This one is headed off to the engraver tomorrow, but I’ve got to decide on the caliber marking.

Question:
Should it be:

Choices:
7x57
7mm Mauser
275 Rigby

 

.275 Rigby is more "customs and immigration" friendly than the 7mm Mauser in France. Besides, Karamojo Bell used a .275 Rigby, not a 7mm.

Never been to Paris but as far as I know you can't buy 275Rigby ammunition in Tucson. Mine is marked 7x57. Looks like a beautiful action/barrel in any case. Incidentally I have never had a problem with customs anywhere with mine.

Hi Chris,

Go with the 275 Rigby. Of course you know I like Rigbys.

Great Looking rifle!

Roger

Personally I think the Ruger warning memo would like nice in a delicate script (in one long sentence) along the left hand flat, but I digress...

So long as you never plan to take it somewhere that insists the marking on the barrel matches the headstamp on the case I think 275 Rigby is a pretty classy handle.

Chris-

My vote is: 7X57

be different go with 275 rigby

275 Rigby. You won't have to worry about the military round label in some of the countries in the world.

I vote Rigby. But can you get brass with that head stamp?

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
275 Rigby. You won't have to worry about the military round label in some of the countries in the world.

That's a good point.

I've never had anyone check my headstamps on ammo, but I could honestly go with any of the three options.



Where's ForrestB?

We share similar tastes in rifles, and I know he'll keep me on track with this decision.

What do you think Forrest?

275 Rigby headsamp is available...see Silver Lining Rifle...spendy... remember that the 275 Rigby throat is shorter than the 7x57..that's why it's called a "275 Rigby" 175 gr 7 Mauser may not fit and if it does, may generae some fancy pressures....assuming that the chamber was cut with a 275 Rigby reamer...If is was cut with a "standard" 7x57 reamer, the throat is already plenty long and 275 Riby fired in it will present no problem

I would do it in a nice script as a "7X57"
in the style of the picture below.
Classy

I vote "Dead Sexy"

.275x57mm Maugby

3 flats available, why can't it be all three?

It's a spectacular barreled action so I'd engrave it .275 Rigby

That's a great looking rifle.

I have thought about marking a 7X57 as a 275 Rigby but, as Duane points out, there is a little difference. At the end of the day, the choice should be whatever floats your boat.

Personally, I just felt it was a little pretentious to call the grand dame of cartridges a 275 Rigby and have always used the 7X57 markings. When I talk about the cartridge, I've never referred to it as a 275 Rigby. I don't foresee using my 7X57's in France so the whole "military cartridge" designation is a non-issue for me.

Great workmanship makes a rifle classy, not the cartridge marking.

I really was conflicted on this one. I ended up choosing .275 Rigby simply because it was different, but if you went with 7x57 it would still be classic. There is just something about seeing that 7x57 on a barrel that gets the blood pumping.

quote:

Originally posted by Duane Wiebe:
... remember that the 275 Rigby throat is shorter than the 7x57..that's why it's called a "275 Rigby" 175 gr 7 Mauser may not fit and if it does, may generae some fancy pressures...

Right. The .275 Rigby was cut for 140 grain bullets. I think the original rifles were also slower pitched.
-----------------------------------------------
"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

I solved this same question for a customer by engraving,
7X57 Rigby

James

it isn't only France, but who goes hunting in france anyway?

If I recall correctly Spain and Italy also have laws about military calibers, not that I'd seriously consider hunting in either place.

AD

Here's a more recent photo. As it sits, the weight is 7-lb, 0-oz.

7mm TRBR "Trinity River Bottom Rocket"

I took 100 rounds of 458 Lott to Zim in 2005 with NO headstamp...

7X57 and keep it simple.

Terry

Can you put 275 Rigby on a rifle with a composit stock??

It would be hard for me to put ANY caliber on a rifle in a plastic stock especially such a beautiful barreled action. I sorry but I have absolutely no use for synthetic stocks. And before the clamor starts I understand their 'practicality'.

I've always felt that a cartridge should be identified simply by bore and length. Not who invented it or commercialized it, its year of origin or the cartridge from which it was necked up or down.

The only name on a firearm should be that of its maker, to avoid confusion.

I voted 7x57

Very clean looking rifle, even though I'm a wood man myself.

The synthetic stock choice was a timing issue.

This one will wear a wood stock some day, but I couldn't possibly get a wood stock together in time for my hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
That's a great looking rifle.

I have thought about marking a 7X57 as a 275 Rigby but, as Duane points out, there is a little difference. At the end of the day, the choice should be whatever floats your boat.

Personally, I just felt it was a little pretentious to call the grand dame of cartridges a 275 Rigby and have always used the 7X57 markings. When I talk about the cartridge, I've never referred to it as a 275 Rigby. I don't foresee using my 7X57's in France so the whole "military cartridge" designation is a non-issue for me.

Great workmanship makes a rifle classy, not the cartridge marking.

X 2 roger The Rigby is a copycat of a proven winner.

quote:

Originally posted by new_guy:
The synthetic stock choice was a timing issue.

This one will wear a wood stock some day, but I couldn't possibly get a wood stock together in time for my hunt.

I wasn't going to say anything, but,,,, Does it have any popsicle sticks in it? HA!

Just kidding.

I like it.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Does it have any popsicle sticks in it? HA!
Terry

Actually, having seen a "blank" MPI stock and now a finished one, I am quite impressed with their in-house installation.

It looks a lot better on the inside than their "blanks" do, but then again, their "blanks" are pretty inexpensive too. I guess you get what you pay for.

Doc assured me that this one had no popsicle sticks in it.

New guy, that is a beautiful barreled action. Is it an intermediate, a Peruvian? That being said, I know that in Mexico the shell headstamp has to match the stamped caliber on the rifle. So, if you ever thinking about hunting Coes deer, that might be a consideration. In addition, and since my guns and ammo have always matched when I have been to Africa, I have never had any real problems, but always feel a little uneasy when I go through customs. As a consequence, I like to limit any areas where someone could start enquiry.

One other note. I tend to agree with ForrestB--275 Rigby is cool, but just a slight pretensious. And what is wrong with 7 x 57? And you never will have to explain to other hunters in camp, ad nauseum, what a 275 Rigby is.

If the gun will be a truly classic British sportingrifle, ".275 Rigby rimless" would be the correct choice.
If the gun would of Mauser Model B type, "7x57mauser" would be correct.
If the gun will be of dakotastyle a la M70 win type, .284/.257Roberts would be correct

I would go with 7x57 Mauser.

quote:

Originally posted by Schrodinger's Cat:
New guy, that is a beautiful barreled action. Is it an intermediate, a Peruvian?

It's an intermediate length action. Really a copy of a Mexican Mauser, but made out of Titanium rather than steel.

I went through the same thing and decided to do both - larger letters on the left side of the barrel "275 Rigby"

Smaller letters on the right side of barrel "7x57 Mauser"

I added the 7x57 just in case I ever bring it to Africa and can't get matching brass.

Nice little Peruvian Mauser action that a love more every time I shoot it.

quote:

.275 Rigby is more "customs and immigration" friendly than the 7mm Mauser in France.

Ouch! An unwise opinion that could very well have unfortunate consequences!The exact words are "qui peuvent tirer des munitions utilisables dans des armes classees materiel de guerre*" in respect of "military category" arms in France.

So it doesn't matter WHAT it says on the barrel or what YOU SAY it is. If it can fire 7x57 it WILL BE CATEGORISED IN CATEGORY 1. You play the "275 Rigby" game at your own risk! I suspect not only in France.

This is why "civilianised" versions of 30-06 or 303 chambered rifles sold in France are ALWAYS set up with a shortened chamber taking a shortened original case.

Thus, in theory, 30-06 Improved or 303 Epps would both be illegal in France as both can, of course, still fire the original military cartridge.

I would go further...knowing lawyers!

If it came to a prosecution the court might argue that you were not merely "innocently" importing a military calibre weapon (being ignorant of the local law) but aggravating the offence by attempting to "disguise" its true calibre by disingenuous markings, being aware of that local law and trying to circumvent it.

Anyway the only "true" .275 worthy of the name is Holland's Magnum! IMHO! Not Rigby's pretentious stealing of Mauser's cartridge! 7x57 is a fine and worthy calibre designation in its own right.


* which are able to fire ammunition usable in those arms classed as military weapons