The 416 Rigby was developed and introduced by England's John Rigby in 1911. Using a 2.9-inch case with a large base diameter of .589-inch the 416 Rigby requires an extra-large "magnum" action. Its large unbelted case reduces operating pressure with standard loads, originally a 410-grain .416-inch bullet at 2370 fps and today often a 400-grain bullet at 2400 fps. The 416 Rigby was retained as a Rigby proprietary cartridge so was never common, but was legendary for performance. Federal introduced the first modern factory load in 1989. Today 416 Rigby is also loaded by Hornady and Norma, and is chambered by all manufacturers who have an action large enough to house it. It is With an energy yield of 5000 foot-pounds the 416 Rigby is an excellent choice for the largest game, generally offering better penetration than true big bores, although not as versatile and producing more recoil than the 375s.
