Brown Bears At Breakfast by Ian McMurchy

[Down Under Hunter]

Simply awsome !!

Need I say more ?

Good work !!

[Eaglet]

Ian,
with all the commotion, I would bet you did not even think about ear protection. Please tell us how that went.

If you were to do it again, would you choose the same gun?

Sure was a great hunt! Congratualtions are in order!

[Ian M]

Eaglet,
All I was thinking about was making the shot. Having only one cartridge in the rifle makes things a bit more intense, but one good shot is better than two or three poor ones. I never heard the rifle go off, although it took away the sight picture with all the recoil. I did come away from that experience with a lot of respect for the power of the .416 Ribgy. Fact is there are probably several big cartridges that would have done a similar job, it was impressive. I was so blessed with the way this unfolded. I probably think about those key moments virtually every day!

[ccwebster]

I'm interested in the 416 Rigby. Is brass readily available for this caliber and what other case (if any) can be formed to the Rigby? Additionally, what powders, load recipes, are suitable for the cartridge, (ball vs. extruded vs. flake & primer type)?

[Ian M]

CCWebster,
No problem to obtain .416 Rigby brass, same goes for factory loaded ammo. Lots of fine bullets available also, I practice with 250 Speer softpoints and hunt with 250 grain Swift A-Frames. Both seem to hit to the same zero with a fairly heavy charge of H4831. I am impressed with this cartridge, I took a huge moose the next year with another cartridge from the same box of ammo that I used on the brown bear hunt. He was dead before he hit the ground. I believe it kills better than the .375, bigger bullet equals more killing power - that was a consensus from the guides I have met in Alaska.

[ak338rum]

the bear story above I have rode sno go all tru that country marble montain 100 mile cat d 9 trail and this country is purtty hunted boi there many times I urge all you lower 48 hunters to at lest get one trip up here in your life time you will be glad you did ak338rum