M70 safari express rechamber to 416 Rigby

 

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416 Rigbys found on Guns International
 

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I was in your predicament a couple years ago. I love model 70s, but decided to have a new custom rifle built on Granite Mountain Action by a top American rifle builder. I got EXACTLY what I wanted and paid for the quality not the name. This cost much less than a Rigby rifle and is,IMO, a far better rifle.
 
That’s a very good point. After a few weeks of crying I would probably recover to a manageable level lol.

it’s entirely for nostalgia wanting to go this route. Having my name in the rigby ledgers and all that other cool stuff I really enjoy and to me is worth the money. I rarely sell guns so this is something I’d like to pass down through the generations. I like the rigby because of the name and tradition. With that said I am hearing conflicting views on quality and if you are really getting a “rigby” or a blaser gun with a rigby stamp. If it’s just a blaser with a rigby stamp then I would be real interested in going a different route. These rifles aren’t cheap so don’t want to get hosed over a name. If the name is there and the quality that’s what I want.
Are you a collector or a hunter? For me, I bought quality guns, Westley Richards, Rigby, Mauser that I hunt with not wanting but having no problem whatsoever if they get scratched on any hunt. Good luck with your quest and get what you will be happy with!
 
According to the records that I have, 159 of the original Rigby .416R Dangerous Game Rifles were built using both the long single and double square bridge Mauser Magnum action. I have read that orders were filled for a period of time using other actions from various makers.

If you find an original be prepared to pay $40,000.00 to $60,000.00.

Depending on what you really what to do, do not rule out the 550 or 602 CZ action especially if you can find one that was originally chambered in .416R.

A custom rifle will usually have its most value to the person who had it built, seldom do they go up in value especially if the gunsmith that built it is still alive and building rifles.

Lon
That’s what I figured an original rigby would be. Defiantly out of my league. I like the CZ but with as picky as I am custom seems the route for me.
 
Are you a collector or a hunter? For me, I bought quality guns, Westley Richards, Rigby, Mauser that I hunt with not wanting but having no problem whatsoever if they get scratched on any hunt. Good luck with your quest and get what you will be happy with!
I’m both, I don’t mind beating up a beautiful rifle (to an extent) I’m not going to throw a nice rifle in the mud but I’m not going to be upset over normal wear and tear on them. Have you had any experience with the Mauser m98’s? A very attractive gun and defiantly fits what I’m looking for. Not sure if the fit and finish is better on a Rigby or the Mauser I haven’t seen either in person yet.
 
Get a Rigby and have some personal touches added. Although Rigby and Blaser are owned by the same group, Rigby’s are not made by Blaser.

Safe shooting
 
I have watched the Satterlee videos. He is quite impressive.
 
Rigbys are made in England on barreled actions from Mauser. As far as British bolt guns go I believe the overwhelming majority are made and have always been made on foreign actions/barreled actions.. Mostly German. Historically speaking a Rigby bolt action rifle built in England on a barreled action from Mauser is about as classic as you can get with modern improvements.
The only exceptions were the short lived B.S.A Royal line of rifle which used their own proprietary control round feed action. They stopped being made in '59.

Another exception, was the Cogswell & Harrison and Holland & Holland rifles built on World War I military surplus Pattern 14 Enfield actions (the former stopped production in '52 and latter stopped using the Enfield action in '57).
 
I just did a bit of checking, a certain amount of early Rigby .416R were built using the BRNO and the Enfield P-17 action. I am fairly sure that there were others made with some using the Brevex Mauser action.

Lon
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In 1968, they were offering to build their standard length wares on Belgian F.N Mauser actions as well.
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In the 1990s, they were offering to build their wares on Magnum Mauser, Heym, Dakota, Dumoulin, Ruger and BRNO actions.
 
For building a .416 Rigby on a Winchester Model 70 action, I highly recommend Mr. John Bolliger. His rifles are excellent.
 
You can rest assured that if you buy a Big Game in 416 Rigby from John Rigby & Co. it will be a Mauser M98 Magnum action sent in the white to London to be finished and stocked and proofed in London by Rigby's gunsmiths. This is exactly how the original Rigbys were made over a hundred years ago. John Rigby got the Mauser actions in the white and finished the rifles in London. Rigby is making the rifles today using the original design drawings and records from the original company, but with much better 21st Century gunsmithing technology.
I have the Big Game in 416 Rigby and it is a great shooting, accurate, and well-balanced dangerous game rifle that has performed flawlessly on two safaris in Africa and is going with me to Australia to hunt buffalo in August.
If you have any doubts, contact Marc Newton at Rigby in London. I've met him and you can believe what he tells you.
 
If you want your Model 70 to be more powerful than 375 H&H but don't want a 416 Rem or a 458 Win Mag there's a relatively cheap alternative. Rechamber it to 375 Weatherby. You can still shoot factory 375 H&H rounds through it and either a 300g A-Frame at 2800 fps or a 350g Woodleigh HD SP at 2550 are a serious step up from the 375 H&H.
 

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Enjoyed reading your post again. Believe this is the 3rd time. I am scheduled to hunt w/ Legadema in Sep. Really looking forward to it.
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dogcat1 wrote on skydiver386's profile.
I would be interested in it if you pass. Please send me the info on the gun shop if you do not buy it. I have the needed ammo and brass.
Thanks,
Ross
 
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