains of 5744 and see how it works. Pressures at that load level will be moderate, and I find that 5744 is quite flexible , burning well even in drastically-reduced loads but also giving excellent accuracy throughout the loading spectrum.

I'll also put in a plug for H or IMR 4198, which I've used in the both .416 Rigby and .404 Jeffery.

Dacron fill seems to somewhat increase the uniformity of performance in both cartridges with both powders mentioned. This is a LOW-DENSITY tuft of dacron, just to fill the airspace and position the powder.... NOT a packed-in solid mass of dacron. As an example, the tufts in the .416 with 55 grains of powder weigh LESS than 1.5 grains, although I don't normally weigh them out. I just pull tufts off a bulk-bag chunk by eyeball, and they work fine. Try the loads both "with" and "without" the dacron, out of curiosity.

At 2050 fps, The RCBS bullet will shoot into 1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards..... for TEN rounds. I expect your .416 Ruger will do likewise, once you get it sorted out.

[pal82]

Try Trail Boss. Just don't compress the load and it's safe. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3992139

[wlc]

BruceB, I am assuming the XMP5744 is the same as Accurate 5744??

[BruceB]

Yep, it is from AA.... on the cans I have here, it's described as XMP5744. Good stuff.

[wlc]

Thanks!! I look for some my next trip to town.

[wlc]

Was perusing my latest Lyman cast loads book looking for something else, and lo and behold they had loads for the 416 Ruger with the RCBS 416-350. Who woulda thunk it.....

[Moonie]

45gr of H4895 should be a good place to start for a reduced load as well.

[wlc]

Well, I finally found a pound of AA5744. Its taken the better part of a month, but went into the local mom and pop gun shop this afternoon and looked on the powder shelf and low and behold there sat a single solitary pound of 5744. It came home with me. Now to get the mold back from RCBS. Thanks for the help Bruce!! I'll report back when I have some shooting results to report.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I sent my RCBS .416 - 350 mold to "Buckshot" here on the site for a hollow point job. I also got the filler plug for the mold so I could still cast solid nosed boolets. He did an A-1 job for not alot of money.Robert

[wlc]

What does your hollow point weigh? That sounds interesting.....

[Hardcast416taylor]

The H.P. stud can be varied as to depth in the boolet being cast so the weight can vary as also by the alloy being used. I was using at that time ww alloy with some tin added for better fill out. The weights I have written in my log was 344 gr. before lube and GC being added.Robert