Been real busy with work and home
I check in every so often just to see what's going on. Ever since the Africa trip I have been having naughty dreams of a 416 gnr twin to Toms short barreled thumper. Any thoughts to the efficiency of such a beast?
![[image]](images/uploaded/201707220050495972a16985a71.jpg)
Oh, and Nate has renewed my desire for the
280 gnr. Before any Reeder custom barrel or handgun, I had a set of 280gnr dies. The 280 was/is a favorite of mine. After almost wearing out a few gnr load books I still had to have a 280gnr. At my first HHC, my name got drawn for a set of dies. 280gnr it was. Now, its not a big task to order a barrel, Colleen even has my card on file. Its just been sort of a unicorn. I've had numerous 280 rem rifles in the past. Still the 280gnr dies sit on the shelf unused. It may be time...
After Dr. Firman took Elephant with the .416 GNR
I had to have a copy. I wanted basically the same barrel as he had. I have a 13+2" braked Stainless Encore tube. Maxed out with me I push 400 gr. bullets at 1950 fps. Recoil is BRUTAL, straight back, often whacking your knuckle. Backing off to 1800 fps probably is just as effective and decreases abuse notably. I also have a 40 gr. cast bullet mould that also throws a 325 gr. (I think).
The .416 projectiles of any brand are expensive! A cast mould really helps. Where the .476 can shoot .480/.475 LB pistol bullets and the .458 version shoots .45-70 slugs. The .440 GNR shooting .44 slugs is a real sweet rig, highly underrated.
Trail Boss makes a 400 gr. go 1200 fps which would kill plenty and recoils like a .357, from a 6 lb. handgun. I used H322 but Puffy says IMR 3031 is the Elefunt medicine.
The big GNR's are actually fun and friendly.
on one of my earlier African hunts I used my 416 GNR
on just about everything 500 lbs and over. If I remember right every one was a one shot kill. I used the Speer 350 grain Mag Tip. It flew a bit faster and flatter than the normal 400 grain. I took a hillside to hillside shot at a big Waterbuck and John told me he was a bit over 250 yards away. I put my binocs down on a large rock, put my hat on top of the binocs and laid the Encore in the valley between the two lenses and made the shot. I held the horizontal crosshair flat on the animal's back and the bullet dropped about 18" and took out the top of his heart and both lungs.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201707220356155972ccdf05012.jpg)
I also took a big Blue Wildebeest and a Gemsbok with that same rig. The Gemsbok went #1. Not sure where it is today.
![[image]](images/uploaded/201707220357265972cd266bccb.jpg)
It is one of the best calibers I have over 375.