Hello
I just purchased a CZ 550 in .416 Rigby. I'm not new to shooting, but this is my first large bore rifle. The next largest in the safe is the beloved 8 rem mag . I'm looking for info that might be big bore specific. I haven't received the rifle yet but it appears to have only a rear crossbolt. I'm planning on steel bedding this rifle, should I add a front crossbolt as well? Is it correct to assume crimping is a must, and any suggestions on what powders generally work well. I'm planning on using a low variable or a fixed power scope. With the increased recoil levels, is there anything special to look out for? I don't want to ask to many questions in one post, so I'll leave myself open to any other suggestions. I didn't purchase the rifle for any specific purpose other than I've always wanted one. Fiqure thats reason enough! Thankyou. dempsey

I added a front crossbolt and steel bedded the action. I removed the funky CZ second recoil lug entirely. Try 99-102 grs of Rl-22 and a 400gr Hornady softpoint as a good stiff starting load. Buy a past recoil shield and mount your scope as LOW as possible. I use Warne Low QD mounts on mine. A .416 Rigby doesn't kick that badly so you should have lots of fun with it.-Rob

My friend and I were in the same situation as you the biggest bore we had was a 45/70 marlin. Then we purchased CZ .416 Rigby's just like you (fine guns I might add). We fired eight shots a piece and our stocks failed mine only a tiny harline fracture were the bolt handle inlet is, my mates straight up from the magazine box all the way to the forend. I placed a fiberglass stock on mine (kevlar/carbon fibre reinforced) and my mate had his replaced under warranty but bedded and floated the first 8 inches to the barrell recoil lug, (mine is floated to there as well. We have begun crimping our bulletts to save them being driven back into there cases under recoil. We are shooting 410 grain woodeligh SN's at the minute at around 2550 fps. The rifle shoots better than I can shoot it, I am still getting used to it.

Both my mate and I have leupold 2-7x33 Vari X11 mounted on our .416's and it has plenty of eye releif and so far has held up to the recoil, they are mounted in the cz mounts (these are working well to). If I went to Africa I would replace these with quick detachable mounts. The way our rifles are set up will suit the appliction we have in mind for them which is feral donke's and camels as well as blasting feral pigs we did not need one either but just wanted a big bore, the 2-7 is good as they shoot a bit flatter than people give them credit for, the trajectory on paper is not unlike a .375 H&H our load of a 410 gr at 2550 fps is 10-11" low at 300 yards so if you can shoot it well enough there is no reason why one could not shoot large game with it out to 250 yards + quoite easily. I will certainly be trying to whop a few ferals with mine at those ranges to see if my theory is correct.

Hope I have helped Reagrds PC

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Use the search function on the big bore forumn, and type in recoil for the title search. There are many threads there that apply to shooting the big rifles well. Here is a direct link to one of the threads: http://www.serveroptions.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000929.html

PC
Where did you get the crimp die and do you think it would work on my 416.

Thanks for the replys. I'm on vacation this week and spent a great deal of time looking at the various boards with big bore forums. This one seems by far the most active. I've already learned a great deal looking thru past threads. Thanks again. Looking forward to reading more. dempsey

You're right. There's a tremendous amount of good, up-to-date information on many topics on the various forums on this site. If you don't see it, just ask.

.416SW I have just followed the instructions in the speer manual on how to set your bullet seater up for crimping and did that (crimping & seating in one operation), it is crimping nicely into the canalure of my woodeligh 410 gr SN's.

Let me know if this is not the way I should be going with my .416 Rigby reloads.

Regards PC

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Robgunbuilder, what do you mean with "that funky CZ second recoil lug"?. On mine, a 9.3x62 medium action there is a recoil lug under the barrel, approx under the rear sight. Also there are two cross bolts. The bolt has two lugs, and a smaller one at the rear.

Just curious Hermann

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