Rigby / Holland & Holland / Westley Richards

[275r7x57]

I am looking into having a bolt rifle in 375 H&H built. The rifle would be extensively used for hunting. I would like to know if you guys have any experience good or bad with Rigby Holland and Holland or Westley Richards. I have been around older and vintage Rigbys and Westley Richards but not H&H. Looking for first hand knowledge and information on newer production rifles. Thanks for any help.

275

 

[Red Leg]

"I am looking into having a bolt rifle in 375 H&H built."

I assume you mean this literally, and you want a bespoke rifle. In the $40-60K+ range you are contemplating, a rifle by any of the three will be exactly what you order, exactly to your measurements, and will shoot and function with absolute precision for the remainder of your life.

The Bolt Action Magazine Rifle - Holland & Holland

hollandandholland.com

Westley Richards - Bolt Action Rifles / The Explora - Premier Online Field Sports & Gun Journal

For many of our big game hunting customers, their first bespoke rifle ordered from Westley Richards is a bolt action. Every sportsman hunt

www.westleyrichards.com

Bolt Action Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Bolt Action Rifles, built in our specialist workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

 

[275r7x57]

"I am looking into having a bolt rifle in 375 H&H built."

I assume you mean this literally, and you want a bespoke rifle. In the $40-60K+ range you are contemplating, a rifle by any of the three will be exactly what you order, exactly to your measurements, and will shoot and function with absolute precision for the remainder of your life.

The Bolt Action Magazine Rifle - Holland & Holland

hollandandholland.com

Westley Richards - Bolt Action Rifles / The Explora - Premier Online Field Sports & Gun Journal

For many of our big game hunting customers, their first bespoke rifle ordered from Westley Richards is a bolt action. Every sportsman hunt

www.westleyrichards.com

Bolt Action Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Bolt Action Rifles, built in our specialist workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

Yes a bespoke rifle. I have talked with all three makers and looking for some first hand experiences on likes and dislikes with the rifles and the makers. Is one rifle or maker better than the other as far as quality customer service and so on. I don’t not have any new production rifles and am looking for information from owners on them.

Thanks
275

 

[chashardy]

I have the Rigby Big Game in 416 Rigby and love it. Took it to Africa in July and it performed beautifully. It's not a bespoke or London Best Rigby but it's a great rifle.
I agree with Red Leg's post above. Any of the three London gunmakers you are considering will make you a fantastic rifle. You will need to spend some time in their shops in England to be fitted, select wood, etc, but that should be a lot of fun and very interesting.

 

[chashardy]

I should have added that you can probably handle and examine examples of London Best bolt rifles by all three gunmakers at the Dallas Safari Club Convention next week. Rigby will have a booth there and there will be gun dealers with Holland and Holland and Westley Richards rifles also.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I just bought a Rigby Big Game SSB model in 450 Rigby, I can't say enough good things about. It has exceeded my expectations, I am extremely happy with it. The only negative I found was the recoil pad, I shoot my rifles alot in the field and on the range and the traditional hard rubber recoil pad was fairly brutal on the shoulder, mind you the 450 Rigby chambering has significantly more recoil than the 375H&H chambering so may not be an issue for you. Not that it was a big issue, I have had my gunsmith change the pad out for a decelerator and it is now much more pleasant to shoot. I know @R eight also just bought a Rigby is also happy with his purchase.

Rigby "Big Game" Model in 450 Rigby

Morning All, It is Sunday morning and I should be out hunting but the good old tropical north wet season is still at it, we have had nearly 1 meter of rain in the last week! So instead of hunting I finally have some time to spend on this forum doing some research. Unfortunately I am not finding...

www.africahunting.com

416 Rigby Big Game

It took a few decades..... but a few weeks ago I bit the bullet and bought a 416 Rigby. A Rigby Single Square Bridge PH. This rifle is not my first Rigby Big Game and I was hoping that she would be as good as my 375 H&H in a Double Square Bridge Big Game. Well, she's almost as pretty and shoots...

www.africahunting.com

 

[BourbonTrail]

I should have added that you can probably handle and examine examples of London Best bolt rifles by all three gunmakers at the Dallas Safari Club Convention next week. Rigby will have a booth there and there will be gun dealers with Holland and Holland and Westley Richards rifles also.

Also, Holland & Holland has a gunroom in Dallas.

I have only oogled their guns. However, I bought a gun on consignment from them, and they seemed to have customer service matching their reputation even when it didn’t profit them.

 

[Red Leg]

I should have added that you can probably handle and examine examples of London Best bolt rifles by all three gunmakers at the Dallas Safari Club Convention next week. Rigby will have a booth there and there will be gun dealers with Holland and Holland and Westley Richards rifles also.

Maybe. London and Birmingham "Best" are built to order. They may have a client's rifle in progress at the shows, but by definition, rarely a completed rifle. There is a 30-40K difference in price between a Rigby "Best" bespoke rifle and my Highland Stalker or a Big Game. There is a reason for the price differential.

 

[Tanks]

One thing to consider is that Rigby, for all purposes, is a brand new company after the trademark was left available in the UK and was snapped up by the current owners. H&H and Wesley Richards have been around as a contiguous company much longer. Rigby still makes bespoke rifles but they are not the Rigby of old.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

One thing to consider is that Rigby, for all purposes, is a brand new company after the trademark was left available in the UK and was snapped up by the current owners. H&H and Wesley Richards have been around as a contiguous company much longer. Rigby still makes bespoke rifles but they are not the Rigby of old.

Have you compared a new made Rigby to an old one? Because what I have heard and read is the new made Rigby's are just as good if not better than they ever have been. I have only heard this, I have no experience with Vintage Rigbys but I'd be surprised if it's just hearsay.

 

[WAB]

They all typically have some best guns for inspection. They won’t have been built to a customers specs but they will give you a fine idea of what is possible. I have good friends at three of the makers so I have some inherent bias. If I were doing it I would go with Rigby or H&H. Rigby is a joy to work with and an incredible legacy with fine rifles. H&H makes the finest firearms I have ever inspected and they have the history with the round you are considering.

Whichever direction you choose, enjoy the journey. Go to London for a fitting, tour the factory, go to the shooting grounds with some representative rifles, drink some scotch. When the rifle is ready, go back for the final test targets. Have fun!

 

[275r7x57]

I have the Rigby Big Game in 416 Rigby and love it. Took it to Africa in July and it performed beautifully. It's not a bespoke or London Best Rigby but it's a great rifle.
I agree with Red Leg's post above. Any of the three London gunmakers you are considering will make you a fantastic rifle. You will need to spend some time in their shops in England to be fitted, select wood, etc, but that should be a lot of fun and very interesting.

I have been really impress with the Rigby Big Game rifles. Thank you for the info and review.

275

 

[275r7x57]

I just bought a Rigby Big Game SSB model in 450 Rigby, I can't say enough good things about. It has exceeded my expectations, I am extremely happy with it. The only negative I found was the recoil pad, I shoot my rifles alot in the field and on the range and the traditional hard rubber recoil pad was fairly brutal on the shoulder, mind you the 450 Rigby chambering has significantly more recoil than the 375H&H chambering so may not be an issue for you. Not that it was a big issue, I have had my gunsmith change the pad out for a decelerator and it is now much more pleasant to shoot. I know @R eight also just bought a Rigby is also happy with his purchase.

Rigby "Big Game" Model in 450 Rigby

Morning All, It is Sunday morning and I should be out hunting but the good old tropical north wet season is still at it, we have had nearly 1 meter of rain in the last week! So instead of hunting I finally have some time to spend on this forum doing some research. Unfortunately I am not finding...

www.africahunting.com

416 Rigby Big Game

It took a few decades..... but a few weeks ago I bit the bullet and bought a 416 Rigby. A Rigby Single Square Bridge PH. This rifle is not my first Rigby Big Game and I was hoping that she would be as good as my 375 H&H in a Double Square Bridge Big Game. Well, she's almost as pretty and shoots...

www.africahunting.com

What brand of recoil pad is Rigby using?

275

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

What brand of recoil pad is Rigby using?

275

I'm not sure what brand they are using but like I said in the 375H&H calibre I doubt it would bother me. Anything over 375 I think you would want it changed which I'm sure you could do from build anyway since you are looking at a custom rifle.

 

[275r7x57]

They all typically have some best guns for inspection. They won’t have been built to a customers specs but they will give you a fine idea of what is possible. I have good friends at three of the makers so I have some inherent bias. If I were doing it I would go with Rigby or H&H. Rigby is a joy to work with and an incredible legacy with fine rifles. H&H makes the finest firearms I have ever inspected and they have the history with the round you are considering.

Whichever direction you choose, enjoy the journey. Go to London for a fitting, tour the factory, go to the shooting grounds with some representative rifles, drink some scotch. When the rifle is ready, go back for the final test targets. Have fun!

Thanks for the info. You did not mention Westley Richards do or did you have concerns or issues with them? Just asking.

275

 

[275r7x57]

If I recall correctly I thought that in a article I read a while back that H&H had some quality control issues. Didn’t beretta buy them out.

275

 

[275r7x57]

They all typically have some best guns for inspection. They won’t have been built to a customers specs but they will give you a fine idea of what is possible. I have good friends at three of the makers so I have some inherent bias. If I were doing it I would go with Rigby or H&H. Rigby is a joy to work with and an incredible legacy with fine rifles. H&H makes the finest firearms I have ever inspected and they have the history with the round you are considering.

Whichever direction you choose, enjoy the journey. Go to London for a fitting, tour the factory, go to the shooting grounds with some representative rifles, drink some scotch. When the rifle is ready, go back for the final test targets. Have fun!

Agreed I have been invited to London and look forward to the trip.

 

[WAB]

Thanks for the info. You did not mention Westley Richards do or did you have concerns or issues with them? Just asking.

275

No concerns at all, they build fine firearms. I feel that Rigby has the greatest legacy with African rifles and H&H is the originator of the cartridge in question. I am a sucker for tradition, hence my leanings.

 

[275r7x57]

No concerns at all, they build fine firearms. I feel that Rigby has the greatest legacy with African rifles and H&H is the originator of the cartridge in question. I am a sucker for tradition, hence my leanings.

I am very picky and a sucker for tradition as well. All three makers have been helpful and pleasant to deal with so far. WR I feel has been the most accommodating but I also feel like I’m cheating if I get a WR in 375HH. I am also very simple and like the simplicity of Rigby.

275

 

[R eight]

I am looking into having a bolt rifle in 375 H&H built. The rifle would be extensively used for hunting. I would like to know if you guys have any experience good or bad with Rigby Holland and Holland or Westley Richards. I have been around older and vintage Rigbys and Westley Richards but not H&H. Looking for first hand knowledge and information on newer production rifles. Thanks for any help.

275

Rigby is the only manufacturer that I have experience with…..I own 3. A Big Game DSB in 375 H&H, Highland Stalker in 30/06 and a Big Game PH SSB in 416 Rigby. All three are brilliant.
I have visited their shop in London, was treated royally, and got to see some very nice rifles; including doubles - both old and new. Their bespoke guns are works of art and unfortunately well above my budget.
I have also been fortunate enough to have a play with a couple of their rifles here in Australia that were made in the 20’s or 30’s. Beautiful rifles. From what I’ve seen with Rigby is that the difference between their bog standard rifles and the bespoke is in the grade of the timber and in the engraving. The workmanship on all the Rigbys I’ve seen has been faultless. Anyway I dare say that which every way you go you’ll be happy.