The Clash of the Titans: Heym Martini Express VS Rigby Big Game

Accidental Villain said:

I do believe Rigby have at least made a few BG`s a few years back with vintage specs. Don`t know if it is in their current lineup though.
As PCC600 wrote, the new ones are much better suited for optics and is what + 90% of customers wants these days.
I will also mention the weight. The 416 Rigby is easily capable of pushing a 450 grain bullet at over 2400 fps. In a 9 1/4 lbs vintage it kicks like mule on steroids. Been there..

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I’ve got a 100+ year old 404J that weighs 9lbs and only has a horn butt. Shooting reloads approaching modern velocities it is the most unpleasant rifle I’ve ever fired . Not much better at original velocities either . Just awful .

JPbowhunter said:

Absolutely, if I ever get a custom rifle done it’d be a 26” barrel too.

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Got a 505G with 26 inch barrels - looks great and shoots brilliantly .

BJH65 said:

Here is Tony Sanchez Arino’s 416 Rigby that sold at auction a few years ago. I know that J.A. Hunter did use one on occasion too but there are no photos available.

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What price did it fetch?

I don't know if Wiki is to be trusted but it says this:

Between 1912 and the beginning of World War II, John Rigby & Co. produced 169 .416 Rigby rifles and 180 between 1939 and 1984.[5] Between 1984, when Paul Roberts took over the John Rigby & Co., and 1997, when the company was purchased by Geoff Miller's investment group, 184 more rifles were produced.

That is just a miniscule amount of them...

Accidental Villain said:

I do believe Rigby have at least made a few BG`s a few years back with vintage specs. Don`t know if it is in their current lineup though.
As PCC600 wrote, the new ones are much better suited for optics and is what + 90% of customers wants these days.
I will also mention the weight. The 416 Rigby is easily capable of pushing a 450 grain bullet at over 2400 fps. In a 9 1/4 lbs vintage it kicks like mule on steroids. Been there..

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This from Rigby’s website.

PCC600 said:

I’ve got a 100+ year old 404J that weighs 9lbs and only has a horn butt. Shooting reloads approaching modern velocities it is the most unpleasant rifle I’ve ever fired . Not much better at original velocities either . Just awful .

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Still a magnificent rifle I`m sure. Does it have a Magnum action?

BJH65 said:

This from Rigby’s website.

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Maybe a little less drop at heel than the vintage ones but, yes there it is. Nice!

I responded the Heym. I do not own either one. Just dream. I like the slimmer stock profile of the Heym. But I’ve never even held one. I have held a Rigby at SCI, and I don’t remember it feeling clunky in my hands at all.

Honestly I’d probably prefer a Reto Buehler custom. I like the thumb cutout in the left side of the action. I like how it looks. I have no idea what a custom from Buehler or MNR cost. I’ve never asked, under the theory that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

I dream of a nice double square bridge Mauser style action with a slim profile stock and dark fiddleback wood. But I dream of hunts more. I have been fortunate to take 3 of the big 5 without even owning an express rifle.

Recently in Zimbabwe I used the camp rifle. A Win 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. I enjoyed carrying it and it shot very well. I shot 6 rounds. I killed 2 buffalo, a kudu, a duiker and a reedbuck and I wounded and lost a baboon (which was my fault, not the rifle’s)

So I guess I just need to bite the bullet and buy a Win 70 in 375. But a part of me lusts after an heirloom quality rifle like discussed above

That big game vintage rifle posted above is gorgeous. I’ll be in London in a week and a half and I’m thinking about a trip to Rigby. . . .Just to drool and dream

bakerb said:

I responded the Heym. I do not own either one. Just dream. I like the slimmer stock profile of the Heym. But I’ve never even held one. I have held a Rigby at SCI, and I don’t remember it feeling clunky in my hands at all.

Honestly I’d probably prefer a Reto Buehler custom. I like the thumb cutout in the left side of the action. I like how it looks. I have no idea what a custom from Buehler or MNR cost. I’ve never asked, under the theory that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

I dream of a nice double square bridge Mauser style action with a slim profile stock and dark fiddleback wood. But I dream of hunts more. I have been fortunate to take 3 of the big 5 without even owning an express rifle.

Recently in Zimbabwe I used the camp rifle. A Win 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. I enjoyed carrying it and it shot very well. I shot 6 rounds. I killed 2 buffalo, a kudu, a duiker and a reedbuck and I wounded and lost a baboon (which was my fault, not the rifle’s)

So I guess I just need to bite the bullet and buy a Win 70 in 375. But a part of me lusts after an heirloom quality rifle like discussed above

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When I asked last year, an MNR bolt gun starts at $23k.

LimbNoMo said:

When I asked last year, an MNR bolt gun starts at $23k.

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Win 70 makes great guns, Not to mention pre 64 that many adore. I like the early 90’s New Haven guns more. Some of the nicer ones are worth their weight in Gold as good as a 10 K rifle by other makers IMHO of course

The new Mod 70s are nice EXCEPT for the trigger , pure junk. If you are looking at the 375s you may want to consider the Sako Bavarian, Its a great piece for the money. It holds 4 in the mag and has a single set trigger with a nice oil finished stock.

The one thing missing from my collection is a Model 70. I would like to find one that I could buy on my C&R FFL. But what caliber? I think I would like to get it in a caliber that I don't already have. Maybe a 338 Win Mag(?)

bakerb said:

I responded the Heym. I do not own either one. Just dream. I like the slimmer stock profile of the Heym. But I’ve never even held one. I have held a Rigby at SCI, and I don’t remember it feeling clunky in my hands at all.

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At the time I held a Rigby Big Game a few years ago at the Tulsa gun show, I didn’t think it clunky either. When I later handled the Heym Martini Express, while a bit lighter, the weight was just distributed differently, it felt more “wand like” and slimmer while really not much lighter. I have not handled the Rigby BG Vintage model or BG lightweight to compare though.

bakerb said:

Honestly I’d probably prefer a Reto Buehler custom. I like the thumb cutout in the left side of the action. I like how it looks. I have no idea what a custom from Buehler or MNR cost. I’ve never asked, under the theory that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

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There are some very high quality custom used rifles that can often be obtained at auction or on the used gun market for substantially less than the cost to make them. Used Dakota 76’s stand out as one example.

bakerb said:

I dream of a nice double square bridge Mauser style action with a slim profile stock and dark fiddleback wood. But I dream of hunts more. I have been fortunate to take 3 of the big 5 without even owning an express rifle.

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I agree. I’m a blue collar guy -marines/retired LE, I would not buy a rifle that would prevent me from going on a great hunt. I got very lucky obtaining my Heym at a great price, probably a fluke but it happens. Seeing new Rigby BG PH models listed at several Cabelas at 16k is nice to see when previously all I saw were the nicer finished BG models in the 22k-25k on the low end. I mean 16k is still a lot, it’s a Cape buffalo hunt in Zim or Moz, but still nice to see. Some may see it as diluting the Rigby name, but if it makes it reachable for the hardworking man who wouldn’t drop 30k on a rifle, I’m all for it.

bakerb said:

Recently in Zimbabwe I used the camp rifle. A Win 70 Safari Express in 375 H&H. I enjoyed carrying it and it shot very well. I shot 6 rounds. I killed 2 buffalo, a kudu, a duiker and a reedbuck and I wounded and lost a baboon (which was my fault, not the rifle’s)

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Nothing wrong with the Winchester Safari Express. That was some great shooting and it did the job! I bought one in 416 Rem back in 1996 for our first Safari, performed great.

bakerb said:

So I guess I just need to bite the bullet and buy a Win 70 in 375. But a part of me lusts after an heirloom quality rifle like discussed above

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When you do acquire an heirloom quality rifle, you’re the type who will definitely appreciate it and use it! Well if you’re ever in the OKC area you’re welcome to checkout my Heym.

LimbNoMo said:

When I asked last year, an MNR bolt gun starts at $23k.

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With a substantial wait I believe ? Sorry, will not work for me

BJH65 said:

At the time I held a Rigby Big Game a few years ago at the Tulsa gun show, I didn’t think it clunky either. When I later handled the Heym Martini Express, while a bit lighter, the weight was just distributed differently, it felt more “wand like” and slimmer while really not much lighter. I have not handled the Rigby BG Vintage model or BG lightweight to compare though.

There are some very high quality custom used rifles that can often be obtained at auction or on the used gun market for substantially less than the cost to make them. Used Dakota 76’s stand out as one example.

I agree. I’m a blue collar guy -marines/retired LE, I would not buy a rifle that would prevent me from going on a great hunt. I got very lucky obtaining my Heym at a great price, probably a fluke but it happens. Seeing new Rigby BG PH models listed at several Cabelas at 16k is nice to see when previously all I saw were the nicer finished BG models in the 22k-25k on the low end. I mean 16k is still a lot, it’s a Cape buffalo hunt in Zim or Moz, but still nice to see. Some may see it as diluting the Rigby name, but if it makes it reachable for the hardworking man who wouldn’t drop 30k on a rifle, I’m all for it.

Nothing wrong with the Winchester Safari Express. That was some great shooting and it did the job! I bought one in 416 Rem back in 1996 for our first Safari, performed great.

When you do acquire an heirloom quality rifle, you’re the type who will definitely appreciate it and use it! Well if you’re ever in the OKC area you’re welcome to checkout my Heym.

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My experiences with Rigby Big Game at Gordy’s was similar, too long a barrel “not sure what length” it was but definitely more than 24”. Heavy, not easy to maneuver, load and shoot quickly were my initial thoughts. Didn't tell them anything but I guess that’s how they are designed in 416 Rigby to smother some of recoil etc. no harm no foul just my thought.

Accidental Villain said:

Still a magnificent rifle I`m sure. Does it have a Magnum action?

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Yes it does . Single square bridge magnum .

this is an early Rigby 416 of the new production about 2017 besides not having a 25 1/2 inch barrel with the original step style contour this has a 24"and measure 23 1/4 from the front of the ring , its pretty close to the original with flag safety ,no cheekpiece, single square bridge but the stock is a bit cumbersome compared to the original version ,, I bought this gun from Ralf Martini he had 2 for sale one had the square bridges and mod 70 safety I say this is a rarer gun than most and it cant be ordered without it being a custom nowadays

Hornedfrogbbq said:

What price did it fetch?

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that took in about 70k with the commission , I bid to 25K at first they did not know it was Tony arino Sanchez rifle Malcolm who does the assessing there told me when I was viewing it days before the auction

I ordered this PH about 5 years ago . I wanted something close to the original style. 24” barrel with single square bridge magnum . Peep sight with all rear sights folding flat . And my initials on escutcheon . It was priced as a PH but came with a lot of extras - color case hardening in some areas, better wood. I was very delighted. It was much much cheaper than a Big Game at the time . Not sure a rifle like this can be bought from Rigby anymore.