SAAMI lists the 416 Rigby, but its own pages disagree about the cartridge (52,000 psi on its calibration page, 65,000 psi in the pressure figures on its velocity page), so this page quotes no SAAMI figure for it. This guide charts what the makers of the loads we stock publish for them instead, and compares the 416 Rigby with the 416 Remington Magnum, which SAAMI does standardise.
416 Rigby ballistics chart: manufacturer-published loads
These are the manufacturers’ own figures for specific loads we stock, taken from each maker’s page for the item number shown. There is no SAAMI reference for this cartridge, and each maker chose its own test barrel, so the figures should not be laid directly beside another brand’s.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load | Item no. | Bullet weight | Bullet | Muzzle velocity | Muzzle energy | Ballistic coefficient | Test barrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Safari Trophy Bonded Bear Claw | P416T1 | 400 gr | Safari Trophy Bonded Bear Claw | 2,300 fps | 4,698 ft-lb | .374, drag model not stated | Not published |
| Federal Safari Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solid | P416T2 | 400 gr | Safari Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solid | 2,370 fps | 4,988 ft-lb | .273, drag model not stated | Not published |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (test barrel) | Muzzle | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd | 400 yd | 500 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 400 gr (barrel not published) | 2,300 fps / 4,698 ft-lb | 2,084 fps / 3,859 ft-lb | 1,880 fps / 3,139 ft-lb | 1,691 fps / 2,540 ft-lb | 1,517 fps / 2,043 ft-lb | 1,362 fps / 1,647 ft-lb |
| Federal 400 gr (barrel not published) | 2,370 fps / 4,988 ft-lb | 2,073 fps / 3,815 ft-lb | 1,798 fps / 2,870 ft-lb | 1,551 fps / 2,137 ft-lb | 1,339 fps / 1,591 ft-lb | 1,171 fps / 1,217 ft-lb |
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Load (zero) | 50 yd | 100 yd | 200 yd | 300 yd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal 400 gr (100 yd zero) | +0.2 in | 0 in | −6.4 in | −23 in |
| Federal 400 gr (100 yd zero) | +0.1 in | 0 in | −6.6 in | −24.2 in |
What the numbers mean for a shot
The 2 loads charted above, from Federal, run from 400 to 400 grains, with published muzzle velocities of 2,300 to 2,370 fps and published muzzle energies of 4,698 to 4,988 ft-lb. Each maker fired its load in its own test barrel, so a difference between two brands can come from the barrel as well as the load. Downrange velocity, energy and drop appear only where a maker publishes them, and only out to the last range it publishes.
None of this is SAAMI data. Each product in our 416 Rigby ammo range lists whatever its maker publishes for that item.
Chamber and pressure
This page states no SAAMI pressure limit for the 416 Rigby. Fire 416 Rigby ammunition only in a firearm chambered for it, and follow both the ammunition maker’s and the firearm maker’s instructions. Several unrelated cartridges share a number, so match the full designation on the box to the marking on your barrel.
416 Rigby vs 416 Rem Mag: what the data supports
A like-for-like comparison needs both cartridges measured the same way. SAAMI standardises the 416 Remington Magnum, so its figures come from one standard test barrel. The 416 Rigby has no SAAMI figures, so its numbers come from individual makers and their own barrels. The table sets them side by side with the source of each figure stated, and should be read that way.
Scroll the table sideways for the remaining columns.
| Specification | 416 Rigby | 416 Remington Magnum |
|---|---|---|
| Listed by SAAMI | Yes, but its pressure figures conflict | Yes |
| Maximum average pressure | Not quoted (SAAMI’s pages conflict) | 65,000 psi (SAAMI) |
| Bullet weights | 400 to 400 gr (loads we stock) | 350 to 400 gr (SAAMI reference loads) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,300–2,370 fps (manufacturer-published, each in its own barrel) | 2,400–2,525 fps (SAAMI reference, 24.000 in test barrel) |
| Muzzle energy | 4,698–4,988 ft-lb (where the maker publishes it) | 4,954–5,115 ft-lb (computed from SAAMI velocity) |
What this cannot settle is which cartridge is more powerful in your rifle: the two columns come from different sources and different barrels. We stock the other side of this comparison too: 416 Rem Mag ammo.
416 Rigby ballistics questions
Does SAAMI standardise the 416 Rigby?
SAAMI lists the 416 Rigby, but its own pages disagree about it (52,000 psi on its calibration page, 65,000 psi in the pressure figures on its velocity page), so this page quotes no SAAMI pressure or reference velocity. The figures on this page are the ones each maker publishes for its own loads.
What muzzle velocity do manufacturers publish for the 416 Rigby?
For the 2 loads we stock from Federal, the makers publish muzzle velocities from 2,300 to 2,370 fps, for bullet weights from 400 to 400 grains. Each maker measured its own load in its own test barrel, so these are not reference figures and are not directly comparable between brands.
Is the 416 Rigby more powerful than the 416 Remington Magnum?
The two cannot be compared like for like, because SAAMI publishes reference data for the 416 Remington Magnum but not for the 416 Rigby. The 2 loads charted here for the 416 Rigby publish muzzle energies of 4,698 to 4,988 ft-lb, each in its maker’s own barrel, against SAAMI reference loads for the 416 Remington Magnum that compute to 4,954 to 5,115 ft-lb from a 24.000 in test barrel.
What is the effective range of the 416 Rigby?
Effective range is not a published specification for the cartridge; it depends on the bullet, the load and the shooter. Where a maker publishes downrange velocity and energy for a load, the tables above show it, and only out to the last range that maker publishes.
How much does the 416 Rigby drop?
Where a maker publishes a trajectory, the trajectory table above gives the drop with the zero range stated. A drop figure is unusable without its zero, so use the table for the specific load.
Where to buy these loads
Hilltop Armory carries 416 Rigby ammunition from Federal, Hornady, Kynoch, Barnes and Norma. Browse the full 416 Rigby ammo range.
