I am going to send my CZ .416 Rigby off to AHR after the first of the year and have them do a number one and two on it. It has a laminated stock on it and I not going to do the wood upgraded because, well, I like the laminate! They will cut and re-crown the barrel. It has a 25 inch barrel on it now. I was thinking maybe cut it back to 24 inches. What do you think? Should I cut it back shorter? Mostly, I shoot 350 grain TSXs with it.

Dave,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I think you will get as many opinions as there are people here on AR. Ed Hubel, Bigdoggy and I think Robgunbuilder like longer barrels on their big boomers while SAFARIKID likes 'em shorter. I don't thing any of us can argue with their successes on paper, in competition or on game despite the barrel length differences.

My .416 Weatherby has a 26" barrel and I like it. My 600OK has a 23" and Pop's 585AHR has a 22" barrel. All feel "right" in my hands (as do a plethora of rifles I have with barrels ranging from 18" to 28"). Balance and "swing" are the key elements.

Honestly, I don't see the rationale for cutting a barrel from 25" to 24" - you'll never notice the difference in handling or follow-through with a 1" difference. If the 25" barrel feels too long or unweildly, or the balance is off, I'd go with 22" or 23". Try shouldering and swinging your rifle as it is first out in opne spaces then I would do the same in close quarters - i.e. surrounded by brush if you have access to it or in a small room in the house. Try the same with a similarly weighted rifle with a 22" barrel. Then decide based on what feels right to you both in open as well as more confined spaces.

Good luck,
Paul

Rule Number Two: if it ain't broke, you can't fix it. Enjoy it as issued until you break it. Then have somebody that knows what they are doing fix it. If the crown isn't messed up, just leave it. PITA to cut a barrel and then make a barrel band front for it. I know, I have made a couple.

Rich


You do know what Rule Number One is, don't you?
If it has tits or tires or a rifled barrel on it, it will break your heart AND your wallet.

Dave, balance is the critical # 1 concern for me and the Cz with 25 inch barrel will still balance very well between the hands with a 23 inch barrel and handle better in the thick stuff.

quote:

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Accuratereloading.com The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores Suggested .416 Rigby barrel length

I'd leave the barrel as is, I mean I left mine as is.

Personal preference rings on this one. I like the 24" as it is less hard on the ears. 22" makes for good handling in the brush. The 416 rigby tends towards slower powders, so you will get a bit of velocity loss as you go shorter.

John

23", add a universal front sight base, add barrel band, remove front slign stud on stock ..
FEEDING
recrown, and put a nice pad on it .. bedded, turn trigger, and be done ..

these are the things that make it a great rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by dirklawyer:
Dave, balance is the critical # 1 concern for me and the Cz with 25 inch barrel will still balance very well between the hands with a 23 inch barrel and handle better in the thick stuff.

Dave....I like this idea....23" would be about perfect....any shorter and balance could go to hell. Plus...what are you going to lose....80-100 fps....not enough to matter when a Rigby will go 2450 plus out of a 24" barrel.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Unless the balance is messed up now, leave it alone. 25" is just right in my opinion.

23". Retaper barrel from in front of rear sight boss to original diameter at muzzle & reattach original barrel band foresight. If its done properly it looks factory & 23" balances very well in these rifles, least wise it did in a ZKK602 in 416 Rigby & its my understanding that they're very similar.
Steve

I strongly suggest you replace the factory CZ barrel for a better one,now that it's in the gunsmiths hands.A 23 inch barrel may not work best with any rifle.Ask your smith-gunmaker what he thinks is best.I am sure he has put alot of thought into this.

I trimmed my CZ (458 Lott) to 23" and personally like it better although this rifle / cartridge combo may have an intended purpose different than yours; Short range, fast handling stopping gun with open sights.

EZ

There would be a real problem if someone did a number one and took a number two on my rifle! This must be a CZ thing??

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I strongly suggest you replace the factory CZ barrel for a better one,now that it's in the gunsmiths hands.A 23 inch barrel may not work best with any rifle.Ask your smith-gunmaker what he thinks is best.I am sure he has put alot of thought into this.

really?
your ruger is 23", both of them .. and you say they handle better than your CZ..

both the ruger and teh CZ are hammer forged barrels

and NO ONE but lit'l georgie complains about CZ barrels. .

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I strongly suggest you replace the factory CZ barrel for a better one,now that it's in the gunsmiths hands.A 23 inch barrel may not work best with any rifle.Ask your smith-gunmaker what he thinks is best.I am sure he has put alot of thought into this.

really?
your ruger is 23", both of them .. and you say they handle better than your CZ..

both the ruger and teh CZ are hammer forged barrels

and NO ONE but lit'l georgie complains about CZ barrels. .

Didn't you hear? 23" barrels wear out faster than 24" or 22" bbls.

John

LMAO

I cut my cz 550 505 to 22",shortened the foreend, and am much happier. there is no conceivable reason why a big bore should have a 25 inch barrel. my rigby 416 had a 22" barrel before its untimely demise

How long where the old Rigby magnums?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
How long where the old Rigby magnums?

There's 3 on Guns Intl right now,2 25's and 1 24.

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100060509

I went 23" on my 404j. I see no reason to go longer for the 416rigby.

Dave,

You have the potential to do some relatively long range shooting with a 416 Rigby is absolutely necessary. With your 500 Jeffrey, and 470 double you have workable HEAVY guns for the "thick stuff" if necessary so leave the barrel alone.

We silll going to shoot Friday?

You might want to consider barrel contour and cartridge.Was the contour for your cartridge made for a 25 inch barrel rifle? If you want to go 22,you might be better off with a different contour. These questions are better answered by a skilled riflemaker,than someone on just some moments feeling.You might find a rifle that looks like a club or baseball bat,better handling,but is that the way it should be made? Don't you want a slim and elegant rifle?

quote:

Originally posted by FAST996:

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
How long where the old Rigby magnums?

There's 3 on Guns Intl right now,2 25's and 1 24.

http://www.gunsinternational.c...cfm?gun_id=100060509

That was FAST,FAST996!

Had Wayne at AHR do the #3 on my 416 and went with 23" and "weight for balance." On my bathroom scale (I know!) it's 9.5 pounds and it handles like a wand. Haven't shot it yet, just got it back today. I don't know what effect it will have on noise and recoil. Will report back...

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
Had Wayne at AHR do the #3 on my 416 and went with 23" and "weight for balance." On my bathroom scale (I know!) it's 9.5 pounds and it handles like a wand. Haven't shot it yet, just got it back today. I don't know what effect it will have on noise and recoil. Will report back...

Should be just A-ok with that! Having a well balanced rifle makes for good shooting. Recoil will be a little more noticeable than a 10.5 lb rifle, but the 416 isn't horrible to shoot either.

Have fun, shoot often.

John

I really think the 22" on my .416rigby is just right!