416 Ruger loads

I have used a Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan topped with a Trijicon 1X4 scope for the last two years in South Africa with the Hornady Dangerous Game DGX 400 grain loading. I used this load successfully for Lion and for Cape Buffalo.

I would like to find out if anyone has loaded this cartridge with 300 or 350 grain Barnes TSX bullets? I am planning on returning to Africa next year, and would like to have a lighter bullet weight for Bushbuck and other Plains Game. I took a sable this year at slightly over 200 yards with the 400 grain DGX bullet, and feel the rifle has potential as a good Plains game rifle...but would prefer a somewhat lighter bullet. The DGX shot right through the Sable. My intention is to hunt Elephant with the DGS 400 grain solid, and to have a better expanding bullet configuration for the Plains Game.

I have searched the internet, but information on lighter bullet loadings are rare. I would like to work a load up so only one rifle would meet my needs.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

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Originally Posted by GSTONE

I have used a Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan topped with a Trijicon 1X4 scope for the last two years in South Africa with the Hornady Dangerous Game DGX 400 grain loading. I used this load successfully for Lion and for Cape Buffalo.

I would like to find out if anyone has loaded this cartridge with 300 or 350 grain Barnes TSX bullets? I am planning on returning to Africa next year, and would like to have a lighter bullet weight for Bushbuck and other Plains Game. I took a sable this year at slightly over 200 yards with the 400 grain DGX bullet, and feel the rifle has potential as a good Plains game rifle...but would prefer a somewhat lighter bullet. The DGX shot right through the Sable. My intention is to hunt Elephant with the DGS 400 grain solid, and to have a better expanding bullet configuration for the Plains Game.

I have searched the internet, but information on lighter bullet loadings are rare. I would like to work a load up so only one rifle would meet my needs.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

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Gstone,
I have just loaded some 340gn woodleighs at about 2550 fps in mine. I found this load extemely accurate as far target groups are concerend. Still trying to take a Sambar deer with this load to see how it goes.

richteb

Thanks for the info. I really enjoy the rifle and caliber, but it blows through Plains Game. I consistently get 1 1/2" groups with DGX and DGS loads at 100 yards, so I think it will do nicely on Plains Game with a faster expanding bullet. I want to get down to one rifle for Africa, and this certainly appears to be a good candidate.

I own this same rifle in 375 ruger. If I had it in 416 and wanted to use it on plains game. I would load the barnes 350 grain tipped tsx bullet. I think it would work on anything up to cape buffalo. It has a ballistic Coafficient of .444.

Thanks for the recommendation. I am going down to get a box right away. Sportsman Warehouse has a box, and I bought a pound of Varget powder after reading the thread on Reloader 15. I have a Leopard and Bush Buck on next year's hunt list, and that sounds like it would be perfect for both.