Change of Calibre for a 416 Rigby

As mentioned above the 450 Rigby would be the logical choice as it is a 416 case necked up to .458. I have a CZ 550 in 450 Rigby and it definitely is a powerhouse at both ends. You basically have a 460 Weatherby without the belt. It is an exceptionally accurate calibre.
 
Exellent well the better animal wins if I survive the recoil or it survives the hit ...

Actually have an 8x68 voere titan ii ...if you know of a magazine as mine is missing one ..
 
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
@matt85 , how is the extra weight added to the fore grip , adding weight only to the stock makes the rifle lob sided when carrying ?
 
Bassasdainda when I need to weight the forward part of the rifle to get the proper balance, I take some tungsten powder (Used for weighting golf clubs, lead powder would also work) mix with epoxy and drill a couple small shallow holes in the barrel channel until I get the balance right.
 
As mentioned above the 450 Rigby would be the logical choice as it is a 416 case necked up to .458. I have a CZ 550 in 450 Rigby and it definitely is a powerhouse at both ends. You basically have a 460 Weatherby without the belt. It is an exceptionally accurate calibre.

i dont think id run the gun at 460 wby levels... thats more power and recoil then one needs from a 458.

@matt85 , how is the extra weight added to the fore grip , adding weight only to the stock makes the rifle lob sided when carrying ?

there is usually enough meat on the stock to add some lead shot in the forgrip. i believe my 505 Gibbs actually has a lead cylinder inside the forgrip.

-matt
 
i dont think id run the gun at 460 wby levels... thats more power and recoil then one needs from a 458.



there is usually enough meat on the stock to add some lead shot in the forgrip. i believe my 505 Gibbs actually has a lead cylinder inside the forgrip.

-matt
When I was searching for reloading data for the 450 Rigby I had contacted several PH's and Park Rangers in S.A who use the calibre. I had posed several questions to them. Since they used Somchem powders that we do not have access to Karl Stumpfe said to me to take the 460 Weatherby reloading data and reduce by 5%.
 
I would favour the 450 Rigby.

Regarding felt recoil. I have found the weight of the rifle to be the last thing I worry about trying to reduce felt recoil. Stock fit and material, I have found to be more important. example. The CZ550 in 375H&H weighted 3 lbs more than my Rem 700 in same calibre. The 700 is in a cheap SPS plastic stock but felt recoil is noticeable less then in the CZ. I have replaced the wood stock on my CZ550 416 Rigby with a lighter synthetic stock, far better fit, and the felt recoil is somewhat less then with the heavier and not as well fitting wood stock. Just my experience.
 
I would favour the 450 Rigby.

Regarding felt recoil. I have found the weight of the rifle to be the last thing I worry about trying to reduce felt recoil. Stock fit and material, I have found to be more important. example. The CZ550 in 375H&H weighted 3 lbs more than my Rem 700 in same calibre. The 700 is in a cheap SPS plastic stock but felt recoil is noticeable less then in the CZ. I have replaced the wood stock on my CZ550 416 Rigby with a lighter synthetic stock, far better fit, and the felt recoil is somewhat less then with the heavier and not as well fitting wood stock. Just my experience.

Same experience. I had a CZ 550 in 375 H&H (it grew up to be a 500 Jeffery). Nice rifle, but recoil was sharper with the 9 lb CZ than with our Rem XCR II shooting 375 H&H factory loads which weighs 7.25 lbs with scope! Wouldn't want to shoot a 7.25 lb 500 Jeffery though ...
 
I would favour the 450 Rigby.

Regarding felt recoil. I have found the weight of the rifle to be the last thing I worry about trying to reduce felt recoil. Stock fit and material, I have found to be more important. example. The CZ550 in 375H&H weighted 3 lbs more than my Rem 700 in same calibre. The 700 is in a cheap SPS plastic stock but felt recoil is noticeable less then in the CZ. I have replaced the wood stock on my CZ550 416 Rigby with a lighter synthetic stock, far better fit, and the felt recoil is somewhat less then with the heavier and not as well fitting wood stock. Just my experience.

agreed, weight is less important then fit. BUT weight is still very important if you value your body. as colorado said "Wouldn't want to shoot a 7.25 lb 500 Jeffery though".

my 505 Gibbs weighs 11 pounds 4 ounces with its optic and i wouldnt want it any lighter then 11 pounds! i can throw a 570gr bullet at 2300fps or a 600gr bullet at 2250fps without beating myself up too much at this weight. i could probably do 10.5 pounds if i reduced the speeds to standard NE levels but i still prefer 11 pounds.

-matt
 

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