.416 TAYLOR

WILDCAT CARTRIDGES

-  Layne Simpson

Robert “Bob” Chatfield-Taylor was a test pilot for the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation during World War II. He later flew for a commercial airline company headquartered in Massachusetts. Bob was also an experienced big-game hunter, and occasionally wrote about his adventures. In 1960, he booked with Ker & Downey Safaris, Ltd., in East Africa, during which both he and his professional hunter, Harry Selby, used rifles in .416 Rigby. He came away from the hunt with visions of a .416-caliber cartridge in a smaller package.

The idea was later a topic of discussion during a luncheon at the famous 21 Club in New York. In attendance were ChatfieldTaylor, Jack O’Connor and Bill Ruger. Also, there was African professional hunter John KingsleyHeath who, along with business partner, Lionel Palmer, owned Safari South Ltd., in Botswana.