Gentlemen,

My new Ruger .416 Rigby finally showed up. This replaces one that was stolen a while back that I didn't have long enough to really play with. I must say that this rifle has an incredibly beautiful piece of wood. It is truly a joy to look at. I know a few of you on the forum have the same rifle, so I am hoping to get a bit of advice from you.

1.) Which recoil pad did you replace the stock one with?
2.) Did you replace the front sight with one that is larger or easier to pick up?
3.) Have you tried the New England Custom Gun rear peep sight?
4.) What is your favorite load? I have worked up a couple that equal the old standard of 400 gr. at 2400 fps. I am not looking to "improve" on something that doesn't need improving and hasn't since 1912.
5.) Anything else I should think of?

Thanks in advance.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

Joel, is your Rigby a #1 or M77? Not that it matters to how I answer.

#1. I have not replaced the factory pad. I ALWAYS wear a PAST shoulder pad when firing anything larget than 375HH from the bench. After sight-in, load development, get away from the bench. The factory pad works OK from hunting positions.

#2. I replaced both front sights with the large white ones from NECG. Sighted in and forgotten about. My Rigbys wear VX-IIIs 1.5-5s or 1.75-6E.My vision is not what it used to be. They say that eyesight is the second thing to go....can't remember what is first to go.

#3. I have both of mine scoped. I have never used a peep sight, but if you are used to it, they look like a pretty good rig.

#4. You can look under "Favorite Loads" section of this forum and look for Rigby info there. I am currently using a healthy charge of H4831sc and 400 gr Noslers, XLCs and Barnes Solids, as well as Hornady softs. One really cool thing about it is that both rifles will print groups that are interchangeable. Shoot a group with one bullet and the next bullet will hit the same point of impact. Very nice feature.

#5. Once sighted in, get away from the bench. I like to take mine rabbit hunting. Usually fast action, close-range shooting. Just the kind of practice one needs for a caliber like this. Gives me a chance to become accustomed to almost snap shooting with the low-powered variable.

Best of luck,
Bill in NE

1. Pachmyer Decelerator.
2. NEGC Fiber Optic, as close as possible to the factory height.
3. Yes, I have on a Ruger No. 1 .45-70. Fantastic, but not on the .416 Rigby 77. I would have to remove the rear sight and, frankly, I would not like the looks of that great big empty slot in the sight base.
4. I hot-rodded the No. 1 .416 Rigby with a 325 gr. bullet at 2900 fps, but I am leaving the 77 alone with relatively mild loads, the .400 gr. X and Solid at 2461.7 fps. I am using a heavy load of H4831 which gives 1.195" five shot groups at 100 yards.
5. Scope, a Leupold VXIII 1.5-5x in Warne QD Premier rings.

Thanks guys..I should have been more clear, it is the M77 Safari Magnum. Fit and Finish is top-notch, and it seems to shoot very well. So far, several 1-1.5" groups at 100 yards with the factory open sights. I like it..!!!

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

Joel,
I like Kickezz pads, and lots of lothers like the pack 990. Both seem to be really nice pads...

I like ashley peep sights, but the necg are also great.

get some "blem" 416 hornady RNs and shoot the fire out of it. at 12.5� each, it's nearly as cheap as .358 bullets.....

I have been thinking about trying some milsurp powder that is "around" 3031imr powder, and loading the various 416s and bigger with that, usuing dacron as a filler... havent gotten to the powder yet.

jeffe

Jeffeosso

Where do you get the .416 Hornady blems?

JRSlate

I have an early Ruger 77 RSM in .416 Rigby with the heavier barrel and I love it. Kick Eez pad, large NECG white front bead, Leupold 1X4, polished the feed ramp (rough casting marks), factory trigger breaks crisp at 3.5 lbs.

I'm shooting 400 gr Hornady SP seated just off the lands, 105 gr old Hogdon 4831, Fed mag primers, gives me sub moa at 100 yds.

Shhh....don't keep blabbing about how nice these guns are. 1. Half the people here don't believe a Ruger can be anything other than junk. 2. The other half will go out and buy em and drive up the prices!

www.lockstock.com
bullets
rifle bullets
blems

They may or may not have 416's in stock, but if you search around a bit in the forum for blem hornady bullets you should find one or 2 more sources.

jeffe

Jeffeosso, you should not need a filler in a 416 Rigby if you use IMR 3031. Granted the loads won't be compressed, but you should be able to get 9x grains of powder in the case so it will be mostly filled.

Axel

Jeffeosso said:

quote:

---

I give the guy SAFE loading info, and you think, with your 458win/500ahr/leveractionrugersemiauto that you can say "you don't need filler".. you dont read posts, is what it is.

---

Jeffeosso, you provided no load data!

You simply stated:
I have been thinking about trying some milsurp powder that is "around" 3031imr powder, and loading the various 416s and bigger with that, usuing dacron as a filler... havent gotten to the powder yet.

The milsurps I am aware of are closer to IMR 4895 than they are to IMR 3031. In either case you should be able to get a nice safe load in the low 9x's. Naturally start lower and work up. You should not need a filler if you are able to get to 88+ grains.

DO NOT ATTEMP THIS LOAD AS IT IS UNSAFE! -Of course you can try the PECOS 45 load. That would recipe would probably be a full case of your "surplus" powder plus 5 grains of Red Dot or some such stupid shit. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS LOAD IT IS UNSAFE!!!!!!!!

Axel

It hardly surprises me that you are unaware of anything, much less a 3031-ish powder...

...."you did provide load data...." yet you see fit to jump me over it...

Jeffe,
What are you trying to say? You make no sense, whatsoever. Perhaps you should limit the length of your sentences to no more than 5 words. It is apparent that you have difficulty when you advance beyond 3 grade grammar.

Axel

POSeur./Axel,
Can you show us the picture of your Win M70 that you machined into a CZ 550?

I owned a Asquare Hanibal .416 Rigby that shot 1/2" groups. Unfortunately, I sold it a year ago. I'm thinking of getting a new rifle in this caliber and have looked at the Ruger safari. What kind of accuracy are you guys getting out of yours? I owned a Mod. 77 in a smaller caliber several years ago and the accuracy was horrible.