Dilemma

[Ray B]

history- A few years ago I purchased a 1910 mfg Rigby C model 470 NE. It has a proud history of owners and hunts and is in great shape. When I got it the supply of available bullets was very limited so I obtained what I could. I then read a few books on doubles and became aware of a problem caused by steel jacketed and some monometal bullets caused in the barrels. I had obtained some of these bullets prior to learning of the risks. The supply of these bullets is: 150 Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solids, 200 Hornady DGX, 50 Nosler bronze solids, and possibly risky 150 Barnes TSX. These bullets are not a risk to newer manufacture doubles or to repeater/single shot rifles. Also, I have obtained sufficient "safe" bullets so there is no need to the "risky" bullets. I see a few options: There is a very nice Dennis Olson VZ24 470 Capstick available on GunBroker for about $5K. Getting that, I could shoot any/all of these bullets without concern for the barrel. But other than that, the rifle would become one more safe queen. Option two. I have a Win 70 CRF Super Express that CP Donnelly rebarreled to 458 win Mag. Had it still had the original barrel the answer would have been rebarrel it to 470 Capstick- but I hate to lose that Donnelly barrel. Option 3. continue to look for a used rifle in 470 or a suitable donor for rebarrel. OR 4. give up on the bullets and sell or give them away. I could list them in the classifieds but then I have to deal with pricing and all of that- or I could list them in the Pay It Forward- but considering the value it makes it awkward for the recipient to determine something of equivalent value to give away.

So, what do you think?

 

[rookhawk]

Sell the bullets, buy something else. The Sledgehammers are worth a bundle, specifically.

 

[Ray B]

Sell the bullets, buy something else. The Sledgehammers are worth a bundle, specifically.

Selling them is rather mercenary- at this point of life (age 77, financially comfortable, I'd prefer to give them to a good home, not someone who I figure would just get them to resell.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Why not see if you can get a few boxes of Woodleighs and shoot the old girl?

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Seems a simple, smart path before you. One of new wonders and adventure.

Don’t molest the Donnelly 458WM. Don’t orphan those wonderful monometal and steel jacketed boolits to the internet profiteers.

Seems the perfect timing to build yourself a .470 bolt gun, be it a Capstick or other more sporty boomer, and put those bullets to good use once the opportunity comes looping back to you. I mean…it would provide some great thought invoking compulsive internet research of action options, desires, new advancements (if any…in the action world), decisions of what species of figured walnut you wanted, then which specific blank, who to stock the rifle, who to finish the barrel/action wedding, all providing a brilliant series of adventurous experiences to tide one over between hunts…all while creating the perfect opportunity, need even, to put those coveted .470 projectiles to the intended use.

I see so much more opportunity than dilemma.

 

[SkullKeeper]

Get some North Fork bullets and shoot that double all you want. I use North Forks in my 1905 Westley Richards and they have never been a problem.

 

[Ray B]

The problem isn't that I lack bullets to shoot in the Rigby- I have several boxes of Woodleighs, Swifts, different cast bullets and even some Speers designed for the 480 revolvers- the issue is I have a bunch, noted above, that possibly could damage the rifle so I'm reluctant to fire them in it. Actually I'm leaning toward a bolt action rifle listed on Gun Broker for 470 Capstick, which uses the same bullet as the 470 NE.

 

[Rare Breed]

Sell the bullets, buy something else. The Sledgehammers are worth a bundle, specifically.

Keep the Rigby, sell the bullets. Why the Capstick when you have the Rigby?

 

[Nevada Mike]

Why keep it if you want something else? Put it up for sale here... maybe one of the double rifle enthusiasts here would like to have it.

 

[TheDoubleD]

CP Donnelly. Sure miss my periodic phone calls to him. I built a number of rifles over the years using his barrels. Greatest memory is going to his shop and picking up my .338 barrel for my.338-06 ACK project. I was a young gunsmithing student at the time There was this old man in the shop going through a pile of barrels. The old man asked to look at my barrel. Looked the barrel over, check the bore pronounced it straight. He asked what I was building and approved of the choice. He made a comment to the effect, "hope he made my barrels as good as this one." Then Chick introduced me to his father-in-law, P.O. Ackley. I nearly swooned.

That .338-06 ACK has been my best shooting game getter since 84-85 when I built it. Hope my sone realizes what is when he clears my estate 10-15 years.

My vote keep the Donnelly .458 as is!

 

[Ray B]

My vote keep the Donnelly .458 as is!

NO Chance this CP barrel or any of the other 12 barrels he made for me will be altered. I too have a 338/06 Ackley. It's on a Win 54 that he completely rebuilt and is featured in an article I wrote for Handloader Digest about 30 years ago.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

history- A few years ago I purchased a 1910 mfg Rigby C model 470 NE. It has a proud history of owners and hunts and is in great shape. When I got it the supply of available bullets was very limited so I obtained what I could. I then read a few books on doubles and became aware of a problem caused by steel jacketed and some monometal bullets caused in the barrels. I had obtained some of these bullets prior to learning of the risks. The supply of these bullets is: 150 Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer solids, 200 Hornady DGX, 50 Nosler bronze solids, and possibly risky 150 Barnes TSX. These bullets are not a risk to newer manufacture doubles or to repeater/single shot rifles. Also, I have obtained sufficient "safe" bullets so there is no need to the "risky" bullets. I see a few options: There is a very nice Dennis Olson VZ24 470 Capstick available on GunBroker for about $5K. Getting that, I could shoot any/all of these bullets without concern for the barrel. But other than that, the rifle would become one more safe queen. Option two. I have a Win 70 CRF Super Express that CP Donnelly rebarreled to 458 win Mag. Had it still had the original barrel the answer would have been rebarrel it to 470 Capstick- but I hate to lose that Donnelly barrel. Option 3. continue to look for a used rifle in 470 or a suitable donor for rebarrel. OR 4. give up on the bullets and sell or give them away. I could list them in the classifieds but then I have to deal with pricing and all of that- or I could list them in the Pay It Forward- but considering the value it makes it awkward for the recipient to determine something of equivalent value to give away.

So, what do you think?

@Ray B
What a conundrum mate.
It's a hard decision.
Personally I would just sell the bullets you can't use and buy more that you can use.
Or
See if someone has some to swap with you.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Selling them is rather mercenary- at this point of life (age 77, financially comfortable, I'd prefer to give them to a good home, not someone who I figure would just get them to resell.

@Ray B
Generous mate but 77 ain't old.
My mate is 82, lost his dominant eye, fell off a ladder and broke almost every bone a few years ago.
He still hunts every chance he can and has learnt to shoot with a modified cast off stock.
Age is irrelevant.
As my dad used to say you are only as old as the woman you are feeling. If'n it ain't your wife and she finds out prepare to die a slow painful death. Make sure you marry a woman at least 5 years younger than you. You will live longer.
Bob