I'm considering rebarreling my CZ550 416 Rigby and thinking of the 450 Rigby. The main reason is the availability of (cheap) bullets.

Some questions,

Where can I buy a chamber reamer and loading dies?
It is the same case as the 416, can I make 450 cases from the Norma 416 cases?
Is it possible to buy 450 stamped brass from somewhere?
(Does the 450 shoot the same bullets as the 458Win?)

Is this a good idea? should I perhaps think about something else to do, a new PPC barrel perhaps

Any input on the subject would be mostly appriciated. Many thanks to you guys

Hi Thomas,

Clymer makes a reamer for the 450 Rigby. Dies can be bought from www.ch4d.com. You can make cases from the 416 Rigby, but they will fireform the first time you shoot them--the 450 is larger in diameter at the shoulder than is the 416. I believe Horneber is making properly headstamped brass for the 450, but I'm not sure. Hope this helps!

Good Hunting,

The bullets are the same as the Winchester and, yes, it is a good idea. The big Rigby will K.O. anything that has ever walked the planet and can probably do in a charging blue whale if you happen to be standing on the beach with it. Try 106-107 gr. of IMR 4350 for a solid 2400+fps. It knocks buffalo DOWN!

Hey bud, i dont know much about rebarreling or rechambering, or even about home reloading, but i know of some folks that sell reamers for just about every caliber...

http://www.jgstools.com/mainfram.html

check it out under toolist in the left frame at the bottom..

much luck.

-Nagra

Huntingtons currently lists Horneber .450 Rigby brass..

I plan on getting a second .416 CZ550, after I get my first(a way of yet), to turn into a 450..

Since I am serting my 'big bore' colection with a 376(and always loved the Rigby) I want to go with all rimless/beltless cartridges.

Kristofer

Thomas M

Horneber makes cases and you can get them from germany direct. I have the address and the product folder. Mail me and I wil return it for you.

You can use 416 rigby cases, fireform once. 450 rigby is the one I like best for bolt actions in 458 caliber, It will do for anything up to armoured trucks

I have heard that someone in sweden should have reamer for this cartridge, can't remember who, right now.

Good Luck

/ JOHAN

Would it work out cheaper to purchase a CZ .458 win mag, and run a .450 rigby reamer up the barrel and then just open the bolt face ??

Or is it cheaper to have the bolt face already opened up and just purchase a new barrel. What is people opinion on this ??

The barrel and bolt face are the least of the conversions. There's the reinforcing on the stock, the new safety, sights and making the feed work smoothly. Rechambering the .458 is the route I took because at the time, it was about the only way to do this. All in all, I've got over $2600 in mine and it still could do with a decent stock. There is no cheap way of getting this done, not if you are as fussy as I am.

What about a new safty? Doesn't the old one do?

I just found out that Ammodump sells Bertram 450 stamped brass.

Thanks again for all the input

Old Sarge,

but for a person on a budget it would not be that much dearer to do than a .458 Lott if you just buy a CZ in .458 and have it rechambered and the bolt face opened up ?

I do not mind the sights on the CZ's I suppose for people on a budget they are "poor mans express" sights

I told you I was fussy ! Yes, a rechamber/bolt job will give you a dandy Class III DGR suitable for dinosaur and small armored cars. However, the safety is something that I insist on because the original is a mere trigger-block and I won't take one into the field. To me, all safeties must block the striker unless you are just talking about a match weapon. With express sights it would be dandy if you could just swap the shroud with a M98 and get the wing safety. Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible with the big CZ so you need a PME M70 type, which is much more expensive. However, if you accept the safety as it comes, you save big bucks. Yes, the factory sights (for those with relatively young eyes) make a fine adjustable express sight and my hunting partner used them to absolutely nail a fine buff in Mozambique back in 2000 at 100 yards. I prefer peeps.

On the other hand, if you swap barrels on a .416, then you get the proper magazine and follower, something that might need changing if you do the regular swap. I had to replace the follower and spring on my 602 to improve the feed. This ain't expensive!

Good luck! I think it's a great cartridge and as soon as I get mine restocked it will probably alternate with my .404 on safaris.

Were it to be me, and I could accept the factory LOP, AND I DID THE WORK. gun costs 600

1: Buy a cz 550 in 416 and either:
a: rebore to 450 (weigh too lite, pun intended)
b: replace barrel to 450 ribgy or 470 mbogo
est $265

2: barrel band front sight, $80
3: ashley or other rear sight $100
4: model 70 3 pos safety $145
5: new recoil pad (1.5") $35
6: Blue and ship $70

$1295, give or take.. can drop $255 if rebored

cost to do a LOTT
600 gun
100 (reamer and shipping)
35 new pad
70 bluing
145 model 70 3 pos
$950

cost to start with a 458 and rechamber
$600 gun
$100 reamer
$50 (to allocate time) open boltface
$150 (to allocate time) to adjust feeding
$180 -- pad and mod 70 3 pos safety
$70 bluing

1150 -- can drop $200 if discounting time to do metal work then same price as lott

and then, If you want it restocked (to my tastes, my doing work)
add
$450 (decent-strong wood, crossbolt, checkering)
drop $100 for laminate

not to mention that I would TRY to put a scope on it, because I am lazy. Notice the mbogo and 450 rigby would be the same price to make, but might be a difference in dies/brass.

oh, yeah, subtract the 600, double the prices, and add the 600 back in if someone else does it, BUT the stock. The stock will be $$$$ it do it right

Jeffe

My current plan for a 450 Rigby is to get a 416 CZ, and rebarrel. The feed lips, magazine and bolt all properly sized already(not that big a deal). The big part of this is I want a 22 inch barrel on it, so I would want a much heavier contour then a factory barrel, be it a bored out 416 barrel or a rechambered 458 barrel.

Kristofer

Thanks for that run down Jeffo, one day when I get a .458 cal big bore it will probably be the .450 Rigby to match my .416 Rigby.

Thanks.

I've got a box of 450 Rigby brass ( 20) unused Bertram brass. I don't need. Anybody want it? -Rob