CZ 550 .416Rigby

[CraigC]

Picked this one up a couple weeks ago. I've long had a hankering for the big Rigby and have recently gotten the bug for the .500Jeffery. The thought here is to use the .416 as an "all-around" for plains game and later Cape buffalo. With a foray into South America or Australia somewhere in-between. At some point I'll decide if I want to keep the .416 and build a .500 on a new CZ action or convert the .416. With the hopeful result being an elephant hunt. I've already discussed the possibility with Huntington and even with a custom stock of English walnut, the project will be comparable in cost to a custom shop CZ. Here it is topped with a Leupold VX3 1.5-5x in Talley QD rings. The Bavarian style stock has some good figure in it. Hopefully it doesn't crack!





The .416 and .500Jeffery shown with the .250Savage, .270WCF and .405WCF for scale.

[CraigC]

So far my handloads consist of a 400gr Hornady DGS over a huge dose of Hodgdon 4831 in Norma cases. I've also got some 350gr Speers to try and some 400gr cast bullets are on the way from Montana Bullet Works. Recoil is significant but not at all unmanageable. Load testing will begin shortly. (for what it's worth, the .250 and .270 are Remington factory, the .405 is a Woodleigh 300gr in a Hornady case and the .500 is a factory Kynoch 570gr)

[whitworth]

Very nice Craig!!

Have you shot it yet??

[CraigC]

So far just a quick five rounds. Still waiting for the schedule and weather to cooperate. Seems like it never wants to rain until I want to do something.

[nolongcolt]

One does not often hear the words, "all around, plains game" and .416 Rigby in the same sentence. It is of course a great classic round made famous mostly thru the writings of Robert Ruark as it was a favorite round of his favorite PH, Harry Selby. It will easily handle any critter on the planet and could be the one gun caliber, though it will not likely eclipse the .375 in that regard. I have a .404 Jeffery that when loaded up will do the same as the standard Rigby loading (2400/400) will, but due to a smaller case will not equal the Rigby when loaded to max but that will make the recoil really hard to take at some point. Nice rifle, and unless there is something really amiss with the stock I would not expect any problems with it cracking. Congrats!!

[CraigC]

The .375 is often touted as the best all around in that regard but IMHO, it's a little light for dangerous game. I know it has been used successfully and that modern bullets change the game considerably but I'd prefer to err on the side of caution. After watching a Cape buff soak up five .577's, I don't think you can have too much. Not to mention the fact that most .375's on the market are overweight, many even heavier than the .416's. As far as using it on plains game, the idea is more one of familiarity.

Although I admit that the Ruger .375's are mighty tempting at well under 8lbs.

[nolongcolt]

I have taken two buffalo, both with the .375. One took 3 shots. Two from me and one from the PH's .375. My second buff dropped like he was pole axed to 1 300gr solid at over 140 yds. Neck shot, broke him down and he never wiggled, DRT. I don't think it makes much difference what a buff is hit with beyond a certain power level. Of course a .375 is better than a .270 on buff, but above .375 I think its more about bullet quality and shot placement. Those .577 slugs were likely not properly place or didn't behave as they should. It has much to do with the buffs state of mind when the shooting starts and even more to do with where the first bullet lands. Once they get their blood pumping they are fierce and hard to stop. Askins wrote of a buffalo affair wherein the buff took 11 rounds of .460 Weatherby before it finally succumbed. Would one conclude that the .460 was not enough gun? Which makes the point I think that as always placement is most important, followed by bullet performance and power level last as long as its enough. You may recall that the 9.3x62 which is somewhat less powerful than the .375 was for years considered adequate and legal in East Africa for residents to use on DG. Not for the visiting sportsman though.

[Muttly]

Lee crimp die is your friend with that shoulder. Tried crimping with the seater die before I got one, I do NOT have enough finesse to pull that off successfully..
Been planning to get one with the kevlar stock for years, seem to always get side tracked, get something different..

[CraigC]

I know the .375 is a great cartridge but I wanted more.

[nolongcolt]

Me too! That's why I have a .404 Jeff and a .458 on the way. Just don't think there a real need for them unless after elephant and even then, a 300 gr solid will brain an ele no problem. WDM Bell used to brain them with the 6.5 and 7x57 rounds! Not something I would try though.

[Markbo]

Whats your timeline on Africa Craig?

[CraigC]

Hopefully plains game in two years.

[nolongcolt]

Better add a buffalo to that or you wont need the .416 at all, any old '06 class round will do for PG.

[CraigC]

That's just the first trip.

[nolongcolt]

I only know one person who has gone to Africa just once. I have been 7 times starting in 1985 to Tanzania, when it was still affordable! Hope to go again in a year or so. The planning is a large part of the fun. The travel and paperwork prep stuff totally sucks and is getting worse all the time, so be prepared for lots of hassles. It would be much less hassle to use a borrowed gun while there and leave ones own guns at home and I am seriously considering that for next time.