That is the question.

I bought a package deal off AuctionArms.com of completely unmodified (finally) P-14 action, .416 Douglas barrel and a Pacific EN-1 receiver sight.

All for $249.00 not including shipping.

I have spent several hours looking over my reloading catalogs and am convinced the smart thing to do would be to chamber in .416 Weatherby for the ease of finding brass. I can actually get .338/378 Weatherby locally. Also I could load up or down since data for both cartridges are in the books.

Nostalgia sez, "go with the Rigby", while Practicality sed, "go with the Weatherby".

What say ye?

I'd go with the Rigby for the simple fact that brass AND loaded bullets are more readily available here and in Africa AND you can load the Rigby to just about duplicate Weatherby velocities. jorge

Roger,
I know you can work a lathe....

might think about rigby and turn the belt off the woundabeast rounds
jeffe

My own preference for the day I add a 416 to the collection is the 416 Rigby. Strictly historical and nostalgic for me.

While some fancy little sports cars can run circles around a 68 Z/28, and are much more refined, they still down hold the Curb Appeal of the 68 Z! the 416 Rigby vs the 416 Weatherby is the same analogy in my book.

416 Wby is more practical because of brass. Robgunbuilder said in a previous post that his testing showed that 416 Wby brass was also stronger than the Norma 416 Rigby. Apart from Rob's tests we do know that Norma has to make the Wby brass for full pressure rather than 30/30 style pressure. They also make those Wbys in 30/378, 338/378, 378,416 and 460. Who knows, maybe they could contract the 416 Rigby brass out.

Having said all of that I think the rifle is the decider. Obviously a Mark V Wby should be in 416 Wby and a classic Mauser style custom rifle should be 416 Rigby. The Mark V Wby in 416 Rigby and the classic Mauser style in 416 Wby would be equally unattractive.

Mike

Rodger,

I just love the .416 Rigby round so thats the way I have to go mate

I have looked at the reloading pages and some of the old magazines I have at the Weat. cartridge. So far I am still undecided. I like the idea of the Rigby but the Weatherby is so much more "doable" in terms of parts and stuff.

I am going to wait until the stuff gets here and after fondling the action and barrel will make my decision.

Great deal! I can't believe that I didn't see that, my rotten luck.

I personally just don't like the look of weatherby cases, so wouldn't do all the work to it to have one. Some people like the way their cases look though. once you start holding it all you will get a feel for it and know what you want. :-)

Red

Roger,

I love Weatherby rifles and cartridges. I collect and shoot them and in my opinion the best made mass produced rifles going. So saying that go with ‘ jorge ’ for the reasons stated by him and get the Rigby. Brass is easy to find and the factory ammo is easier to find in out of the way places. Sorry to those of you that live there but I consider Africa, Australia and such places out of the way. Besides there is not much more you can do with a Weatherby that you can’t do with a Rigby. Lawdog

Availability and cost of brass is a serious consideration with the .416 Rigby. The .416 Rigby is a better case because it has no belt.

Ol' Roy took a good case, the .416 Rigby, and loused it up by putting a belt on it!! At the time, it seemed like a good idea, because people had become convinced that a cartridge wasn't a Magnum unless it had a belt on it! Same with the belted 6mm/'06 he called the .240 Weatherby!!