I suspect that some of the initial interest is based on the Rigby's heritage as the "queen of African cartirdges." As we shoot it though, we find that it is manageable, flexible in loadings, operates at very reasonable pressures, can have substantive magazine capacity, and generates huge power at the target.

The actions are no more awkward that those required for the .375, and with the CZ 550 it is available on a platform I could begin to afford.

Its a hoot to shoot!

Karl comes close. Well, 1970-72 bullet selection was a lot different than today as you all know. I had a LH Wea. .378 because I couldn't find anything else in LH .375 dia. when I got it 9 years earlier. I took it to Tanzania as a "light rifle" and a .450#2 double by Boswell for a heavy.I had used the .378 on several moose, grizzly, elk and caribou in British Columbia with heavy loads of 270 grain Win. Power Points and knew what to expect on soft skinned plains game. As well as knowing to leave 300 grain silvertips alone(too fragile, had one blow up on a wolf, yea very dead too! Looked like a .220 Swift on a P. Dog) I used what I thought was the best steel jacketed solids in the U. S. (They still make good bullets and Wea. used them in factory stuff then), but I had deformation problems on Buffs when heavy bones or skull was hit (skull tests on downed buffs to test bullet penetration). I came back with the opinion the velocity was too high and bullet weight to low. I knew from readings in the '50's that Roy had used the .416 case in his experimental work with the .378 and in the mid to late '60's J. O'Connor wrote about turning the belt off .378's to make ammo for the .416 he had used.
So I called up Tom Burgess (info. from O'Connor article)and we discussed what I found and thought) He concurred 100%. Tom fitted the new barrel and even loaned me a special RCBS die and reamer to take the excess shoulder material out if the case after the .378 or .460 was sized to .416. The fact you couldn't get any .416 factory stuff at that time didn't matter. (I later got 10 rounds boxer primed made by Norma for Rigby from Jack Brickell of Oregeon Ammo Service)
I had access to a lathe and a lot of .378 brass, so I was in business. Some of that original brass is still useable today which would indicate I didn't abuse the pressure or try to make it something it wasn't. As Jack O'Connor said, "the recoil becomes rather formidable" when loaded with a case full of 4831. And I used .600's and .577"s!

Anyway, as mentioned if you go down to a 325 grain for lighter animals the velocity goes up and it shoots flat. 400 grains soft or solids and it does its job. I never went over 2450-2475 with them.

Nostalgia had nothing to do with it for me, it was solve a problem and keep the effectiveness. I think it did and does. I am sure nostalgia played a part in the Rigby's revival, but rifles have to be available. Ruger and now CVA
have done that. It would not have happened if we would have relied on custom rifle production.

Yes, the case is big an impressive, but it works and is modern design when it came out.

Thanks for listening!

Leroy

I bought mine because is spells, smells, and feels like AFRICA!

What do you guys who like the 416 Rigby find that appeals to you? It is not the oldest, nor the most powerful. It does not come in the best package. It is low pressure but in these days of powders other than Cordite that is no longer an issue.

It was never very popular and only in the last 15 years has it become so. Help me to understand.

Karl let the cat out of the bag with that one....

But its also one of several cartridges which you simply won't feel undergunned for anything on the African continent. And the recoil is tolerable.

Mickey,

Karl has basically nailed it in my opinion but I think a couple of other things can be added.

I believe at one stage the 30/378 was Weatherby's biggest selling rifle and the reason for that situation also applies to the 416 Rigby....big cartridge feel and reasonable price rifle as the 30/378 comes in the Synthetic and Accumark.

I think the 416 Rigby and especially in the CZ is also picking up some sales that would have normally gone to the 375 H&H. Some of these would be buyers who would have regarded the 375 H&H as a specialised "just to have" calibre
and as such the extra cost of 416 Rigby ammo/cases and extra recoil is not an issue for some buyers.

Mike

Its popular now because then it was one of the main ones the average guy could not own. Too expensive, action too big.Then no bullets or ammo left.



It has had generations to tease us all in print and memory.



Now it is suddenly available at no greater price or inconvenience than any other calibre, and it is like everyone has gotten a chance to score with the prom queen.



Karl.

Gentlemen

The 416 Rigby looks nice. the cartridge will not suffer from high pressures even with "sunbaked" ammo. Performance is spectacular according to those who have used it.

/ JOHAN

To put it simply it is a .458 hammer and a .375 all rounder all in one package....and on the 7th day god created the .416 Rigby

The 416 rigby is a well designed case, even by today's standards, and the great volume of the case makes it low pressure, a great advantage. The 416 rem has suffered in the field, and the 416 dakota was not taken seriously although it should have been. I think credit for popularizing the 416 rigby rests with Ruger and CZ - they made 'em, and people bought 'em. The public can only buy what the gunmakers make. The gunmakers made 416 rigby, so that's what people bought. When a critical mass is reached, the ball keeps rolling.

That is also why the 30-06 is so popular.