450 Rigby Build

[DEFYET]

Currently getting a 450 Rigby built on a CZ550. It was a very nice surprise when my pre-rifle care package arrived to find a message from Geoff himself in my Woodleigh manual!

 

[Code4]

Geoff gives excellent service and is genuinely interested in real world terminal performance.

 

[matt85]

fire those 550gr pills at 2200-2300fps and you will be knocking critters over left and right.

in my opinion the Woodleigh 480gr pills are a little soft for the 450 Rigby. better to use the 500gr Swift A-frame as it will be able to handle the high velocity this cartridge will produce.

make sure to post pictures when you get the rifle!

-mtt

 

[DEFYET]

Thanks Matt!

Will definitely post pics once completed. It's a few weeks away.

 

[colorado]

fire those 550gr pills at 2200-2300fps and you will be knocking critters over left and right.

in my opinion the Woodleigh 480gr pills are a little soft for the 450 Rigby. better to use the 500gr Swift A-frame as it will be able to handle the high velocity this cartridge will produce.

make sure to post pictures when you get the rifle!

-mtt

Agree, even a Woodleigh 550 softpoint at 2150 fps muzzle velocity is damn close to 500 NE power (570g at 2150 fps), with better sectional density. Nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Rule 303]

The 450Rigby is one sweet looking round. Let Geoff know how his bullets perform. Heck let us all know. Good luck.

 

[DEFYET]

Thanks guys! The guy building my rifle knows Geoff well so it was a nice surprise. Their bullets are also exceptional! I can't wait to smash aussie water buffalo at the end of the year!

 

[boldo 42]

Currently getting a 450 Rigby built on a CZ550. It was a very nice surprise when my pre-rifle care package arrived to find a message from Geoff himself in my Woodleigh manual!

View attachment 153468

Always good to see another toad gun in the making.

 

[sandman0921]

DEFYET,

Not to hijack the thread with a, "I've got one as well", but......

Wayne Jacobson at American Hunting Rifles built me a 450 Rigby based off a CZ 550 Magnum action. I currently shoot the 500 grain Barnes TSX bullets out of mine around 2300 fps (458 Lott velocities). I've never felt the need to drive the velocities up to 450 Dakota or 460 Weatherby levels, although the 450 Rigby can do it.

However, Matt is right about the heavier bullets. That's where the 450 Rigby, and it's voluminous case capacity, shines. A 550 grain bullet with a SD of 0.375, traveling at 2100-2200 fps would penetrate like a you-know-what. The 450 Rigby will handle those bigger bullets with ease. If you have a choice, you might want to serious consider the Woodleigh 550's. My $0.02 of course.......

One day, I'd like to develop a load with North Fork 550 grain Semi Spitzer Bonded Softs and Cup Point Solids out of my rifle. I love the North Forks, as far as accuracy, but I don't love the price. I've never taken an animal with one, but talking to those that have, the terminal performance is phenomenal. I'm not sure however, they'd do any better than a Swift A-frame or Barnes TSX. The big advantage would be the upgrade to the 550 grain weight.

Have fun with that 450 Rigby......

 

[DEFYET]

Thanks Sandman!

The 450 is definitely a very versatile cartridge but absolutely performs with the heavier bullets. I plan to standardise on the 550gr RNSN Woodleighs as they are a proven performer and they are relatively easy to come by.

Would love to see some pics of your 450! My barrel profiling has just finished and is still some weeks away.

 

[CAustin]

Yes would love to see a picture f the rifle

 

[sandman0921]

My rifle comes in around 11 lbs (a shade under) without scope and a full magazine. I top it with a Leupold VX6 1-6 x 20. It's heavy, but it helps mitigate some of the recoil this thing generates.

 

[boldo 42]

That's nice

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Sandman, congratulations, an exceptional rifle, beautiful and nice clean lines...enjoy it as much as you can...

 

[sandman0921]

Gert,

Thanks.

Wayne does a great job in making a very functional yet eye appealing dangerous game rifle. He's a master with the CZ big bores. He also does a great job with the Winchester Model 70's. He rebarreled and reworked a Winchester Model 70 Safari Classic in 375 H&H Magnum for me, and currently is completely reworking a Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 that I purchased as a barreled action into a 9.3x62.

In my opinion he's one of the better ones when it comes to CRF actions.

 

[DEFYET]

Wow! Beautiful! Congratulations!

 

[Rule 303]

Sandman that is one sweet looking rifle and in a great cartridge.

 

[bassasdaindia]

@sandman0921 that is a magnificent rifle , congrats!

 

[nztimb]

Can only reiterate what has been said on that being a lovely rifle. georgous piece of wood

 

[bassasdaindia]

without derailing this thread , can someone talk me through the process of converting a 458 Lott to a 450 Rigby

what is involved ?