Other than the belt, is there any appreciable difference in performance between the .450 Rigby and the .460 Weatherby? Seems the case capacities would be pretty close. Thanks, BOB

I think that there is no appreciable difference between the two, save the double radius shoulder of the Weatherby, so you'll need a 26" barrel to get anywhere close to 2700fps with a 500gr bullet. Or so I've read.

P.S.- I've owned a couple of rifles chambered for Weatherby rounds. I don't believe the venturi shoulder design does a thing to increase velocity.

-Catter

[This message has been edited by Wildcatter (edited 07-13-2001).]

I believe the Wby round holds about 15 grains more powder than the Rigby. I have a 460 Wby and 450 Dakota but no Rigby. The Dakota and Rigby are both based on the 416 Rigby case but the shoulders on the Rigby have been lowered giving it a smaller capacity. Both the Dakota and Rigby will usually fit one more to the magazine because of the lack of belt. Both will easily give good velocities. To me the difference in recoil of a 500 grain bullet at 2400 fps is significantly less than at 2550 fps of the Wby.

The 450 Rigby is basically a 416 Rigby that has been blown out but shortened as well.
It was designed not to achieve the power of the 460 Weatherby but to push a 480 grain bullet to about 2400 fps.

I don't shoot full power loads in my Brno 602 in .460 WM, but op for 113gr of 4350 with the 500gr Hornady soft. This fills the case just about up to the neck. No space, but not compressed either. I don't have a chrono, but the Hornady manual says that ought to give me pretty close to the magical 2400fps. Thanks, BOB