Just bought a Ruger Model 77MKII Magnum in .416 Rigby, my first true big bore. Haven't shot it yet but I'm impressed with the fit and finish. The Circassian Walnut(available while supplies last, according to Ruger)stock is attractive and fits nice. Lots of nice big bore features for the price.
My only disappointment is the Leupold VariXIII 1.75x6 won't fit between the rings....the tube is .0475" too short, so it's getting the VariXIII 1.5x5, another favorite.

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

Phil, congrats on the new purchase. I have had one of these for about a year and a half. You'll love it. You'll love it more if you IMMEDIATELY go have a Pachmaier Decelerator put on it. It makes a huge difference in shooting pleasure. It was my first big bore as well, and I'm not dissapointed. Be sure to keep the screws on the forend tight to avoid stock problems. You MAY want to see about trigger work, or replacing the trigger, and polishing the feed ramp. Haven't had mine to Africa (hope to) but have taken an elk with it. Used a Hornady 400 SP to do that. I bought a Leupold 1.5 x 5 for it but am still shooting it open sights, and may just leave it at that.

Phil I do not have a ruger .416 but a cz one. Just in relation to your scope, why not try a Leupold Vari X11 2-7x on it, thats what I have on my .416 and it just fits, it will give you good field of view on 2 power and it can be cranked up to 7x if needed, it has 5 inches of eye releif & is quite compact and light it has the same warranty as the Vari X111's my mate has one on his .416 as well and they cope with the recoil no problems. They are also very reasonably priced. I think they come under the VX 1 name now. Sometimes in the majority of hunting situations the Vari X111 scopes would not give much advantage over the Vari X11's, as I beleive they are subject to the "law of diminshing returns".

Regards PC.

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Greg (from my favorite place),
The Decelerator is standard equipment on all my rifles and will soon be on this one. This is the first of many Ruger rifles that I own that actually has a respectable trigger right out of the box. A little more travel than I would prefer, but a crisp break at 4.5lbs. I have a Timney trigger on hand but may stick with the factory trigger for a while. Just mounted a VariXIII 1.5x5 in Ruger low mounts and it looks real good. Your a better man than I if you're carrying your .416 around elk country.

PC,
The difference with the Ruger Magnum action is that the distance between the front of the front ring and the rear of the rear ring is 5 7/16" and my favorite scopes aren't that long between the focus/power ring and the start of the objective lens "slope". The Leupold 1.5x5 or 1x4 work because of the straight tube.

Just finished some handloads and hope to try it this weekend. They sure do have the look of authority compared to what I'm used to shooting!

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

[This message has been edited by Phil R (edited 03-29-2002).]

If you can live with high rings, the offset or double offset will work with the 1.75-6xE tube (which is the scope and DO rings I have on the No.1 416 Rigby). My 77 416 Rigby wears the 1.5-5x also. For the ranges the 416 will be used, which I would consider 400 yards or less, 5x is all the magnification you'll ever need.

Another scope to consider is the Bushnell Elite 4200 1.5-6X36. Very bright and clear, built like a tank. Bushnell says they will withstand 10,000 rounds of .375H&H! Let's see how many .416's they'll take.

I put one on my Ruger .416. The bell just clears the quarterrib and it fits between the rings with room to spare. Also has lots of eye relief.

If you live near a Gander Mountain store, go see if they have one, if not have them transfer one in, there are a few out there at other stores. Clearance priced at 199.97 for a 300.00 scope.

I have offset rings on my #1 .300 Weatherby with a Leupold VariXIII 2.5x8 because I had no choice if I wanted a belled objective scope. Actually, I had a 1.5x5 on the Weatherby for a while.

The offset rings just don't "belong" on the Rigby, and the 1.5x5 is as good as the 1.75x6 and it sits nice in the low rings.
After 40+ years of Leupold scopes and no problems, I can't bring myself to buy another brand.

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

I put a 1.5x5 on mine and it works great, also Timney trigger and Decelerator pad. I also steel bedded the action and forend recoil lug and, so far, have had no stock problems. I have carried it a couple of seasons chasing elk here in Colo. but so far have not had the chance to use it. It is heavy! Mine seems to be quite accurate. Have fun.
C.G.B.

CGB,
Did you bed the steel recoil transfer device permanently into the forearm?

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Phil- Life Member NRA & SCI

PhilR, I could not agree more about the OS or DOS rings not being "right" on The 77 Rigby. But, for me anyway, they would be more "right" than buying a new scope. That is why the NO. 1 has the DO rings with the 1.75-6x. After that learning experience I put a 1.5-5x on the 77 416 Rigby. On my 77 Rigby I steel bedded the action and recoil transfer plate also, but it is bedded the same as any normal recoil lug and is therefore not permanent. I have around 200 full load shots through mine and have not had any stock problems either.