Because I own both a Rigby and a Taylor!

My Rigby is a fine CZ 550 based Rifle, stocked in the Finest British Express tradition, weighing in at 10.5 lbs., 25 inch barrel, with traditional NECG banded sights.

My Taylor, on the otherhand is a true no nonsense, utilitarian Hunting rifle, set up strictly for Iron sights...Stocked in British Express style, Mark X Mauser 98 action with two posistion side swing safety, 22 inch barrel, Williams Adjustable Micrometer peep sights with Ramp front Ivory bead, Slow rust blued, weighing 8.75 lbs. She sits naturally in my hand, and seems much lighter than she really is, with such a natural point and balance, with the result that she is scary accurate.

Some would argue that the .416 Taylor is not worthy of such affection, but I have chronographed 400 gr. bullets at just below 2350 ft/sec from her. And I keep my 350 grain speers at approx 2400 ft/sec.

I always wanted a 416 Rigby African rifle and have one, yet my favorite hunting rifle has become this nondescript Taylor.

Both of my rifles are the result of advice, guidence, and the metal talents of various board members. Thank you to those who gave freely of their advice, experiance, and mistakes.

Hansel

The 416Taylor is one of my favorites as well.

GVA

Hansel: I had a nice Taylor built on a VZ 24 action with PacNor barrel and B&C Medalist "spiderweave" stock. I sold to a board member here, like an idiot. Can we see photos of your Taylor? Purty please?

So, what do you think of recoil between the two, at the same speeds, even though there's a 1.5# difference?

jeffe

The recoil from the Taylor has a bit more recoil velocity from the bench, but in the field I don't notice the difference...But, the Taylor is far more comfortable to carry all day, mainly due to the shorter length, and the slimmer stock the Mauser 98 Action on the Taylor allows.
Both rifles are stocked in dense Walnut, cut in a classic British express style, but the Taylor has no cheekpeice, and both wear premium Pachmyer Decelerator pads.

My loads are Generally 2350-2400 ft/sec for 400 grain loads, and 2400-2500 for 350 gr. Speers. Both on the Taylor and Rigby.

Can you post multiple views (pictures) of both rifles? It would be a good study of both styles of rifles, sights, etc. Thanks to you Hansel. Packrattusnongratus

I ask The wife to bring home the Digital Camera, perhaps I can post pics of my rifles tonight. Gotta warn you the Rigby is a beut, but the Taylor is a real utilitarian rifle with a lot of mileage...I love her but she may not be up to the standards of some of the board members...she was my first attempt at stocking and checkering.

quote:

Originally posted by Hansel:
I ask The wife to bring home the Digital Camera, perhaps I can post pics of my rifles tonight. Gotta warn you the Rigby is a beut, but the Taylor is a real utilitarian rifle with a lot of mileage...I love her but she may not be up to the standards of some of the board members...she was my first attempt at stocking and checkering.

Only a couple of pricks here will say bad things about someones rifle, all else appreciate the photos.

Got Pics but don't know how to post them please help me so I can share with you

Here are the pics I promised...I hope you all enjoy them

Hansel

I have to tell you, the "beaut" in my opinion is the Taylor. Gorgeous fiddle on that one...

Which one is the truck gun? Thanks for the pictures. I love the Rigby but the truck gun is my kind of beauty pageant winner. I can tell it is the one you use. Packy

Hansel: I have had a rifle made up in .416 Newton (maybe only one ever)..Newton made a .400 Newton but that was a
.412" bore like the .405 Winchester. I decided to go one better (because I think its a better caliber
with better bullet selection...), so just kept all the same except a .35 Newton necked to .416.
Now, with my trusty digital caliper, I find the case dimensions the same as the .416 Taylor with the
following exceptions...there is no belt on the .416 Newton, and the neck is slightly shorter than the
.416 Taylor. I'm using recommended powder (IMR 4320), 70 gr. behind a Hornady 400 gr bullet, and 71 gr.
behind the Swift 350 gr. A-Frame.
I'll be shooting it today for the first time (had to wait on custom reloading dies).

I was wondering what reloads you have found suitable for your .416 Taylor?

Best Regards,

Tom from Cody, Wyoming

quote:

Originally posted by Hansel:
Here are the pics I promised...I hope you all enjoy them

Hansel

Yes, I did!!!!
Thank you!

They are BOTH good lookin' rifles.

I think I am partial to the .416 Taylor too.

I would be happy to own either of them (but I would rather own both)

Beautiful job on that pair.

report on my .416 Newton...pretty similar to the
.416 Taylor sans belt. But on measuring my fired cases..slightly bigger at the shoulder & head, making it a slightly fatter case, shorter neck & shorter case. (I'm using the dimensions to compare from Donnelly's Handloaders Manual of Cartridge Conversions)..he has had some errors before.
Anyway, I used the reloading data for the .416 Taylor & it worked fine. Due to the range congestion (last minute Joes testing rifles for tomorrow's opening day of deer season)...I wasn't able to chronograph the loads. Will pass that info on later. The 350 gr. A-Frames were
really accurate & recoil not bad. But when I went to the 400 gr. Hornadys..ouch! A big step up in discomfort, lets say. Only use them if dangerous game up close & personal. Otherwise the 350 gr. I tend to think the .416 Newton will be as likeable as the .416 Taylor, maybe a
shade hotter due to case capacity...but has all the Taylor's good attributes...short, fat, efficient case that can do it all.
Aloha,
Tom

Another vote for the Taylor.

quote:

posted by .366torque:

Only a couple of pricks here will say bad things about someones rifle, all else appreciate the photos.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
Another vote for the Taylor.

quote:

posted by .366torque:

Only a couple of pricks here will say bad things about someones rifle, all else appreciate the photos.

I still can't decide which is nicer?!?!

Thank you for your kind comments on the Rifles. I started the stock work on the Taylor intending to use the stock Mark X trigger and safety. During the build I got a Military 98 Bolt Shroud, and a Side swing 2 posistion safety kit. So I decided to ditch the Mark X Trigger and Safety, and install the Side swing safety and a Timminy trigger I had laying around. I really like the way the Taylor handles.

Hansel

Just a little on my Taylor stock...I did the bedding myself, I bedded both the action area and fully bedded the barrel channel. I also installed double cross-bolts, epoxied them in and covered the heads with Dark Walnut plugs...For cross-bolts I went to Lowes, and purchased two 2.5 x 1/4 inch fully threaded Aluminum Furniture bolts (75 cents for the pair), Drilled the stock and then epoxied the bolts in after trimming them to length, and then screwed in the screws after coating the threads with accra-glass. After this set up I epoxied the Walnut plugs in and sanded them down flush with the stock and then finished the stock with a dark Stain and hand-rubbed about 6 coats of Tung oil into the stock. As you can see, I stocked the rifle to be strictly a Iron sights rifle, I even filled the Scope mounting holes with screws soft soldered, and cut and peened them flush with the action surface.

nicely done! the taylor is svelte!! funny how the recoil feels so close in the lighter gun!

jeffe

On stock...I bedded my .416 Newton stock best I
could...but stock was a cheesy synthetic for a .30-06, and pretty light with a hollow in the butt.
Being, an experienced old type guy...I figured that I could make a mold close to the buttstock's hollow
area, add a couple pounds of casting lead to give the rifle better balance & heftier weight.
Well, my genius worked well. Rifle got proper weight, balanced nicely...but after my first sighting in, tryout session...the rifle shot very well. Happy, until I got home & found a crack in the stock, not where I would have thought, in the receiver section, but on the lower side of the buttstock about 1/2 way between the pistol grip & recoil pad. Apparently, the lead insert busted the stock as its where it was. Oh well, that stock was a temporary measure anyway. Now I'll have to get a new stock. Should have done that to start, but was anxious to try out the rifle...you know how that goes!
Best Regards,
Tom

Here are several detail shots of my Taylor:
http://www.imagestation.com/8382977/3967741892
http://www.imagestation.com/8382977/3967741854
http://www.imagestation.com/8382977/3967741836

Hope you enjoy!

Hi: Ken Waters in his "Pet Loads"...load tests
found IMR 4320 optimum powder for the .416
Taylor. John Wooters liked 4320 too. My
.416 Newton has about 4.4 gr. more water
capacity than the .416 Taylor...not much more,
just a tad.
Tom