Went to the range yesterday afternoon with the new fire pole. Check out the pics. First two shots I took standing just to see what I had, felt good.






I bored sighted it at the house but was still super low, burned up half my reloads just getting on the target at 100. Everything worked perfectly, the stock didn't explode, but damn this thing is going to kick. I was shooting 350 gr bullets at 2195fps (chrono avg. with 350gr speer backed by 93gr XMR3100 at 4500'asl, 60F) and it felt like my hot rodded 45-70 marlin. Thats not even near max and I was a little nervous about how much room was left in the case, I can't even imagine a hang-fire with this thing. My SD and ES were all very respectible so no idications of problems with this reduced load.

I fired 22 rounds total the last few I was beginning to flinch not from pain just anticipation.

The best 3 shot group of the day was 1.2" and the worse at the end was 3" all at 100 yards. At one point I tried shooting it without holding the front end down, the scope just barely kissed my forehead!!! Close call, I wont be doing that again. I can't wait to go again, Its going to take some practice to get used to it.

Probably work my way up slowly to 400gr at 2400fps over the coming weeks.

I bought the new Barnes reloading manual, its the only one I was missing from my collection. Is the Rigby data for real? Those numbers they generated are 416 wby level. The pressures must be 55,000 or more.

Edit: I forgot to thank everyone on this board that has helped me with my first big bore. I appreciate it.

peyton

ptaylor

Looks just like my Rigby!!

Going to step up from 100-grains H4831SC w/ 410, 400-grainers to trials of 101 to 104 grains with 350-grain SPEER's and 340-grain Woodleighs. It are a different animal, even from my .375 WeM ZKK 602. My headaches start(ed) at 17 rounds. It's fun, but "grab 'er good"! I'd say you shot very well considering. It gets easier off your two hind legs, but using short sticks you'll probably experience scope/eyebrow syndrome at least from a seated posotion. DO NOT try prone! :-)

BNagel in Clute, Texas where it'll be hot soon

Sounds like a good day!

Keep at it. You are doing it right - starting with reduced loads and building up in stages.

Don't forget to get off the bench and have some fun offhand and off the sticks, poles etc.

Is this rifle with "regular" or "fancy" wood ???

Regular wood.

I'm shocked to think it might be mistaken for fancy. I though it looked awfully plain and utilitarian.

IMHO the thought of scratching and banging up a fine piece of wood, I just can't stomach, I would rather have regular wood with abuse and handling marks than fancy wood on a safe- queen. Because I know, if it was me, and the wood was custom, It would never leave the safe except to go to the range.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeettt!!!!

Rich

Have you had any work done to the rifle? bedding/crossbolts.

If you think it has some recoil, pour about 106 grains of RL22 behind a 400 partition for 2690 fps. I don't load them that way, just did it once, the difference in recoil is very noticeable. I like a load of 104 grains of H4831SC with a 400 grain for 2530 fps for a hunting load. This load will shoot 1 inch in my Ruger, sometimes a bit less. It is best when sighting in these big boys to shoot only about 3 or 4 shots from a bench per trip at least for me. I would rather take another trip to fine tune the sights than develop a flinch, so like to shoot them often but not a lot at one sitting. Offhand, they aren't nearly as bad. I also shoot with a rest with two ten pound weights from my weight bench on it, slows it down a bunch. As you found out, shoot it from the bench holding the forend tightly, keeps you from getting those marks above your eye as well as your POI won't change when shooting offhand.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanajcj:
Have you had any work done to the rifle? bedding/crossbolts.

With help from ElkKampMaster I was able to lay steelbed with 3 internal crossbolts. You can follow my pitfalls and succes on the thread entitled "CZ550 stock reinforcement". I'm interested to see how it holds up with no external bolts.

Hi ptaylor,
If the recoil at your velocity is really noticable to you try changing your recoil pad to the F990. You will find it to be a totally different experience. The pad is 1.5 inches so it will increase your length of pull. You can have the stock trimmed if the increase is too much. When shooting off the bench try staying tall in the saddle which will allow you to hold the forend of your stock just as you would when shooting off hand. This will also help dissapate the recoil. Make sure you have some sort of pad under your elbows so you don't rub them off. Have fun with your new rifle.
Take good care,
Dave

ptaylor,

Good work! Sounds like you had a good time and she even kinda likes you (kiss to the forehead) --- yep, one never gets too casual at this "level" --- kinda gives new meaning to "Hold on tight, and don't let go!"

Not that you asked for them, here are some additional pointers that I hope may prove useful as you continue to work your way up to full strength loads....

** Take a companion gun along (like your 45-70) to warm up on and get into the mood with so it isnt' such a big step right off the bat.

** If you can, then take a friend along to load the Rigby for you (without you looking) and instruct him to not load it part of the time (more than half). If you ever flinch on a dry fire, then you'll learn a new definition of embarassment --- very effective deterent.

** The tip of putting sandbags under your elbows is a really good one.

** Have a little talk with yourself before you shoot...
-- Is there going to be a small explosion of sorts within inches of my brain? [Yes]
-- Is it normal to be emotionally "afraid" of such a thing? [Yes]
-- Can it be safely managed (physically)? [Yes]
-- Can it be mentally managed (with effort and discipline)? [Yes]
-- Is it a notable accomplishment, if you can accomplish this to where it is second nature? [Yes] (It pays to be a student of recoil managment.)

** Once your loads get "warmer" if you get 4 or 5 good shots (ok 6 or 8) that are "right in there" then stop --- it is unlikely to get better. Quit with a good "video" in your mind of "how to do it right" rather than go home "all shot out" and end a poor note! Go play with something else that is light and easy as your reward (like a 338WinMag/300WinMag/7mmRemMag --- all cupcakes at this point and very docile!).

** If you find the anticipation starting to tease you into closing your eyes as you dread the approaching shot, then STOP, put it back on safe, set it in the bags and have a little talk with yourself along the "little talk" lines above.

** Before submitting to fear and taking even a single shot under duress, pack up and go home (or set it aside and "play" with something else). Have a "It is my way or I take my ball and go home!" attitude. I'm the master, this rifle is my servant, I dominate.

** Take your time, don't try to "build Rome" in a single day, many progressive steps is far better.

** Oh, yeah.... hold on to the forearm plenty!

Good luck.

BTW, nice scope and mounts (Lupy VXIII 1.5 to 5 and Talley Mounts?), if so same as mine --- good eye relief and wide field of view! (I use threadlocker blue)

She's a beauty! Congrats!

Nice rig. You're going to get to relly like the leupold covers. I add the amber screen and teh contrast has to be seen

Was this at a range at logan MT. Just looks fimilar.

John

Congratulations peyton. I am reading from Hornady 4th edition. The British classified it as a "medium" bore. John Taylor used it for many years and was quoted saying, "It's an essentially African weapon. Firing its plain soft-nose slug it crumples a charging lion as few other weapons are capable of doing."
As for shooting a 416 Rigby have a look at the thread, Big bore techniques. I recieved really good advice from bigbore advocates.

Fritz,
Logan range, good eyes. Keep your eyes open for a kid with flip-flops shooting the rigby, that would be me.

....any day at the range with a .416 Rigby is allways a good day


Looks good!!

isthat a 1-4 leupold or 2.5x compact. ?

Nice looking rig.

Don't forget a PAST recoil pad never hurts!

I dig those mounts too!!

Mike

Put a smiley face on the inside of the rear scope cap. Always cracks up the PH first time he sees it when you flip it up, good icebreaker.

Lupy VXII 1-4 heavy plex, I got it for $175 used NIB so had to take it. Warne rings.

I will definetly be putting a smiley face on my rear cap, that is a great idea!!!! It will make me smile as well.

Congrats, that looks just like mine!

I have a standard CZ550 416 rigby, with a pachmayr decelerator pad and a full glass bed job. I have topped it with a VXII 1x4 in lynx standard low rings.Surprised to find it holds 4 down. Standard trigger and safety

Currently have shot some A square dead tough 400gr softs running at 2550fps (about 20 rounds), 20 rounds of original Rigby 410gr solids, and 37 rounds of some weird austrian monolithic solids (bright gold bullet). The bedding and stock have held up fine, best groups at 100 are a little under 1 3/4" for most loads.

it is the best rifle i've ever bought! It has accounted for 1 black wildebeest a fornight ago. shot low on the shoulder at 150-170metres. Finisher at 45 metres in the head. broke both shoulders(front legs) and exited to cause a plume of dust on the other side on first shot. I reckon i was shooting from high elevation and in my excitement shot low. After the first boom, it went nowhere!

the only thing i have that is different is a beartooth stock sleeve that raises the stock by .5" so that i can get good look thru the scope. I find that with factory spec ammo, it doesn't kick.

Now can't wait to get back to africa and try it on something else..... har har har!

again congrats, TM

quote:

Originally posted by trapmonkey:
Congrats, that looks just like mine!

I have a standard CZ550 416 rigby, with a pachmayr decelerator pad and a full glass bed job. I have topped it with a VXII 1x4 in lynx standard low rings.Surprised to find it holds 4 down. Standard trigger and safety

Currently have shot some A square dead tough 400gr softs running at 2550fps (about 20 rounds), 20 rounds of original Rigby 410gr solids, and 37 rounds of some weird austrian monolithic solids (bright gold bullet). The bedding and stock have held up fine, best groups at 100 are a little under 1 3/4" for most loads.

it is the best rifle i've ever bought! It has accounted for 1 black wildebeest a fornight ago. shot low on the shoulder at 150-170metres. Finisher at 45 metres in the head. broke both shoulders(front legs) and exited to cause a plume of dust on the other side on first shot. I reckon i was shooting from high elevation and in my excitement shot low. After the first boom, it went nowhere!

the only thing i have that is different is a beartooth stock sleeve that raises the stock by .5" so that i can get good look thru the scope. I find that with factory spec ammo, it doesn't kick.

Now can't wait to get back to africa and try it on something else..... har har har!

again congrats, TM

416 rigy for your first rifle!! I started with a .22.

I haven't even begun to play around with full-house loads though. Maybe never will unless I head some place where the animals can do me bodily harm.

Keep us posted of your range and game results please.

What stock do you have on that rifle? Is that the standard straight stock it comes with (the one CZ now claims is better fit for use with scope?) The clearance between bolt and wood seems just about what I would like to see on mine. Though I have a straight stock, this is one of the oldies that came straight from the Czech Rrepublic to Canada... I was contemplating buying one of the CZ-USA laminate stocks, if I can figure out if it is any straighter (higher comb, less drop) than what I have.

Frans

I have a CZ in 416 also, but I put a McMillan stock on it. Alot of you have already seen it because I have posted it several times.



I think shooting low power loads is a good idea for getting used to the rifle and the action but I suggest you shoot also from shooting sticks or standing. I find that when shooting full power loads (like 400 grainers from 2400 to 2500 fps) that shooting fewer rounds, say 5 or 6, but on a regular basis works best for me. I also have found that when I shoot more rounds than that at a single session the cleaning chore becomes a real pain.

Trapmonkey, I would like to know more about your "weird Austrian monolithic solids". What are they? Where did you get them? Are they loaded cartridges or just the bullets?

dear wink

they were a bunch given to me to shoot out for the cases.(which were once fired bell labs ones.) the Monolithics are bright gold brass, full one colour, with no brand markings of any sort, the seem to have a smooth cannelature band, not ribbed like woodleighs and noslers. they were very long and didn't crimp into the case too good. accurate, but fed like crap. In fact i had 2-3 bullets seperate from case in the chamber or barrel throat.

Solids, RN 410gr is bullet weight that is all i know. the fella said he got a box of 100 bullets from an austrian hunter once and these were the last ones.

ptaylor

eleanor is my first big bore, but not my first rifle, i have 22 and 30s galore.....

will update you on her hunting trials when next i go, shoot full house stuff stnading off sticks, you'll be fine. seriously 416 rigby has no recoil. try a 500 and you'll understand what i mean.

good luck and good hunting. cheers, tm

Trapmonkey, I'm intrigued by the Austrian bullets (just curiosity mind you). You say they are monolithic solids and, since they are long they must be a relatively lightweight metal. I don't understand the "separate from case in the chamber" phenomena. Were the bullets so long that they engaged the rifling, got stuck, and somehow got loose from the case? If you have measured them, are they a true .416 diameter? Seems weird, but sometimes Austrian (Hirtenberger?) and German (RWS) ammunition wasn't well suited to African calibers.

wink they are really long, i pulled one and willmeasure it later when i get back togive you the low down. they my be hirtenberger, cos i've seen this finish on that brand of ammo before.

i'm going to stick to woodleighs cos i don't reload (i'll get stewart or rommey to do me my hunting ammo)