Heym versus Rigby

[rookhawk]

I had the chance to handle both at S&O in Pretoria.
Thay are both beautiful, the Rigby is chunkier, the Heym sleeker.
View attachment 776244

The one on the left is perfectly designed to be a 9.3x62, the one on the right is perfectly designed to be a 416 Rigby. Just my impression of form and aesthetic built for a purpose by its weight.

 

[Rare Breed]

I had the chance to handle both at S&O in Pretoria.
Thay are both beautiful, the Rigby is chunkier, the Heym sleeker.
View attachment 776244

I have found out the same thing. For me chunkier is better, just me

 

[LimbNoMo]

What were the prices on those?

 

[farmer_john]

What were the prices on those?

Similar to the usa

 

[Tanks]

For me, Rigby makes LH bolt actions and Heym does not.

 

[Accidental Villain]

The drop on the stock of that heym gets me, those irons would come straight into line when the rifle is shouldered. Superb.

Both of these will line up very nice for open irons use. These are type top shelve rifles so that is benchmark minimum you expected if you don’t have body confguration out of the ordinary.
Talking the open irons on these two the Rigby is superior.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Both of these will line up very nice for open irons use. These are type top shelve rifles so that is benchmark minimum you expected if you don’t have body confguration out of the ordinary.
Talking the open irons on these two the Rigby is superior.

It’s always hard to gauge from photos and I have never held a Rigby ph so my opinion is worth little on that front. But if the drop is the same as the highland stalker then I’d call it a scoped rifle that can be shot with irons rather than a great irons rifle.

However, I’d defer to your opinions if you’ve shot both the heym and the ph as I have not.

 

[PCC600]

About 4 years back there was a 500 ne Shikari brought in by the Rigby rep at Houston SCI.The price was around 50K if I remember correctly

My Shikari 500NE was US$46,800 including taxes 3 years ago . I was very happy to pay that price for a new rifle fitted to me by Rigby . I’m expecting it to arrive here in Australia in the next 3 or 4 months .

 

[Accidental Villain]

It’s always hard to gauge from photos and I have never held a Rigby ph so my opinion is worth little on that front. But if the drop is the same as the highland stalker then I’d call it a scoped rifle that can be shot with irons rather than a great irons rifle.

However, I’d defer to your opinions if you’ve shot both the heym and the ph as I have not.

Most hunters buying any of these will put some sort of optical wonder on top so there will be some compromise of course regarding drop. That said, there are several members on this site successfully using the new Rigby BG’s in different configurations, apparently the open irons. And here comes the big difference.

The Heym is delivered with a comparatively cheap express rear sight whereas the Rigby comes with a factory regulated 1/4 rib. A big difference there for the quality concerned open irons shooter and a 2-3 K differerense I would guess.

I speak in general of course. Personally I use an old vintage BG with more drop than any of these two but, value is going up, its irreplacable so considering getting a new..

 

[RIGBY]

Wow, I had no idea the new Shikari does not allow for monometal ammunition!!! That is a serious mistake for a new rifle...I wonder why they chose to do that? Thoughts?

I just wrote to Jerome, who designed the Shikari, to get his input on your question. I will report back when I get an answer.

 

[RIGBY]

Jerome Lanoue, who designed the Rigby Shikari, confirmed that it can be used with monolithic/mono-metal bullets.

Wow, I had no idea the new Shikari does not allow for monometal ammunition!!! That is a serious mistake for a new rifle...I wonder why they chose to do that? Thoughts?

Jerome Lanoue, who designed the Rigby Shikari, just confirmed that it can be used with monolithic/mono-metal bullets.

 

[Rare Breed]

Nicely done Franz!

 

[Altitude sickness]

@michael458 has done extensive studies showing bullets like the CEB solid no.13 exert less strain than most conventional bullets.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Most hunters buying any of these will put some sort of optical wonder on top so there will be some compromise of course regarding drop. That said, there are several members on this site successfully using the new Rigby BG’s in different configurations, apparently the open irons. And here comes the big difference.

The Heym is delivered with a comparatively cheap express rear sight whereas the Rigby comes with a factory regulated 1/4 rib. A big difference there for the quality concerned open irons shooter and a 2-3 K differerense I would guess.

I speak in general of course. Personally I use an old vintage BG with more drop than any of these two but, value is going up, its irreplacable so considering getting a new..

I’d respectfully disagree.

The quarter rib may be more expensive and aesthetically pleasing but it doesn’t necessarily make it better to shoot with.

While in no way would I consider myself an authority, I say this as someone who shoots almost exclusively with iron sights.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Rigby HS and would never sell it but I have guns worth a 10th of the price that if I’m being honest, are better suited to irons.

Having said all that it ain’t bad, I’ve shot game out to around 130m with the Rigby. But at 100m the bead is taking up most of the chest of a medium sized deer and you’re adjusting to get the sights lined up.

I no longer have a 7x57/275 Rigby anymore but will add one back as it’s my favourite calibre. Do I plan on buying a Rigby or a heym to replace it…yes.
Which? A Rigby for sure…but a pre war original with more drop in the stock so it’s better suited to irons sight shooting. That’s just me.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I agree that rifles look better with iron sights.

Also agree that most irons suck. Even those on the most expensive rifles.
Any buckhorn style are the worst.

Irons on Sako “bear” series, Blaser sights and some NEGC sights actually work.

Of course peeps are usually more accurate

Sako Black Bear sights shown

 

[PCC600]

I really like using iron sights on my heavy rifles even though I’m getting long in the tooth . The iron sights on my Rigby PH 450 are superb . My Rigby 416 has a peep sight and it is also very good . The irons on my CZ550 Safari Classic 375 H&H are good . The irons on my 2 Rugers a 458 Lott RSM and a 450/400 No1 were terrible . Clearly Ruger think their customers only use scopes . I actually think the RSM which I bought new was the worst handling and shooting rifle I ever owned . Long gone and not missed .

 

[migrabill]

Some day I will end up with a Rigby Big Game or Heym Express Magnum in .404 Jeffery. Actually making the decision on which way I want to go now. I am 61 years old and my eye sigh is not very good. I have been a diabetic for 25 years and it is taking its toll on my eyes. I too think these classic rifles look better with iron sights but with my situation I really need an illuminated Reticle. So, if I am going to put a scope on the top, I am not too concerned with what iron sights are hidden by it. I get the whole "you can look under the scope and use the sights on a charging buffalo", but this will not be my buffalo rifle.

 

[Canadaboy]

I had the chance to handle both at S&O in Pretoria.
Thay are both beautiful, the Rigby is chunkier, the Heym sleeker.
View attachment 776244

Kevin, I had the pleasure of comparing the same rifles there a couple of weeks ago and I agree completely. The Heym would be my choice hands down.

Likewise I compared a Rigby Shikari which they had in stock to a Heym 89b. I found that I liked the Rigby and Heym doubles about equally, but the Heym was a fraction of the price.

Of course with things like this it is very much personal preference as to how the rifle feels in your hands. It was definitely interesting to be able to compare them side by side and see what would work better for me.

 

[RIGBY]

Some day I will end up with a Rigby Big Game or Heym Express Magnum in .404 Jeffery. Actually making the decision on which way I want to go now. I am 61 years old and my eye sigh is not very good. I have been a diabetic for 25 years and it is taking its toll on my eyes. I too think these classic rifles look better with iron sights but with my situation I really need an illuminated Reticle. So, if I am going to put a scope on the top, I am not too concerned with what iron sights are hidden by it. I get the whole "you can look under the scope and use the sights on a charging buffalo", but this will not be my buffalo rifle.

If you end up, deciding to go with the Rigby and need a contact, please don’t hesitate to let me know and I’d be happy to connect you with someone or get your answers to any questions.

 

[Accidental Villain]

I’d respectfully disagree.

The quarter rib may be more expensive and aesthetically pleasing but it doesn’t necessarily make it better to shoot with.

While in no way would I consider myself an authority, I say this as someone who shoots almost exclusively with iron sights.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Rigby HS and would never sell it but I have guns worth a 10th of the price that if I’m being honest, are better suited to irons.

Having said all that it ain’t bad, I’ve shot game out to around 130m with the Rigby. But at 100m the bead is taking up most of the chest of a medium sized deer and you’re adjusting to get the sights lined up.

I no longer have a 7x57/275 Rigby anymore but will add one back as it’s my favourite calibre. Do I plan on buying a Rigby or a heym to replace it…yes.
Which? A Rigby for sure…but a pre war original with more drop in the stock so it’s better suited to irons sight shooting. That’s just me.

I am currently at a lunatic bar somewhere on the Costa Blanca coast having a grogg so please bare over with me if this goes completly off the rails..

Not quite sure actually what we eventually are disagreeing on.. apparently you have not even seen a Rigby PH not to mention ever shooting one.

As I said, I own and use an old vintage. I’ve examined with great interest several Rigby BG in different configurations made from the first batch (2015 or thereabout) to early 2020’s. all of those rifles will line up perfectly for open irons use. Shooting off sticks (I would never do that on DG) I think they might even be better than the vintage because they are ergonomicly very good, of course provided you are avg build, I’m like 6ft and nothing out of the ordinary, if you don’t ask wifey..

If a rifle don’t fit it will not be good no matter what sights it might have. Nobrainer.

If the rifle fits really good, a nice 1/4 rib will be more intuitive and faster than any other open irons system within reasonable distance provided shooter have the skills and confidence.

All my goto rifles have 1/4 ribs with one exeption, but I also have some kind of optics arrangement on most. Getting within 60-70 yards on a moose, tracking wounded boar, being «bearbait» (I’ve been there) The optics are kicked off and I go in using open irons.

If you ever get to see a Rigby BG observe the wide shallow V in perfect distance from your aiming eye. Its the best.
I’ve had follow up shots at fleeing ele at 70-90 yards none of the shots more than maybe 1-1,5 inch from exactly were I was aiming.

All this said, there are some fairly recent changes to the Rigby BG to my knowledge, At least barrel profile are slightly changed going away from the «stepped» barrel profile I do believe. The drop might be taken up by a notch for all I know. Have to find a recent BG one of these days..

I’m getting thirsty here.

Cheers!