.416 Weatherby Mag
Professionally Reviewed by:
Nathaniel Boos
Nathaniel Boos is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and shooter, renowned for his experience as a long-range shooter, ammunition importer/exporter, and firearms manufacturer. With years of hands-on experience, he is a trusted authority in the ammunition and firearms industry.
Credentials:
- • 2x Team Safari Competitor
- • KRG Training Level 1, 2, and Force on Force CQB certified
- • Licensed Texas Conceal Carry Holder
- • Kranz Firearms Training Group Advanced Carbine Certified
.416 Weatherby Mag: At a Glance
| Key Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Firearm Type | Rifle |
| Primer Type | Large Rifle Magnum |
| Used For | Big Game Hunting, Dangerous Game |
| Case Design | Belted, Bottleneck |
| Year Introduced | 1989 |
.416 Weatherby Mag: At a Glance: Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Extremely powerful for large and dangerous game
- ✔ Excellent penetration on thick-skinned animals
- ✔ Flat trajectory for a large bore cartridge
- ✔ Versatile for various big game hunting scenarios
- ✔ Weatherby's reputation for quality and performance
Cons
- ✘ Significant recoil, challenging for many shooters
- ✘ Expensive ammunition
- ✘ Limited availability of firearms chambered in this caliber
- ✘ Overkill for most North American game animals
- ✘ Heavy rifles typically required to manage recoil
.416 Weatherby Magnum: A Powerful Big Game Cartridge
The .416 Weatherby Magnum is a large bore rifle cartridge designed for hunting dangerous game. Introduced by Weatherby in 1989, it's known for its high velocity, flat trajectory, and immense stopping power. This cartridge is primarily used for hunting large and dangerous game in Africa and North America, offering excellent performance for animals like elephant, cape buffalo, and grizzly bear.
Development and Characteristics
The .416 Weatherby Magnum was developed by Roy Weatherby and introduced in 1989. It was designed to outperform existing .416 caliber cartridges, particularly the .416 Rigby. The cartridge is based on the .378 Weatherby Magnum case, necked up to accept .416 inch diameter bullets.
This cartridge is known for its high velocity, typically pushing a 400-grain bullet at speeds of around 2,700 feet per second at the muzzle. This results in muzzle energy of over 6,000 foot-pounds, making it one of the most powerful commercial cartridges available.
The .416 Weatherby Magnum's case features the distinctive Weatherby double radius shoulder and belted design. This allows for higher pressures and contributes to the cartridge's impressive ballistic performance. The cartridge is capable of maintaining supersonic velocities beyond 800 yards, providing a flatter trajectory compared to other big bore cartridges.
Applications and Usage
The primary application of the .416 Weatherby Magnum is for hunting large and dangerous game. It's particularly popular among professional hunters and guides in Africa, where it's used for hunting animals like elephant, rhinoceros, and cape buffalo. In North America, it's sometimes used for large bears and moose.
Due to its high power and recoil, the .416 Weatherby Magnum is not typically used for long-range target shooting or smaller game hunting. It's a specialized cartridge designed for situations where maximum stopping power is required at relatively close ranges.
Rifles chambered for the .416 Weatherby Magnum are typically heavy, sturdy bolt-action designs capable of handling the cartridge's high pressures and recoil. The Weatherby Mark V rifle is a popular choice for this cartridge, though other manufacturers have also produced rifles chambered for it.
Timeline of .416 Weatherby Magnum Development:
.416 Weatherby Magnum Performance
Key performance characteristics of the .416 Weatherby Magnum cartridge:
| Characteristic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Bullet Weight | 350-450 grains 400 grains is the most common |
| Muzzle Velocity | 2,700 fps (400 grain bullet) From a 26-inch barrel |
| Muzzle Energy | 6,480 ft-lbs (400 grain bullet) One of the highest among commercial cartridges |
| Effective Range | Up to 500 yards Primarily used at closer ranges for dangerous game |
| Recoil | High Requires experienced shooter and heavy rifle |
Bullet Weight vs. Muzzle Velocity
This chart shows how bullet weight affects muzzle velocity for common .416 Weatherby Mag loads.
.416 Weatherby Mag: Effective Range for Different Applications
This table provides estimated effective ranges for .416 Weatherby Mag ammunition in various applications. Ranges are based on typical bullet weights and velocities.
| Application | Effective Range (yards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous Game Hunting | 0-100 | Optimal for close-range encounters with dangerous game |
| African Big Game | 0-400 | Effective for long-range shots on large African game |
| Long-Range Shooting | 0-500 | Capable of extreme long-range accuracy with proper loads |
| Target Shooting | 0-1000 | Suitable for extreme long-range target shooting |
Note: Effective ranges can vary based on factors such as bullet selection, shooter skill, wind conditions, and specific firearm characteristics. The .416 Weatherby Mag is known for its high velocity, flat trajectory, and extreme power at long ranges. Always prioritize safety and adhere to local laws and regulations.
Applications for .416 Weatherby Mag
The .416 Weatherby Mag's powerful performance profile makes it suitable for specific applications:
Caliber Comparisons
To understand the .416 Weatherby Mag's place in the rifle world, it's helpful to compare it to similar cartridges. Click on each comparison to see more details:
Recoil Energy Comparison
Compare the estimated recoil energy of .416 Weatherby Mag with other large-bore rifle cartridges. (Based on a 10 lb rifle)
Ballistic Trajectory Comparison
This chart compares the ballistic trajectory (bullet drop) of .416 Weatherby Mag with other large-bore rifle cartridges over distance.
Wind Drift Comparison
This chart compares the wind drift of .416 Weatherby Mag with other large-bore rifle cartridges in a 10 mph crosswind.
Energy Retention Comparison
This chart compares the energy retention of .416 Weatherby Mag with other large-bore rifle cartridges over distance.
Sectional Density Comparison for .416 Weatherby Mag
The .416 Weatherby Magnum is a powerful big game cartridge known for its high velocity and energy. This table compares the sectional density of common bullet weights used in this cartridge.
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight (gr) | Sectional Density |
|---|---|---|
| .416 Weatherby Mag | 350 | 0.330 |
| .416 Weatherby Mag | 400 | 0.377 |
| .416 Weatherby Mag | 450 | 0.424 |
Note: The .416 Weatherby Mag is designed for hunting large and dangerous game. Its high sectional density values contribute to deep penetration, which is crucial for taking down large animals safely and ethically. The cartridge's performance is further enhanced by its high velocity, typically ranging from 2,700 to 3,000 fps depending on the load.