.458 Lott or .416 Rigby

[Beck]

It is my first buffalo hunt,but I'm used to shooting a 9.3x62 and the 375 Ruger,so I could just keep the Ruger then. 375 seems to be the most prolific answer, thank you

Buy the Lott or the Rigby they are both proper buffalo medicine.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

It'll be a CZ 550 American,and I'm trying to decide between .416 Rigby and .458 Lott. Both guns are the same except the lotts in a synthetic stock,which I would change,both hold 5rounds you all already know.

The reason it's even a decision(I would go with the Lott) is because of the handloading potential of the .416 Rigby. I know the Rigby runs a 400 grainers at2400 at 47,500 psi.im not a handloader,so it's why I'm asking,couldn't the Rigby be loaded up to higher pressure with a 450 grain bullet and keep the 2400 fps? If the Lott is running 65k, couldn't terigby run 65k safely too? Forgive my ignorance of handloading,I never learned.

Game hunted will be Cape Buffalo bull and plains game,for which I have a 7 mm.

Which rifle would you choose, The Lott or the Rigby?

I’d go for .416 Rigby. More versatile than the .458 Lott (which is also an excellent caliber in it’s own right). Its’s a magnificent general purpose cartridge for all species of African game (while it’s predominantly designed for hunting dangerous game, it also has a flat enough trajectory & manageable enough recoil for hunting all of the plains game species in a pinch).

My personal advice for you, is this: Don’t knock the traditional tried-and-tested 400-410Gr bullet for this cartridge. Sectional density is more than adequate, trajectory is satisfactorily flat & penetration is immense. This .400Gr .416 bore bullet traveling at 2370 FPS is more than adequate for anything that walks the earth. Remember that even being armed with a 20mm anti aircraft gun will do you absolutely no good if your shot is not correctly placed in a vital region.

 

[Buckums]

I prefer to do what I can to lessen the odds of needing to rely on my PH's back up gun because I choose to carry a gun with less authority. This is my experience only... I went down a similar path of questions and experimenting with different cartridges, etc. when planning for my buffalo hunt. I purchased rifles in all of the calibers mentioned, (ex the Ruger) and after considerable practice with all, I decided to take the most gun I could handle, which for me was the 458 Lott. It it did its job wonderfully, and there was no need for back up shots from the PH. For me, there is no noticeable difference in the recoil between the 416 Rigby and 458 Lott, with the Lott launching a significantly heavier bullet with significantly more energy. My $0.02... If you are recoil sensitive, or have shoulder problems, etc. go with the 375 or 9.3, but otherwise I would hunt buffalo with as much gun as you can handle and shoot accurately off of sticks.

 

[RR 314]

If you are looking at two specific rifles, as it certainly sounds, but the Lott would require you (due to personal preference) to "upgrade" stock to wood, I would go with the .416 Rigby. It sounds as if you have decided on the 550 action. I have owned plenty and if you are not in a hurry, and are willing to search for a while, I would recommend you look for one from AHR that has already been finished and is deadly reliable. I still have one in .458 Lott and it is very well executed.

 

[uplander01]

I'd do the 416 Rigby, skip the CZ unless you can find a AHR already done as previously mentioned, I'd personally spend a little more and find a Dakota in 416 Rigby, it will be better quality in every way straight away, supported by Parkwest in SD. Less recoil and easier to shoot

 

[RR 314]

As I am celebrating indigenous peoples’ day and looking at safe overflow rifles, although more expensive, the pre-Martini Heym rifles are excellent values in my opinion. I have steered several people in this direction. Not flashy, but great rifles.

 

[Creatineboy]

Either will work. I’d work hard to shoot one of each before you buy. You might make a different choice. For me, the .416 Rigby is classic, and can be loaded up or down a bit more easily. Of course, if you have no handloading experience, chances are you’ll make do with factory ammo.

I have a CZ 550, and at least in .416 Rigby, the rifle feeds a little better with 3 in the magazine and 1 in the chamber. You can do 4, but the first reload is a bit rough…… not the right time for drama, IMO. Some gunsmithing can mitigate this, but you’ve got to find the right guys.

Well,I personally have no handloading experience, but I use Superior ammunition in South Carolina to load up my ammunition for me custom loads. Lonnie there can load up whatever kind of bullet you send them as hot or as cool as you want it. So if I wanted it custom loads for the 416 Rigby I would get him to do it and tell him the specifications I wanted.

Thank you for your invaluable information about loading three in the magazine sir I will check that out.

Thanks!

 

[Creatineboy]

As I am celebrating indigenous peoples’ day and looking at safe overflow rifles, although more expensive, the pre-Martini Heym rifles are excellent values in my opinion. I have steered several people in this direction. Not flashy, but great rifles.

Columbus day is what it says on my Google calendar,have they changed it, like they changed gulf of mexico to gulf of America? I'm behind the times it seems! Indigenous day it is then!
Heym rifles have an awesome reputation,that's quite a nice collection you have there sir. But I thought Heym rifles were super expensive? Where do you acquire such a rifle?

 

[Creatineboy]

Flip a coin.

In my opinion, Rigby & Lott factory ballistics are more than adequate and don't need to be improved upon.

Yes 416 Rigby has upside potential due to case size (if you want to subject yourself to the additional recoil).

BUT shooting extensively to adjust to the recoil is more important than deciding between the best of these 2 great cartridges.

Last I own both. But I used the Rigby for plains game to be honest and a 500 NE for buff. That will be my combo again next year. I like big guns and backup options so that combo works for me.

Ive got a 10 gauge shotgun I had turned into a 500, but one side broke(go figure) I shouldve bought a new one. But now it's a bolt-action,so I'm thinking Lott,because I can also shoot win mag shells if I want. And with win mag and 400 grainers,it should do for buffalo and recoil should be similar to the rigby.ive never shot a Rigby,but I have a Lott.

 

[RR 314]

Columbus day is what it says on my Google calendar,have they changed it, like they changed gulf of mexico to gulf of America? I'm behind the times it seems! Indigenous day it is then!
Heym rifles have an awesome reputation,that's quite a nice collection you have there sir. But I thought Heym rifles were super expensive? Where do you acquire such a rifle?

Well, I did not see until after I posted that you were looking at CZs on a fraudulent website priced so low. I personally would rather save up for a rifle that is good to go instead of spending possibly $3K in today's prices for a CZ550 that may still need significant work. I think they (pre-Martini Heyms) are a great buy in the $8000-9000 range. You can buy a prettier stocked rifle, but there are not a lot of "better" rifles IMHO than the Heym. AHR full customs in the $6500 and up range as well. BRNOs will be less expensive. Shop around and you can likely find a solid rifle. Follow the "Good Gun Deals" (started by Rookhawk) thread on this site.