.416 accuracy woes

[Planeguy]

I need some ideas on how to proceed. I cast a bunch of boolits for my .416 Ruger Alaskan. My boolits are gas checked 350 grainers from an NOE mould. The weight variation is quite low for a beginner. Boolits are water dropped and sized to .417. Using W-748 for powder, weighed each charge. I beat myself up shooting 25 of these beauties at the range. This load doesn't kick like jacketed bullet loads but it's no cup cake either. I didn't get anything you could call a group. Boolits landed everywhere except in the vicinity of each other. This rifle will shoot Swift A-frames into an inch and a half at 100 yards all day. Any ideas? I am an experienced shooter and handloader but new to casting.
Thanks,
Howard (planeguy)

[pworley1]

There many many variables that go in to getting a good cast load. The place to start is to slug your bore. .417 may be just what you need but you will probably need at least .418. All the following will affect the accuracy once you find the right diameter bullet. The bullet weight, the powder type, the amount of powder, the lube you use or powder coating, gas checked or not, the over all length of your bullets. A small change in powder charge can really change the size of your groups. Good luck with your efforts.

[rp85]

good evening;

shooting both 375Wby & 375h&h rifles but hate recoil. both rifles were bought to shoot only cast at paper.

suggest think slow, suggest think Red Dot powder, suggest think 5744 if you can find it, or imr 3031 with a filler. suggestions worked wonders with recoil and accuracy in both rifles. slow = 1400 -1950 fps.

rp

[Larry Gibson]

Lyman's CBH #4 has Ruger 416 loads using a 350 gr cast bullet including with 748. You don't mention the load of 748 you're using?

[stubshaft]

I presume that there is absolutely NO copper fouling in the barrel. I've had pretty good success in my 375 H&H and 458 WM using Unique (love that stuff).

[Planeguy]

I am using loads from the Lyman book 65 gr. of 748 is the last one I tried. I'm not sensitive to recoil, looking for hunting loads not just paper punching. However, enough .416 shooting will wear on you.
Haven't has this much trouble with accuracy since I started working with a Ruger no.1 in .257 wby.

[Planeguy]

I started this process by doing a thorough cleaning of the bore including copper removal so I dont think that's a problem. Bullet lube is canuba red.

[waksupi]

I suspect your bullets are undersized.

[Tatume]

... looking for hunting loads not just paper punching. . . .

If by this you mean you're planning to hunt African dangerous game or brown bears with hard cast bullets, then by all means continue experimenting until you have what you need. But if you are hunting deer, you can drop the muzzle velocity to a comfortable level and still have plenty of power. Softer bullets might be appropriate too.

[Planeguy]

I will slug the bore and see where that leads. My goal is African game but thats a couple years away. Still planning everything out. With the state the world is in who knows if it will be doable. I hunt hogs with the .416 just to be intimately familiar with its ways when the time comes. Shooting at the range is no substitute for real world hunting practice in my book.

Howard

[Larry Gibson]

Size the bullets to a tight slip fit in the chamber throat not barrel groove diameter.

What GCs?

[Planeguy]

I'm using Gator gas checks

[waksupi]

I will slug the bore and see where that leads. My goal is African game but thats a couple years away. Still planning everything out. With the state the world is in who knows if it will be doable. I hunt hogs with the .416 just to be intimately familiar with its ways when the time comes. Shooting at the range is no substitute for real world hunting practice in my book.

Howard

You want a bullet diameter that will slip into a fired case with a slight bit of resistance. That will fit the throat.

[Planeguy]

Thank you for that tip

[Larry Gibson]

Let me rephrase the question, what size GCs as in diameter and thickness?

[Planeguy]

I guess I bought a sack of .416 gas checks from NOE that are Gator brand. I didn't think to measure them

[Larry Gibson]

I guess I bought a sack of .416 gas checks from NOE that are Gator brand. I didn't think to measure them

Do they fit the bullet shank and size to .417?

[Planeguy]

They seem to fit the bullet shank. I have no problem running them through a lube/size die and they have a slightly swaged appearanceas though they are sizing correctly. I found a fired boolit in the sand berm at the range. Gas check still in place so I'm thinkinking they crimp on well.

[Planeguy]

I tried a sized boolit in an unsized, fired case. It took a bit of force to get the boolit into the case, but it went with hand pressure.

[Larry Gibson]

I am using loads from the Lyman book 65 gr. of 748 is the last one I tried. I'm not sensitive to recoil, looking for hunting loads not just paper punching. However, enough .416 shooting will wear on you.
Haven't has this much trouble with accuracy since I started working with a Ruger no.1 in .257 wby.

GCs, lube and sizing should not be the problem. Suggest dropping down to 60 gr of 748 to see if accuracy improves around 2000 fps. If so you can work up until just before accuracy goes south. If that doesn't work, I'd look at a different powder, an extruded powder such as IMR 4895. Might keep in mind a 350 gr .416 caliber bullet at 2000 fps or more isn't exactly for "paper punching". It'll kill anything on this continent.