Questions on 416 Rigby loaded with 400 grn Nosler Partitions

Noah Hutchens

Noah Hutchens

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Hello! Still trying to find different ammunition choices for me for my 416 Rigby. I posted a WTB add on my local gun forum and a fellow has a few boxes of factory ammunition loaded with 400 grn Nosler partitions. He offered them to me for $150 a box which sounds reasonable. Trying to search online on the durability of the bullet and having a tough time finding anything conclusive. Would the Nosler partitions be acceptable for Buffalo or probably not? I can’t think of anything I would shoot other than a Buffalo or future dangerous game animals with my rifle since I have others for plains game. If not suitable for Buffalo are they suitable for a Leopard?

I don’t mind buying them just for practice shooting but just wanted to see the consensus beforehand.
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They are not bonded so not recommended for buffalo specially a full frontal shot. Why take a chance when there are better options available? Some recommend a broadside shot but then you may not want to carry different bullets for different angles.

Should work on thin skinned animal like Leopard.
 
I wouldn’t use them on buffalo. It was a great bullet for its time and will still work but there are better choices. The Nosler partition will shed a lot of weight and the base will hopefully continue to penetrate. They’d work good on leopard or PG but you really don’t want to be mixing and matching ammo during a hunt. Take a look at Pendleton Ammunition. They have swift A frames and Northfork SS available $200 a box. Those would be best buffalo bullets you could buy.
 
SStomcat said:
They are not bonded so not recommended for buffalo specially a full frontal shot. Why take a chance when there are better options available? Some recommend a broadside shot but then you may not want to carry different bullets for different angles.

Should work on thin skinned animal like Leopard.
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375Fox said:
I wouldn’t use them on buffalo. It was a great bullet for its time and will still work but there are better choices. The Nosler partition will shed a lot of weight and the base will hopefully continue to penetrate. They’d work good on leopard or PG but you really don’t want to be mixing and matching ammo during a hunt. Take a look at Pendleton Ammunition. They have swift A frames and Northfork SS available $200 a box. Those would be best buffalo bullets you could buy.
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Mark Biggerstaff said:
No as @375Fox stated. Way better choices for Buffalo out there. Federal 400 Swift Aframes or Trophy Bonded Bear Claws. Barnes 400 TSX. These are all available. Partition is just to soft for Buff
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I figured but just wanted to ask. I already bought 4 boxes of Federal ammunition with the TBBC so I’m covered. I don’t reload so I am just trying to buy cheap practice ammo anyways. Figured $150 a box for practice wasn’t that bad
 
That’s not a bad price at all. I echo what has already been said about its use on dangerous game though. Use whatever you can acquire affordably for practicing, but when the time comes get some A frames, North Fork or Barnes for your hunt.
Noah Hutchens said:
I figured but just wanted to ask. I already bought 4 boxes of Federal ammunition with the TBBC so I’m covered. I don’t reload so I am just trying to buy cheap practice ammo anyways. Figured $150 a box for practice wasn’t that bad
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Both of my 416 Rigby shoot Barnes Triple Shock very accurately and kill superbly. I have killed many Cape buffalo and lots of plains game with them.
 
Happy Myles said:
Both of my 416 Rigby shoot Barnes Triple Shock very accurately and kill superbly. I have killed many Cape buffalo and lots of plains game with them.
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I bought 5 boxes of Barnes factory ammo and it won’t run in my rifle. I posted a thread about it, but I have a Merkel Double rifle and for some reason the factory Barnes locks the rifle up everytime
 
Sorry, that’s too bad. In my experience they have been outstanding but I only use handloads.
 
Might be a great bullet for big bears, I'd think. But judging from how my 30-06 Partitions behaved on plains game, I would not use them for buffalo. Not uncommon for everything above the partition to peel off after impact, especially high velocity close range.
 
While there are better buffalo bullet choices available these days than Nosler Partitions, I wouldn’t hesitate for one second to shoot a Buffalo with a 400 grain Partition if that’s what I had. It’ll get the job done a hell of a lot better than bullets we used to shoot buffalo with 40 years ago because the great bullets of today hadn’t been developed.

Hell, in 1983 we were looking for a particular sable on Deka and I was carrying a 300 Winchester loaded with 180 grain Partitions. We bumped into 4 Dugga Boys at close range and they took off into heavy cover with Roy Vincent and I in hot pursuit…. With my 300 and Partitions. We had every intention of killing one of those bulls with that gun and load. At that moment neither one of us was worried that a Partition was inadequate.
 
Noah Hutchens said:
I figured but just wanted to ask. I already bought 4 boxes of Federal ammunition with the TBBC so I’m covered. I don’t reload so I am just trying to buy cheap practice ammo anyways. Figured $150 a box for practice wasn’t that bad
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Treat those trophy bonded bear claws like you won’t get anymore and save them mostly for hunting. They are one of best bullets you can get for buffalo hunting. Different design but equal to swift A frames.
 
Noah Hutchens said:
I figured but just wanted to ask. I already bought 4 boxes of Federal ammunition with the TBBC so I’m covered. I don’t reload so I am just trying to buy cheap practice ammo anyways. Figured $150 a box for practice wasn’t that bad
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If you can get them for $150 a box and the cheapest ammo I can find on Midway is $210 for Hornady; I would say that's an easy decision to make when you can buy practice ammo for 25%+ cheaper than what's offered online.

Also, you may not reload but that once fired brass has resale value here on the forum which would further offset practice ammo cost.
 
DLSJR said:
While there are better buffalo bullet choices available these days than Nosler Partitions, I wouldn’t hesitate for one second to shoot a Buffalo with a 400 grain Partition if that’s what I had. It’ll get the job done a hell of a lot better than bullets we used to shoot buffalo with 40 years ago because the great bullets of today hadn’t been developed.

Hell, in 1983 we were looking for a particular sable on Deka and I was carrying a 300 Winchester loaded with 180 grain Partitions. We bumped into 4 Dugga Boys at close range and they took off into heavy cover with Roy Vincent and I in hot pursuit…. With my 300 and Partitions. We had every intention of killing one of those bulls with that gun and load. At that moment neither one of us was worried that a Partition was inadequate.
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I count on your experience and the fact that you went after the Dugga boys armed with a 300 win says a lot.
Secondly buffaloes and Elephants are being hunted for centuries with bullets that at best can be called primitive by today’s standards. What has changed is we have better choices now..
 
deewayne2003 said:
If you can get them for $150 a box and the cheapest ammo I can find on Midway is $210 for Hornady; I would say that's an easy decision to make when you can buy practice ammo for 25%+ cheaper than what's offered online.

Also, you may not reload but that once fired brass has resale value here on the forum which would further offset practice ammo cost.
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Well said, out of curiosity and for a possible future sale, around how much would a box of 20 once fired brass value be for 416 Rigby?
 
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