Rigby would like to know your caliber preference(s) for a Highland Stalker model without iron sights

The 275 Rigby along with 300 H&H Mag and 375 H&H Mag would be classic offerings.

farmer_john said:

I would rather have it factory threaded for supressor as an option
Vs irons no irons

If no iron option 338 lapua mag

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Rigby will thread the barrel for you, no problem. They will also modify the throat in order to utilize heavier bullets in a .275.

I think the more relevant question Marc needs to ask from a market perspective is who and how many potential customers actually would purchase a Rigby, regardless of caliber, because it had no sights.

I frankly think this idea is either about ten to twenty years too late or perhaps five to ten too early depending the pace of suppressor acceptance in this country. Unless Rigby is also planning to stock it synthetically, cut the price by two-thirds, thread the barrel, and target a very different consumer segment. Hunting videos from Europe show quality rifles without sights equipped with suppressors. Franz Albrecht Oettingen Spielberg comes to mind. However, I can not think of a single person in my circle of acquaintances who would acquire a suppressor friendly Rigby, as currently configured, because it did not have sights.

Red Leg said:

I think the more relevant question Marc needs to ask from a market perspective is who and how many potential customers actually would purchase a Rigby, regardless of caliber, because it had no sights.

I frankly think this idea is either about ten to twenty years too late or perhaps five to ten too early depending the pace of suppressor acceptance in this country. Unless Rigby is also planning to stock it synthetically, cut the price by two-thirds, thread the barrel, and target a very different consumer segment. Hunting videos from Europe show quality rifles without sights equipped with suppressors. Franz Albrecht Oettingen Spielberg comes to mind. However, I can not think of a single person in my circle of acquaintances who would acquire a suppressor friendly Rigby, as currently configured, because it did not have sights.

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Exactly, more info is needed.
If all you’re doing is taking the Highland Stalker and removing sights I think the number of units sold is very low. If the stock design is chanced, maybe a synthetic stock is use or some sort of high Monte Carlo Combed piece of wood you sell a few more, but just asking caliber without additional details is tough on what might be changed is tough.

I appreciate all of the comments and suggestions, both in support and against. Enough people have directly asked for it, which is why it is being considered. I have shared the full thread for consideration by Slade in London who is the head of the Highland Stalker and Big Game lines.

.338 Winchester Magnum with a twist capable of handling bullets 200 grain to 300 grain.

Ron Wharton got there 25 years ago when he made this for me. In .275

If I am ever able to afford a Rigby rifle, I can't imagine getting one without open sights on it. I would be getting it for the traditional look and romance of Rigby. To me a Rigby without open sights would be like a Rigby coming with a synthetic stock. Haha

I would not buy the rifle without iron sights.

Iron sights are a must

To be honest, I would never buy a rifle without iron sights, and never have. I cut my teeth on pumps and levers, and when i was looking for my first bolt rifle many years ago it had to be one with iron sights. Which eliminated a lot of options. But hey, I get it. A lot of the current younger generation seem to operate under the presumption that it is literally impossible to hunt, or do anything else with, a rifle without a scope. It's the whole downward trend of allowing tech to take the place of skills - and now with AI, brains.

I would never use the iron sights so count me as one who likes the option! And most of my rifles don’t have them, looks better with a brake and now suppressors too.

I prefer precise placement (0.5 moa) If hunting dangerous game a 1 power setting on the scope or a red dot is what I would use

Although I am definitely not the target customer for Rigby (and if ever can afford on my Rigby would be a 416 Rigby) but if one is to create a rifle that caters to modern hunters, I would put modern chambering, like the PRC family -primarily 300 PRC-, into an otherwise classical, timeless rifle.

• .275 Rigby
• .30-06
• .308
• 8x57
• 9.3-62
• 7mm Rm Mag
• .300 Win Mag
• .338 Win Mag

You would probably know from your own numbers, and that of Blaser that these are the cartridges that sell best in rifles in Germany.

308, 30-06, 8x57, 7x64, 270, 9,3x62, 300Win, 6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor.

Not sure bout the order, but Blaser would know.

My personal list would add something like this:

350 rigby Hornady or Norma could figure this out for you

6.5x55 (Brits and Scandihoovians love this cartridge)

6.5 CM because you said 308 and are building another action size


What about a mini-action?

A 223 or 222 would be very good

204 for Foxers

300 Blackout for thermal night vision guys shooting pigs

RIGBY said:

Rigby is considering developing and offering a Highland Stalker model without iron sights and would greatly appreciate the opinion of the community on what calibers it would prefer in such a model. Thank you in advance for your contribution!

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When in doubt, go .30-06. But - If I buy a Rigby, I want iron sights. Part of the job of a stalker is to walk, a lot. Weight matters. Ditch the scope. Do your job - stalk. That means get as close as you need to for irons to do the job! The worst thing to happen to rifles in my lifetime is no irons.

If I’m reading minds here and with little to go beyond the title: “Highlands Stalker without Irons”…I’ll draw from my own experiences…No Iron = adding anything from an LPVO to an observatory… Calibers listed are under the DG threshold - so we’re in likely talking everything from Dik-dik to Eland. So high powered flat trajectory out to and perhaps past 500 yards-capable with a broad spectrum of bullet offerings seems to be the ticket. And that leaves me with two options from the list: 300WM & 7RM… I own and reload for both calibers..Both flat shooters…Both have a broad spectrum of bullet offerings…Both are Globally recognized as Top-Tier hunting calibers….For the long reaches with bullets under the 180-200 grain threshold, the 7 shines…Better ballistics coefficients and velocity. The 300 eclipses the 7 at the 212 grain weight projectiles and above. And that will come at a cost - Recoil and for some -the associated flinch…In my mind, the 300 only be useful as extra insurance with a very large Eland or Girafe.

FWIW: I hunted Northern Namibia 3 years ago with my Browning X-bolt. Shooting handloaded 175gn Nosler ABLR’s @ 2850 fps MV. Killed 1-Oryx,1-Hartebeest and 2-Wildebeests a Black and a Blue…All North of 300 yards, All 1-shot “Boom-Flops”…Did not take a step…Died where they stood….Deader than Julius Caesar…I have also enjoyed a degree of success with the 7 in the US on Mule deer and Blacktail using 139gn bullets.

To end this Epistle - The Magnificent 7 is an absolute “Death-Ray” - Hey Rigby how about that for the name of your new gun ?!?!?!? But to take it a step further, the 7 has its limits, as does everything…Do your own research and chase out the ballistics and trajectory tables out to 500, 600 and 700 yards.. See where the 7 falls off and the 300 takes over…And let’s be honest, for most use cases beyond the limits of either of the two…You’re grabbing your DG gun….

Cheers & Good Hunting,

-FRS

Well, why then is the 270 Winchester left off the list? Ok some people want the option; fine. I really don't care. If I am going to buy a Rigby, I want the sights: the peep sight, day-and-night front sight, and the green canvas case with all the accessories. Like it was in 1925. I will say that both the 270 and 338 Winchester Mag should be options in the Highlander.

Why would you offer a rifle like this, in Rigby's price range without iron sights? I also think 300 WSM would make sense. I know this caliber never took off, but would be an excellent plains game cartridge, 325 WSM.

I have a Mauser 98 Standard length in 9.3X62 WITH iron sights I bought in 2016. I put the Sauer HexaLock QD scope rings on it so I could use it with or without the scope. You really should reconsider not putting iron sights on anything.

Never hunt without iron sight, you never know what comes up in the field.

The .275 Rigby and .300 Winchester Magnum would cover any alpine hunting condition.