My 416 Remington

[jro45]

My 416 zeroed at 150 yds shoots to 200 yds with out changing the scope. The Ft Lbs are down a little tho. The bullet is a 400 gr. What do you think?

[Redhawk1]

I always wounded why you and Phil try to push your guns to the max fps. I get better accuracy when I don't push my guns to the max load or over.
But that sounds lke a good zero.

[gsp71]

I think that's good to know. I have a 416 sited in at 100 yds and have not fired it past that range. However I had a similar experience with a 300 RUM. It is zeroed at both 100 and 200 yards. It's a tad high at 135 yards.

[jro45]

I always wounded why you and Phil try to push your guns to the max fps. I get better accuracy when I don't push my guns to the max load or over.
But that sounds lke a good zero.

Redhawk1 I always thought that the rifle was made to handle MAX loads. I could go a tad faster but that would cause problems. I'm only going 2410 FPS with the 400 gr bullet recoil doesn't me. If you can't handle recoil then its wise to slow down a bit and save it for when you really need it.[ faster FPS ]

[Syncerus]

What is your intended target? The only game that might require maximum velocity with 400 gr slugs is the cape buffalo. Everything else is usually shot with solids (hippo, ele) where you don't need that much velocity or lighter slugs (bear, cats) ...

Is there any hunting target where a 400 gr bullet moving 2400 fps would be more effective than a bullet moving 2300 fps? Not trying to be negative, just trying to understand you goal.

[Redhawk1]

I always wounded why you and Phil try to push your guns to the max fps. I get better accuracy when I don't push my guns to the max load or over.
But that sounds lke a good zero.

Redhawk1 I always thought that the rifle was made to handle MAX loads. I could go a tad faster but that would cause problems. I'm only going 2410 FPS with the 400 gr bullet recoil doesn't me. If you can't handle recoil then its wise to slow down a bit and save it for when you really need it.[ faster FPS ]

My point is, why push the max fps when you may find a better and more accurate load not pushing the gun to the max. If I feel the need to push a gun to the max, it is time for me to get a bigger gun. It is not the recoil that I am afraid of, it would be more the damage prolonged max loads on the gun.
I just think accuracy in more impotent than speed, but that is just my opinion.

[jro45]

But Redhawk1 I get excellent accurateracy at 2410 fps. Bullets on top of each other at 150 yds.

I did get a bigger rifle also. The CZ 550 American Safari 458 Lott.

[Graybeard]

You guys sure have tougher shoulders than me. If I were to fire those guns you're talking about that shoulder surgery I've been putting off hoping it will last as long as I do would be required immediately. I remember back when I thought I was invincible and shot those stompers. Now I'm paying the price daily with shoulder pain and even a .270 requires a thick PAST pad when fired on the range.

[jro45]

Graybeard, Sorry to hear that about your shoulder. I've shot with those PAST pads before they are great, But mine kept slipping around on me the time I used it.

[Ken ONeill]

I certainly agree that accuracy at reasonable (effective) velocity ought to be the goal. However, what works in one .416 Rem. Mag. may not work in another. My own Remington 700, which I used on Cape Buffalo, Hippo, and Australian Water Buffalo, gave its best accuracy using  400 gr. Hornady softs and solids @ 2267 fps avg.
 However, a couple years later, when I was able to get a Custom shop Winchester Mdl. 70 stainless synthetic, that gun would absolutely not shoot satisfactorily until I hit 2400 fps. Then the groups shrunk to half the size of the 2250-2300 fps loads groups.
Whatever it takes....
In a moment of foolishness, I sold the 700 several years ago, but still have the Mdl. 70. I always zeroed both guns about 2" high at 100, resulting in being a couple inches low at 200 or 220. In actual practice, the furthest I've ever shot a game animal with either gun was about 80 yds. on a Hippo. All the buff and a couple of Brown Bears were all shot at between 50-60 yds.

[while99]

For practice, I use the 350 grain Speer at about 2400 fps. in my Model 70 Classic .416 Remignton magnum.  Use the starting loads in the Speer manual and work up by .5 grains until you find acceptable accuracy.  The recoil seems to be much less with the 350 grain bullet when compared to the full-power 400 grain loads.  Also, the 350 grain Speer costs much less than the 400 grain bullets, such as the Nosler partition.     

[jro45]

I have some of those 350gr bullets loaded and have found the same as you said.  I still like the 400gr bullet going 2410 FPS.