Cal. .416.

[kristian55]

Hi all.
Cal. .416 whether is absolute and sufficient for the complete scope of hunt in Africa.
Opinions and advices.
Thank you for your answers.

 

[Shallom]

You cannot go wrong - just make sure you have the right ammunition for it. Use solids for the smaller game and mid-size and big game will go down well with your softs... as long as the loads are not tamperred with for extra speed etc.

 

[SEKURU]

I HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 40 TROPHIES WITH MY .416 WEATHERBY. ALMOST ALL WERE ONE SHOT KILLS INCLUDING A 44" CAPE BUFFALO THAT WENT 1 BODY LENGTH. HAVE SHOT A .416 RIGBY BUT IT WAS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE WEATHERBY. THE WEATHERBY RIFLE WAS A DISASTER BUT THE CALIBER IS AWESOME AND I NOW SHOOT THE CALIBER IN A CUSTOM MADE EMPIRE RIFLE.

 

[MarineHawk]

I HAVE TAKEN ABOUT 40 TROPHIES WITH MY .416 WEATHERBY. ALMOST ALL WERE ONE SHOT KILLS INCLUDING A 44" CAPE BUFFALO THAT WENT 1 BODY LENGTH. HAVE SHOT A .416 RIGBY BUT IT WAS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE WEATHERBY. THE WEATHERBY RIFLE WAS A DISASTER BUT THE CALIBER IS AWESOME AND I NOW SHOOT THE CALIBER IN A CUSTOM MADE EMPIRE RIFLE.

If I may ask, which weatherby rifle, and what went wrong with it?

 

[Rod Smith]

Shallom is 100% on this......the .416's are a great calibre for Africa, more "thump" than a .375, but still able to reach out for Eland, Giraffe, Etc without too much bullet drop.

 

[browningbbr]

Bullets for .416

Ryan / Rod:

Do either of you have a recommendation for a .416 expanding bullet?

I have hand-loaded solids "nailed" with groups less than 1 inch at 100 yards. I'm a couple grains of powder under "MAX" and can quickly shoot through a full magazine without feeding problems or case sticking.

I have not yet developed an expanding bullet load that groups well. I was thinking of TSX, Nosler Partition and Swift A-Frames as the likely options.

Your opinions would be much appreciated.

- browningbbr

 

[SEKURU]

MY 416 WBY WAS A MARK 5, BUILT IN JAPAN AROUND THE END OF 1990'S. THE FLOORPLATE RELEASE WAS A SPRING LOADED PIN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRIGGER GUARD. CURRENT MODELS HAVE A RELEASE ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRIGGER GUARD. I RAISED THE RIFLE IN A BLIND IN AFRICA TO SHOOT A 'HUGE' LEOPARD. THE FLOOR PLATE OPENED AND THE SHELLS FELL ON THE FLOOR OF THE BLIND. THE CAT LEFT. THE FOLLOWING YEAR I TOOK A SET SCREW, DRILLED AND TAPPED THE FLOOR PLATE FRAME AND PREVENTED THE FLOOR PLATE FROM OPENING. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE SAME CAT CAME TO A SECOND BLIND AND I CANCELLED HIS TICKET. HE WENT SCI-#50. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THE FLOOR PLATE HAD FAILED DURING THE CHARGE OF A LION OR BUFFALO? I GOT RID OF THE RIFLE. A FRIEND HAD THE SAME MODEL ABOUT 50 NUMBERS FROM MINE. I MADE HIM TAKE MY MODIFIED FLOOR PLATE TO AFRICA AND HE WAS CHARGED BY A DUGGA BOY. KILLED IT WITH ONE SHOT TO THE HEAD. SEKURU

 

[monish]

Hi Kristian 55 , its a complete rifle for any African expedition need to carry correct bullets and the grainage , just place the shots perfect to a neat kill ..

Monish

 

[Shallom]

Sorry Browningbbr for the late response...
i have had excellent performance with the TSX on my .416 Rem and also recommend the Swift A's. Cheers,

 

[browningbbr]

Thanks Ryan!

- browningbbr