Downloading a big rifle

[redneck2]

At one time I had a chance to buy a brand new CZ in .416 Rigby for WAY cheap, like $400 under dealer cost IIRC. Why would I buy it? After all, there is a shortage of elephants and Cape Buffalo in Indiana, and I have zero use for one. But, I’d be the only kid on the block with a big game rifle. And, if any did show up, I’d be ready.

The kicker (literally) is that, at the time, I had a stationary rifle rest that was rated for any rifle EXCEPT a .416. That was clearly stated in the manual. For whatever reason it was the only round specified. So I’m thinking it is a real serious round. The fact that (if I remember correctly) the case holds 123 grains of powder gives one pause. I pass.

So, for whatever reason this pops back into my mind the other day, and I start to wonder.....

Is there any safe way to load it down to the recoil level of, say, a .30-06, etc? Make it a casual plinker.

I’ve loaded a lot of regular stuff. .223, 7 mag, ton of handgun stuff, but never had anything I needed to tame down.

 

[243winxb]

Hodgdon Trail Boss Powder data.

 

[Bwana John]

Trail Boss and SR 4759 are your friends.

60% H4895 works well also.

Perfect for trailing that wounded V8 engine block into the tall grass at the local shooting pit.

 

[Catpop]

I like 60% H4895 in my 30-06 1973 M70.
It reduces recoil to a tee shirt load!
But sighted in at 100 yards, it drops 11 1/2” at 200 yards

 

[MEHavey]

AA5744 is your friend:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/reduced_400_loads.htm
Gets it down to BP-level 45-70


.

 

[AJC1]

The brass is a little spendy. Not something your going to find abandoned at the range.

 

[25-20 WCF]

Trail Boss and SR 4759 are your friends….

Good luck finding any SR4759, it’s been discontinued for the better part of a decade. AA5744 is “similar” in application although IIRC it is a double-based powder. While many (including myself) have had good luck with reduced charges of faster shotgun powders in smaller cases (Trail Boss is very fast burning too, close to GreenDot) I’m not sure I’d try them in such a large case. Lighter bullets will also help to reduce recoil.





.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Caution, the Hodgdon download data for H4895 is not for every cartridge. The page specifically states not to use it if there is no data listed for H4895 and there is not.

I agree with the above suggestion using AA5744. You will like it IMO but I have never loaded for the 416 Rigby. Note, I don't know if Accurate supplies data for the 416 Rigby but I do know Lyman 50 does not with AA5744. You might try asking Western powders if they have the data you are looking for. Sometimes they have data that doesn't make it into the publications.

Sorry I couldn't help more.

 

[redneck2]

Trail Boss is very fast burning too, close to GreenDot) I’m not sure I’d try them in such a large case.

I guess that was my question. Since the case has roughly the same volume as a milk jug, would there be a concern about ringing the chamber with, say 60% loads?

Could/would/should you use a case filler on top of the powder?

 

[black mamba]

Accurate 5744 with 350 gr cast bullet

 

[MEHavey]

Could/would/should you use a case filler on top of the powder?

It is bottle-neck (however slight)
Stay away from case "fillers" - per se.
Dacron/Kapok tuft OK

See https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?4427-416-Rigby&p=50428&viewfull=1#post50428
for quite a bit of option data.

 

[redneck2]

A 350 grain bullet at 2,000 would be quite powerful.

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like I should have gotten the Rigby

 

[Bazoo]

There is a similar article I've seen where a gent had a 458 Winchester magnum and was downloading it with cast bullets to trapdoor 45/70 velocities. I don't recall the specifics, but he had loaded everything from round balls to 500+grain bullets. It might be a source of inspiration to research downloading not just the 416 specifically, but other dangerous game calibers as well.

 

[highlander 5]

Me thinks 350 gr bullet at 2000-2200 fps is not a a load I'd want to shoot from a bench. I've fired 45/70 loads in that velocity range out of a Ruger No1 and an 1885 and the recoil got my attention and if my math was right recoil levels were close to 375 H&H.

 

[Walkalong]

CZ in .416 Rigby

AA-5744 for good case fill and .45-70 power. Trail Boss for god case fill and powder puff .44 Mag power. I do this in y .458 Win Mag.

SR-4759 is discontinued, but you may find some (I have a couple of metal can pounds left), it's basically the same as AA-5744, bulky, fast, good for downloading rifle with good case fill.

 

[Walkalong]

Could/would/should you use a case filler on top of the powder?

No need. I a using a 100% load density charge of Trail Boss in .458 Win Mag cases for my powder puff load with a jacketed 350 Gr. I have not yet tested the coated 405s I bought.

I get about 85% fill with AA-5744 and the same bullet, and again, have not yet tested the coated 405s.

 

[Charlie98]

I was going to suggest AA5744 with cast bullets... looks like almost everyone beat me to it.

Friend of mine got some good deal on an English double-rifle of some sort in, of all things... 450/400 3" Express Nitro. (That's a mouthful...) He bought one box of factory ammos, and we all got to shoot a round of it... so he could empty the brass for lower power reloads. I don't know what he was loading... possibly Holy Black, but likely AA5744. Seems like you can load that stuff for pretty much everything.

 

[old heeler]

Speer has loading data for some reduced loads. 30-06,270,7mag,458Win.