Woodleigh bullets, any good?

[njc110381]

Hi all. I just picked up a few Woodleigh bullets to try in my .416 Rigby. How do they perform on big game? I have a few more available to me so once I find out if the gun likes them, would they be a good bullet to stock up on?

I've got a mix of 410gr solids and Weldcores, they were priced very reasonably so I'm debating whether or not to buy another 200 of each? I can't find a cheaper option anywhere but they need to work!

 

[CTDolan]

They'll work!

 

[spike.t]

Stick to the original 416 rigby velocities and they will work

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Stick to the original 416 rigby velocities and they will work

+1

 

[Shootist43]

Njc, there was a thread a while back that discussed Woodleigh bullets very thoroughly. It seems that there is an issue when velocities over 2150 to 2200 FPS are attempted. If in doubt contact Woodleigh via email to see what they have to say. I' wouldn't stock up on them till you have your answer.

 

[Pheroze]

Great company. Very good bullet. In Canada you can actually get them a lot cheaper than other premium offerings. I find them to be accurate and worked great in my 375

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hi all. I just picked up a few Woodleigh bullets to try in my .416 Rigby. How do they perform on big game? I have a few more available to me so once I find out if the gun likes them, would they be a good bullet to stock up on?

I've got a mix of 410gr solids and Weldcores, they were priced very reasonably so I'm debating whether or not to buy another 200 of each? I can't find a cheaper option anywhere but they need to work!

Take a look at this page from their website. Looks like max recommended impact velocity in 410gr Weldcore is 2400fps. If you're MV is kept to that, I'd say you're good to go. Woodleighs have a good reputation, but also a reputation to not be pushed too fast, then there's an issue.

http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/bullet-lists/traditional/405-458-list

 

[WAB]

I had a 350 gr weldcore turn in the shoulder of a buff. We still got him but the follow up wa ‘sporty’. I think they’re a good bullet but probably a bit soft for the velocity I was driving them at. The Swift A-Frame and Trophy Bonded Bearclaw seem to be more heavily constructed and more appropriate to 2500ish FPS.

 

[njc110381]

Woodleigh specify an impact velocity of 1900-2400fps for the 410gr .416 Weldcore. Most of the data suggests it would struggle to make 2500fps out of the Rigby anyway, and sending it at 2450fps would put it under 2400 at just 20 yards. But does it even need to be travelling that fast? I don't suppose a .404 Jeffery would send a 410gr bullet that fast and that's a very well respected calibre of very similar size.

If I was to load it down to 2200 or so, I can't see it suddenly bouncing off of a buff with little effect?!

 

[Dr Ray]

The Woodleigh Bullets package cones with recommended velocities so stocking up above such may not be a good idea.
I’m loading 409 grain Woodleigh hydros in my 416 Remington. Hopefully I get a fat buffalo this year.

 

[BenKK]

Shots heaps of buffalo with the 410 grain softs out of the .416 Rigby! Great performance!

 

[njc110381]

I had a 350 gr weldcore turn in the shoulder of a buff. We still got him but the follow up wa ‘sporty’. I think they’re a good bullet but probably a bit soft for the velocity I was driving them at. The Swift A-Frame and Trophy Bonded Bearclaw seem to be more heavily constructed and more appropriate to 2500ish FPS.

What calibre was that? I had been thinking that I'd use Barnes TSX until I found these bullets. The cost saving is quite considerable so I am keen to use the Woodleighs. That said, it will be a long time before I actually get to do a hunt, so if I use them to get accustomed to the rifle and then change bullets to shoot the animals that will still work. If the weight is the same the loads should feel the same and shoot to a close enough point that with a little sight adjustment I won't know the difference.

 

[Luvthunt]

Go for it , the solids will give you what you want and the expanders, if around or under 2400 FPS will give great practice.
I do smile at today’s comments on Woodleighs and Noslers as being too soft up front, back “in the day” when they were the tech bullets of the time all recommended them as “THE BULLETS”.
Yes todays bullet people finally woke up and are designing bullets that could have been available in the past but lets be thankful that we now have what we have.

 

[cmk]

I've chronographed 400gr A-frames at 2350 fps out of my 404 Jeffery. Have a buch of Woodleigh 400 and 450's, both softs and solids. Haven't tried loading them yet.

Can't really see any reason to go beyond that with any bullet in that calibre. And perhaps better to go a bit slower with the less sturdy bullets like weldcores and DGX.

Norma factory loads are at a mere 2150 fps in their heavy-for-calibre "African PH" line, which uses 450gr bullets both in .416 and .404. But that is maybe more out of concern for older rifles, and the knowledge that in will work in the field anyway.

 

[ve7poi]

Load to recommend velocity and they work splendidly over drive the velocity and they start to become erratic you don’t need hyper velocity with big calibers for good performance.

 

[Shootist43]

Shots heaps of buffalo with the 410 grain softs out of the .416 Rigby! Great performance!

BenKK, what was the velocity of the loads you used on the Buffalo you took with the 416 Rigby?

 

[Shootist43]

Njc, you asked previously about velocities out of a 404 Jeffery. Von Gruff recommended a load to me that yields 2300 FPS. He used Woodleigh Bullets, but I used Swift A Frames. My chronographed loads were 2300, 2309 and 2306 FPS.

 

[njc110381]

Njc, you asked previously about velocities out of a 404 Jeffery. Von Gruff recommended a load to me that yields 2300 FPS. He used Woodleigh Bullets, but I used Swift A Frames. My chronographed loads were 2300, 2309 and 2306 FPS.

Thanks. I think I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that I can load the Rigby with reasonably mild loads and it will be fine for my needs. It seems to be the mentality of a lot of shooters that things need to be driven as hard as possible, faster is better etc. But in this class of firearm and shooting bigger game it's clearly not the case. I like that.

 

[BenKK]

BenKK, what was the velocity of the loads you used on the Buffalo you took with the 416 Rigby?

I didn’t have a chronograph back then but used 94 grains of 2209.

 

[Red Leg]

I think the Woodleigh SP is a good bullet. I have used it and the Hydro a good bit (which is a spectacular solid). However, I personally would rate the SP's as next tier below the TSX family and the A-Frame. Just remember, whenever you finally get to go challenge that buffalo, the bullet, along with your socks, will be one of the least expensive investments for the safari.