.416 Rigby Cast Loads

[tophet1]

Finally tested some of my cast Boolits in the Rigby.

I bought a FNGC 350 grain RCBS mold which casts Boolits of 357 or 358 grains. If I was very selective I could cull 60% to get 40% within 0.4 grains of each other. The majority seem to be 358.2/4 grains. All are sized, lubed and fitted with Gas Checks.

I loaded up ten over 35 grains of Trail Boss. This is the max load and fills the case 98% without pressure signs. Recoil is negligible. I mounted a bipod and a new Redfield 3-9x40 for load testing.

After bore sighting, two shots had me on target at a measured 100 yards. My first three shot group went into a perfect triangle of 1.2". The next group went into a vertical line 2.8" high. Signs of promise.

I also shot three rounds over 50 grains of 2206H for a reduced load. There was unburnt powder/material lying in the bottom of the barrel after shooting three rounds so I may have to up the load.

I went out again this arvo and 30 grains of Trail Boss (a smaller load) produced a sub 1" group in another perfect triangle. This is my 'varmint' load. The poor old 3-9x40 Redfield has just about run out of elevation though. It must have limited adjustment range.

I'm stoked my hand poured Boolits are working so well.

I tried 55 grains 2206H (cause I have heaps of it and don't use it for anything else) and it shrunk the group a little. Recoil is approx to a full house .30-06. I'm going to try 60 grains tomorrow from a cold barrel. I'll take the chrono then.

[Hardcast416taylor]

It just does my old heart good to read about another person with the dreaded "416" illness. Sounds like you are on the right track, mate.Robert:drinks:

[Just Duke]

I'm using the same mould for 416 Remington Magnum. Glad to here you got good results Tophet.
What rifle manufacturer is your Rigby?


http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/WINCHESTER%2070/416CAST1.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/WINCHESTER%2070/416CAST2.jpg

[tophet1]

Yes the .416 Rigby is a disease alright. A very nice one .It is a CZ 550.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=bigbores&Number=165706&Searchpage=6&Main=164945&Words=.416+Rigby&topic=&Search=true#Post165706

Shooting a Mates gave me the desire to own one. Plus the possible use in Northern Australia and Africa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZbkL2eBZBA

[tophet1]

Well you can never rely on anything.

Fired my 30 grains of TB load again this arvo and it went into a perfect Triangle of 4.650". Velocity was 1,487fps.

60 grain of 2206H went into a vertical triangle of 3.985" for an average velocity of 1,819 fps.

Back to the drawing board.

DUKE NUKEM. Same mold as yours.

[Just Duke]

Well you can never rely on anything.

Fired my 30 grains of TB load again this arvo and it went into a perfect Triangle of 4.650". Velocity was 1,487fps.

60 grain of 2206H went into a vertical triangle of 3.985" for an average velocity of 1,819 fps.

Back to the drawing board.

DUKE NUKEM. Same mold as yours.

Copy that! :-)

[tophet1]

My next step is to try a different alloy to reduce Dia. so I can fire some unsized and see what happens. I am currently useing an alloy a poofteenth softer than Lyman #2 and sizeing to 0.417 in a lubrasizer.

I must admit the Trail Boss load has 0 recoil and 0 fun factor. I am still trying for an accurate reduced load.

I have a lot of Dacron to use as a filler but am hesitant to use slower powders from a safety viewpoint. Suggestions anyone ?

[BruceB]

Do a search for ".416 Rigby" and you'll find considerable info on cast loads for that big case.

[rbuck351]

I just cast a few from my RCBS 416 mold for my 416 Rem using ww with a little lino. The nose rider part is only .401/.402. What are you all getting for nose size. This is very loose in my bore.

[Just Duke]

I just cast a few from my RCBS 416 mold for my 416 Rem using ww with a little lino. The nose rider part is only .401/.402. What are you all getting for nose size. This is very loose in my bore.

I'll check.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Since about everybody is using the RCBS 416 - 350 mold and is getting excellent results with it I thought I`d tell you of what I did with mine. I sent my mold out to "Buckshot" Rick in Calif. to be H.P. I also ordered the plug extra that can be put in so you are back making solid nosed bullets again. I have to actually make any of the h.p. yet, if they are on the same par as his handgun h.p. jobs he has done for me (3) there should be no problems. His work costs are very reasonable and turn around time is minimal. Robert

[Four Fingers of Death]

There is something fascinating about the 416, I have a Ruger No1 in 416 Rigby. When I got it, I paid about 60% of new price for one but it included 4 packets of Safari grade ammo, with about 14 fired out of one packet. It had done one trip to the top end and took out a few buffalos. The price tag on the ammo showed that it cost my friend $187 for a packet of 20 about 10 years earlier. The first day I had it at the range, I fired a few shots and one of the younger member came up and asked me for a shot. I gave him one and he asked for another, so I handed another over. He fired it and said "this is awesome! Can I have another shot?" I showed him the packet and said "allowing for inflation, these have to be over $200 for a packet of 20, thats about $10 a shot. If you want another shot, you'll have to pony up with 10 bucks." He nearly wet his pants and started apologising profusely. :D

[elk hunter]

I love my 416 Rigby, a Winchester P-14 Enfield I put together several years ago. I tried cast bullets in it a couple of years ago, but just can't get excited about them. I went to swaging a 400 grain jacketed for practice when commercial bullets went to $1.00 + each. Haven't found a reason to go back to cast, I have multiple rifles I can shoot them out of.

As Four Fingers pointed out, a lot of people want to shoot a 416, and I let them. Most only want one or two shots. I was in a pawn shop in Northern Idaho about eight years ago and the owner told me he had sold the same Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby multiple times. It generally came back with in a few weeks with one or two rounds out of the box of ammo. He thought it was a great money maker for him. Unfortunately it was out for another trial while I was there, or I may have bought it.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I had a friend who had a gunshop in Sydney. He had sold the same 458 Win Mag five times, along with the 5 boxes of ammo that went with it. He said that it had shot thirty odd rounds over the five owners. He said if he had ten rifles like that, his retirement fund would be great.

[pls1911]

I have a Ruger .416 Remington and cast for a friends CZ with the Rigby.
I've been lucky since the first time out.
My alloy is very roughly 60% soft ("pure rendered") roofing lead and 40% WW or #2... whatever I can get to fill the mold correctly.
This alloy has the trace antimony which allows heat treating to a measured 22 or more Brinnell, while maintaining maleability enough to flow on impact in lieu of breaking up.
THE KEY IS BIG ENOUGH AND HARD ENOUGH ...HARD ENOUGH. I say HARD enough because the rifling in these calibers is much tighter than what's found in the 45-70, and the bullet mass is right up there... it's a lot to get spun up fast and quickly.
Sized at a finished dia of .418, and heat treated, gas checked, and lubed with whatcha got in the luber, we can turn 3" groups about all day with about any powder that pushes us to 1700 fps. Tumble lube dip (dilute 25% w/mineral spirits) over the normal lube or by itself works fine too.
45-70 powders work well here too, that is, Reloader 7, 3031 etc.
Not bulls eye accuracy, but certainly "minute of pig".
I'm sure that with ample time for tweaking this could be improved, but for now it has to be good enough.

[Just Duke]

I have a Ruger .416 Remington and cast for a friends CZ with the Rigby.
I've been lucky since the first time out.
My alloy is very roughly 60% soft ("pure rendered") roofing lead and 40% WW or #2... whatever I can get to fill the mold correctly.
This alloy has the trace antimony which allows heat treating to a measured 22 or more Brinnell, while maintaining maleability enough to flow on impact in lieu of breaking up.
THE KEY IS BIG ENOUGH AND HARD ENOUGH ...HARD ENOUGH. I say HARD enough because the rifling in these calibers is much tighter than what's found in the 45-70, and the bullet mass is right up there... it's a lot to get spun up fast and quickly.
Sized at a finished dia of .418, and heat treated, gas checked, and lubed with whatcha got in the luber, we can turn 3" groups about all day with about any powder that pushes us to 1700 fps. Tumble lube dip (dilute 25% w/mineral spirits) over the normal lube or by itself works fine too.
45-70 powders work well here too, that is, Reloader 7, 3031 etc.
Not bulls eye accuracy, but certainly "minute of pig".
I'm sure that with ample time for tweaking this could be improved, but for now it has to be good enough.

Would 32 to 40 grains of Hodgden 4198 and the RCBS 350 grain be a safe load in the .416 Remington Magnum?

[Von Gruff]

It may or may not be relevant to the 416 Rigby, or the other 416's mentioned, but in my 404 Jeffery with a 350gn in 50/50 Pb/ww I get excellent plinking accuracy at 1400fps over 20gn Red Dot. This is for volume plinking and gives enough 'feel' to give satisfaction. 63gn 2209 (H4350) gives me 1900fps with the same 50/50 and with lino and 74gn 2208 (Varget) runs at 2365fps and up to a HT WW at 2416fps over 87gn 2209 (H4350)
Lots of options with the range of velocities and the 416 should have the same versatility.

Von Gruff.

[cowboy]

Howdy- the Current Lyman cast Bullet Book has .416 Rigby load info. I'm working through some AA 5744 loads ( intermittently) . Have found that this powder, in my loads anyway, did not like a magnum primer ( in spite of the huge case, and less than filling charges).:???: More work to do! Thank you, Hardcast Taylor, for getting me started.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Since about everybody is using the RCBS 416 - 350 mold and is getting excellent results with it I thought I`d tell you of what I did with mine. I sent my mold out to "Buckshot" Rick in Calif. to be H.P. I also ordered the plug extra that can be put in so you are back making solid nosed bullets again. I have to actually make any of the h.p. yet, if they are on the same par as his handgun h.p. jobs he has done for me (3) there should be no problems. His work costs are very reasonable and turn around time is minimal. Robert

Update!!! I have made and tested the H.P. boolets the 350 gr. RCBS mold makes on both paper critters and some not so lucky live critters. I used 2 different alloys, WW and 50/50. To say the results were devestating, using load data as for the 350 GC, is sort of an understatement! Frank505 tried some on Fla. critters with similar results. As I said before "Buckshot" does GOOD WORK!Robert