Anybody know of any loads for a .350 Rigby Magnum

[.300RUM]

I've sort of come across a rifle in this caliber, I have discovered where to get some brass, I want to work up a load with 250 gr partitions, however, I can find no one who has any earthly idea where to start, I have looked at loads for .358 Norma and .358 STA, both are kind of on either side of the case, the STA holds about 4 more grains of powder, and the Norma is a little light on capacity. Any information would help, I have only been able to find that original pressure was estimated to be about 45K psi. This is a custom modern rifle and can handle modern pressures, but I want to start extremely slowly and work my way up to what I find acceptable. If I could duplicate .358 Norma ballistics I would be ecstatic!

Thanks for any help.

 

[DrMike]

Using a .358 Nosler Partition (No. 44801 rather than a .357 bullet), QL projects:

Cartridge : .350 Mag. Rigby
Bullet : .358, 250, Nosler PART SP 44801
Useable Case Capaci: 79.832 grain H2O = 5.183 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.575 inch = 90.81 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : IMR 7828

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 85 60.80 1942 2093 23295 7464 74.1 1.649
-18.0 87 62.32 1994 2207 24795 7795 75.8 1.607
-16.0 89 63.84 2047 2327 26405 8127 77.5 1.566
-14.0 91 65.36 2101 2451 28124 8458 79.1 1.525
-12.0 94 66.88 2156 2581 29965 8787 80.8 1.485
-10.0 96 68.40 2212 2716 31939 9113 82.4 1.445
-08.0 98 69.92 2268 2856 34052 9434 83.9 1.407
-06.0 100 71.44 2326 3002 36328 9750 85.5 1.369
-04.0 102 72.96 2383 3153 38773 10059 86.9 1.330 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 104 74.48 2442 3310 41401 10358 88.3 1.287 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 106 76.00 2501 3472 44234 10648 89.7 1.247 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 108 77.52 2561 3640 47293 10926 91.0 1.208 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 111 79.04 2621 3813 50598 11191 92.2 1.171 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 113 80.56 2682 3992 54177 11442 93.3 1.134 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 115 82.08 2743 4176 58058 11676 94.4 1.098 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 117 83.60 2804 4366 62276 11892 95.4 1.064 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 106 76.00 2678 3982 53349 11153 96.8 1.144 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 106 76.00 2289 2908 36245 9541 78.7 1.374

Here are a few other powders that produce near maximum loads.

Norma MRP 101.0 77.6 5.03 2554 94.2 44000 11279 1.252 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-25 108.5 79.4 5.15 2547 96.3 44000 11174 1.248 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 102.1 76.8 4.98 2522 89.4 44000 11003 1.254 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 102.5 76.3 4.94 2521 92.4 44000 10851 1.256 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 103.1 80.7 5.23 2515 87.3 44000 10990 1.257 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum (Big Boy) 105.2 82.9 5.37 2503 89.7 44000 10952 1.249 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 106.1 75.9 4.92 2496 89.6 44000 10626 1.250 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 100.4 75.9 4.92 2496 89.6 44000 10626 1.250 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 94.0 71.4 4.63 2492 95.7 44000 10218 1.263 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 97.7 68.7 4.45 2485 97.6 44000 10069 1.292 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 110.0 81.0 5.25 2485 89.6 41217 11052 1.293 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 93.3 67.9 4.40 2483 97.5 44000 9966 1.272 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 90.4 67.9 4.40 2478 97.4 44000 10021 1.280 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 98.1 72.2 4.68 2476 92.3 44000 10189 1.260 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 98.2 69.2 4.48 2471 97.7 44000 9820 1.282 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 99.5 68.5 4.44 2468 99.1 44000 9420 1.266 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 109.2 76.0 4.92 2467 95.8 44000 10002 1.290 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 93.0 70.7 4.58 2455 92.0 44000 9885 1.262 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 104.4 76.0 4.92 2446 93.1 44000 9690 1.266 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 110.0 85.4 5.53 2444 80.4 40345 11180 1.305 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 97.6 75.7 4.91 2443 92.0 44000 9747 1.263 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 103.5 74.0 4.80 2442 89.1 44000 9827 1.260 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 99.5 74.0 4.80 2442 89.1 44000 9827 1.260 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 110.0 80.1 5.19 2435 88.2 42936 10215 1.267 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 103.2 72.8 4.72 2411 90.4 44000 9358 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori 24N41 110.0 86.2 5.59 2299 71.9 39757 9280 1.328 ! Near Maximum !

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Wow! What a find! Let us know how it goes and post some pics please! I can say I have never seen one of those before! :grin: But I would like to!

 

[.300RUM]

That's extremely useful info...I will have to take some notes, and once I get the rifle cleaned up and out to the range will come up with some photos etc.

 

[SJB358]

Please post some pictures of this beast when you can! That sounds like one awesome set up. I love them 35's! Scotty

 

[35 Whelen]

I had a guide friend that was left two guns by one of his hunters one was a 460#2 Nitro and the matching rifle was the 350 #2 or a 350 Rigby with a rim on it. Anyway you better not quote me on this but I think all he ever used in the 350 was 70gr of N204; and a Hornady RN 250gr bullet; and he raved about it going 2500fps. I cant be sure of any of that data but Mike could probably tell you if that is accurite or not????? I can tell you two things he shot a pile of Alaskan Moose and Bears with that old rifle and it never let him down .
I had a huge bear wounded one time in the thick alders and the hunter refused to go in with me right at dark so I opted to wait for daylight . After returning to camp this fellow guide that owned the 350 offered to go back over with me in the morning to finish the project. So next morning he reached under the cot and pulled out the wooden case the 460 lived in and pulls out these massive shells and says "lets go" I was carrying a Sako 375 H&H at the time with .270gr Bitteroot bullets and a fairly warm load behind them. We got over there and the bear had "dug in" and very very pis*ed off to say the least . He and I were pretty much abreast going in there, but I saw the bear in the end; a spilt second before he did; and the moment we saw each other, the bear charged ME................. I fired the Sako, that at that moment, felt more like a 22 short; just before he touched off that "460 #2 Nitro" and I dont know how it happened; but he discharged BOTH barrels at the same time. The impact of the 375 had not yet folded the bear up; but when the 460 Nitro hit that bear; I have NEVER seen such results ever; to a grizzly as that did to that bear in mid stride........................ very very very impressive.
I got some sorta flashback from the muzzle flash from that gun 25 yds away that I am assuming was unburned Cordite ?????? Or what ever was in those old shells he had . The muzzle jump lifted his barrels; right up in a true vertical position; and anyone could plainly see, that is a whole different ballgame right there! Maybe had he fired only one barrel; it wouldnt have seamed so darn impressive, I dont really know but it got my attention . I still have a picture of that bear somewhere and it was an HONEST 10fter with a 29" skull...........................
here is a picture of the bear that I just tryed to take a picture of it with the digital camera and got terrible flash on the left side but I think you can see the size compared to six men holding it ....... thats yours truely with the coveralls on!!!!

 

[DrMike]

The current lots of N204 and the Hornady 250 RN would certainly permit approaching 2500 fps with a maximum charge. It would be an awesome load.

Cartridge : .350 Mag. Rigby
Bullet : .358, 250, Hornady SPRN 3525
Useable Case Capaci: 84.130 grain H2O = 5.462 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.575 inch = 90.81 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Norma 204

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

You could generate a similar velocity with greater efficiency using the 250 grain Nosler Partition.

Cartridge : .350 Mag. Rigby
Bullet : .358, 250, Nosler PART SP 44801
Useable Case Capaci: 79.832 grain H2O = 5.183 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.575 inch = 90.81 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Norma 204

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 74 56.40 1945 2100 23951 7215 79.4 1.648
-18.0 76 57.81 1994 2207 25423 7492 80.9 1.607
-16.0 78 59.22 2043 2317 26987 7769 82.2 1.567
-14.0 80 60.63 2093 2431 28648 8044 83.6 1.527
-12.0 82 62.04 2143 2549 30414 8317 84.9 1.489
-10.0 84 63.45 2193 2670 32293 8587 86.2 1.452
-08.0 85 64.86 2244 2794 34292 8852 87.4 1.415
-06.0 87 66.27 2295 2923 36421 9113 88.6 1.380
-04.0 89 67.68 2346 3055 38689 9368 89.8 1.341 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 91 69.09 2397 3190 41107 9617 90.9 1.304 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 93 70.50 2449 3330 43687 9858 91.9 1.266 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 95 71.91 2501 3473 46442 10091 92.9 1.231 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 96 73.32 2553 3619 49387 10316 93.8 1.196 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 98 74.73 2606 3769 52538 10530 94.7 1.163 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 100 76.14 2658 3922 55914 10734 95.5 1.130 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 102 77.55 2711 4079 59533 10926 96.3 1.099 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 93 70.50 2594 3735 52384 10196 97.5 1.170 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 93 70.50 2273 2869 35961 9089 83.0 1.384

-20.0 73 58.40 1966 2145 24128 7595 80.3 1.640
-18.0 75 59.86 2015 2254 25600 7885 81.7 1.599
-16.0 77 61.32 2064 2366 27166 8174 83.0 1.560
-14.0 78 62.78 2114 2481 28828 8461 84.4 1.521
-12.0 80 64.24 2164 2600 30591 8745 85.7 1.484
-10.0 82 65.70 2215 2723 32465 9026 86.9 1.447
-08.0 84 67.16 2266 2849 34456 9302 88.1 1.411
-06.0 86 68.62 2317 2979 36574 9573 89.3 1.376
-04.0 88 70.08 2368 3112 38828 9838 90.4 1.337 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 89 71.54 2419 3249 41226 10097 91.5 1.300 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 91 73.00 2471 3390 43784 10347 92.5 1.263 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 93 74.46 2523 3533 46510 10589 93.5 1.228 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 95 75.92 2575 3681 49418 10821 94.4 1.194 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 97 77.38 2627 3832 52523 11044 95.2 1.161 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 98 78.84 2680 3986 55845 11255 96.0 1.128 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 100 80.30 2732 4143 59399 11454 96.7 1.097 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 91 73.00 2615 3795 52432 10672 97.9 1.167 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 91 73.00 2296 2926 36023 9567 83.8 1.381

 

[257 Ackley]

I had a guide friend that was left two guns by one of his hunters one was a 460#2 Nitro and the matching rifle was the 350 #2 or a 350 Rigby with a rim on it. Anyway you better not quote me on this but I think all he ever used in the 350 was 70gr of N204; and a Hornady RN 250gr bullet; and he raved about it going 2500fps. I cant be sure of any of that data but Mike could probably tell you if that is accurite or not????? I can tell you two things he shot a pile of Alaskan Moose and Bears with that old rifle and it never let him down .
I had a huge bear wounded one time in the thick alders and the hunter refused to go in with me right at dark so I opted to wait for daylight . After returning to camp this fellow guide that owned the 350 offered to go back over with me in the morning to finish the project. So next morning he reached under the cot and pulled out the wooden case the 460 lived in and pulls out these massive shells and says "lets go" I was carrying a Sako 375 H&H at the time with .270gr Bitteroot bullets and a fairly warm load behind them. We got over there and the bear had "dug in" and very very pis*ed off to say the least . He and I were pretty much abreast going in there, but I saw the bear in the end; a spilt second before he did; and the moment we saw each other, the bear charged ME................. I fired the Sako, that at that moment, felt more like a 22 short; just before he touched off that "460 #2 Nitro" and I dont know how it happened; but he discharged BOTH barrels at the same time. The impact of the 375 had not yet folded the bear up; but when the 460 Nitro hit that bear; I have NEVER seen such results ever; to a grizzly as that did to that bear in mid stride........................ very very very impressive.
I got some sorta flashback from the muzzle flash from that gun 25 yds away that I am assuming was unburned Cordite ?????? Or what ever was in those old shells he had . The muzzle jump lifted his barrels; right up in a true vertical position; and anyone could plainly see, that is a whole different ballgame right there! Maybe had he fired only one barrel; it wouldnt have seamed so darn impressive, I dont really know but it got my attention . I still have a picture of that bear somewhere and it was an HONEST 10fter with a 29" skull...........................
here is a picture of the bear that I just tryed to take a picture of it with the digital camera and got terrible flash on the left side but I think you can see the size compared to six men holding it ....... thats yours truely with the coveralls on!!!!

Very cool account of the hunt! That is a BIG bear :shock:

 

[DrMike]

That's a good sized bruin, for sure.

 

[SJB358]

Wow, what a bear Earle!

My old man gave me a video called "Fury in the Alders". 9-10 hunts in Alaska hunting the big browns. I gotta say, it doesn't calm me down a bit to watch that stuff. Really just makes the fire burn hotter to hunt the big grizzlies! What an animal. There were a few that took some serious punishment before staying put.