I just bought an unfired Dakota 416 Rigby with a pillar bedded (second) McMillan stock today. The rear site has not been filed in. I guess I'll go to Africa some day and use it there as well as maybe on a bear hunt.

Since I will be using this rifle sparingly, do I bother handloading for it, or just buy some factory loads and use those? And if so, then what bullet/manufacturer would you use? Do I then have the site filed in or not? I plan on puttind a Swaro 1-6 on it.

yes yes & yes have you priced out 416 ammo. Now go add up dies a box of bullets and some brass & see how many factury rounds you could fire for that

FMC

Congratulations on that Dakota. All you have to do about the scope and sights is contact Ward Dobler at Dakota. They do rifle upgrades and sights,stock work and so forth at the end of every month. Just call and schedule it. They can regulate the sights with your choice of ammunition and also mount and sight your scope.

best to you
JPaul

FMC,

Congratulations on your very nice new rifle.

I wholeheartedly agree with butch-b, unless you are finacially independant or plan to shoot your .416 Rigby only one or two times in your lifetime.

Color me sorta down-to-earth, normal which means I do a Double Take - primarily figuring out how many digits the sticker price of factory .416 Rigby ammo has in it.

Even setting up a reloading operation for this single cartidge would capitalize itself very quickly if you plan to shoot it as much as I would if I owned such a fine rifle.

I wold definitely load for it as I would with any costly ammo.

One option on the rear sight is once you get the load you want dialed in then see where the gun shoots, in relation to where you are aiming, with the iron sights. take that target and give all the data and the rifle to a good gunsmith. some gunsmiths can figure out how much to file down the sight just from that, they could make it a perfect u-v-notch, whichever style you want. Or do as mentioned and send your load once you have it developed with the rifle back to Dakota and let them do it.

My 375 sight blade for the rear was $10 to replace, if I need to file it I might just do it myself since the cost wasn't too bad if I mess it up (of course it took months to get since NECG had to order it from German )

Red

I would suggest you start reloading for it now. Even if you don't shoot it that much throughout the year, when it comes time to prepare for a hunt, especially an African one, you are going to be putting many rounds through it.

I would handload for it, much cheaper and you can choose what bullet you would like to use.

This will sound contrary but I always shoot "New-to-me Rifles" with factory ammo to begin with. It eliminates a small degree of error that can come from initially trying to test a rifle. After 3 or 4 boxes I either want to pursue load development or move on.

In the long run handloading is the only way to really enjoy or get the full potential from a rifle in my opinion.
I just got some Federal factories from my local gunstore for $89/box.
Frank

We're all waiting for Hornady factory ammo in spring.
Shoot the $60. / box stuff to
(a) check gun and load out (You'll be checking you out too!)
(b) get empty brass for handloads (Do you already "reload"?)

Stay tuned and do 'searches' on previous threads re: .416 Rigby, many at Big Bore forum.
I'm learning it is a whole 'nother ball game!

BNagel

I would reload for it, but I reload for all of my hunting rifles.

I have the same rifle Dakota M-76 African in 416 Rigby, so if you need any reloading data to get started let me know. Cabelas & Midway have 416 Rigby Norma brass. Brass runs about $2.00 each. As mentioned above Hornaday is coming out with their own 416 Rigby brass. Talked to the Hornaday Rep. in Reno - he said it was delayed about 2-3 weeks, because they (Hornaday Quality Control) were not happy with the annealing on the case necks. They were going to get it right before offering the 416 Rigby brass.

Hope this helps.

Nobody that I know of makes factory plinking loads in 416 Rigby. Full-house 400gr factory loads pack quite a wallop. You won't enjoy firing too many of those in one session. But you CAN handload pleasant practice loads yourself. Whether bear or African DG, you need to practice so everything becomes second nature to you.

If you choose to handload the Rigby, Accurate Reloading folks can guide your way. You've come to the right place. Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by FMC:
I just bought an unfired Dakota 416 Rigby with a pillar bedded (second) McMillan stock today. The rear site has not been filed in. I guess I'll go to Africa some day and use it there as well as maybe on a bear hunt.

Since I will be using this rifle sparingly, do I bother handloading for it, or just buy some factory loads and use those? And if so, then what bullet/manufacturer would you use? Do I then have the site filed in or not? I plan on puttind a Swaro 1-6 on it.

I have a dakota in .375H&H, they make nice guns.

Now, you want to shoot that Rigby, trust me, it won't hurt.

My favorite rifle is my Ruger RSM .416Rigby. I have 7 boxes of Federal factory through mine. I seriously doubt there will be 8, too much money! I have another 250rds of reloads fired, much cheaper.

You can load up 350gr plinker loads or 400gr hammers, whatever you can take. It's a fun rifle to shoot, as long as it's 10 to 11 lbs. Load up some ammo and get to the range.

Mine has a Maine black bear and 13 Africa plains game animals to its credit. Someday soon it will hunt cape buf.

Buy the Lee Factory crimp die for the 416 Rigby. You may find that that the standard roll crimp dies cause shoulder bulge which is a royal pain, making it difficult to get a firm crimp.