I have a custom .416 Rigby with a Pac-Nor 25 inch barrel with NECG barrel band front sights, and a "target Crown" done by Mr. Ricks. After my positive experiances with my .416 Taylor I am interested in shortening the barrel.

What is involved in shortening the barrel to 22 inches? Yet, I still want to retain the Banded front sight. I also want the rifle to look as good as it does now as per crowning and blueing.

Those of you in the know, please chime in and educate me. Right now the rifle is too long and front heavy for general hunting use as compared to my Taylor.

Hansel

Money take it to a very good smith and have him cut the barrel off remount the sight and crown the barrel.

Doesn't sound like a basement hacksaw job to me.

Too nice a rifle for that.

quote:

Originally posted by Hansel:
I have a custom .416 Rigby with a Pac-Nor 25 inch barrel with NECG barrel band front sights, and a "target Crown" done by Mr. Ricks. After my positive experiances with my .416 Taylor I am interested in shortening the barrel.

What is involved in shortening the barrel to 22 inches? Yet, I still want to retain the Banded front sight. I also want the rifle to look as good as it does now as per crowning and blueing.

Those of you in the know, please chime in and educate me. Right now the rifle is too long and front heavy for general hunting use as compared to my Taylor.

Hansel

Send it back to the man that built it, let him do it.

Last I heard Mr. Ricks was out of the gunsmithing business. Am I wrong?

For those of you who remember he was in Washington State.

I haven't talked to John in years, but to my knowledge he had some personal problems and is no longer smithing. I've had him do three barrels for me, and he did good work. Too bad things turned out the way they did as I considered him a friend.

If this is a blued rifle you'll have to add touch up bluing.

OK:
Since John is not an option...Who would be a good Smith to use for this rifle? Turn around time, Workmanship, and professionalism count!

Also, would a 22 inch barrel be a good ballistic length for the Rigby Cartridge? I know on the Taylor, because of the powder burn rates etc. 22 inches is an ideal length.

Hansel

22" would be fine, you'll likely only loose 50 fps from your 25" balistics.

I can't recomend any smiths as I haven't used any others since John got out of the business.

A good smith and fast turn around time are words that are seldom used appropriately....

Most "good" smiths are backed up for months.

Your "job" will likely mean the barrel will have to be re-contoured because of the front sight. That's going to create a whole host of other issues..... barrel channel fit, reblueing of at least the barrel, likely the whole thing to get a good color match.

I'd say you're looking at over $200 in labor maybe $300 and several months. And that is without any stock work.

Hansel

The 416 Taylor is very efficient so 22 inches will not be too short.

If the barrel band type sight was fitted to the barrel taper it is doutbtfull that you could open it up enough to fit the new position after cutting the barrel.

However some smiths will turn that portion of barrel to a straight shank for the existing barrel band I.D. If the sight was fitted in this manner it will be a matter of turning the barrel to that diameter again and a little blending with the file for the tail of the band.

I will agree with earlier posters about finding a good smith and quality work but he will be really behind.

I'm certainly not qualified to opine but according to Finn Aagaard, when he cut his pre-64 Model 70 in .375 H&H from 25" to 22" it was a mistake. He later traded it off. Thanks...Bill.

Hey Hansel, If you can find out who made the Front Sight, it might be possible to get another one from them with a slightly "larger" ID. Then you would not need to go through the re-conturing or goofing up the stock-to-barrel gap.

Then all you need is the barrel cut off, recrowned and the "new" Front Sight installed.

The trick will be getting the New Sight and having it Regulated properly.

Best of luck to you.

I installed a NECG banded front sight on my 404 Jeff and it's soldered on.

Assuming your's is as well then it has to go like this:
1. heat and remove the front sight.
2. shorten and crown barrel
3. Set up sight in "VEE" blocks and rebore the ID all the way to the tip of extension. (easier said than done.) A jig grinder is the ideal tool! Again....not cheap
4. Sweat on the modified sight
5. Reblue the entire barrel and maybe the entire barreled action.

I know a guy with a jig grinder but it's likely going to be $100 or more to open the hole.

I really don't think this is a horribly difficult thing to do.....just expensive....my guess is about $450 or so.

I would just bite the bullet and purchase a new NECG front sight base in the ID needed for the new barrel contour. Leave the sight on the barrel stub, maybe glue it into a nice block of wood and use it for a pencil holder <G>. If you are paying someone else to do the work I see no advantage in attempting to re-use the front sight.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark:
I would just bite the bullet and purchase a new NECG front sight base in the ID needed for the new barrel contour. Leave the sight on the barrel stub, maybe glue it into a nice block of wood and use it for a pencil holder <G>. If you are paying someone else to do the work I see no advantage in attempting to re-use the front sight.

A new front sight retails for $70 and they're available in every .020 ID increments.

Marks comments are spot on!!!