Show us your Rigby Big Game Rifles

[MS 9x56]

Some great rifles on this thread!

Mine is new to me but potentially one of the first .375 H&H BGs built after the production returned to London.

I have the zeroing targets for the still-fitted Swarovski scope and the iron sights, dated February 2015.

I think these, and proof of course, were the only rounds it had fired since it was made when I got it earlier this year. It has now had ~30 Federal factory rounds loaded with 300 grn Swift A Frames through it and groups as new.

It is sadly not making the trip to SA with me in a couple of days but it will make it to Africa in the next couple of years for sure.

View attachment 683462

Gorgeous wood and deep bluing.

 

[Rigby375]

Gorgeous wood and deep bluing.

Thanks! I love fiddleback figuring in general so it was a no brainer.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Some great rifles on this thread!

Mine is new to me but potentially one of the first .375 H&H BGs built after the production returned to London.

I have the zeroing targets for the still-fitted Swarovski scope and the iron sights, dated February 2015.

I think these, and proof of course, were the only rounds it had fired since it was made when I got it earlier this year. It has now had ~30 Federal factory rounds loaded with 300 grn Swift A Frames through it and groups as new.

It is sadly not making the trip to SA with me in a couple of days but it will make it to Africa in the next couple of years for sure.

View attachment 683462

If Rigby rolled the BGR’s out sequentially by serial number, not by caliber batches, think our rifles would have moved through the workbenches around the same time. Mine’s a .416 and serial numbered 19 away from yours if my aging eyes aren’t playing tricks.

 

[RR 314]

If Rigby rolled the BGR’s out sequentially by serial number, not by caliber batches, think our rifles would have moved through the workbenches around the same time. Mine’s a .416 and serial numbered 19 away from yours if my aging eyes aren’t playing tricks.

Mine is 1043x (.416). I assume they were sequential. Even in different chamberings.

 

[Rigby375]

If Rigby rolled the BGR’s out sequentially by serial number, not by caliber batches, think our rifles would have moved through the workbenches around the same time. Mine’s a .416 and serial numbered 19 away from yours if my aging eyes aren’t playing tricks.

Have you owned yours since new?

 

[RR 314]

oops.

 

[Phil Giordano]

I do like that quarter rib on your big game. Unless I'm mistaken, that is not an option anymore on the current BG rifles?

Ahhh, you're right, the quarter rib really is something... I love it.
As far as I know, sadly it's not available anymore...
Nor is the claw mounts

 

[Raven]

Too late to the party maybe, but here's mine. 416, made by Paul Roberts in the late '90s, received from an old family friend, a special gift indeed. I already posted here on AH. It shots very well, and most important, it fits me very well. A dream rifle for sure. Never shot at game yet, hope it will soon.View attachment 683321

A fine rifle is worthy of great trophies.

 

[PCC600]

Maybe I missed someone posting it but does anyone here have the PH version of the Big Game? I’m on the fence on whether to get a Highland Stalker or a Big Game. If I go for the Big Game I was considering the PH.

I think I would like the simpler wood, it reminds me of the vintage guns. I had always thought, and someone from the British gun trade confirmed it that wood used to be much more simple back in the day. Stocks chosen for durability or looks.

You are correct . Best rifles from the past used plainer straighter grained ( but stronger ) wood compared with the high grade offered today . I have a Rigby 450 magnum in their PH model and a Big Game 416 with a higher level of wood and colour case hardening . Both nice rifles but I much prefer the look of the PH .

 

[MS 9x56]

A fine rifle is worthy of great trophies.

A fine rifle begs to be hunted. Scratches and dings be damned. It will take a measure of a man.

 

[Raven]

A fine rifle begs to be hunted. Scratches and dings be damned. It will take a measure of a man.

That's for sure!

 

[R eight]

I spy a Sako Brown bear in there

Yes….in 500 J. She’s soon to be replaced by a 500J barrel for the R8 PH.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Mine is 1043x (.416). I assume they were sequential. Even in different chamberings.

Have you owned yours since new?

Mine is #1051x. And no, I didn’t own since new, purchased rifle and rings through Griffin & Howe last year, who was consigning it for the original owner.

 

[franzfmdavis]

Maybe I missed someone posting it but does anyone here have the PH version of the Big Game? I’m on the fence on whether to get a Highland Stalker or a Big Game. If I go for the Big Game I was considering the PH.

I think I would like the simpler wood, it reminds me of the vintage guns. I had always thought, and someone from the British gun trade confirmed it that wood used to be much more simple back in the day. Stocks chosen for durability or looks.

For comparison, here is my Big Game (.416 Rigby) above my Highland Stalker (.275 Rigby):

I like the wood on both and appreciate the contrast between them. I think if they were too similar I would dream about having the one I didn't have.

 

[Phil Giordano]

A fine rifle is worthy of great trophies.

Thank you, you're right! Hope to carry it soon on a buffalo hunt...

 

[Rifleman97]

I love the Rigby rifles.... so much so that I have too many. I have a Highland Stalker, used, in very good condition, in .30-06 I am selling. I switched to .275 Rigby and 9.3x62.
If you are in the market.... just saying.

What is the rough price you’d be looking for? Not sure I’m in the market but I don’t know what they go for on the used market.

 

[Wyfox]

What is the rough price you’d be looking for? Not sure I’m in the market but I don’t know what they go for on the used market.

FYI, He has it consigned at MNR

GUN VAULT | MNR Custom

www.mnrcustom.com

 

[Rifleman97]

FYI, He has it consigned at MNR

GUN VAULT | MNR Custom

www.mnrcustom.com

Thanks for the info, Currently listed at 10k, that seems a really fair price

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Not sure what you gents feed your .416 BGRs, had planned to work up a load for my rifle this year. I picked it up too close to my hunt last year to even get brass and components. It shot the Federal Bonded Bear Claws pretty darn well, and tried some custom loaded A-Frames, Barnes, and solids, which were underwhelming. The factory Barnes proved hands down best accuracy and velocity (confirmed both this year preparing for the trip were in route for now.

The left targets are not a totally fair comparison. I had thoroughly cleaned the barrel and the first couple groups were cold bore, then fouling rounds to get things settled in. Wasn’t taking my time as much as I did on my final 3-shots before moving on to practice the sticks.

The factory Barnes 400gr TSX don’t just perform, they flat out shoot out of this rifle. Crazy how much less expensive they are too compared to Federals. Moreover, got the best velocity of the lot.

The top left target was the custom loaded a-frames that were an anemic 2293fps, the bottom left target was custom loaded Barnes TSX (also in the 2290-ish range, the upper right were federal premium and shot around 2350fps. The Barnes Vortex averaged 2466fps same day as the above numbers (before thorough cleaning) and then 2456fps on Sunday when I shot these. Which conserving the factory Barnes ammo for my trip I just shot the single 3-shot group bottom right, and then two shots also at 100 off the sticks.

Good reasons to love a Rigby.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

The Federal Premium Bonded Bear Claws usually shoot better than above, which is why I chalked some of the spread to fouling and maybe me hurrying the shots.

Here is a target from earlier in the week at 200yrds off Sticks. It’s two groups of two shots, with two different loads. Top two are factory Barnes Vortex, the lower two are Federal Premium with the Bear Claws. My eyes need more
Magnification at 200yrds and beyond. Tried aiming same spot for both strings, which is hole punched at the top edge of the target, left edge with my sideways loaded file, not sure why it’s loading rotated to the left…left edge is actually top of the target.