.450 Dakota RSM

[rhoward252]

Hello All,

This RSM converted to .450 Dakota recently sold on a popular sales site. I should have bought it, but didn't. Obviously, this is custom barrel work. Does anyone recognize this work? Or do you have a suggestion for a quality smith that could replicate this re-bore? I own several RSMs and would consider converting one, as has been done here. I would rather not replace the original barrel, so I would only be interested in a re-bore. Thank you.

 

[SWARA]

I'm wondering why you might feel it's custom barrel work?
The easiest route would be to take a RSM in 458Lott have it re-chambered to 450 Dakota/Rigby.
Have an Rsm 416 rigby mag follower and Extracor fitted, also the bolt face might need some work. I'm sure a good gunsmith can get this done for you. I know I'm over simplifying it but those are the basics.

 

[rhoward252]

Hello SWARA, and thank you for the reply. I was told by another party that this was originally a .375 re-bored to accommodate the .450D, but I think that your suggestion is more than likely what actually was done here. Given that the .450 wasn't a factory offering for the RSM, I assumed that this was a custom job on a .375 barrel but clearly your statement makes more sense. I have a lot to learn.......

 

[geoff rath]

I'd question why go to a Dakota cartridge? Brass is almost a rarity, factor ammo even more so. I'd jump to Swara's favourite cartridge; the 450 Rigby if I wanted to "improve' an RSM, or alternatively, a 450 (African) Express.

 

[SWARA]

Geoff, you know me too well. The 450 rigby is indeed my favorite .
I have your norma 550gr solids and softs with me in TZ along with some hotter handloads of 500gr Barnes.

 

[geoff rath]

Enjoy, Swara. Only commonsense spoken here ...

 

[TSIBINDI]

...In 1998 I had a Ruger RSM .416 Rigby rebored to .450 Rigby. Cliff LaBounty Precision Reboring in WA did the work.

 

[Dewald]

It seems it’s a toss up between re-chambering a .458 , keeping the barrel, and opening the bolt-face, vs reboring a .416 Rigby and be done.

I’d almost opt for the latter. A .375 H&H or .416 Rem is the most work, read margin for error.

What happened to Geoff Broom’s .450 Dakota? Does Russ shoot it now?