.416 Rigby

[DeerSlayer777]

I have always wanted to hunt the big five in Africa, but I probably never will get the chance. But just for the sake of asking, What do you think about a .416 rigby for elephant,cape buff's, hippo, .......From some reading I did, most people consider it to be more than enough and some say perfect. It seems to be a nice balance of stopping power and not excessive recoil. Alot of the PH's I have seen online use a .375 H&H or a .416 Rigby as back-up. Most of the countries in Africa have a minimum legal caliber limit for dangerous game, and it seems the .375 H&H is the minimum for most countries.[/size]Now, I do understand that when facing these animals bigger is better, but power isn't gonna get you anywhere if you are to scared to shoot it or flinch every time the trigger is about to go off.

[mauserand9mm]

I have a friend with a 416Rigby and he has set it up for both DG and plains game. He has just returned from South Aftrica having used his 416 on plains game over there - got a Kudu, a few warthogs, an impala, and something else I can't remember. The impala was shot at 250m (he is a good shot).

He has two quick detachable scopes - one is set up for his 350gn plains game load and the other for his DG load (I don't recall bullet weight - either 400 or 450gn).
He didn't get to shoot DG. A work commitment over there co-incided with an international big game rifle event as well as an opportunity for his to do some hunting - some people have all the luck.
 

[FPH]

Can't go wrong with the .416.

[jshootr]

I have a .416 Rigby in a ruger MKII, recoil is harsh, but I actually got used to it. practiced  a lot of rounds, before hunting. used on water buffalo in Austrailia, performed great. You do have to reload to be able to afford shooting it. practice practice is the key.
1.5 x 5 leupold scope. 

[Nobade]

And a nice thing about it is loaded with cast bullets at 2000 - 2200 fps it still makes a great hunting rifle for anything in North America so you don't have to wait to go to Africa. Cheap to shoot that way too.

[mcwoodduck]

I think if you are looking for a rifle that is DG capable then the 375 H&H is the one to start with.
The ammo is a little more accessable, easier on your shoulder, wallet, and finding componets.
The 416 is a great round and if Elephant is on your list would be a better choice.
But being able to hit what you are aiming at may be more important than the horse power.
Don't get me wrong the 375H&H has recoil and quite a lot of it.
but the 375H&H will give you the ability to use it for other game locally like Elk, Deer, wild pig, and Bear. With out massive tissue damage. 
After reading the Capstick books as well as the Bunny Allen, and JA Hunter books I have wanted a DG rifle and at one point found a Sako AIII in 375 in a shop with a 4X scope on it and jumped on it.
Happy I did.  A box of Remington 270 grain soft points was $50 last time I bought for 20, a box of 416 was $120 for 10.

[Nobade]

Yep, factory ammo will crush your wallet if you buy it. But by casting my own bullets both my 375 and 416 are pretty cheap to shoot, especially using mil surp powders.

416 and 375 are in two totally different classes of recoil, IMHO. I can shoot the 375 for 50 rounds with no problem at all but 20 rounds of 416 gives me a headache and I walk kind of crooked for a while. Gun weight has a lot to do with it though, a good 375 should weight 8-9lb and a 416 ought to be 10-11 lb. That helps a lot, my 416 is only 8.5lb so it is kind of lively with full loads.

The 375 does shoot flatter if you like to make long shots, 300gr. at 2500 fps vs. 400gr. at 2350 fps. Both are very capable long range rifles but the 416 does have more drop so you have to have a better guess on range.

I still maintain that 400gr. at 2000 - 2100 fps is a lot more fun to shoot and still more than adequate for any reasonable use you might have for it. 404 Jeffrey fired 400gr. at 2100 fps and was very well regarded for use on all game. My 416 gets shot quite a bit but surely not with factory ammo and rarely at full pressure any more!

[Greg B.]

I have a .416 Rigby in a Ruger Magnum rifle and a Ruger #1 in .338 WM. Using factory equivalent loads in the .416 and mid range reloading manual loads behind the old  275 gr. Speer bullet I couldn't tell the difference in recoil. After eight rounds each my shoulder had enough.  I think stock design plays an important part in felt recoil.
While expensive to shoot the .416 Rigby has a trajectory about like a 30/06 which should be fine for any normal dangerous game hunting.
Greg B.

[Ladobe]

Only 416 Rigby I ever owned was a 10" TC Encore, and feel it would have got it done just fine if I'd ever had the chance.
 
Many have taken Africa's most dangerous with 375JDJ TC Contender handguns, dating back to when JD first came up with it 1980 or so.  Lots of elephant and buffs for sure, probabaly hippo but I don't know that for sure.

[JimP.]

416 Taylor gives the same performance and is cheaper to load. Fits  in a standard action (30/06).

[Greg B.]

A-Square offers bullets and ammo for the type of situation discussed here. The three types comprising their  bullet Triad include the following: monolythic solid, dead tuff soft point and the lion load.  Solids are for penetration only, dead tuffs are for penetration and expansion with the lion load being for expansion only. They will all shoot to the same point of aim. For bear they suggested a lion load in the chamber with the rest of magazine filled with dead tough soft points. Prices are not for the faint of heart but lots of interesting information.

[Nobade]

Remember to always take anything A-Square says with a large grain of salt.

And keep in mind that any of these 416s shoot great with cast bullets, generating very good accuracy and enough power to flatten anything you may wish to use it on in North America. I have been recently loading my 416 Taylor to 404 Jeff ballistics with the RCBS 350gr.,(350gr. at 2150 fps)  getting groups right at MOA or under. Not too shabby considering it costs me less to shoot than factory 30-30 ammo. Not much that can stand up to being hit by one of those.

[mcwoodduck]

Remember to always take anything A-Square says with a large grain of salt.

And keep in mind that any of these 416s shoot great with cast bullets, generating very good accuracy and enough power to flatten anything you may wish to use it on in North America. I have been recently loading my 416 Taylor to 404 Jeff ballistics with the RCBS 350gr.,(350gr. at 2150 fps)  getting groups right at MOA or under. Not too shabby considering it costs me less to shoot than factory 30-30 ammo. Not much that can stand up to being hit by one of those.

My 300 grain MS from A square seem to go out of my Sako at the listed speed and the MS went through an armored plate at the range that stops 30-06 FMJ rounds  I was suprised to see a pinky sized hole in a steel plate that I think has stopped 50 BMG.FMJ.  Found the better parts of the slug behing the plate.  Broke into two parts and the larger one was 231 grains.