Ordered my LAST African Safari rifle at DSC this year...

I am coming in late here Tanks, but better late than never. I think I know how you feel, I have had this sort of thing happen to me and the only way forward is to make a big change for the better that restores your smile. The fact that it will be going back to the factory is a necessary part of that, a sort of 'round two'. No half measures.
On the plus side the wood is gorgeous, the fit is right and the sight placements look correct and good.
On the downside the CCH isn't great, and the engraving is in a word, poor.
These are purely cosmetic points, the CCH can be removed as has been said, but in my humble view an expert engraver will need to add quite a bit to give your elephant the class that your original picture conveyed. Not easy, but possible.
I am dying to hear how it shoots and handles, which is the real test.
Are you sure you want to take it on the hunt as is though? For my sixpence I would delay the hunt and get it fixed first, it will just not be the same with something you are not brimming about.
 
I have a 500 nitro and a couple of 450-400’s. I love them both!!!
 
Kevin Peacocke said:
Are you sure you want to take it on the hunt as is though? For my sixpence I would delay the hunt and get it fixed first, it will just not be the same with something you are not brimming about.
Click to expand...
Delaying the hunt would mean skipping Africa this year, so not going to happen. Plus I am looking forward to hunting with the rifle.

Kevin Peacocke said:
I am dying to hear how it shoots and handles, which is the real test.
Click to expand...
Now that I can open and close the gun I will take it out to the range this month. I will need to swap out the Trijicon from the old model to the new front loading battery model first. That should take minutes though.
 
There is just something about a double.

20240904_111524 (1).jpeg
 
Well, I took my Shikari to the range a while back. I was so pissed off that I held back posting, but I am calmer now though still upset.

First time I went to the range was to sight in the Trijicon, I had picked up a brand new 1 MOA RMR HD. Fit perfectly into the Rigby mount for it and installed.

I was so excited about the rifle that I had not looked at it very carefully other than noticing the engraving that was messed up.

Well, for sighting in I slid in a .500 NE cartridge, closed the action looked through the sight and squeezed the front trigger. I heard a click and no bang. I had put the cartridge in the left barrel. So, I opened the action put the cartridge in the right barrel and squeezed again. Got the bang.

Hmmm. I took a look at the triggers and they were offset for a right handed shooter to boot with front trigger firing the right barrel and the rear trigger firing the left barrel.

My order specifically stated the it had to be the other way around. They had screwed up colossally

I don't know how it can be fixed, I will reach out to them later on. Two mistakes on a six figure order. Below is my order sheet. Under notes it is pretty clear.

Any right handers want a neutral cast stock Rigby in .500 NE and an extra .450/400 barrel (half kidding only)? I regret selling my tried and true Heym at this point.

1786755655495.png
 
Wow...they are a forum sponsor so let's see what they do about it. Sorry to hear that. What's wrong with the engraving?
 
Now, after I dialed in the RMR I stood at 50 meters and shot 3 shots right, left and right barrels to a new target, offhand.

Below is the target, I can't complain about the accuracy. They just need to get the rest of the stuff together.

Edit: One other thing, perceived recoil was less than my Heym .500 NE.

1786755962775.png
 
Last edited:
Tanks said:
Well, I took my Shikari to the range a while back. I was so pissed off that I held back posting, but I am calmer now though still upset.

First time I went to the range was to sight in the Trijicon, I had picked up a brand new 1 MOA RMR HD. Fit perfectly into the Rigby mount for it and installed.

I was so excited about the rifle that I had not looked at it very carefully other than noticing the engraving that was messed up.

Well, for sighting in I slid in a .500 NE cartridge, closed the action looked through the sight and squeezed the front trigger. I heard a click and no bang. I had put the cartridge in the left barrel. So, I opened the action put the cartridge in the right barrel and squeezed again. Got the bang.

Hmmm. I took a look at the triggers and they were offset for a right handed shooter to boot with front trigger firing the right barrel and the rear trigger firing the left barrel.

My order specifically stated the it had to be the other way around. They had screwed up colossally

I don't know how it can be fixed, I will reach out to them later on. Two mistakes on a six figure order. Below is my order sheet. Under notes it is pretty clear.

Any right handers want a neutral cast stock Rigby in .500 NE and an extra .450/400 barrel (half kidding only)? I regret selling my tried and true Heym at this point.

View attachment 784876
Click to expand...
honestly surprised you sold your Heym setup before getting the new one all dialed in and put through its paces. Granted…being from Rigby I wholeheartedly think you are justified in expecting perfection…so maybe parting with the Heyms was smart at the time…I’m just always hesitant to rely on a new custom until I put it through the paces.

It’s different with doubles, but I’ve had a not so insiginficiant number of custom long range bolt guns that didn’t last through initial load work up for one reason or another.
 
Tanks said:
Now, after I dialed in the RMR I stood at 50 meters and shot 3 shots right, left and right barrels to a new target, offhand.

Below is the target, I can't complain about the accuracy. They just need to get the rest of the stuff together.

Edit: One other thing, perceived recoil was less than my Heym .500 NE.

View attachment 784878
Click to expand...
I mean…not half joking…I’d love to shoot it before you have it corrected to wrong-handed.

Such a bummer to read this and honestly expect more from Rigby. That said…I have to believe they will make this right and in the most expeditious way possible. Like fly you and rifle over to tour the new shop and replace the triggers with proper offset and fix the firing order. Not sure they can refinish the frame while you wait, but the triggers should prove strait forward enough they could knock that out while you enjoyed a day about London.

What was the finish weight on the rifle with the 500NE barrels?

I also want to hear your thoughts/logic in ordering the 450/400 scoped barrels over 375 FL mag…so will send you a PM. I need to finalize specifics for a 2-barrel 89b order and trying to decide between 450NE and scoped 450/400 or 450/400 and scoped 375 FL Mag. Want it on an Africa frame, not LW.

For safety sake…with the hunts you likely have lined up for the coming years…might prove smart to go ahead and order a 500NE 89b in case Rigby doesn’t get this sorted immediately.
 
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