.458 Lott or .416 Rigby

It'll be a CZ 550 American,and I'm trying to decide between .416 Rigby and .458 Lott. Both guns are the same except the lotts in a synthetic stock,which I would change,both hold 5rounds you all already know.

The reason it's even a decision(I would go with the Lott) is because of the handloading potential of the .416 Rigby. I know the Rigby runs a 400 grainers at2400 at 47,500 psi.im not a handloader,so it's why I'm asking,couldn't the Rigby be loaded up to higher pressure with a 450 grain bullet and keep the 2400 fps? If the Lott is running 65k, couldn't terigby run 65k safely too? Forgive my ignorance of handloading,I never learned.

Game hunted will be Cape Buffalo bull and plains game,for which I have a 7 mm.

Which rifle would you choose, The Lott or the Rigby?
I’d go for .416 Rigby. More versatile than the .458 Lott (which is also an excellent caliber in it’s own right). Its’s a magnificent general purpose cartridge for all species of African game (while it’s predominantly designed for hunting dangerous game, it also has a flat enough trajectory & manageable enough recoil for hunting all of the plains game species in a pinch).

My personal advice for you, is this: Don’t knock the traditional tried-and-tested 400-410Gr bullet for this cartridge. Sectional density is more than adequate, trajectory is satisfactorily flat & penetration is immense. This .400Gr .416 bore bullet traveling at 2370 FPS is more than adequate for anything that walks the earth. Remember that even being armed with a 20mm anti aircraft gun will do you absolutely no good if your shot is not correctly placed in a vital region.
 
I prefer to do what I can to lessen the odds of needing to rely on my PH's back up gun because I choose to carry a gun with less authority. This is my experience only... I went down a similar path of questions and experimenting with different cartridges, etc. when planning for my buffalo hunt. I purchased rifles in all of the calibers mentioned, (ex the Ruger) and after considerable practice with all, I decided to take the most gun I could handle, which for me was the 458 Lott. It it did its job wonderfully, and there was no need for back up shots from the PH. For me, there is no noticeable difference in the recoil between the 416 Rigby and 458 Lott, with the Lott launching a significantly heavier bullet with significantly more energy. My $0.02... If you are recoil sensitive, or have shoulder problems, etc. go with the 375 or 9.3, but otherwise I would hunt buffalo with as much gun as you can handle and shoot accurately off of sticks.
 
If you are looking at two specific rifles, as it certainly sounds, but the Lott would require you (due to personal preference) to "upgrade" stock to wood, I would go with the .416 Rigby. It sounds as if you have decided on the 550 action. I have owned plenty and if you are not in a hurry, and are willing to search for a while, I would recommend you look for one from AHR that has already been finished and is deadly reliable. I still have one in .458 Lott and it is very well executed.
 
Last edited:
I'd do the 416 Rigby, skip the CZ unless you can find a AHR already done as previously mentioned, I'd personally spend a little more and find a Dakota in 416 Rigby, it will be better quality in every way straight away, supported by Parkwest in SD. Less recoil and easier to shoot
 
As I am celebrating indigenous peoples’ day and looking at safe overflow rifles, although more expensive, the pre-Martini Heym rifles are excellent values in my opinion. I have steered several people in this direction. Not flashy, but great rifles.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3297.jpeg
    IMG_3297.jpeg
    3.1 MB · Views: 26
Either will work. I’d work hard to shoot one of each before you buy. You might make a different choice. For me, the .416 Rigby is classic, and can be loaded up or down a bit more easily. Of course, if you have no handloading experience, chances are you’ll make do with factory ammo.

I have a CZ 550, and at least in .416 Rigby, the rifle feeds a little better with 3 in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. You can do 4, but the first reload is a bit rough…… not the right time for drama, IMO. Some gunsmithing can mitigate this, but you’ve got to find the right guys.
Well,I personally have no handloading experience, but I use Superior ammunition in South Carolina to load up my ammunition for me custom loads. Lonnie there can load up whatever kind of bullet you send them as hot or as cool as you want it. So if I wanted it custom loads for the 416 Rigby I would get him to do it and tell him the specifications I wanted.

Thank you for your invaluable information about loading three in the magazine sir I will check that out.

Thanks!
 
As I am celebrating indigenous peoples’ day and looking at safe overflow rifles, although more expensive, the pre-Martini Heym rifles are excellent values in my opinion. I have steered several people in this direction. Not flashy, but great rifles.
Columbus day is what it says on my Google calendar,have they changed it, like they changed gulf of mexico to gulf of America? I'm behind the times it seems! Indigenous day it is then!
Heym rifles have an awesome reputation,that's quite a nice collection you have there sir. But I thought Heym rifles were super expensive? Where do you acquire such a rifle?
 
Flip a coin.

In my opinion, Rigby & Lott factory ballistics are more than adequate and don't need to be improved upon.

Yes 416 Rigby has upside potential due to case size (if you want to subject yourself to the additional recoil).

BUT shooting extensively to adjust to the recoil is more important than deciding between the best of these 2 great cartridges.

Last I own both. But I used the Rigby for plains game to be honest and a 500 NE for buff. That will be my combo again next year. I like big guns and backup options so that combo works for me.
Ive got a 10 gauge shotgun I had turned into a 500, but one side broke(go figure) I shouldve bought a new one. But now it's a bolt-action,so I'm thinking Lott,because I can also shoot win mag shells if I want. And with win mag and 400 grainers,it should do for buffalo and recoil should be similar to the rigby.ive never shot a Rigby,but I have a Lott.
 
Columbus day is what it says on my Google calendar,have they changed it, like they changed gulf of mexico to gulf of America? I'm behind the times it seems! Indigenous day it is then!
Heym rifles have an awesome reputation,that's quite a nice collection you have there sir. But I thought Heym rifles were super expensive? Where do you acquire such a rifle?
Well, I did not see until after I posted that you were looking at CZs on a fraudulent website priced so low. I personally would rather save up for a rifle that is good to go instead of spending possibly $3K in today's prices for a CZ550 that may still need significant work. I think they (pre-Martini Heyms) are a great buy in the $8000-9000 range. You can buy a prettier stocked rifle, but there are not a lot of "better" rifles IMHO than the Heym. AHR full customs in the $6500 and up range as well. BRNOs will be less expensive. Shop around and you can likely find a solid rifle. Follow the "Good Gun Deals" (started by Rookhawk) thread on this site.
 
For all the people leaving little comments saying ca doesn't sell the 550 Safari Magnum..YES THEY DO, and here's the link:


Please stop saying the don't make them and sell them, I know they do
 
For all the people leaving little comments saying ca doesn't sell the 550 Safari Magnum..YES THEY DO, and here's the link:


Please stop saying the don't make them and sell them, I know they do

Well then, go ahead and send them your money!
Please then report on how long it is until you receive your new CZ 550 Magnum.

PS: From their website, "15% DISCOUNT FOR PURCHASES VIA CRYPTOCURRENCY"
Yes sir, most reputable gun sale sites accept crypto... :)

In case you want to verify that the above listed site is legitimate, here are some Scam Checkers:
https://www.urlvoid.com/
https://www.scam-detector.com/validator/

And from this site:

"The trust score of czarmshop.com is rather low."​

It's your money...
 
shoot both and see which one's recoil you can handle. 416 is alot more manageable than the 458 lott trust me. Both will do the same job. You'll probably enjoy the 416 more I think
 
I went thru the same dilemma and chose the 416 Rigby over the Lott and the 375s both H&H and Ruger. I was originally planning on one of my 375s but the more I talked to guys and researched about hunting Africas most dangerous I’m happy I went with the 416. “It just hits noticeably harder than a 375” seemed to be the general consensus. I killed two buffalo and a hippo on land with it and felt I used enough gun, not sure I would have felt that way with a 375. Just my 2 cents from my limited experience.
 
For all the people leaving little comments saying ca doesn't sell the 550 Safari Magnum..YES THEY DO, and here's the link:


Please stop saying the don't make them and sell them, I know they do
My kids loved Young Sheldon. Sheldon would say, “Oooh dear.” That is a fraudulent site. People are trying to help you.
 
Well then, go ahead and send them your money!
Please then report on how long it is until you receive your new CZ 550 Magnum.

PS: From their website, "15% DISCOUNT FOR PURCHASES VIA CRYPTOCURRENCY"
Yes sir, most reputable gun sale sites accept crypto... :)

In case you want to verify that the above listed site is legitimate, here are some Scam Checkers:
https://www.urlvoid.com/
https://www.scam-detector.com/validator/

And from this site:

"The trust score of czarmshop.com is rather low."​

It's your money...


Why is this new member pushing this so hard? IMO, this new member is either young and/or very naive or he's a scammer that's part of that website's scam. We've basically proven that the website he keeps referencing is a scam site but he keeps pushing it on here.

As you saw, he's even started a second thread referencing this same website.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/redux-post.97811/
Very suspicious activity to me.

This is very similar scammer activity that I've seen before on two of my amateur astronomy forum websites. Scammers will join a forum website and make posts designed to push traffic/members to the scam website.

If he's innocent then my apologies but, as of right now, this whole thing just smells.

We'll see. . .

Bob F.
 
Why is this new member pushing this so hard? IMO, this new member is either young and/or very naive or he's a scammer that's part of that website's scam. We've basically proven that the website he keeps referencing is a scam site but he keeps pushing it on here.

As you saw, he's even started a second thread referencing this same website.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/redux-post.97811/
Very suspicious activity to me.

This is very similar scammer activity that I've seen before on two of my amateur astronomy forum websites. Scammers will join a forum website and make posts designed to push traffic/members to the scam website.

If he's innocent then my apologies but, as of right now, this whole thing just smells.

We'll see. . .

Bob F.
"He sees more than he doth know!" I think you likely nailed it!
 
For all the people leaving little comments saying ca doesn't sell the 550 Safari Magnum..YES THEY DO, and here's the link:


Please stop saying the don't make them and sell them, I know they do
Go ahead and buy one!
Everyone knows it’s a scam site but you apparently.
 
Oh, look... czarmshop only accepts two methods of payment.

Yeah, tell me again just how legitimate this site is.

Bob F.


czarmshop.com.jpg




Google-Zelle.jpg
 

Forum statistics

Threads
63,897
Messages
1,406,451
Members
127,434
Latest member
KoreyA3641
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

ChooChoo404 wrote on MontanaGrant's profile.
Hi. Giving it serious consideration . Ive bought from azdave gonna ask him bout you

Any wisdom or opinions on that reticle? There a manual?
Hedge774 wrote on Odinsraven's profile.
Hey Odinsraven. Is that post from Jefferry 404 legitimate? I don't know him. Thanks!
Hedge
Manny R wrote on SETH RINGER's profile.
I have no idea the shipping cost from here to Costa Rica. I can do my research on shipping and get back with you later today.
StickFlicker AZ wrote on Matt 72's profile.
I didn't see your request re: ship co’s. My last shipment was 2023. Quotes from SBS Logistics ($1,198), Badger Cargo ($1,184 - used them) & AHG Trophy Shippers ($1,746). AHG owner's an asshole so wouldn't have used him anyway. Eastern Cape - Houston, TX, so your mileage may vary. NEVER use Karl Human Taxidermy aka Wild Africa Taxidermy on Eastern Cape. Trophies arrived shattered with no padding/packing material.
Member of: SCI, NSCA, Life Member NRA
 
Top