Change of Calibre for a 416 Rigby

Odinsraven

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Hi Guys - you may be help me on this

I have ended up with 2 CZ550 416 Rigby rifles -

Both are nearly new one in wood stock and unscoped

The other is synthetic stocked and scoped , it was a bargain - ok even cheaper than a bargain - Guys it was basically free considering the scope and mounts that came with it ,


OK here is the problem - She who must be obeyed (the blonde) has taken an interest in shooting recently after discovering that I was not conducting an affair - but merely spending an acceptable amount of time on the range !

Now she has the keys to my heart , and soon to the gun safes

2 of the same calibre by the same manufacturer ............. yeah I would be busted !

So guys any ideas for a new barrel for the wooden stocked one ?

450 Rigby (rimless) should be straight forward ?

has anyone here converted one ?

Any other interesting calibres that will work with the bolt and indeed magazine withou modification ?

Thanks
 
Why not sell the wooden stocked one and buy a rifle for the Blonde?
 
Why not sell the wooden stocked one and buy a rifle for the Blonde?
The Blonde has 57 rifles to choose from up to and including 300 win mag which is her recoil limit ..... a few of which she refers to hers now ..... However the demands for reloading and cleaning rifles falls on me ..... a proper Lady shooter I pack load carry to range drive her to the range unload weapons and ammo then repack ....... so she is well taken care off in the rifle department ....

She thinks double rifles are silly ....yeah I know ..........​
 
I think your better off letting your wife think your having an affair, Garages and Rifle Ranges are Mans last Fortress of Solitude.
 
Last edited:
I think your better off letting your wife think your having an affair, Garages and Rifle Ranges are Mans last Fortress of Solitude
Rob she has little taste in men ...... I got lucky ......
 
Rob she has little taste in men ...... I got lucky ......
I could be interested in the Wood 416 but I don't know about shipping to USA
 
I think it could get complicated when part of your requirement is to not have to rework the bolt and magazine... But I have a Ruger RSM in 505 Gibbs that started life as a 416 Rigby. It was not re-barreled, it was re-chambered, re-bored, and re-rifled... and then re-labeled. I have no idea how much work was done to the bolt face and magazine. I bought it this way. I think little or non to the mag.

You could teach her to shoot the wood stocked 416 Rigby! Put a recoil reducer (or even 2) in the stock, maybe one in the fore end? Tell her the wood compliments her hair. Then you will need to go to Africa for his and her buffalo!

Get @matt85 to tell you how to have her hold and shoot the gun and to share his experience with women shooting big bores.
 
if you wish to convert one of the 416 Rigby's to another caliber then the 450 Rigby is the obvious choice. the only work that should be needed is to rebore the barrel out to .458" and some slight chambered modifications.

-matt
 
if you wish to convert one of the 416 Rigby's to another caliber then the 450 Rigby is the obvious choice. the only work that should be needed is to rebore the barrel out to .458" and some slight chambered modifications.

-matt
At last a voice of sanity. ...what I had planned ..However did not think of reboring the barrel ...smart move
.thanks
 
if you wish to convert one of the 416 Rigby's to another caliber then the 450 Rigby is the obvious choice. the only work that should be needed is to rebore the barrel out to .458" and some slight chambered modifications.

-matt

At last a voice of sanity. ...what I had planned ..However did not think of reboring the barrel ...smart move
.thanks

Yeah, those .458 bullets really struggle going down the .416 barrel. ;) Just make sure you use enough powder.

All jokes aside.

The .450Rigby is an absolute machine of a cartridge that will destroy any walking beast on this planet. I'm not sure how recoil sensitive you are, but try and shoot one before you make the decision of re boring the .416Rigby.
@matt85, throw some data on here about loads for the .450Rigby and what it throws that 500gr bullet out there at......
If you can handle it, you will have your self a mean weapon.

Good luck and please let us know how your conversion goes.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen
 
450 Rigby sprang to my mind as soon as I read the title...

The synthetic stocked 416 is going to be snappy to shoot unless it has some serious weight in it and some recoil reducers... I hate to think how a light 450 Rigby is going to kick.
 
ill say this right out, in my opinion a 450 Rigby should weigh 11 pounds empty. you can get away with less but your ability to practice with the gun will be directly proportional to its weight. (less weight = less practice)

in a standard loading your looking at a 500gr bullet at 2300fps which puts the rifle between the 470 NE and the 500 NE in terms of both power and recoil. the 450 Rigby can be loaded MUCH hotter if you feel like it but thats between you and your shoulder.

-matt
 
Everyone thanks for the input I am converting the wood stocked one and will obviously be generous on the barrel profile to make sure it tips the scales at 11 lbs without scope etc.
 
a word of caution, dont make the rifle muzzle heavy. a muzzle heavy rifle will deliver its recoil strait back which will exaggerate felt recoil. use a barrel that wont be too light but not heavy either, then add weight to the forgrip and butt of the stock to bring the overall weight to 11 pounds. balance is extremely important with large bore rifles!

-matt
 
Matt a very valid point - don't want to get in to the situation of - you shoot the Buff,Ele whichever one gets up first is declared the winner !

Even with the wooden stocked one I have opportunities to add weight ,,,,,, thanks for the input - this project is live in that

I have the guns coming to Iceland before Christmas so will be able to start work in the new year


Appreciate all the help guys keep the ideas coming


Stephen
 
my issue with the 465 H&H is .468" bullets are pretty dang rare. your pretty much limited to custom made bullets and Woodleigh. the Woodleigh SP isn't going to be strong enough to handle full speed from the 465 H&H so you would have to download the cartridge.

-matt
 
The 400 H&H will probably be the next project if the 450 Rigby works out - just need to find a cheap CZ550 to start the project
 
my issue with the 465 H&H is .468" bullets are pretty dang rare. your pretty much limited to custom made bullets and Woodleigh. the Woodleigh SP isn't going to be strong enough to handle full speed from the 465 H&H so you would have to download the cartridge.

-matt

With the advantage of being much closer to Woodleigh, I suspect your synopsis may be overtaken in the future.

That said, I can't fault your reasoning as things stand today.
 

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