416 Rigby new home

[Ironhorse375]

Great day. A fellow sheep Hunter had a great deal on his 416 rigby, Ruger RSM. Safe queen.
It will be going with me to Africa for first Cape Buffalo
Super excited.....

 

[Red Leg]

The RSM is the most undervalued rifle on the planet. Has nearly every bell and whistle and is designed to handle a detachable scope mount out of the box. I can almost guarantee that it will shoot and function perfectly. Can't wait to read about you blooding it.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Congrats on your acquisition. Enjoy.

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats on the purchase!

When and where are you going for buff?

 

[Ironhorse375]

Thanks gents. The rifle has found itself a solid spot in the safe. It won't be staying in there long.
Less then a box of ammo fired thru the gun it's a real find for me.
Came with set of reloading dies, about 80 of the old Hornady 400 grain bullets and 8 410 grain Woodliegh loaded rounds.
Just need optics now .
The buff hunt is this coming May with Zeekoepan Safari in SA. I'm looking forward to this hunt. 60th BD present to myself.
I would like to thank many of you on this site for pushing me into seeking out this fine rifle.
[emoji41].

 

[petrusg]

Good luck with your new rifle and your buff hunt, time to get used to that gun!

 

[Shootist43]

Good find, good gun, good caliber and a good plan to use it. Life is great isn't it? Congrats on your acquisition.

 

[CAustin]

Congrats! Now don't let it be a safe queen.

 

[sierraone]

As everyone before me has stated, for the money, there is no better!

 

[cagkt3]

Congrats!!

 

[Ironhorse375]

Breaking the rifle in on my October elk and bear hunt.Any pet loads for elk and bear?
Thanks in advance

 

[The_Wanderer]

They are great! I love mine, looking forward to seeing the pics

 

[mdwest]

pics or it didnt happen...

 

[Rule 303]

Congratulations on a great pick up. Waiting to see it in use. Get plenty of use with it. Take it out hunting rabbits if need be. I use mine to hunt pigs, goats

 

[IdaRam]

Breaking the rifle in on my October elk and bear hunt.Any pet loads for elk and bear?
Thanks in advance

Congrats on a great purchase! I sure love mine. Only used it on pigs so far, but it sure impresses the hell out of them
I've just started working on a load for 400 gr A-Frames, so no data that I can share with you on those, but I do have a load my gun really likes for 350 gr Speer Mag Tips. Given the performance I have seen on pigs, I think it would make make for some great elk and bear medicine.

Speer Mag Tip 350 gr
Hornady Brass
Federal 215 Primer
Hodgdon H1000 powder - 112.0 gr
Overall Loaded Length - 3.640"
Medium Crimp in Cannelure
Muzzle Velocity - 2600 fps

This is the starting load listed by Hodgdon on their website, however they only show a velocity of 2479 fps. They list a max load of 116.0 gr (Compressed) at a velocity of 2551 fps.

The specific lot of powder I have is apparently producing higher velocity and possibly/probably higher pressure than the lot used in testing by Hodgdon, although I do not see any pressure signs with this load. I would categorize this as a moderate load out of my rifle.
I like H1000 in the 416 Rigby as it fills the case nicely and doesn't leave much air-space. I much prefer a full case, even slightly compressed in these big boys. I would reccommend sticking with the Fed 215 primer as it is the best primer for igniting 100+ grains of powder in these large cases. You don't want delayed ignition!
Accuracy with this load is good. I have a Leupold 1.5-5x with a heavy duplex on my rifle, which is not the greatest for shooting 100 yard groups, but I can shoot 1" groups at 50 yards with it, although I don't particularly enjoy shooting it off the bench!
I went with the Mag Tip bullets because they are relatively affordable for practice and pig shooting. I have yet to recover one and they produce an inpressive wound channel.
400 gr A-Frames and a solid that shoots well and to same POI will probably be my Africa loads.
Hope this is helpful and good luck on the elk and bear this fall and the Buff in May!
By the way, where will you be hunting the elk and bear?

 

[Ironhorse375]

IdaRam
Thanks for the great information.
It's been awhile since I've reloaded, found all my rcbs equipment minus my scale[emoji19] I bought the rifle from a friend who already owns a 416 rem, so he didn't need 2 rifles in 416 range.
It didn't come with the scope rings, so I'd be interested in the type you are using as I see they come in medium and high.
Are there any quick detach mounts for the RSM?
About to send it off to Wayne for a reducer.
Elk and bear that I hunt are in the northwest area of Colorado
North of Meeker. That was Teddy Rosevelt s favorites for cougar.
I've used my 280 there and killed several elk, the Bears have eluded me...so far.
This time I'm walking softly and carrying the VERY big stick.
T

 

[MS Hitman]

For plinking and vermin, I shoot the RCBS 350 grain cast bullet sized to 0.417" ahead of 30 grains of Trail Boss. I must use the 200 yard leaf to be sighted in at 85 yards. Load does around 1,250 fps and is mild.

 

[IdaRam]

@Ironhorse375
I'm using medium Ruger rings on my Rigby. The 1.5-5x doesn't need any extra height, but I use high rings on my .375 H&H RSM because I've got a VX-6 2-12x on that and the bell on the objective lens doesn't quite clear the quarter rib with mediums.
I have used a leupold 2.5-8 x 32mm and it clears the quarter rib no problem, 40mm objective is iffy with medium rings. If you are using 40mm or larger I would go with high rings.
I have found that the Ruger rings hold zero quite well when taking the scope off and putting back on, so I haven't looked at other options. I do believe there are some aftermarket rings available though.
Have you decided what you will put on it for a scope yet?

 

[IdaRam]

Actually, I need to correct what I said a moment ago.
I did not use the 2.5-8x 32mm Leupold on my RSM. That is what I originally planned to put on my .375, but I discovered that the Magnum length action causes the distance between the rings to be too long for that scope. The distance from the bell of the objective to the power adjustment ring is too short amd wont fit between the rings.
So! Look carefully at the dimensions of the scope before you buy and make sure those rings will fit between the bell and the adjustment ring

 

[Ironhorse375]

IdaRam,
Good Intell
I was going to move my 2.5 x8 from my 375 H&H model 70.
Looks like I will be going with plan B.
Just have to figure out plan B