Ordered a Rigby Big Game DSB in 450

[colorado]

Congrats!

 

[cm76]

Very nice! Congratulations - looking forward to seeing the completed rifle

 

[Rare Breed]

Significant price difference between 7 and 9.

These aren't exact numbers and I won't say exactly how much I paid for this grade 9 stock but in Australia a Grade 6 upgrade is around $3000, grade 7 is around $3500, grade 8 is around $4800 and grade 9 is around $6000, this is all AUD. I questioned the only slight difference in price between grade 6 and grade 7 and they weren't sure why it's such a small jump in cost but as you can see from these costs grade 7 is the best value for money by far. Having said all this obviously at times there are variations between grades, I have recently seen a Big Game PH model which is only meant to have grade 2 wood and the stock was amazing I would have said it was grade 5, and same goes for the higher grades as well, I have seen a grade 9 wood upgrade on a Highland Stalker that yeah was nice but I wouldn't consider it grade 9 it looked more grade 7 to me.

This grade 9 stock I have gone with all though more than I wanted to spend, I actually consider it to be at the exhibition grade level, I think it's past grade 9, as mentioned in a previous comment as soon as I saw it I just could not pass it up.

I have found the exact same thing when I had to restock my Rigby in 275 Rigby. There seems to be so much “art” in stock blank grades. I found where I bought it to be a little higher than a grade 7 but then on another site it would have been rated a grade 5. I ended up just picking what I liked and am lucky it fit my budget

 

[Inline6]

Congratulations, that is one heck of a stock!

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I have found the exact same thing when I had to restock my Rigby in 275 Rigby. There seems to be so much “art” in stock blank grades. I found where I bought it to be a little higher than a grade 7 but then on another site it would have been rated a grade 5. I ended up just picking what I liked and am lucky it fit my budget

Yeah and even the difference between countries as well, a German grade 5 vs an French grade 5 vs an English grade 5 are all very different. And as you mentioned the pricing across countries and makers can vary fairly significantly too, looking at Heym's current price list a grade 9 stock as an upgrade on their Express rifles is 5200 euro, around 8300 AUD vs the Rigby grade 9 upgrade at around 6000 AUD.

 

[WI-2021]

That grade 9 stock is stunning! I also agree that the grade 7 in the middle would have been a great second choice. Congrats on the new rifle; hope the wait flies by.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Congrats Aussie Hunter!! Those two would have been my top choices as well. Both seem to have nice straight grain though the wrist. Also they are quite symmetrical when comparing each sides, left and right of the stock.

I know you have made your choice already but IF you were still deciding between the two you could consider a couple more views. Not sure whether these pictures were taken indoors or outdoors. If they are indoor pictures then you could ask for pictures under natural sun light. Also you could ask for a birdseye view of the wrists (or the grip area) to see how the grain flows from that view as well.

Not sure what the price difference is but if the difference is significant then I would be happy with grade 7 middle option. Otherwise grade 9 would be my 1st choice as well.

I'm confident in the grain through the grip, zooming in on the photos there is plenty of straight grain through the grip. Also talked to the Rigby distributor on this and they had zero concerns.

 

[pjaln]

good luck on your build I bought a 416 rigby used so I had no choice , my pick would be the middle stock in the first photo , the long lines all the way to the butt pad do it for me

 

[PCC600]

Did you order the 450 DSB through ProTactical in Brisbane or through Rigby in London ? I am a huge fan of the 450 Rigby.