Heym versus Rigby

My Rigby in 404 Jeffery

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I would get a Rigby, if I were buying a bolt action.

A Heym, if I were buying a DR.
 
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Interesting I would still buy both from Rigby versus Heym and yes great customer service matters. My experience is Britts great customer service, Germans not so much, just my experience
 
I did not see any mention of Mauser 98 magnum, and I'm surprised :)
Well you did……sort of.

Why have just a Mauser Magnum 98 ….when for the same money you can have the same action and barrel with the Rigby name and London address proudly engraved. I know which has better bragging rights.

I’ve always wanted a BG rifle with a London address….don’t ask me why because I don’t know. It’s something I always wanted.

I love my Rigby’s ….. Blasers too.
 
Well you did……sort of.

Why have just a Mauser Magnum 98 ….when for the same money you can have the same action and barrel with the Rigby name and London address proudly engraved. I know which has better bragging rights.

I’ve always wanted a BG rifle with a London address….don’t ask me why because I don’t know. It’s something I always wanted.

I love my Rigby’s ….. Blasers too.
As far as my knowledge the M98 is cheaper by at-least couple of thousand dollars. Last checked few months back
 
As far as my knowledge the M98 is cheaper by at-least couple of thousand dollars. Last checked few months back
It’s the opposite in Australia.

But when I think about it….price wasn’t the major issue. The quality of the service offered by the Australian Agent was probably the biggest factor. The agent had rifles and accessories in stock, he loved doing deals and he had a sharp pencil. So sharp that I bought 3 of the bloody things. Seriously, they have been brilliant.
 
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Interesting I would still buy both from Rigby versus Heym and yes great customer service matters. My experience is Britts great customer service, Germans not so much, just my experience

Rigby (Modern Rigby) has a demonstrable track record of making good bolt guns. Heym has an irriefutable track record building the best sub-$100,000 double rifle of the modern era. Few if any have acquired the Rigby Shikari double rifles they ordered for $40k-$70k as of yet. (Made in Belgium, finished in England)

Isn’t it premature to judge modern Rigby double rifles as excellent since we haven’t got real-world reviews of the finished product?
 
Well you did……sort of.

Why have just a Mauser Magnum 98 ….when for the same money you can have the same action and barrel with the Rigby name and London address proudly engraved. I know which has better bragging rights.

I’ve always wanted a BG rifle with a London address….don’t ask me why because I don’t know. It’s something I always wanted.

I love my Rigby’s ….. Blasers too.
Checked prices here in the U.S.—H.S. Rigby (9.3×62) is around $20–21K plus tax; a Mauser 98 is about $15.5K plus tax with roughly a year’s wait. I’ve handled both, and honestly, they’re on par for fit and finish. I actually preferred the 98—felt better aligned, more balanced, and the action fed smoother (tested with snap caps).

A couple of years ago, I picked up a Sauer 404 and put a Swarovski on it — it shoots ~1" MOA at 100 yds with factory PPU.

At the end of the day, I care more about build, function, and looks than brand hype. I plan to hunt with it and eventually hand it down to my two boys.
 
Rigby (Modern Rigby) has a demonstrable track record of making good bolt guns. Heym has an irriefutable track record building the best sub-$100,000 double rifle of the modern era. Few if any have acquired the Rigby Shikari double rifles they ordered for $40k-$70k as of yet. (Made in Belgium, finished in England)

Isn’t it premature to judge modern Rigby double rifles as excellent since we haven’t got real-world reviews of the finished product?
At around $100K, you can pick up a truly exceptional used Rigby Rising Bite from the golden era — or even a London Best from Holland & Holland, Purdey, or Westley Richards. Any of these, in my view, are in a completely different class compared to a modern Heym.

I’ve always been puzzled by the opinion that Heym makes the best double rifle under $100K. Don’t get me wrong — they build a solid, reliable, and well-regulated hunting rifle. But “best gun” territory it is not. There are custom and boutique builders who’ll craft a double to your exact specs — stock dimensions, engraving, rib style, regulation — all in, for less money and with far more individuality. A Heym feels engineered; a Rigby or Westley feels alive. IMO ofcourse.
 
As I said earlier people saying a Heym is better than a Rigby or vica versa I could not disagree more given it is nothing but their brand preference. When you have a DR for either maker they are both fabulous with one being no better than the other
 
Interesting I would still buy both from Rigby versus Heym and yes great customer service matters. My experience is Britts great customer service, Germans not so much, just my experience
Germans own both…
 
At around $100K, you can pick up a truly exceptional used Rigby Rising Bite from the golden era — or even a London Best from Holland & Holland, Purdey, or Westley Richards. Any of these, in my view, are in a completely different class compared to a modern Heym.

I’ve always been puzzled by the opinion that Heym makes the best double rifle under $100K. Don’t get me wrong — they build a solid, reliable, and well-regulated hunting rifle. But “best gun” territory it is not. There are custom and boutique builders who’ll craft a double to your exact specs — stock dimensions, engraving, rib style, regulation — all in, for less money and with far more individuality. A Heym feels engineered; a Rigby or Westley feels alive. IMO ofcourse.
You are $50,000 high in your estimates.

EJ
 

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