.458 Lott or .416 Rigby

[Creatineboy]

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?

 

[ftrovato]

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.

 

[dogcat1]

.375 HH... no need for the 416 Rigby or Lott - too much recoil to be fun to shoot.
Your PH has the stopper. You don't need one on buff.

 

[375Fox]

I’d go with 416 Rigby because it’s more suited to a scope. I have a CZ in 450 Rigby that’s very similar to 458 Lott. I would not put a scope on that rifle. The recoil is just too severe. However, if this is your first buffalo hunt and you are moving up from a 7mm, then the real answer is 375 H&H.

 

[Creatineboy]

.375 HH... no need for the 416 Rigby or Lott - too much recoil to be fun to shoot.
Your PH has the stopper. You don't need one on buff.

I do have a .375 Ruger already. I was thinking some 350 grain copper expanding bullets like North Forks. Good advice,thank you

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

I'd go with the .416 Rigby. No contest. You may like it better in the long run. I've had some Lott's and never liked that cartridge or its feeding, to me just a .458 Win that stretched a little and once topped out can do nothing more, but that's just me. At least the .416 has some class. If I DID get a Lott, I'd rechamber to .450 Rigby or .460 Weatherby.

 

[Creatineboy]

I’d go with 416 Rigby because it’s more suited to a scope. I have a CZ in 450 Rigby that’s very similar to 458 Lott. I would not put a scope on that rifle. The recoil is just too severe. However, if this is your first buffalo hunt and you are moving up from a 7mm, then the real answer is 375 H&H.

It is my first buffalo hunt,but I'm used to shooting a 9.3x62 and the 375 Ruger,so I could just keep the Ruger then. 375 seems to be the most prolific answer, thank you

 

[DaBill]

Im not an experienced Buffalo hunter....yet but my reading of Kevin Robertson's Prefect Shot II he says "pick the biggest caliber you can shoot most accurately". The Lott and Rigby are both great but offer a little bit different solutions. The Lott is max stopping power and the Rigby is flatter shooting, both with heavy recoil. No bad choice there!

 

[Houston Bill]

If the biggest thing you are going to hunt now and in the future is buffalo then I agree with the folks that have said use your 375 and don't look back. The 375 is plenty of gun for buffalo. The 416 Rigby and the 458 Lott are great calibers but you have a big step up in recoil that may not bother you when you are on the sticks and the adrenaline kicks in as you pull the trigger on the buff you are looking at. But before you go on a dangerous game hunt you should practice a lot with your rifle and even off sticks the 416 Rigby and the 458 Lott can be punishing for many shooters and therefore they don't practice enough. Now if elephant is in your future then you may want to consider the Lott or the Rigby. Personally I would go with the 416 Rigby but that is just me.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

It is my first buffalo hunt,but I'm used to shooting a 9.3x62 and the 375 Ruger,so I could just keep the Ruger then. 375 seems to be the most prolific answer, thank you

No flies on the .375. He'll go down. If you're good with that 9.3, and depending on where you'll be, nothing wrong with that either.

 

[John Telford]

458 Lott loaded with 450 grain bullets.
Try for 2250 fps perfect for Mr Buff.

 

[wildwilderness]

I do have a .375 Ruger already. I was thinking some 350 grain copper expanding bullets like North Forks. Good advice,thank you

No, the 350gr in the Ruger would be too much. You will lose a lot of case capacity with a loooong mono bullet and short Ruger case and shoot slower; maybe counter intuitive but you will get less expansion and maybe more penetration (acting like a solid) through the buff and wound a second. But less trauma overall.

For all copper you want velocity. Read the terminal Ballistics description for the 375 Ruger. Keep the speed up; they say above 2600 fps is better for shock in a mono. The standard is the 300 gr bullet in a soft, but the 270gr or even a 250gr can be better in an all copper for buffalo, and definitely in plains game

 

[375Fox]

No, the 350gr in the Ruger would be too much. You will lose a lot of case capacity with a loooong mono bullet and short Ruger case and shoot slower; maybe counter intuitive but you will get less expansion and maybe more penetration (acting like a solid) through the buff and wound a second. But less trauma overall.

For all copper you want velocity. Read the terminal Ballistics description for the 375 Ruger. Keep the speed up; they say above 2600 fps is better for shock in a mono. The standard is the 300 gr bullet in a soft, but the 270gr or even a 250gr can be better in an all copper for buffalo, and definitely in plains game

This is what I won’t understand about hunters advocating 350 gr bullets in 375 (same applies to 416 or 458). Heavy bullets move slower and drop faster. The energy is the same. With lead core bullets I could understand some advantages such as bigger mushroom or ability to make up for shedding some weight. With copper bullets the mushroom is exactly the same in 300 or 350 (maybe less in 350 because impact velocity is slower), but 300 gr monolithic already gets full penetration and possible over penetration, so what’s the advantage? Other than hunters convincing themselves they need a heavier bullet than standard weight. I will disagree with you strongly on one point though. 270 gr I’ve seen good penetration with. 250 gr I’ve had serious penetration issues and wouldn’t consider on buffalo. Monolithic bullets don’t follow the same rules as lead core bullet but they can get too light. There is a report here of 235 gr Barnes stopping on buffalo rib with the outfitter’s rental rifle on here.

 

[wildwilderness]

This is what I won’t understand about hunters advocating 350 gr bullets in 375 (same applies to 416 or 458). Heavy bullets move slower and drop faster. The energy is the same. With lead core bullets I could understand some advantages such as bigger mushroom or ability to make up for shedding some weight. With copper bullets the mushroom is exactly the same in 300 or 350 (maybe less in 350 because impact velocity is slower), but 300 gr monolithic already gets full penetration and possible over penetration, so what’s the advantage? Other than hunters convincing themselves they need a heavier bullet than standard weight. I will disagree with you strongly on one point though. 270 gr I’ve seen good penetration with. 250 gr I’ve had serious penetration issues and wouldn’t consider on buffalo. Monolithic bullets don’t follow the same rules as lead core bullet but they can get too light. There is a report here of 235 gr Barnes stopping on buffalo rib with the outfitter’s rental rifle on here.

I load the 300 TSX to go along with some 300 gr solids I have just in case it’s needed for Elephant It’s a back up for my 470 NE, and probably primary for Buff in Zim in a couple weeks.


I was using the info from Terminal Ballistics website and they had mentioned the 250gr ‍

 

[Houston Bill]

I agree with @375Fox, I have had great penetration with the 270 gr Barnes LRX out of my 375 RUM and the higher velocity of that caliber has helped the Barnes LRX open up pretty well and provide a lot of internal damage. With a monolithic I would not want to go lower in weight than the 270 grain for buffalo.

 

[Scott CWO]

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?

Factory CZ550s in 458 Lott and 416 Rigby can have feeding issues. This is a common problem. Make sure you’re allowed to cycle both with full magazines before buying, if possible. I had to send my Lott to Wayne at American Hunting Rifles to get it adjusted. It is bomb proof now and has never failed me. Wayne is semi-retired now and only does work for past customers so find another gunsmith or buyer beware.

 

[BryceM]

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.

 

[Mr. T]

I have both, and feeding can be an issue, even if you're running the bolt at full throttle. I need to have them slicked up. As far as recoil goes, it seems to me that the 416 has a sharper recoil. I handload for both. The Lott spits out 500 grain TSXs at 2280 fps and the Rigby pushes 400 grain DGX at 2460 fps. Either way, if you can handle one you can handle the other. I bought my Lott having only ever shot a 300 Win Mag and never thought of recoil after the first outting. If I could have, I would have shot every big bore I had the chance to!

 

[DaBill]

My CZ 550 is currently having that issue fixed by Timothy Ditmore in Colorado. He is a CZ specialist. ‭719-257-9162 Matrix Gunsmithing www.matrixgunsmithing.com/cz-model-70-upgrades.

 

[Frederik]

I don't own a 416 Rigby but none of the large or dangerous game animals I have killed has had any complaints that they were not killed enough.
The combo just works for me and have no complaints on the recoil excepot when shooting over 30 shots per day. Not from the bench of course.