416 Rigby vs 458 win mag

[spike.t]

416 RIGBY.....yes I am shouting....

 

[PeteG]

I hope to be hunting Cape buffalo and elephant someday with my son. In your opinion is there a real performance difference between the 416 Rigby and the 458 win mag? Thanks.

Yes there is.
the 416’s are better all round than the 458win mag. No question.

Step up to the 458lott and it’s a different discussion

 

[matt85]

We are comparing apples to oranges here, the 458 WM is large bore relatively low velocity dangerous game specific cartridge, while the 416 Rigby is a mid to high velocity medium bore cartridge (depending on the load). It’s like asking "What's better an SUV or a car", they can do most of the same things but one is more specialized than the other.

Most .375"-.416" cartridges are suitable "all around" African hunting cartridges. They make excellent "primary" and "backup" guns. Meanwhile most .458"+ cartridges tend to be purpose-built cartridges for dangerous game.

-If I’m hunting dangerous game, my personal two gun battery would be my 8-bore and my 416 RM.
-If I’m hunting PG then my personal two gun battery would be a 300 Win and my 416 RM.

-Matt

 

[Backyardsniper]

I have hunted neither, however I was asking myself the same question before I booked my first Africa hunt for tuskless in 2024.

I got a .416 Rigby thinking a 400gr Woodleigh SP for buff & 400gr Hydro for elephant.

Then I stumbled across a .470NE and ended up keeping the .416Rigby as a backup.

The .416 seems to have lots of potential for longer distance shots when topped with a decent scope; which would open up plains game opportunities…. Especially with some of the lighter bullet options out there if you load your own ammo.

Just my 2 cents after asking myself the same question.

I run this same set up and I feel it is about perfect. 470 double with a 416 Rigby as a secondary. You have big stopping power up close with 470 and long range capability with the 416, but you are also never undergunned with a 416 in your hand. If I were to do a one gun safari, then 416 Rigby would be my go to. You can launch a 400 grain bullet with good BC and SD north of 2400fps and that is a whole lot of firepower for a rifle that can also pull off a 400 yard shot if necessary. For straight PG hunts in DG territory you are always covered if you find yourself in a tight spot. Even if you are running 350 grain Barnes projectiles for PG.

 

[Mountaineer]

Thanks for everyone’s input. Looks like I’ll be using a 375 Ruger for PG and long range shooting and the 458 win mag for big stuff up close.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Thanks for everyone’s input. Looks like I’ll be using a 375 Ruger for PG and long range shooting and the 458 win mag for big stuff up close.

Or just take one gun, the 375 Ruger, and you are set.

 

[PANTHER TRACKERS]

I hope to be hunting Cape buffalo and elephant someday with my son. In your opinion is there a real performance difference between the 416 Rigby and the 458 win mag?

You can't go wrong with the 416 Rigby!
Potentially, and by a slight margin, the 458 would be a better option if you are Guiding, but for the initial shots on any DG you cannot fault the 416.

 

[matt85]

Thanks for everyone’s input. Looks like I’ll be using a 375 Ruger for PG and long range shooting and the 458 win mag for big stuff up close.

An excellent battery for a dangerous game hunt! The 458 for the DG with a 375 just in case something happens to the 458. Then the 375 for PG after the primary target is down.

-Matt

 

[geoff rath]

Long wondered about this question, but no practical, live game experience with either. The range experience involves Woodleigh 400 and 450 softs, and early Barnes 300X. (@ 2900fps!). Based on that, I'd stick with the 416 Rigby...

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

I highly recommend the .416 Rigby - not, repeat, NOT, the Remington .416! - as a general-purpose big-bore African caliber. It's far more effective, IMHO, than the .458 Winchester, which has notorious penetration problems. If you want the bigger caliber, I'd go for the .458 Lott - but it's all yours. I'll stick with the .416, which I trust absolutely to bring down everything in Africa.

Rest assured the .458 Win mag does not have any penetration issues.
450gr CEB #13's penetrate deep and straight.

EJ