416 Rigby reloading data

Sam Smith

New member
Joined
Jan 13, 2020
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi guys,
Does anyone have experience with the swift a frame 400 gr and 400 gr break away solid?
Do they print on the same place?
What powder do you use?
Regards
Sam
 
Hi guys,
Does anyone have experience with the swift a frame 400 gr and 400 gr break away solid?
Do they print on the same place?
What powder do you use?
Regards
Sam
The classic load for the .416 Rigby is 104 grains of H4831 behind a 410 grain bullet.
 
I'm just now working up loads for my Ruger #1;
400 gr Swift A-frame
82 gr H-4350
95 gr RL-22

Working up to Swift factory ammo specs.

I need a bullet puller for the .416 Rigby??? Any and all suggestions are most welcome...Swift bullets aren't cheap.
 
Last edited:
I’ll second H4831 somewhere north of 100gr.
 
Gunner did you look at the RCBS bullet puller Collet dies? I looked at the bullet puller hammer
 
I use the inertia hammer the largest collar work but is tight. Just pulled a few 400 gr Northforks.
I take the hammer apart and push the collar on the case, tight fit to get it over the shoulder but it will work
 
Checked for you and no name on puller but over the years at least 75% of my purchasing has been Grafs. So I checked their Web and found what looks like the one I have. It has 4 collets and I use the red (xlarge). Mine is transparent plastic of a med green color with a rubber handle. The one now in Grafs has no color in the ad but the description and ad looks identical to mine.
The only other info I have is—-I cut a piece of card from the instructions and filed it with the extra collets and on the black is printed .17 to 416.
That is the best I can do. Good luck
 
I use the RCBS collet bullet puller and they have .416 collets. My load for the .416 Rigby is 94.5-95.0gr's of RL 22 with a 400gr NorthFork.
 
91.5 grains H4350 will be a great load for 400 grain bullets. Tweaking a little up or down may be needed. 101 grains Retumbo for 450 gr. Woodleighs. There is a very appreciable headroom for working up Rigby loads within the ranges shown in reloading manuals. Not anywhere near close to major pressure issues if one looks at what the Weatherby is using with the same case. 2350-2400 fps is all that is needed. Kevin Robertson tells of a client with a 416 Weatherby that wounded THREE Cape with one shot. I am happy with 2350 fps with the 91.5 grains H4350 and 2200 fps with the 101 grains Retumbo...both loads shoot to less than 1 moa with my CZ 550 and Ruger Magnum rifles.

Bullet pulling. The Hornady puller is the best.... In any cartridge... if crimped... adjust seating die to push bullet a little further into the case to expand the crimp and then one can pull the bullet out with easy. I bashed with Kinetic pullers for years (especially before pushing the bullet deeper!) and using the Hornady is by far safer and easier. As in reloading in general, once the first purchase is made then getting other caliber collets is cheap.
 
Hornady inertia puller. I use their big orange one for big bore stuff. Forget fiddling with collets. Use the shell holder. Much faster and easier. Put the round in the holder and then into the puller. A few good raps on a hardwood block and you got it.
 
As always, one should start low and work up with the help of a chronograph.

For my 416 Rigby (22 inch barrel) I worked up loads with 400 g A frames and tried woodleigh and Barnes solids with various powders. Barnes grouped much better for me than woodleighs.

My final product was 400 g A-Frames over 99.5 g of RL22. This gave me 2375 FPS.

400g Barnes banded solids over 102.5 g of RL22 gave me 2375 FPS.

The Barnes solids shot 0.5 inch higher than the A-Frames at 100 y.

I use a Forster puller in my press which works quite well without marring bullets.

My buffalo fell to the A Frame with a frontal shot at 50 y. Hope to get another some day. Still have plenty of each for the next time!
 
I worked up a good load for my .416 Rigby last summer and took it to Tanzania with spectacular success. 98g H4831 400 g Swift A-Frames, pushing at 2300 fps. I used the same load for the 400 g Barnes Banded Solids.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
65,581
Messages
1,447,910
Members
136,979
Latest member
LeslieAnge
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Timbila GAME LODGE wrote on Clayton d's profile.
Hi Clayton,

Please find attached our best quote based on your request.

I’ve also included the price list for additional animals, as well as our 2026 hunting packages for your reference.

You can also click on my banner to access our website and get more detailed information about the lodge, hunting areas, and options.

Best regards,
Orso
Woza it has been a busy few weeks!

Here below are the updated available dates for this the 2026 season

9-28 Feb open

21-25 March open

16-24 April is open

18-13 June is open this would awake time for kudu or Buffalo hunt!

9-19 July open will be very good for Kudu or Buffalo hunt!

14-30 September is open would be perfect time for late buffalo tracking hunt

October is wide open,

please contact me for more in
Woodcarver wrote on RAVEN ROCKS PRECISION's profile.
Just wanted to say thanks for the excellent customer service. Ordered some 9.3x62 brass and the delivery was a little short. An email through your website Contact Us link was replied to the next day with the tracking info for the correction. Good pricing coupled with great customer service will see returning customers every time. Thanks again!
No Promises wrote on swoobie's profile.
X5i scope is perfect - thanks for an easy transaction! Buy with confidence.
Made it to Augusta Georgia yesterday for a meeting, hunt bookings are looking good for 2026 and 2027, had a great time on our Alabama safari shot a rutting deer at 200 yards with 7mm PRC near Huntsville and then headed on to Butler Alabama and semi guided my first deer ever shot a very nice broken off 8 point with hunter there and spend a few days on 1100 acres hunting preserve awesome place!
 
Top