As I said before I would like to buy a 416 Rigby. What brand would those of you who shoot the Big Bores recommend to a guy who will have to script and save to buy one? Basicly a fun gun for me as I don't see any African trips in the near future.
The CZ550 Safari seems to be a good rifle from what I have read. Any others out there that won't set you back a couple of grand?
MM

I have a customized CZ550 416Rigby and believe it is the best buy for the money on the market today. It has a Brockman drop in stock and I have far less than $1500 invested total. Have used it to take Elephant and am quite pleased with it in all respects.

I can't dispute my fellow CZ brother who posted, but IMO it's real hard to beat the Ruger Magnum. Get it bedded, put the appropriate pad on for required LOP, and play with the trigger a touch...easily and fairly cheaply accomplished...and you will have a fine rifle. Weight is good for a Rigby....a little heavy for a 375, but good for the Rigby and Lott. Put yourself a Leupold 1.5 x 5 on it in QR rings and for less than $2500 (including the bedding, pad and trigger) you have quite an African combo.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

The CZ w/o doubt. You can get lucky or just search hard and probably find a used one pretty cheap.

Watch the ads in the classifieds. Sooner or later you'll find a CZ that has already been done (bedded, cross bolted, etc) at a very reasonable price.

Some years ago I did ... paid a premium for it but it was from a very reputable dealer ... and have taken it to Africa twice. Was WAY less than the Ruger and has worked flawlessly! Caliber is terrific. Kills like the Hammer of Thor.

Buy what you can afford and like. Rugers are fine. CZs are too!

The CZ550 by a mile. Find a used one and steel bed and crossbolt it yourself. Spend the $25 dollars and learn some good tricks. Its really simple and I'd be happy to walk you through it. They are accurate as hell and feed reliably. What more can you ask.-Rob

Or get ahold of one of the new PH actions from Montane Rifle and have it barreled in the caliber and buy a drop in stock for it.

I looked long and hard and decided on the RSM Rugers for several reasons, but the overall value offered by the Ruger's overshadowed the others. The CZ's are fine after you do a fair amount of work on them, but not inclined to spend money on the rifle purchased to make it into the rifle I wanted or spent hard earned money to purchase. Have found them to deliver excellent accuracy and shoot them a fair amount and always pleased with their performance.

Integral receiver ring bases, rings included which are easily dismounted/installed with a quarter, excellent "express sights," barrel and one piece rib both top and bottom, unique and durable bedding system, magnum action acomodating about any caliber for sporting rifles, controlled round feeding of absolute dependability, barrel band, replaceable front sight blade, side swing safety, and last but certainly not least is the confindence in the excellent product support of an American firm offered by Ruger. Yes you could say I like Ruger RSM's and do own stock of the firm, so naturally I am biased, but overall find the Ruger RSM's of highest value for the dollar invested.

Straight out of the box, I like the Ruger RSM over the CZ 550. I think that the Ruger is better made and mine needed no tweeking to get it ready for hunting whereas I had to slick up the bolt movement on the CZ to get it to move as smoothly as I would like. I also like the looks of the RSM better (the barrel band front sight, the barrel band sling swivel, the rib and express sight, and better bluing). That said, my CZ has taken African game already and the Ruger none (that's because my Ruger .458 Lott has never been across the pond).

Namibiahunter

I have a CZ Safari Classic and I liked the feel of it better than the RSMs. The CZ's are not made cheaply (forged steel receiver, nice Turkish walnut, no cast or stamped parts, etc.) and tend to be very accurate out of the box. They do need glass bedding, and some action smoothing. Mine came with dual crossbolts. I peronally don't like the rib on the Ruger, that's just personal preference. The CZs do tend to be heavy and bit blocky feeling. You really need to handle the rifle before you buy it.

Something else to consider is the twist rate in the barrels. CZ has a 1 in 16.5 twist while Ruger uses a faster 1 in 14 twist rate. If you're planning on using long bullets such as the Barnes TSX or Solids the faster twist rate will help. Mine will keep those long Barnes 400 Gr. Banded solids into very small groups at 100 yds.

Also worked great on a charging elephant in Zim earlier this year.

The accuracy of any rifle/bullet combination is not really that predictable. My standard bullet for my .416 Rigby CZ is the 350 gr Barnes X. Knowing that my rifle shoots they well (1 1/4" at 200 yards), I bought a large stock of them when the TSX came out and they got cheap.

They have worked fine on Cape Buffalo with amazing penetration ... only recovered bullet was a followup shop which smashed the right rear femur, travelled the entire length of the gut, and lodged under the skin at the front of the chest. About 6 feet.

Am not sure the difference between 1 in 16.5" and 1 in 14" twist matters.

The overall cost of the Ruger will be higher but it will require less immediate work. Your pocket book may help you make your choice. Nice to have one that will result in a fine rifle either way.

I have a CZ 550 458 Lott. I think CZ is best buy for your money.

For what money? $1000? $1500? $800?

CZ is a decent rifle for $800.

Ruger is a heck of a nice rifle for $1750, if you like Rugers.

Ruger also makes the 416 in the Number 1, they are about $750.

Ruger Safari Mag. You can pick them up for $1100 and they look great. Brad

quote:

Originally posted by D99:
For what money? $1000? $1500? $800?

CZ is a decent rifle for $800.

Ruger is a heck of a nice rifle for $1750, if you like Rugers.

Ruger also makes the 416 in the Number 1, they are about $750.

My CZ 550 458 Lott cost me 1248. It has a laminated stock, Set trigger, Three sights. I don't use the set trigger.

The best rifle for the rifle is not necessarily the cheapest. It may be that $20K bolt rifle that puts and end to your future gun buying because it satisfies all of your wants and needs because nothing else can compare.

Hey thanks guys.
Truth be known I'm kind of a Ruger man. Several M77s and one hell of a nice #1 in 22-250 in the safe at this time.
Maybe a Ruger is the way to go. But I can't help but like the price of the CZ 550 Safari grade either. I think I will keep watching the auctions and find one or the other at a good price.
The #1 Safari is beutiful!! But I'm thinking I want a repeater in this cal. In the off chance I ever do aford a trip to the dark cont. to hunt big bovine!
MM

MM, check with Wayne at AHR, aka, Bitterroot here as he has a beeeautiful 416 Rigby for sale i'm sure.

I'll go with the CZ's for current "best value". I have three: 416 Rigby, 458 Lott, and 505 Gibbs. All three of these are very nice. Only the 505 Gibbs went back for warrenty repair due to a cracked stock with no hassle what so ever and turn-around was less than 2 weeks, Thanks CZ. Rodney.

quote:

Originally posted by Montana Maddness:
As I said before I would like to buy a 416 Rigby. What brand would those of you who shoot the Big Bores recommend to a guy who will have to script and save to buy one? Basicly a fun gun for me as I don't see any African trips in the near future.
The CZ550 Safari seems to be a good rifle from what I have read. Any others out there that won't set you back a couple of grand?
MM

You should be able to pick up 2nd-hand one in nearly perfect condition for $600-$650. Local shop had one in this caliber (swine belly stock with one screw bolt through the wrist) in caliber .416Rigby. Always look for used big berthas since the bores are ususally pristine. You know, the guy is going to shoot it couple of times and just give up on it. Good news, the Rigby cal should be cheaper than .375 or .458Mag. since almost nobody wants them. Most hombres never look at cost or availablity of ammo prior to purchasing such gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Ol Bull:
MM, check with Wayne at AHR, aka, Bitterroot here as he has a beeeautiful 416 Rigby for sale i'm sure.

Thanks Ol Bull.
What is AHR? I will see if I can get Waynes E mail from his profile. Hopefully it is listed.
Hey you are a MT boy too. I'm in FT> Benton, but get to Helena a lot on the H-D. Three of my Set Free Ministies brothers live down there. Might have to buy you a cup of coffee sometime when I down that way.
MM

quote:

Originally posted by Montana Maddness:

quote:

Originally posted by Ol Bull:
MM, check with Wayne at AHR, aka, Bitterroot here as he has a beeeautiful 416 Rigby for sale i'm sure.

Thanks Ol Bull.
What is AHR? I will see if I can get Waynes E mail from his profile. Hopefully it is listed.
Hey you are a MT boy too. I'm in FT> Benton, but get to Helena a lot on the H-D. Three of my Set Free Ministies brothers live down there. Might have to buy you a cup of coffee sometime when I down that way.
MM

All your questions answered here:

American Hunting Rifles

The question covers a broad spectrum of rifles and its a catchy question since you did not put a price on the gun...

But for a go hunting for DG once or twice rifle, the best bang for the buck IMO is by far the Ruger Safari models in .416 Rigby...The integral quarter rib alone on a custom rifle would run you more than the cost of the Ruger on a custom rifle..The Ruger has ALL the bells and whistle of a high dollar custom rifle. Other than that I would probably opt for a Holland and Holland or Custom Wolf drop box Mauser for about ten grand.

MM, come to my Big Bore match September 6th and you can shoot just about EVERYTHING including Wayne's 416 Rigby probably. Oh, AHR is American Hunting Rifles made here in Hamilton Montana.
My suggestion is to shoot as many different calibers as you can and see where "YOUR FUN LIMIT" is!!! Personally i find the 416 Rigby pleasent to shoot, but after that they start to really get your attention!
Plus you'll get to see all kinds of different rifles