Which .416 bullet for Lion?

[Phil Giordano]

Which bullet (brand/model) would you use for Lion hunting in 416 Rem/Rigby?
It may seems an obvious question, but today we have plenty of super tough bullets intended for Buffalo, and very few "old style" soft bullets for dangerous thin skin game. So what would be you choice?

 

[dchum]

I bet the 400 grain Nosler partition would be adequate lion medicine. Never hunted cats though

 

[Phil Giordano]

I bet the 400 grain Nosler partition would be adequate lion medicine. Never hunted cats though

You know what? It would be my choice too - but also I'd like to find those old Hornady Soft Point that shure expand 2X and penetrate enough in a cat...

 

[Tanks]

Cutting Edge 325 grain Raptor.

 

[chashardy]

400 Gr. Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw--for almost any DG.

 

[Phil Giordano]

Cutting Edge 325 grain Raptor.

Never heard before - very enteresting, I will deepen the subject

 

[TSIBINDI]

...I located some vintage Barnes 400gr soft points, developed a load for my .416 Taylor, went to Zambia and killed a lion. Chances are slim to none I'll have the opportunity to hunt another lion. But, if I were, I'd stick with the old Barnes soft points, One, and done.

Lots of bullets, few lion hunters.

 

[meigsbucks]

I haven’t hunted lion and have no inclination to. However, the 400 gr Nosler would be my first choice, but I’d consider 350gr Speer and Swift’s.

 

[Rubberhead]

Nosler only shows a 400 grain Partition in .416 but I think that make a suitable lion load.

 

[CoElkHunter]

...I located some vintage Barnes 400gr soft points, developed a load for my .416 Taylor, went to Zambia and killed a lion. Chances are slim to none I'll have the opportunity to hunt another lion. But, if I were, I'd stick with the old Barnes soft points, One, and done.

Lots of bullets, few lion hunters.

Here’s a 400gr Barnes Original I loaded in my Taylor:

 

[TSIBINDI]

...

Here’s a 400gr Barnes Original I loaded in my Taylor:

Yep...the very one.

 

[Paul G]

6.5 creedmoor

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Norma has a 450gr Woodleigh soft point in there PH series of ammo.
I found these A-Square 400gr Lion Load in 416 Hoffman that I resized to 416 Taylor. Taken 2 black bears with these bullets, .416 entry hole, 2.416 exit hole.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

We have used both Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and Hornady softs with complete success.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Norma has a 450gr Woodleigh soft point in there PH series of ammo.
I found these A-Square 400gr Lion Load in 416 Hoffman that I resized to 416 Taylor. Taken 2 black bears with these bullets, .416 entry hole, 2.416 exit hole.View attachment 464988

Oh nice! How did you cut the Hoffman case down to 2.500?

 

[Boyd Brooks]

Oh nice! How did you cut the Hoffman case down to 2.500?

A Dremil tool and my case trimmer to a close size of a few thousand over , then through the Taylor size die, then back to the trimmer for the final size.

 

[sureshot375]

I think then nosler partition is a little too tough. You might not get the expansion you want on thin skinned game. I would go with a more traditional soft point.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

It would be awesome if Norma made their Oryx projectiles in calibers larger than .375.
I would definitely buy them in .416 and .458 for my Taylor and 450 Marlin.

 

[dchum]

I think then nosler partition is a little too tough. You might not get the expansion you want on thin skinned game. I would go with a more traditional soft point.

Thats the issue, they are hard to find in 416 these days

 

[1dirthawker]

if i was gonna hunt lions, it would be with a north fork bullet. their percussion point soft points were specifically made for quick opening on large cats. they have a solid base and are bonded. i suspect they would work well on a brown bear as well.