I officially became a member today with the purhase of my CZ550 Safari in .416 Rigby. I suppose my vaious .45-70's would have entitled me to membership, but now there is no doubt. I debated the merits of the .375 H&H and .416 Rigby and since I have no real use for either in the immediate future I decided on the Rigby if for no other reason than bragging rights. Besides, I figure the .416 will do anything the .375 will do and more (hurt more that is).

I hear it is pretty much mandatory to have the stock fitted with a second cross bolt??? Will beding work too? I'll eventually spring for a custom stock but want to ensure this one works for as long as possible.

From the reports I've been hearing, (both on this board and through several customers) It is a very good idea to bed the actions...especially on the big bores. Adding the second cross bolt probably wouldn't hurt, but as far as the bedding goes, YOU BET!!!!!

Welcome to the club!!!
Do a search for elk campmaster and bedding. He did an excellent layout, with pics, on this

I also think that one should replace the holddown "slide" with a large, tighly fitted, tap welding block in the forearm, to make a true recoil lug. then that should be drilled and tapped for the hold down screw, then bedded

jeffe

Welcome to the club. I'd put a two more crossbolts on your CZ one behind the front action recoil lug and the other behind the mag box. Take off the CZ barrel recoil lug and have a proper one made. Then steel bed the whole thing including 1 inch of barrel foreward of the action recoil lug..-Rob

I have a question regrading the bedding recomended for a CZ 550 Mag in 416 Rigby. Do you use epoxy or glass or what? And does this rifle call for pillar bedding as well?

Just use some Brownells gel or steel bed..I would not bother with piller bedding a big bore myself..Add some cross bolts and its done...

Actually you can get away without cross bolts with a properly bedded 416 or you can use bolts with the head cut off and make internal crossbolts that do not show...Not so the 458 Lott and over...

Glass and Epoxy are basically one in the same in most of these guntalk conversations...

Z1R

Welcome to the big bore club and a million and one questions from the small bore folks as to why you should ever own such a thing! The good news is you can tell them, "No, I don't have magnumitis, I studied all the literature and the word "magnum" is not there!" Drives them crazy!

I put the reinforcement of my CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 416 Rigby on the board here. There is a ton of knowledge amongst those who post here and that is what gave me the "courage" to take a seemingly perfect new rifle and "go to work" on it.

I never did wrap up the thread with the handy, "this is what I learned, make sure you do this, and DON'T do that post, so I will go ahead with that one. That should "bump" back up to the top for your humorous reading pleasure.

EKM

Elkampmaster,

I found your thread earlier today but look forward to your wrap up report and appreciate the bump up to the top so I can find it again.

Thanks all for the hints and welcomes.

I'm sure after I pick it up and start to load for it I'll have a million qustions. Biggest on my mind is if the Rigby case will fit into my old RCBS press. Also, what is the best source of load data? It seems that H4831 is the powder of choice with the 400's?

Z1R,



I used a set of new Hornady dies and it fit in my old RCBS so hopefully it will in yours as well. The cost of Rigby ammo does tend to force one to look at reloading and may be one of the reasons so many folks end up with 416RemMags.



A loaded 416 Rigby does make for a brutish looking round don't it? [Be cautious on your introductory "lets get acquainted" trip at the range. First shot standing, skip the set trigger, thumb away from your nose, settle for the back drop initially and worry about targets latter. For bench rest try: set aside the screw jack, have your stomach touching the bench, back straight, and build up under that pose with as many sand bags as it takes front and back (10-12). Leaning low and forward as with a varmit rifle will insure that you get the full "handshake" and is not to be recommended, the need for glass bed and reinforcement will be obvious]



Regarding loading data, I used Barnes #3 for my data and backed it up with data from this website. All the other manuals (I've seen) keep the Rigby plodding along at 2370 to 2400 and perhaps for DGR purposes and 400gr bullets that is appropriate.



For non-dangerous game, the Rigby with 325gr Barnes X's the Barnes data takes you upwards of 2900 fps. With the Barnes X 325gr's ballistic coefficient you have a rifle that for trajectory purposes lies just below a 300 WinMag for flat shooting -- stand back.



It really is a glorious old round (like the 375HH), smacks of nostalgia, and still sits at the table as more than an equal. There may be "better" but it is awfully good. It is a round that instills confidence when you hold the rifle in your hands. Congratulations on your choice.



EKM

Definitely get the cz stock bedded, I had my cz lott tricked up with 2 extra cross bolts and bedded to the front lug. Ensure it's relived around the tang as well.

Congrats on your purchase cz's are great !!

Thanks again Elkampmaster,

I looked at my old RCBS Press ourchased new in 1981. It has a rather smallish opening but hopefully it will work. While out there I found an old Lyman Turret Press that I bought at the swap meet last year. That thing has about 3.5" of space between the ram and the base of the turret, lots more than the RCBS so I should be covered.

I anticipate firing plenty of cast bullets through this thing. All this will have to wait until spring though as I have five Mausers to finish building first.