I have an offer on the table from a friend of mine for my Ruger #1 (blue) in .416 Rigby. He's up in Maine and they've got some bigger animals up there.

When I bought my #1, Ruger didn't offer it in Stainless - which is what I'd prefer as a base gun.

I was batting around the idea of having another Rigby made in either a custom bolt gun, or perhaps another Ruger #1 in Stainless and have it then semi-customized.

My idea would be a 24" barrel, with the first 18" octagon, then taper/funnel down into round for the last 6" of the barrel. Maybe have a nice maple or walnut stock with ebony accents, and then have the stainless parts of it coated with one of those black moly-based coats.

This would all be a working type project, nothing fancy, just meat and potatoes, and I'd put my upper limit at around $5k (and preferably less).

But last night I was considering maybe going with a .458 Lott instead. I've never owned a Lott, and since I don't reload, ammo for either one for me is special order at my local gun store anyway.

What are your guy's thoughts?

Neither one is practical down here, and mostly it's just a "to have" gun that I can take out and scare friends and co-workers down here when I hand them a cartridge to load in it - which the Rigby accomplished quite nicely in an area where folks used to shooting .270s and 7mm's as their staples and a .300 winmag is considered a "cannon".

Well, I bet 458 ammo is a Lott cheaper. And I happen to like the look of a cigar shaped case, too.

i looove the rigby... i think the lott is pase now

i too love a stainless but who makes a true magnum length stainless action? can someone help me here...i wish mrc would make one

you can do a lot with that dough...keep us posted

the rigby is catching fire right now with more people offering loaded ammo and components...take the rigby route is my vote

i can hear the steam coming out of the lott owners ears...he he he

the rigby is a fine hunting round, a grand heavy medium

the lott is a good hunting round, and a first rate stopping rifle.


BUT

the lott is cheaper to feed (brass AND bullets) and even loaded ammo...

the thing is, if you own either of these, and plan to shoot it a lott, plan on 80bucks for lott ammo and 120 for rigby.

and of course there will alway be someone to buy your once fired brass for 50cents each on the rigby


for about $340 you can have dies, reloading kit, and 50 rounds of lott...

and a 2 day NRA course, you'll be reloading

jeffe

Both are very versatile rounds if you handload.

I had a Dillon 550 that a friend of mine gave me in exchange for some computer work... along with about 300 lbs. of 45 ACP and 44 mag brass.

plus several jugs of of powder, a brass polishing tumbler bowl thing, die sets for about 30 different calibers, a set of scales, 5 or 6 different reloading manuals, and more primers than I know what to do with ...

I even bought dies for my .416, but I just never got into it and last year at Christmas I gave it all away to one of my cousins.

For that Rigby, I was buying Federal Woodleighs, I think in 410gr., and I believe the last ones I bought were a box of 20 for $75.

quote:

Originally posted by Ben589:
I had a Dillon 550 that a friend of mine gave me in exchange for some computer work... along with about 300 lbs. of 45 ACP and 44 mag brass.

plus several jugs of of powder, a brass polishing tumbler bowl thing, die sets for about 30 different calibers, a set of scales, 5 or 6 different reloading manuals, and more primers than I know what to do with ...

I even bought dies for my .416, but I just never got into it and last year at Christmas I gave it all away to one of my cousins.

For that Rigby, I was buying Federal Woodleighs, I think in 410gr., and I believe the last ones I bought were a box of 20 for $75.

That's a steal for Federal Rigby ammo! BTW the Hornady loaded ammo is right at $50 per box of 20 from Midway.

quote:

Ben589: Federal Woodleighs, I think in 410gr., and I believe the last ones I bought were a box of 20 for $75.

Best reason to reload.

I love the .416 Rigby round but the lott is ver practical........................have you thought about buying a cz .416 Rigby adding a McMillan stock and then getting the gun Nickel Coated or Black Chromed ?? That way it would be more weather proof and you would have your magnum actioned repeater.

I'd rather get a wood stock than one of those McBros fiberglass ones, but that is an idea.

I just don't know that much about the CZ actions.

I was looking at Montana Rifleman at their pro hunter action if I go bolt, but then, I don't know much about Montana actions either.

Ben, if you are looking at bolt guns for either of these two cals. Get the Ruger RSM, they are ready to go straight out of the box. And more pleasant to shoot than the #1. You really ought to reload, if for no other reason than the versitility of loads you can shoot. I have shot several hundred of the Rem. 405gr out of my Lott at 2100fps. great plinking load and will slap the dog poooo out of anything walking in AL. Bullets are about $12.50/100.

Hog Killer

quote:

Originally posted by Ben589:
I'd rather get a wood stock than one of those McBros fiberglass ones, but that is an idea.

I just don't know that much about the CZ actions.

I was looking at Montana Rifleman at their pro hunter action if I go bolt, but then, I don't know much about Montana actions either.

The Lott would fit in a standard MRC 1999 action. The Rigby would need the PH unless you were willing to spend a lot of dough altering the standard. On top of that, the Pro Hunter isn't produced yet and may never be.

If Williams gets a big action out first it will probably kill the Pro-Hunter because there's only so much call for them. The only way I see it coming to fruition is if one of the semi-custom houses like Kimber contract them for a big boomer.

As far as price, at full retail they're overpriced for me but the charter issue prices were atractive enough that I tried two and found them fine for what I wanted.

But, the CZ doesn't come stainless and it has the second ugliest bolt handle on the planet, right after Savage. Good strong action, though.

The easy way out is to take Hogkiller's advice.

458 lott because you can get cheap bullets for blasting deer, rocks, tin cans, etc.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by boom stick:

i too love a stainless but who makes a true magnum length stainless action? can someone help me here...i wish mrc would make one

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Harre Actions make a SS magnum length action. M70 Style with mauser C-ring. Have alook under gunsmithings last couple of pages, there is apost on these actions.

If you cannot make a clean decision and lingering on the fence, you could just as well buy a 458 Win Mag and shoot 450 grainers.

Rhino Bullets makes an excellent 425 grainer in a Solid Shank configuration. A friend of mine is using this bullet with sterling results for game hunting, but in his 458 Express. Go to the Rhino website and you will see prof Koos Badenhorst there with a nice Kudu that he shot. Where solids are more appropriate, one can use 400 & 450 gr FN's such as those made by GS Custom and Bridger.

The 425 grainer in the 458 Win Mag has much lower recoil as a side benefit vid-a-vis the 416 Rigby and the 458 Lott. With an array of quality bullets today, we should actually see the 458 Win Mag in a different light. We just need to accept that we do not need a 500 grain bullet and the velocity potential of a LOTT. I know at least 2 people (PH's) that guide with 458 Winchesters.

There is nothing wrong with a 458 Win Mag built on a model 70 pre-64 Win action, and they should be availble all over the USA, for those that do not want to spend an arm and a leg.

Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by boom stick:

i too love a stainless but who makes a true magnum length stainless action? can someone help me here...i wish mrc would make one

-----------------------------------------------

Harre Actions make a SS magnum length action. M70 Style with mauser C-ring. Have alook under gunsmithings last couple of pages, there is apost on these actions.

thanks for that info... hopefully when they are mass produced here they will be cheap enough for regular guys to afford say 1500 an action...god, ive been good...please ...

lott



uh oh...i am in danger of breaking my cartridge baiting rule

Ben,

I vote for the 458 Lott cartridge and second Hog Killers idea of the Ruger RSM Lott unless you really want to have a custom built.

I have a couple of 416 Rigbys (CZ and RSM) and enjoy them. With the right bullets (say 325 Barnes Xs) it is a pretty good long range outfit too. BUT since acquiring my Lotts (first a #1 and then a RSM) my Rigbys aren't shot much.

For just plain fun shooting the Lott is great. Handloads with the Rem 405s are cheap and are great fun plinking or for taking out varmints! Yes, you REALLY should get into handloading. It will be MUCH less expensive and will further involve you into the shooting sports (IMHO). When you want to experience a little excitement and impress your buds load up some full loads of 500gr 458s. Busting rocks with full loads in the Lott is very satisfying...there really is no substitute for putting a heavy bullet going at a good clip onto/into something. I enjoy shooting all my rifles/calibers but have to rank my RSM Lott as my "most fun" rifle.

A custom Lott would be VERY nice, but the Ruger RSM is a pretty nice rifle IMO (and one that in my experience is VERY accurate). You can get a RSM for under $1300, with good wood and the great intregal quarter rib. Have your smith put on a Limbsaver pad (the factory one is crap) and fully tune the rifle. For _well_ under $2000 you will have one heck of a rifle

John

quote:

Originally posted by JKS:

I have a couple of 416 Rigbys (CZ and RSM) and enjoy them. With the right bullets (say 325 Barnes Xs) it is a pretty good long range outfit too. BUT since acquiring my Lotts (first a #1 and then a RSM) my Rigbys aren't shot much.

John

Now why did you go and say that!?! I just NOW have "both" Rigbys.........now, it looks like I need to bite the hook for a Lott too!!!


BTW, where do you find a RSM in .458 Lott for "under $1300?!?!?"

quote:

Originally posted by woodsracer:

quote:

Originally posted by JKS:

I have a couple of 416 Rigbys (CZ and RSM) and enjoy them. With the right bullets (say 325 Barnes Xs) it is a pretty good long range outfit too. BUT since acquiring my Lotts (first a #1 and then a RSM) my Rigbys aren't shot much.

John

Now why did you go and say that!?! I just NOW have "both" Rigbys.........now, it looks like I need to bite the hook for a Lott too!!!


BTW, where do you find a RSM in .458 Lott for "under $1300?!?!?"

There are some on Gunbroker for $1300. I just got one on Auction Arms for $1150! Just got to keep your eyes open

quote:

Originally posted by blah:

There are some on Gunbroker for $1300. I just got one on Auction Arms for $1150! Just got to keep your eyes open

MAN!!! I'm going to have to start watching! I paid $1500 for my RSM Rigby, but it does have way above standard graining in its circassian walnut stock, but I didn't pay tax or FFL (an individual from South Africa owned it).