BryceM
AH enthusiast
We're a few months out from your question, but as I haven't checked in for a while, here are my thoughts:
I have a .416 Rigby in CZ 550 that I've put maybe 100-150 rounds through so far. I recently fired a Browning Safari in .375 H&H that my dad bought intending to use it on buff. My normal go-to rifle is a Weatherby .300 in Mk V that I've had for about 25 years now.
First, there are some who don't deal well with a .300, so for them I don't know what to say. For me, the .300 is a joy to shoot, but from the bench about 20 rounds is enough for me. From sticks or sitting bipod shots I'm good all day long. My 17 year-old has his own .300 WBY and shoots it better than I do.
The .416 is a rifle that demands a slightly different mental approach. My usual routine is to shoot one or two offhand shots to reacquaint myself with the trigger and then settle down on the sticks for 4-6 rounds at a target. For one day that's about as much as I usually do. I'm shooting 400gr Barnes bullets - both TSX and solids - handloaded just a touch hotter than 2,400 fps. Both loads are spot-on at 100 yds. I agree it is best to tuck it in tight, roll with the recoil, and just relax. It whallops harder if you hold it with a death grip. Last trip out I put four of five rounds into a 6" circle at 100 yds off tall sticks. Not perfect, but acceptable and doing that builds a ton of confidence. Shooting the .416 from the bench is tollerable, but not something I'd do all day long. When sighting-in or developing a load I cheat and use the leadsled. Interestingly, this gun is also well inside of 1" accuracy at 100. I'm not really into the reduced-load idea for practice, but that's just me.
Shooting the .375 was really very similar to the .300. The gun/scope combo is reasonably heavy and it's possible that it has less perceived recoil than I get from the .300. I absolutely enjoyed shooting it and would be very comfortable carrying it for anything on any continent.
When shooting, if I find myself getting even the slightest bit flinchy I quit and grab the 22-250. I'll shoot it until my trigger control is perfect again and usually call it a day. The biggest trick is to shoot a lot and then shoot lots more. Before my first plainsgame hunt to Namibia I went through roughly 1,000 rounds getting ready. About 2/3 of this was through the 22-250, the rest was from the .300 in hunting positions, various ranges, uphill, downhill, etc.
I have a .416 Rigby in CZ 550 that I've put maybe 100-150 rounds through so far. I recently fired a Browning Safari in .375 H&H that my dad bought intending to use it on buff. My normal go-to rifle is a Weatherby .300 in Mk V that I've had for about 25 years now.
First, there are some who don't deal well with a .300, so for them I don't know what to say. For me, the .300 is a joy to shoot, but from the bench about 20 rounds is enough for me. From sticks or sitting bipod shots I'm good all day long. My 17 year-old has his own .300 WBY and shoots it better than I do.
The .416 is a rifle that demands a slightly different mental approach. My usual routine is to shoot one or two offhand shots to reacquaint myself with the trigger and then settle down on the sticks for 4-6 rounds at a target. For one day that's about as much as I usually do. I'm shooting 400gr Barnes bullets - both TSX and solids - handloaded just a touch hotter than 2,400 fps. Both loads are spot-on at 100 yds. I agree it is best to tuck it in tight, roll with the recoil, and just relax. It whallops harder if you hold it with a death grip. Last trip out I put four of five rounds into a 6" circle at 100 yds off tall sticks. Not perfect, but acceptable and doing that builds a ton of confidence. Shooting the .416 from the bench is tollerable, but not something I'd do all day long. When sighting-in or developing a load I cheat and use the leadsled. Interestingly, this gun is also well inside of 1" accuracy at 100. I'm not really into the reduced-load idea for practice, but that's just me.
Shooting the .375 was really very similar to the .300. The gun/scope combo is reasonably heavy and it's possible that it has less perceived recoil than I get from the .300. I absolutely enjoyed shooting it and would be very comfortable carrying it for anything on any continent.
When shooting, if I find myself getting even the slightest bit flinchy I quit and grab the 22-250. I'll shoot it until my trigger control is perfect again and usually call it a day. The biggest trick is to shoot a lot and then shoot lots more. Before my first plainsgame hunt to Namibia I went through roughly 1,000 rounds getting ready. About 2/3 of this was through the 22-250, the rest was from the .300 in hunting positions, various ranges, uphill, downhill, etc.
