Talk me into this caliber

It’s an unbeatable deal... nuff said to me.

get the Lott or 460 next time around.

IMO if I were inclined to buy a bigger magnum either of the 375's is where I'd stop. It will still kill any animal on the planet, but is also doable for game as small as deer. With the lighter bullet weights trajectory is similar to 30-06 out to 400+ yards.

It seems you're stuck on 45 caliber and I don't think the 416 will scratch that itch. Even if you buy the 416 you're still going to want one of the 45's.

A 45-70 lever gun might do it for you. Rifles are a bit more common and more reasonably priced. With black powder level loads recoil is pleasant and the hotter loads take it into legitimate elk or moose territory. Don't believe the hype that it comes close to 458 however. If shot from a strong bolt action rifle the hottest 45-70 loads will shoot a 400 gr bullet to about the same speed as 458 will shoot a 500 gr bullet. But the best lever action loads are pushing a 400 gr bullet about 200-300 fps slower than 458 shoots 500 gr bullets.

You really don't like your shoulder much,Do you?

But if you get the 416 that means new molds to play with...
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=42-400I-D.png

jmr40 said:

A 45-70 lever gun might do it for you.

Click to expand...

Oh, I don't know...

Get the .416 Bee and stuff in those coke bottles full of lead and powder. Bawoomph!!!!@#$%^&U*I. If shock and awe for the sake of shock and awe (or the ability to through and through a cape buffalo shoulder shot) are what you're looking for, that one will not disappoint.

Yah know what! If you can afford it and want it; think about it for a short time and if you still want it , get it. Life is short

I have a deep desire for a 416 Rigby & absolutely no practical need for one. Do it.

If the 416 will scratch that itch I would go for the deal. If you will regret not getting the 460 then wait.

I would think slightly used rifles in those cartridges would be priced right.

The 375's would fetch a higher price do to being a little more versatile.

Sorry; can't help you. My itch was a .375 Ruger that I scratched this past year. I'm still smiling.

Man, any one of those three packs a LOT of horesepower under the hood.

Like most of the guys here, having one of those boomers would be neat... but I can’t fathom one situation where I would ever need to head over to that end of the power spectrum myself.

The Lott would probably be the most affordable and useable for a couple of reasons; the guns aren’t Weatherby safari Rifles with the associated prices, the loading dies and brass aren’t mega pricy, loaded rounds aren’t $175 bucks a box of 20 and the cases can be found either in .458 Lott or as plain 2.87” belted magnum cases like these:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010147383

Plus you can use the .458 Win like a .38 Spl. in the Lott.

But, if the .416 is to be had for a song...

Stay safe.

The .416 can be loaded with low drag bullets that will go VERY VERY far with lots of horsepower left when they land. No .458 caliber I know of can do that ! Read the fine print here :
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/416-cal-.416-500-gr-a-tip-match#!/

I’d go .416 Weatherby over the other two anyway. You get a lot of bullet, going very fast. Which means that if you can tolerate the recoil, or get a good brake installed, that you can use it on North American critters too at distances the other two won’t be as capable of.

50 BMG, twice the energy you don’t need and cheaper to shoot than the 460 WM.

If you get the 416 Weatherby you are still going to want a 45 caliber. I have a 458 Lott and its great. Recoil is not bad at all if you know how to shoot the big guns. I have a 4 bore under construction now that should be ready in about 6 months or so.

Gordon said:

The .416 can be loaded with low drag bullets that will go VERY VERY far with los of horsepower left when they land. No .458 calliber I know of can do that ! Read the fine print here :
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/416-cal-.416-500-gr-a-tip-match#!/

Click to expand...

Where could someone find load data for those bullets ( or similar ) in various .416 Big Bore cartridges ( 416 Rem Mag )

And fwiw... I bought a .458 Lott , because it was a natural progression from my 45/70 Browning Carbine>

With Horn. 500gr FMJ bullets, it will fire through 39 1/2" of pine tree.

Recoil isn't horrible, provided you lean into the shot.

.458 Lott for me.

Coal Dragger said:

I’d go .416 Weatherby over the other two anyway. You get a lot of bullet, going very fast. Which means that if you can tolerate the recoil, or get a good brake installed, that you can use it on North American critters too at distances the other two won’t be as capable of.

Click to expand...

The rifles under discussion are all intended for large, dangerous game. Large dangerous game, including Kodiak and Polar Bears are not typically hunted at long range. "...at distances the other two won’t be as capable of". Just how far are you considering?

Did you notice the word “too” in my post? I know reading thoroughly is a big ask on an Internet forum, but that word implies an additional benefit in this instance. Go back and re-read what I had to say.

I am glad to have topped-out in the Nineties, when I was in my thirties, with the .45-70 and .375 H&H. For a short while, I almost convinced myself to try .458 Lott. For a longer while, I wanted to move up to a .416, perhaps for walking-about in Alaska or Canada, but by now, I reckon I would actually tote a much-lighter-weight Benelli M2, for what would be close-range defense.

Having said that, well, do not let me discourage. Do enjoy the experience.

Big calibers are just fun! ....powder by the bushel basket- huge chunks of lead!!!! Big booms- I shoot large cals all the way up to the 50bmg and love them all- ....do I need them...nope... But as long as I can keep feeding them I will shoot/hunt with them!

My buddies keep asking when I'm getting some artillery.....hmmm.... Next spring we are talking about a replica 6 pounder! ----love the smell of black powder!

I frequently find myself torn between the 416’s and the 458’s, but in this scenario, the “Weatherby” part of the deliberation would seal the deal - I would buy a 416 Rigby over a 458 Lott on most day, but would buy either over either of the Weatherby cartridges.