My Ruger 416 Rigby has developed an issue feeding rounds from the magazine. It requires a "double clutch " to feed rounds from the magazine. I haven't changed anything with the ammunition I load, either the RCBS 350 grain cast or the Hornady 400 RNSP. Any ideas on what's going on?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Send it back to Ruger. I had a problem with my Ruger RSM 416 Rigby. It would not eject the fired round reliably. It would only eject when the bolt was slammed hard to the rear. One cannot do this from the shoulder well. The rifle actually failed me in Africa while shooting an elephant. After thinking on it upon my return from Africa, I think that I may have been partially responsible for the malfunction. Before I left for my safari I ran all my reloads from the magazine into the chamber and ejected the rounds on my carpet. I have done this on three other occasions. I wonder if ejecting the loaded (heavy) round damaged the ejector. Anyway, I sent it back to Ruger. They fixed it with no charge even though the warranty had long expired.

Probably just a weak magazine spring. Take it out and stretch it and see if it works. Check for follower binding too. Binding could be caused by accumulated debris in the box. Lube the follwer sides. See if that is where the problem lies.-Rob

Thank you for your replies. I will check the magazine spring tension and see if anything is binding the follower. I hope it is simple as that. Shipping guns is so expensive these days I'd love to avoid it.

Check that the mag spring has not moved forward under the follower too. If it has move it back and if it won't stay, have it tig welded to the bottom of the follower.-Rob

I would not recommend sending it back to Ruger. I had mine tuned up by Mark Penrod and now it feeds slicker than owl shit. jorge

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
I would not recommend sending it back to Ruger. I had mine tuned up by Mark Penrod and now it feeds slicker than owl shit. jorge

I spent some $$$ getting my stock to fit me, installing a pachmyr recoil pad, glass bedding it and putting in another crossbolt. When I sent it to ruger to fix the ejection problem, somebody there stole my stock and sent me a new replacement. I called and bitched but was told the "technician" had found a crack in my stock so he put on a new one. I had the new one fixed same as the old one - MORE $$$ - and told the very nice lady at ruger that I won't be sending any more rifles their way for repair. I've got a quarter against a doughnut hole that some ruger exec is shooting my original stock.

Well it's no secret that Ruger will not work on a rifle that has been modified. It's a liability issue. However, when I sent my rifle back to them, I forgot that I replaced the factory trigger with an after market one for better adjustment and pull. Other than installing a Kick-Eze recoil pad, other than the two listed above, there were no further modifications. Before they would work on my rifle they called me and told me that they would not do any work on the rifle unless they were able to replace the trigger. Well they had me over a barrel so I agreed. They fixed my rifle and send my after market trigger back to me. I was going to put it back in but the Ruger trigger is as good as the after market one.

Sorry to hear about your stock. I was going to glass bed my rifle. But looking at it and the crazy bedding system, I thought that if I did glass bed it the stock would probably crack. Mine shoots really well as it is and I have no issues with cracking stocks etc. I have in excess of 500 full power rounds through the tube.

Hoot,
I wouldn't have been nearly as upset if they'd have sent my old stock back like they did your trigger. Maybe it did have a crack - I'll never know - but I sincerely doubt it. That not withstanding, the stock had to be modified for me to shoot the rifle. As it came from the factory, it kicked worse than any stump mule I ever shod. Since I had it modified, it is very shootable with good accuracy.
PM me and I'll put you onto my stock guy. You are right about the weird bedding system, he doesn't like to do them but I also have about 500 rounds thru the rifle since he fixed the 2d stock with no issues.
Ruger did fix the ejection problem so I guess I can't complain about that. Just that I was out a couple hundred to get the 2d stock fixed. I like the rifle and have taken several buff with it but it has become a safe queen last couple of years, replaced by a really excellent Pre-64 70 in 375.

Pancho,

I know what you mean by those good ol' M 70 Pre 64 Winchesters. I have a bunch of them. One of them is a .375 and the other is a .300 H&H that I have had since 1961. I have shot one helleva lot of game with those rifles. I sure wish that I had a 416 Rigby in a M70. However, I have been thinking that I will buy one of the newer, controlled round feed M 70s in the 300 Ultra Mag and make a 404 Jeffery out of it.

I am not totally enamored with the Ruger Rifle. I almost sold it and bought a CZ and now I don't know why I backed out of a deal I had with a fellow in Minnesota.

I usually get to Roswell a couple of times a year. One is to meet up with Herb Atkinson and pick up my trophies that he brings from Conroe Taxidermy for me. I should be having to go sometime soon. But it depends upon when Conroe gets my "stuff" done and when Herb is going down to visit his Mom. Maybe when I do get down we can meet up. Would like to meet you in person.

Tenga cuidado,
Hoot