I have been looking at an Empire Rifles 450 Rigby for a while now and today I took the plunge and bought it. I have read the article by Karl Stumpfe on reloading for this round, as well as the reloading data for the cartridge in an article on the RealGuns website. Just wondering if anyone here has any pet loads for the 450 Rigby that they would share with me?


As this is a forum for big bore nuts I'll post the pictures that the guy I bought it from sent me. I won't have the gun in hand until next week.

Excellent wood grain in the grip. Beautiful stock that should last.
Does it hold more than 4 down in the box?
What make of action (Magnum Mauser?) did Empire use for basis of that rifle?
I have a 450 Dakota (25" barrel) and loads for it should be very good in your 450 Rigby.

450-grain North Fork FP Solid
86.0 grains RL-15
5.0 grains Dacron fiber filler (pack it tight)
3.587" COL
Temp: 84 F
F215 primer
2279 fps: very uniform and accurate, low velocity load, Nitro Express style.
Same components and 100.0 grains of RL-15 with no filler >>> 2594 fps, excellent high velocity load, not maximal.

500-grain Barnes TSX
105.0 grains of H4350
3.735" COL
Temp: 85 F
F215 primer
2302 fps: My starting load. A good one. Should be for you to, with any 450-500-grainer.
Start with 100 grains if you use IMR-4350.

I don't have any specific data for a 450 Rigby but, like RIP, I have a 450 Dakota and this data should get you started. My go-to load in the Dakota is 94 grains of Reloder 15 and a 450 grain TSX. In my rifle, that load runs right at 2400 fps. I have never used a filler of any kind. I got the following data from Accurate Powder:


ACCURATE POWDERS:
Caliber:      .450 Dakota.
Barrel length:     24”
Reduced loads:
Powder:           Accurate - 5744.
Bullet weight: 500 grains
Low load: 52.0 (1700-1800 fps)
Mid range load: 58.0 grains (1800 -1900 Fps)
Maximum load: 64.0 grains (2075-2175 fps)

Full power loads:              
Powder:           Accurate - 4350.
Bullet weight: 400 grains
Start load: 103.5 grains (2300-2400 Fps)
Maximum load: 116.0 grains (2525-2625 Fps) LD ca 110%

Bullet weight: 500 grains
Start load: 94.0 grains (2100 – 2200Fps)
Maximum load: 105.0 grains (2325-2425 Fps) LD ca 106%
NOTES:
It’ important to note that SAFETY is our prime concern therefore we strongly recommend.
1.        TO ALWAYS BEGIN LOADING AT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM “START” LOAD.
2.        If at all possible, measure the velocity and correlate with our data.
 
Hope this helps.

No loads on the 450, but darn fine looking rifle. Wood grain looks good, but are there internal crossbolts?

Mighty handsome piece ! My favorite in the 450 Rigby is 97.0 grains of H4895 with Northforks for 2400 fps out of a 23"barrel. This may have higher peak pressure than H4350 but not an issue. I highly recommend that you send a dummy round off to Lee and get a Factory Crimp Die made. Much more reliable and consistent than trying to roll crimp. Of course I'd make up some dummy rounds and see what she feeds best. Cycle the rounds from the shoulder just as if in the field so you can get a feel for it. good luck it's a beauty.

Ooops not enough coffee yet. Those would be 500 gr. Northforks . Slight difference between the softs and solids with the solids running a wee bit faster but of no real world consequence.

Thanks for the load data so far everyone.

To answer a few questions, it holds 4 down and one in the tube, has internal crossbolts, and barrel length is 21.5 inches.

I am told it is a "East Africa" model, and is supposedly built on a GMA action. I know that Empire did also have their own magnum action, and I'm not sure how to tell for certain whether it is an Empire action or a GMA action. I'll have to wait until I have the rifle and see if I can determine exactly what the action is.

I have a 450 Rigby and use:

500gr Cutting Edge Solid
98grs RL-17
Fed #215
Jaminson brass


500gr. North fork Soft
98grs RL-17
Fed #215
Jaminson brass

My rifle shoots this soft/solid to the same point of aim.

Send me a PM with your email address and I will send you some more load data.

Off topic, but beautiful rifle in a great caliber!

quote:

Originally posted by Canadaboy:
I am told it is a "East Africa" model, and is supposedly built on a GMA action. I know that Empire did also have their own magnum action, and I'm not sure how to tell for certain whether it is an Empire action or a GMA action. I'll have to wait until I have the rifle and see if I can determine exactly what the action is.

Doesn't look to be a GMA action. There would be a big difference in price between a GMA action and an Empire action.

Slightly off topic but that is a fine looking rifle and a great calibre. The stock has excellent grain flow throught the wrist.

Does not look like a GMA to me.

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
Does not look like a GMA to me.

Mac you are correct, it's not a GMA action, bolt stop gives it away. Later on George started having a company if I remember correctly located in Detroit making the receiver for the Empire rifle. Only drawback, with GMA action rifle is more valuable secondly hope you will not have any issues with the action, parts for it would be hard to come by.

I thought that it did not look like a GMA, so no surprise there. To be honest it doesn't matter much to me as the entire rifle cost me less than a bare GMA action would in the white. So long as it functions well I'll be a happy man.

Thanks again to every one who posted, pm'd or emailed me reloading data. I appreciate it greatly.

I have always been told that you could use the starting load for the 460 Weatherby in the 450 Dakota. However, you have to be careful. In my Dakota, with the 450 TSX, I get about 50 fps higher velocity than the Weatherby, The Rigby has 4-5 grains less capacity than the 460 Weatherby so standard caveat, start low and work up.

Nice gun Canadaboy,

What are you going to hunt with that gun?

quote:

What are you going to hunt with that gun?

This year I may carry it for a couple of days whitetail hunting, or if I am lucky and draw a tag perhaps a moose hunt as well. Although I will mostly hunt with my 6.5x55 and .375 H&H.

Mostly I will just practice with the .450 for now, so that I am proficient with it when the time comes to hunt buffalo. Dangerous game hunting is still a few years away before it will be a finically viable option for me. However it will happen, so I've been keeping my eye out for a good deal on a good dangerous game rifle, and I finally found one I had to have.

I like the peep sight. That sight has been considered excellent for DG hunting by many top shelf guys. Its noted as being very fast for acquiring a sight picture.

I love peep sights, like many Canadian hunters I started off with a Lee Enfield .303 and learned how fast and accurate peep sights can be. For fast up close work I have either a peep sight or an aimpoint on most of my rifles.

There's quite a bit of data in Pierre v d Walts African Dangerous Game Cartridges. It is a nice read anyway. Might be worth getting a copy.

Oh, and nice looking rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
There's quite a bit of data in Pierre v d Walts African Dangerous Game Cartridges. It is a nice read anyway. Might be worth getting a copy.

Actually his book is what first made me interested in the 450 Rigby, a very good resource.

quote:

Originally posted by Canadaboy:

quote:

Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
There's quite a bit of data in Pierre v d Walts African Dangerous Game Cartridges. It is a nice read anyway. Might be worth getting a copy.

Actually his book is what first made me interested in the 450 Rigby, a very good resource.

Actually there is no listed handload data for the 450 Rigby there (450 Rigby handload data is cosmic squirrel secret proprietary information).
There is good guidance in using other cartridge data like from the 460 Wby and the 450 Dakota to establish a starting load and work up.
He says the "relative" case capacity of the 450 Rigby is 133.0 grains water,
and that of the 450 Dakota is listed as 137.0 grains water,
and that of the 460 Weatherby is listed as 141.1 grains,
and your mileage may vary with brass make ...
Date of origin of the 450 Rigby: 1994, PmaxAve = 58,016 psi piezo CIP
Date of origin of the 450 Dakota: 1992, PmaxAve = 50,000 psi piezo CIP (???)
Date of origin of the 460 Weatherby: 1958, PmaxAve = 63,816 psi piezo CIP
All of above from Pierre van der Walt.
I be lookin' for more 450 Dakota pressure data now, as it is not in my old paper copy of CIP specs ...

The Accurate load data that I posted above should get you started. Start low and work up and USE A CHRONOGRAPH!