Traditional sporting bullets
Flat-nose, round-nose, and soft-point designs remain important in these cartridge families. For tubular magazines, use ammunition specifically approved by the manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · LARGE-BORE CENTERFIRE
.416 Rigby
A large, rimless .416-caliber sporting cartridge associated with magazine rifles. Its case and operating specification are distinct from later .416 magnums.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 3.550–3.750 in
90.170–95.250 mm - Case length · max
- 2.900 in
73.660 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.4165 in
10.579 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.5902 in
14.991 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Large-bore centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.4165 in / 10.579 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 6 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 400 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.416 Rigby is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 416 Rigby. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
.416 Rigby, .416 Remington Magnum, and .416 Ruger are separate cartridges.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
John Rigby & Co. developed the .416 Rigby in 1911 for the Magnum Mauser bolt action. It followed the company’s earlier .350 Rigby Magnum and offered a heavier sporting cartridge for African big-game rifles. Rigby’s history identifies the original .416 as a new case design, rather than a modification of an existing cartridge case.
The cartridge became closely associated with professional hunters, including Harry Selby, and with the large square-bridge Mauser actions in which it was offered. Its influence extended beyond Rigby rifles: later cartridges, including the .338 Lapua Magnum, drew on its case ancestry. Rigby has also developed a separate rimmed .416 Rigby No. 2 for double rifles, reversing the usual impression that all .416 Rigby ammunition belongs to one case form. The original rimless cartridge’s century-long reputation rests on that specific pairing of a substantial case and a purpose-built heavy bolt-action sporting rifle.
Historical sources: John Rigby & Co.: classic calibres and original .416 development ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Purpose-built modern loads
Flexible tips, bonded bullets, monolithic expanding bullets, and solids have different functions. A similar exterior shape or shared diameter does not establish equivalent behavior.
Firearm-specific ammunition
Some older cartridge families span firearms with very different operating limits. Keep any product restrictions with the ammunition record and use only loads authorized for that firearm.
In the cited .416 Rigby examples, bullet weights are 400 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
400 grains
2,350 fps
SWIFT A-FRAME
Compare all 6 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalP416SA | 400 gr 25.92 g | SWIFT A-FRAME | 2,350 fps 716 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| FederalP416T1 | 400 gr 25.92 g | TROPHY BONDED BEAR CLAW | 2,300 fps 701 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| FederalP416T2 | 400 gr 25.92 g | TROPHY BONDED SLEDGEHAMMER SOLID | 2,370 fps 722 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| FederalP416WH | 400 gr 25.92 g | WOODLEIGH HYDRO | 2,400 fps 732 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| Hornady8265 | 400 gr 25.92 g | DGS® | 2,415 fps 736 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
| Hornady82661 | 400 gr 25.92 g | DGX® Bonded | 2,415 fps 736 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.416 Rigby: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 400 gr Federal SWIFT A-FRAME | Federal | 0: 2350; 100: 2128; 200: 1917; 300: 1722; 400: 1542; 500: 1381 |
| 400 gr Federal TROPHY BONDED BEAR CLAW | Federal | 0: 2300; 100: 2084; 200: 1880; 300: 1691; 400: 1517; 500: 1362 |
| 400 gr Federal TROPHY BONDED SLEDGEHAMMER SOLID | Federal | 0: 2370; 100: 2073; 200: 1798; 300: 1551; 400: 1339; 500: 1171 |
| 400 gr Federal WOODLEIGH HYDRO | Federal | 0: 2400; 100: 2086; 200: 1797; 300: 1539; 400: 1319; 500: 1149 |
| 400 gr Hornady DGS® | Hornady | 0: 2415; 100: 2156; 200: 1915; 300: 1691 |
| 400 gr Hornady DGX® Bonded | Hornady | 0: 2415; 100: 2156; 200: 1915; 300: 1691 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .416 Rigby?
A large, rimless .416-caliber sporting cartridge associated with magazine rifles. Its case and operating specification are distinct from later .416 magnums.
What diameter does .416 Rigby use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.4165 inches (10.579 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
.416 Rigby, .416 Remington Magnum, and .416 Ruger are separate cartridges.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 162 ↗
- Rigby: classic calibres and chamberings ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 188 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.