WB
This weekend Doug continued preparing for Africa
Monday, January 25, 2021, 12:39

He is taking his Blazer 9.3x62, a Ruger .338 mag., and the Reeder .378 GNR. I think they are ready to go.

We also broke out my African rifle, the Reeder custom .416 Rigby BRNO. My ammo consisted of some 350 gr. at around 2300 fps, some cast 325 gr. at 1900 and 375 gr. cast a bit under 2000 fps using surplus .50 BMG powder. Some IMR-5010. Truly with the break, stock design, and shorter barrel, the recoil is about like Doug's 9.3 Mauser but less sharp, only longer duration.

The 350's hopped up to 2400 fps would duplicate the trajectory of that 9.3 Mauser and take anything there is. A pocket of 400 solids would have you set. One issue I had. The Leupold VX-III I mounted in CZ rings topped out on elevation 16" short at 100 yds. I cannot figure that. I'm looking into it. The .416 is a much better rig than the .416 Remington Custom 700 I had and also the Ruger 77 Mag. I pitted the BRNO against. The BRNO won hands down. I'd rather shoot it off the bench than Doug's Hawkeye .338.

*My .350 Legend "hunting rifle" peeking from under the bench. It's a great idea for the AR, a good 200 yd. gun. Doug takes aim with the .416 Rigby helping sighting it in.

Doug's other gun was a JD Jones one off custom Ruger No.1 in .450 Jeffery No.2 Nitro. I loaded 95 grs. of RL-15 under a 525 gr. cast gas check as well as the 480 gr. Woodleigh's. The 525 gr. also got atop 38 grs. of Trail Boss. JD's multi pin hole brake does work but the 525 gr. at 2150 fps was SALTY! Trail Boss ran them just under 1400 fps which was very pleasant and fun. Plenty useful for hunting.

Note the triangle shaped storm of gasses coming out at firing.

Lift is greatly abated. I'm certain it is terribly intensive to make, too many holes in the break for me to count.