Big Bore Addiction Group

Great thread. I am afraid that I fall in this catagory as a big bore addict. It started with a Browning 1885 in 45-70 in about 1996 and I loved the feel of shooting it and just the sight of the huge 0.45" hole in the barrel. Awesome! My "problem" has progressed (or digressed depending on how you look at it) as follows:

- Winchester Custom African Express in .416 Rem Mag: I always wanted one of these since drooling over them in the "Custom Shop" portion of the Winchester Catalog years ago and finally found one for a decent price. This one is like new with a factory letter from the Custom Shop. It is a great shooter but may end up going to the "For Sale" catagory due to a recent unplanned purchase (see below)
- J Rigby & Co. Boxlock .500 NE: This one came after some trading that I did following a double rifle shoot sponsored by the local SCI chapter. After attending that shoot, I was "screwed up" for life and had to have a double. This is an absolutely beautiful gun and I hope I can go Elephant or Cape Buffalo hunting with it some day. The beauty and "cool factor" of this gun even inspired me to name my oldest son "Rigby".
- Kimber Talkeetna in .375 H&H: Used some Cabela's points several years back to buy this one for a future Alaska Brown Bear hunt. Not sure when I will get to use it for its intended purpose but hopefully some day.
- Winchester Custom African Express in .416 Rem Mag: Yes, another one. I got a really good deal on this one because the guy had inherited it and used it quite roughly pig hunting in TX. It had beautiful wood but it was dinged and scratched as well as many scratches and finish wear on the metal work and the front sight knocked off and lost so it is not a "collector" gun. Perfect for a "project". I took it and had the barrel cut down to 22" and adding an NECG Banded Hooded front sight and got the stock and metal refinished. It is a really nice looking gun now and it is a very accurate shooter. I can never sell this one now since I took two Lions and a Cape Buffalo with it last month. What a hunt!
- J Rigby & Co .416 Rigby: I looked for one of these for a few years and a beautiful example recently came up for sale. It was an unplanned purchase but I was able to make a deal on it. It will be an excellent companion for the .500 NE double that I have. Hopefully I can take it to Africa some day as well. Unfortunately, I may have to let go of my first Winchester .416 to fund this unplanned purchase.

As you can see I have major "issues" with Big Bores.

Hi Vette447,

And prior to you mentioning that you have named your son "Rigby", I thought I had stolen the cat's pajamas when I named my latest hunting dog "Theodore Roosevelt".
Excellent post, and when you get a chance could you treat us to some photos of especially the Rigby .500 NE, as well as your two lion and one buffalo hunt ?

Cheers,
Velo Dog.
 
im bored so its "random big bore related picture time", todays picture is mono-metal bullets:



left to right:
1. Aguila 40gr sub sonic 22LR (for size reference)
2. Barnes 270gr .375" TSX
3. Barnes 300gr .375" TSX
4. CEB 300gr .375" Safari Solid
5. Barnes 300gr .416" TSX
6. Barnes 400gr .416" TSX
7. Barnes 400gr .416" solid (old style with flat nose)
8. Barnes 525gr .505" TSX
9. North Fork 600gr .505" CPS
10. Aguila 40gr sub sonic 22LR (for size reference)

cheers
-Matt
 

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Velo, here are some pics of the double. I will try to post some pics of the 416 Rigby later on. Both of mine are "California" Rigby's so I know they are not pure London Rigby's to some. However, my experience has been that the CA Rigby rifles are very well made and handsome and also "affordable" enough that I can own them. I saved these pics from the gentleman that I got the rifle from. What do you guys think?












 

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I think it is a really gorgeous rifle!
 
That is a really nice piece of firewood you have on that rifle!
 
Velo, here are some pics of the double. I will try to post some pics of the 416 Rigby later on. Both of mine are "California" Rigby's so I know they are not pure London Rigby's to some. However, my experience has been that the CA Rigby rifles are very well made and handsome and also "affordable" enough that I can own them. I saved these pics from the gentleman that I got the rifle from. What do you guys think?













Rifle porn at it's finest! Gorgeous!!
 
Velo, here are some pics of the double. I will try to post some pics of the 416 Rigby later on. Both of mine are "California" Rigby's so I know they are not pure London Rigby's to some. However, my experience has been that the CA Rigby rifles are very well made and handsome and also "affordable" enough that I can own them. I saved these pics from the gentleman that I got the rifle from. What do you guys think?

Vette,

Beauty !
I love that rifle.
And, I agree with your analogy of the California Rigby rifles.
Any chump that whimpers about them has never examined one in person (or they are staggeringly wealthy).
Thanks for the photo post, I enjoyed it.

Kind regards,
Velo Dog.















 
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Rifle porn at it's finest! Gorgeous!!
My thoughts exactly, I was looking at it on my iPad and felt a need to hide it when my girlfriend came into the room!lol
Stunning p
 
Vette447,

Not sure what I did or didn't do but, I posted a reply a minute ago then for some reason, it is only visible if you hit "click to expand" in the shaded photo box.

At any rate, to paraphrase: That rifle is a beauty !
And, any player who complains about the California Rigby's has probably never examined one in person.
Thanks for the photo post.

Kind regards,
Velo Dog.
 
Vette447,

Not sure what I did or didn't do but, I posted a reply a minute ago then for some reason, it is only visible if you hit "click to expand" in the shaded photo box.

At any rate, to paraphrase: That rifle is a beauty !
And, any player who complains about the California Rigby's has probably never examined one in person.
Thanks for the photo post.

Kind regards,
Velo Dog.

You typed your reply inside of the quote area.
 
It made be drool... I don't care where it is from! :)
 
Thanks guys. Here are a few pics of the .416 Rigby that I just got along with a few Lion and Buffalo pics. My best trophy pics are with my wife and me in them. However, I am hesitant to post them due to some of the ill informed (and very opinionated) weirdos that haunt the internet so a chose a few that I think show off the animals fairly well. The lions were huge and beautiful. The buff was not the largest in the world but was really nice looking. He was about 39" but more importantly he was fully mature with hard bosses. I really wish I had found this .416 Rigby prior to my trip so I could have hunted with it but my Winchester M70 .416 Rem Mag did a spendid job just the same.

By the way, these three hunts were exhilarating and a great life experience. I would pay all the money over again just for the chance to go through the emotions and experience of it again. It was well worth if you have the ability to try it. I know that I have been very blessed.























 

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Thanks guys. Here are a few pics of the .416 Rigby that I just got along with a few Lion and Buffalo pics. My best trophy pics are with my wife and me in them. However, I am hesitant to post them due to some of the ill informed (and very opinionated) weirdos that haunt the internet so a chose a few that I think show off the animals fairly well. The lions were huge and beautiful. The buff was not the largest in the world but was really nice looking. He was about 39" but more importantly he was fully mature with hard bosses. I really wish I had found this .416 Rigby prior to my trip so I could have hunted with it but my Winchester M70 .416 Rem Mag did a spendid job just the same.

By the way, these three hunts were exhilarating and a great life experience. I would pay all the money over again just for the chance to go through the emotions and experience of it again. It was well worth if you have the ability to try it. I know that I have been very blessed.

Hi again Vette447,

Another fantastic rifle for sure.
I applaud your taste in sporting goods, bravo!
Also, I totally understand your wanting to insulate yourself and especially your wife from the anti-hunting fanatics.
Some of them have proven themselves to be nothing more than hateful criminals sometimes.

My wife had been a Prosecutor for the local District Attorney's office a few years ago, and so to this day, she is delightfully "paranoid" about creeps, loonies, stalkers and criminals.
I think I was born a bit "paranoid", (as people living in child-like blissful ignorance like to call folks like us).
We prefer to think of ourselves as "fully awake".
Real men are concerned with their loved one's safety and well being.
You are obviously a real man and I salute you for it.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.























 

Well, I did it again.
I made it a point to type my reply in tight below Vette447's words, instead of down below his photos this time but I guess I stumped my toe once more on the same obstacle.
Somebody said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, while expecting a different result.
Duh.
 
Well, I did it again.
I made it a point to type my reply in tight below Vette447's words, instead of down below his photos this time but I guess I stumped my toe once more on the same obstacle.
Somebody said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, while expecting a different result.
Duh.

Look for "[QUOUT=" at the beginning of the quote and for "/QUOTE]" at the end. Don't type anywhere inside the [ at the beginning or the ] at the end and you should be good.
 
two extremely beautiful rifles! im extremely jealous of your 500 NE!!


-matt
 
that is a lovely piece of wood , awesome rifle , congrats
 

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