375 H&H vs 416 Rem vs 416 Rigby

[Hank2211]

Hank, I agree with everything you said. I just wanted to add a small note on your comparison to the 416. The 400 grains bullet is actually 33% heavier than the 300 grain in 375 using the step up from 300 to 400 grains as a basis while the 375 is actually 25% lighter than the 416 using the 400 grains as a basis. I think your post is excellent and true to everything otherwise.

You're right of course. I have no excuse - the math is simple!

 

[Paul Homsy]

Thank you for your courtesy. It's so easy to mix these types of figures up that there are actually plenty of excuses, I've done my fair share of those in the past.

Enjoy your weekend !

Paul

 

[geoff rath]

You've got a decision to make, haven't you? Best advice is coming in from some VERY experienced blokes, way More than me, BUT: I've done a fair amount of load development with both the 375H&H and the 416Rigby. Prime point is that whatever you buy, practice lots, and lots. Pick top grade bullets (being an Aussie I'm prejudiced towards Woodleigh) and before you buy, contact your PH and get his opinion as well; he'll be the bloke who has your back if it does go wrong.
Whichever you choose, it has already been said that you can load lighter bullets: in 375 you can go as low as 220, and up to 350 (Woodleigh, again). In 416, they (Woodleigh, again) go from 340 to 450 grains. Barnes run similar ranges of bullet weights. a good friend has a CZ550 in 450 Rigby. He loads a wide range of pills, using two identical scopes in quality QD rings.
Doing it this way, you could almost (HERESY) sell the 325, and use one rifle, two loads (light and heavy) and swap scopes.
Silly, maybe? I stand to be corrected.

 

[spike.t]

Doing it this way, you could almost (HERESY) sell the 325, and use one rifle

......sell........one only buys!

 

[geoff rath]

I am duly chastised ....

 

[Desert Dog]

I read and heard that it did not take high energy high pressure loads in hot climate as well as the Ribgy and at times could pose problems with extraction.

A few things;

1) The newer Hodgdon extreme powders are not temp sensitive. I use H4895 in both 375 and 416 loads. I have shot the rifles in 110 degree heat and near freezing with my magnetospeed attached and experience a statistically insignificant difference in speed/pressure when using that powder.

2) The extraction problems were with the crappy Remington 700 rifles that were initially made to shoot the 416 rem. Soon after the release of the 416 rem, Remington stopped making rifles for it and Winchester took over the cartridge and made it great. 416 rem shoots absolutely problem-free in non-Remington rifles.

3) The 416 Rem is a great option because you can get a 100% ready to hunt Model 70 with barrel band, 3-pos safety, controlled feed/extraction, great quality out of the box for pretty cheap, and ammo availability is very good. With the 416 Rigby, your only options are super expensive custom rifles or a CZ550 that will probably require lots of money and time to get functioning properly. The 416 Ruger in the Ruger Hawkeye African is a great full-featured rifle, but suffers from the same problem as the Rigby in that ammo availability and reloading supplies can be problematic. This, IMHO, is why the 416 rem draws so many fans.

 

[Paul Homsy]

A few things;

1) The newer Hodgdon extreme powders are not temp sensitive. I use H4895 in both 375 and 416 loads. I have shot the rifles in 110 degree heat and near freezing with my magnetospeed attached and experience a statistically insignificant difference in speed/pressure when using that powder.

2) The extraction problems were with the crappy Remington 700 rifles that were initially made to shoot the 416 rem. Soon after the release of the 416 rem, Remington stopped making rifles for it and Winchester took over the cartridge and made it great. 416 rem shoots absolutely problem-free in non-Remington rifles.

3) The 416 Rem is a great option because you can get a 100% ready to hunt Model 70 with barrel band, 3-pos safety, controlled feed/extraction, great quality out of the box for pretty cheap, and ammo availability is very good. With the 416 Rigby, your only options are super expensive custom rifles or a CZ550 that will probably require lots of money and time to get functioning properly. The 416 Ruger in the Ruger Hawkeye African is a great full-featured rifle, but suffers from the same problem as the Rigby in that ammo availability and reloading supplies can be problematic. This, IMHO, is why the 416 rem draws so many fans.

Thank you for the information. I was looking yesterday at the Winchester 416 Remington you describe. It does make a lot of sense. For me the other alternative would be a CZ. The Sako safari although very nice isn't a CFR round, I understand it isn't identical to their other bolts but a semi CFR, however the price is a bit up there particularly compared to the Winchester and CZ.

I appreciate the information about the powders and the fact you verified their behavior in extreme temperatures. It's quite informative and also reassuring that with the newest powders the pressure doesn't fluctuate wildly.

Thanks again, much appreciated.