400gr TSX and Varget in 416 RM

[hgr2]

Hello AH.com members. As you can see I'm new here and have a .416 Rem Mag reloading question using 400gr Barns TSX and Varget powder.
I got load data from Barns and am attempting to use 75 grains of Varget with this bullet and seat them to 3.590 as they recommend. After seating these bullets to that length the next day the OAL has increased +- .030 making them function unreliably in the magazine of my M70 SE.

I started with new Hornady brass that I had full length resized with new RCBS dies. The neck tension is evidently not great enough with this compressed charge. Is there a powder better suited for this bullet or is there a trick that I don't know of?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hello AH.com members. As you can see I'm new here and have a .416 Rem Mag reloading question using 400gr Barns TSX and Varget powder.
I got load data from Barns and am attempting to use 75 grains of Varget with this bullet and seat them to 3.590 as they recommend. After seating these bullets to that length the next day the OAL has increased +- .030 making them function unreliably in the magazine of my M70 SE.

I started with new Hornady brass that I had full length resized with new RCBS dies. The neck tension is evidently not great enough with this compressed charge. Is there a powder better suited for this bullet or is there a trick that I don't know of?

Your neck tension may be just fine, it's just a lot of powder being compressed into a tight space. Try using a drop tube and after the powder is loaded, tap it on your table a few times to get it all down. Then after your have the ram raised to the top, fully seating it, leave it there and work on your next powder measurement.

I find that in very compressed loads if I do this, the bullet tends to stay in place.

 

[hgr2]

Thanks for the reply, I am going to chrono the few rounds I have loaded so far and try your method on a few more. I had a similar problem with 300gr TSX in .376 Steyr but not to this extreme. I think I will also give the Swift A-frame a try because it should take up less room in the case for the same weight bullet.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Thanks for the reply, I am going to chrono the few rounds I have loaded so far and try your method on a few more. I had a similar problem with 300gr TSX in .376 Steyr but not to this extreme. I think I will also give the Swift A-frame a try because it should take up less room in the case for the same weight bullet.

You may also want to back off on your load, especially if this is the first go around. I've seen some loads in the Barnes manual that should have been safe that ended up showing pressure signs immediately. With as much compression as your getting, I'm getting a little concerned.

Another idea is to see 0.01" longer. The A-Frames will definitely be shorter and if you set to SAAMI length will give you much more room.

 

[hgr2]

Range report, I will spare all the negative comments about my CED m2 chronograph and just say that it only picked up 1 out of 10 .416 shots today. It worked fine on several other loads I have been working on then refused to work on the 416 all but once. This M70 Safari Express is going to be a beast!! Shot 350gr Speer hot core into 1.5 at 100 yards with the factory iron sights with my blind old a$$ pulling the trigger. The only shot recorded was 2369FPS. This was with the starting load out of the Hodgdon online data for Varget. The 400 gr TSX loaded with 75gr of Varget shot a 3 shot group right at 1.75 at 100. I found the load to be substantial but not overwhelming. I am happy with the potential of this rifle and will continue to work with loads for my Cape Buffalo hunt next summer.

 

[sestoppelman]

You already figured out that the length of the TSX is an issue to be dealt with. 75grs of Varget didnt sound like much of a load but I checked my manual and 76 is max. Still if you use an adequate crimp (are you crimping) you shouldnt be having bullet creep as compression isnt that heavy,, or is it? I use the same bullet in my .404 Jeffery but with 72grs of IMR4064 and no compression, but its a bigger case too. I found recently that the TSX 300gr with Varget is my new best friend load in my .405 Winchester 1895 Win lever gun. I had been working with the Woodleigh bullet but when I tried the TSX and Varget it was the hands down winner. The TSX bullets being long do take up a lot of space that other conventional bullets dont. Its something to consider. In my .405 with a load within the Barnes book max I am getting a bit more speed than the book lists so I am happy.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Range report, I will spare all the negative comments about my CED m2 chronograph and just say that it only picked up 1 out of 10 .416 shots today. It worked fine on several other loads I have been working on then refused to work on the 416 all but once. This M70 Safari Express is going to be a beast!! Shot 350gr Speer hot core into 1.5 at 100 yards with the factory iron sights with my blind old a$$ pulling the trigger. The only shot recorded was 2369FPS. This was with the starting load out of the Hodgdon online data for Varget. The 400 gr TSX loaded with 75gr of Varget shot a 3 shot group right at 1.75 at 100. I found the load to be substantial but not overwhelming. I am happy with the potential of this rifle and will continue to work with loads for my Cape Buffalo hunt next summer.

I guess you got the bullet length issue resolved?

Glad your M70 is working out well for you, I love my .375H&H version. I've started working with bullets from Cutting Edge Bullets in a new rifle for me. I've been very impressed with the low pressure of these bullets and their accuracy. They've also proven to be very deadly on DG. Though light for caliber, the data available shows very good penetration and with fantastic terminal ballistics. This may be another good alternative for your .416 Remington. The only knock I've read on the caliber being that it tends to run high pressure.

I've worked with the 420gr Safari Raptors and the 450gr solids in my .458B&M. Do a search on my threads and you'll find the write up. I've also tried out the 258gr Flat Base Raptors for .458 SOCOM. My load is running 2850fps. The pic attached is from a 4 shot group at 200 yards that I shot last weekend.

These bullets aren't cheap, but a Cape Buffalo hunt deserves something less than cheap ammo. Another bullet to consider would be the offerings from North Fork.

Cutting Edge Bullets: Cutting Edge Bullets Welcome

North Fork Bullets : North Fork Technologies Premium Bullets (Bonded and Solids) for reloading


100 yard 3 shot group with the 420gr Safari Raptors


200 yard 4 shot group with 258gr Flat Base Raptors

 

[hgr2]

OK Folks,
Our hunt is scheduled to start 8/11/14 and not a minute too soon!
Switched to 400gr Swifts and my fickle chrono actually worked today.
78gr of Varget is averaging 2304fps, I bet that will let the air out of a Cape Buffalo.
Still about 1.5MOA from the bench, and it will wear on me but off the sticks not bad at all.
Makes my JC 376 Steyr Scout with 300 TSX feel like a pop gun, but man what a great accurate rifle.
Planning to use the 376 for a baited hyena hunt and all lessor game.
Got a 6 target trail on my hunting lease that has paper target shots from 60 to 130 yards with a small steel spanker at 140 that isn’t hard at all. The cover is so dense its hard to get a longer shot.
The trail covers about 1/2 mile. I cover it at least 3 times per session with both guns.
I’m getting ready!!!!