Y'know, I think I asked about this a while ago, but can't find the thread.
Has anyone seen a 2 1/2" Rigby case?
I'm thinking .416" or .458" specifically for a Mauser action.
The 458 should approximate the Van Horn (was it?) which is the Weatherby cut down. And the 416 ought to at least match the Rem Mag.

If anyone's interested, my latest hairbrained idea is to rechamber a VZ, make it feed, mount a forward scope (scout-style) and leave it otherwise unaltered. Mil-spec safety, bolt, stock, maybe cut the bbl to an even 22", deccelerator pad.

Anyone know if the Mauser box will hold three Rigby-fat cases (with minor fitting mods only)?
Nothing against the Taylor or Win Mag, but I'm thinking how to maximize the space.
A short 416 Dakota is in the running as well. I'd sure love to rent the reamer, but if I have to design it I just might have to design it.

Anyone else appreciate the notion of a "Mauser Scout Big Bore?"
Adams & Bennet sells prefit short-chambered Taylor bbls, perfect for rechambering on the cheap....

/

I think I remember JBelk saying that he had chambered rifle(s) for a short Rigby. I don't remember if it was .416 or .458. He may still have the reamer (I'll bet he does)......

The mag box will take SUBSTANTIAL rebuilding to feed properly.... also the rails and feed ramp.

Bob

Yep,
Jack said he had the 2.5" .416 Rigby reamer and dies for sale, IIRC.

Pacific Tool and Guage, reamer makers, say they have over 2000 wildcat reamers on file, including a "45/.338 Lapua Magnum."

Take a .338 Lapua case, 2.720", and neck it up to .458, and it shortens to 2.666" or 67.7 mm.

One can make that fit in a Mauser 98 with a new box and feed work.

The shoulder is 20 degrees and .027" per side. Adequate. With the .338 Lapua brass that comes nicely annealed, as new, and with a stronger case head than the Rigby, it should be a great wildcat. It will headspace with the Lapua guages, and no unsightly creases, and no problems in forming cases.

DR, thanks for the tip.
I was wondering about the availabilities of Rigby vs Lapua brass. How long a cartridge can be fed in a standard Mauser bolt throw?
I've been assuming 3.35".
It would be nice to not have to fire-form, if the Lapua dim. worked out well; I was thinking that shoulder would be too far forward for 400 grainers.

As for the short Majoor #1 and the neck markings, this would not be an issue with basic brass.
Nice to know it's been done some.

Bwana-be----

I have reamers for the 416x2.5 Rigby and the same case in 338 and .284. For sale, too.

They fit in a standard M-98 with some alterations and a wider box.

Jack- email sent.
Lots of questions about this reamer/cartridge.
Chamber specs, for one.
And will it clean up a Taylor Chamber? (can't see that it wouldn't.)
And is neck turning a must? (seems it would be with the neck ending up where the shoulder was, but doesn't it just depend on how the sizing die is made?)
And, in general, what do you know about this round? Is it one of the Majoor's that Alf mentioned? Any performance info? I'm guessing no more than two in a window-box.

Thanks!
Taylor

Bwana-be,
The 45/.338 Lapua Magnum will be almost exactly 3-1/2" when loaded with the usual 500 grain bullets:

2.666" + 0.830" = 3.496"

A 400 grain Swift or 350 grain Barnes X-cannelured has about 0.700" beyond the cannelure:

2.666" + 0.700" = 3.366"

400 and 450 grain X-Bullets ought to fall somewhere between those extremes if cannelured, or they could be seated out farther if not crimped.

Opening up a Mauser from 3.35" to 3.50" should be a snap, and all done to the rear for a strong action.

I am having one built on a CZ 550 Magnum, with room to spare, with an easy 3 + 1 cartridge capacity from scratch.

However, a Mauser 98 with a drop box in 45 Lapua might beat the pants off any other .458 in existence, for an easy 2400 fps with 500 grain bullets, IMHO. Then maybe 350 grain spitzers at 2700 fps for plains game.

A .416x2.5"/.416 Rigby would be an appealing number if made up in a Mauser 98 with drop box. Making brass would be a chore though.

The 45 Lapua is a snap. Just neck up a new .338 Lapua case to .458 and go hunting. Maybe it will even work with a near full case (no filler) of RL-15 if not IMR-4350 or H4831 packed tight, somewhere in that range. I shall see.

you guys are sick. my shoulder and head hurt just reading this..........
woofer

Alright, DR, now you have me thinking about a 475-338LM. I'm sure I could only get two down without drop box, but three of those might do for my maniacal purposes.
Sort of a 470 Mbogo short.
This is just for a toy, don't plan to go to Africa, so why not.

Bwana-be,
Hey! Now there's an idea. Neck it up to .475 (it will shorten a little more in necking up further) with a blown out shoulder and less body taper, and using the stubbier .475 500 grain bullet, and it might fit in the standard M-98 with out any opening up of the action.

It certainly will if you shorten the case a bit. Since you are going to the trouble of blowing it out, might as well make the case over completely.

Maybe a .475/.338 Lapua Magnum 2.5". The .475 Nyati? .475 Libamofu--a shortened .475 Bibamofu?

Lazzeroni has a line of cartridges that are basically Rigby head size, but a case length of only 2.1".

Hey, CM, that is great! They call their shortie the .475 Lilmufu, as opposed to the .475 Bibamufu, which I was aware of.

I came up with the .475 Libamofu independently, having forgotten that they use "muttha" instead of "mother."

I am sorry to have had such a sick thought so similar to what the Lazzeroni designers are doing. Please forgive me.

Well, it's a good idea.
Personally, it seems like a waste of space not to use a 2.5" case, but I guess there are folks who have a true "short" action. I will look into pricing differences between a 2.5 Lapua vs Lazz.
The Lazzeroni case is a bit smaller, but only a bit. I'm sure it would do a good job.

-o.k., wow. Brass from Lazzeroni is absolutely thru the roof insane!!!
Makes me feel alot better about paying for Lapua brass!
But, good thought.

[ 04-27-2003, 08:32: Message edited by: Bwana-be ]

A while back, Ray Ordorica (sp?) Gun Digest or Shooter's Bible had an article about converting a stock 98 to a full-sized 416 Rigby with a two-shot magazine. It took some pretty serious surgery, but he claimed that it worked. Hope this helps, Okie John.

Yeah, looks like no way to get three down w/o a drop box. Four just feels like the minimum round-count for me (chamber included.)
As far as the original Rigby, don't think I'd want to mess with losing that much metal to get the 3 3/4" cartridge up in there.
I'm working on the Lapua idea, although Rigby brass could be used as easily.
Latest draft is a fireform, rather than a simple neck-up, blown out to a minimal taper, say .587 at base to .565 at shoulder, shoulder around 2.16 from rim, 35 deg shoulder or so, .4 neck, case length 2.635, COL as close to 3.45" as possible.

I'll be fireforming, reaming, cutting, then individually autographing each case, so you know it's a labor of love!

Ballistics completely unknown, but I have a hunch it'll hold 90 grains or so, which might just be enough to punch 500gr out at 2350 fps.

I do look forward to finding out....
Working name is 12x67 Maus!