Blaser vs Rigby

[spike.t]

Spike, if you have owned Rigby’s how well do they shoot? I haven’t seen one in person and the closest stocking dealer is likely 1500km from my hometown. I’m not sure they will let me handle them anyway.
I have watched the you tube clips of them making these. A lot of hand crafting etc. I understand they are a Mauser action but hopefully refined and smooth. They are beautiful but pricey , traditional and I guess old school which makes me wonder what they are like to shoot

The ones I have had shot minute of buffalo, lion, leopard etc....the only time I have used a bench rest type Of thing was when zeroing a couple of rigby rifles for Paul when he owned Rigbys....my rest is bonnet of cruiser....happy with a scope when it is couple inches high at hundred yards and in a nice group......probably heresy to lots of people but the one hole fetish to me is great if you target shooting but in hunting I am perfectly happy that the bullet goes where I wanted when I shot....I would have thought that most rifles apart from odd one with technical issue can shoot better than most people.... The ones I had were very nice to shoot....the various .416 I had I didn't find unpleasant to shoot as the stocks I like...my .470 was not a problem shooting either....and as for pricing the highland stalker and the more basic big game or ph versions I don't think are that expensive for what you get compared to other makers.....if you go for the London best then yeah pricing goes up but those are the top end of the makers art.....as I said I am biased.....bit like you have Ferrari people... Porsche people or Lamborghini people........ Or land cruiser or land Rover people......

 

[HWL]

The Heym Express.... in .416 Rigby.

http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=7631678

HWL

 

[wesheltonj]

I will say that I don't own either. I have seriously looked at the R8, I have seen @Red Leg R8. I have been to the Blaser USA showroom in San Antonio and handled a R8 and Rigby's and Mauser's . What I still in my mind cannot resolve is the plastic parts the R8. So for that reason of the two choices the Rigby wins.

That said, I am a die hard SAKO fan.

 

[Red Leg]

Red....I agree that the R8 is very easy to travel with. But when you say that its all about function then I presume you mean it is faster to shoot than a bolt rifle..? If so, I would argue that a modern semiauto is even more sensible.

But there is a sporting aspect here as well..and that is the reason I will never hunt with a Blaser and similar or a semi....its all about coping with a bolt or double rifle and give the game a fighting chance. If I miss an opportunity because I am too slow then so be it....we are not at war with the game..are we..?

I would like to believe that you did not mean to imply that I was somehow unethical for using a Blaser. Rather, you were merely virtue signaling. But on the chance you meant what you said, let me elaborate.

My appreciation of the rifle’s function has to do with the rifle’s ergonomics, trigger, accuracy, sighting system, flexibility, and transportability. Nowhere do I believe that I touted the rifle’s alleged rapid fire characteristics. “Spray and pray” is not something I or any other Blaser owner that I know would practice or condone. I am even a little stunned someone would come to that conclusion, but then again, I live in a country where my AR and FN FAL occupy the same gun room. Perhaps things are different where you are.

I noted that I am a fan of classic rifles as well as more modern interpretations. But for me, practicality has value as well. I own some very fine firearms. Probably quite a few you would deign to use. I hunt them all. But when I travel abroad, only a double is as easy to transport as my Blaser, and no double is anywhere near as versatile.

I truly could care less if anyone else on the planet uses a R8. I do, when discussions allow, try to note its unique advantages which tend, in my mind, to mitigate its cost. I know of no examples where any firearm of any type made any particular hunter more or less virtuous or ethical.

 

[Red Leg]

CBH Aussie...I have handeled several of the new Rigby´s, .275s, .375H&Hs and .416s....all actions were smooth..and the owners say they are accurate..

The Rigby´s are moderately priced compared with similar from Westley Richards, Holland&Holland, Purdey etc.

Not exactly. Rigby would be delighted to build you a bespoke rifle in the same price range as a WR or H&H. However, in both their Big Game and Highland Stalker lines, they are building a production rifle with a few specific custom options. To date, neither WR nor H&H seem interested in taking that plunge.

My Rigby .275 is sub-MOA accurate with both a 170 and 156 gr Oryx load.

 

[sierraone]

To date, neither WR nor H&H seem interested in taking that plunge.

There is no comparison in price with new base model Rigbys and H&H or WR bolt rifles.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Probably still use a bleeding flip phone .........

I miss my old flip phone! At least it would fit in any pocket without getting the screen scratched.

But, if I could sell enough of my cheap old guns to get an R8 in 375 H&H and 300 Win Mag, I’d do it. A full size Pelican case with even 1 rifle is hard to haul around along with a daypack and a suitcase for this old guy! I fear two rifles in the Pelican would give me a heart attack!

Alas, I’m more about the hunt than the tool. JMO

 

[Red Leg]

There is no comparison in price with new base model Rigbys and H&H or WR bolt rifles.

There is for bespoke rifles. The Rigby starts at around 35K-40K and the WR and H&H around 40K - 45K. All three are in the “if you have to ask category .....”.

The Big Game and Stalker are mass production rifles - a class not offered by the other two houses.

 

[Pondoro]

I would like to believe that you did not mean to imply that I was somehow unethical for using a Blaser. Rather, you were merely virtue signaling. But on the chance you meant what you said, let me elaborate.

My appreciation of the rifle’s function has to do with the rifle’s ergonomics, trigger, accuracy, sighting system, flexibility, and transportability. Nowhere do I believe that I touted the rifle’s alleged rapid fire characteristics. “Spray and pray” is not something I or any other Blaser owner that I know would practice or condone. I am even a little stunned someone would come to that conclusion, but then again, I live in a country where my AR and FN FAL occupy the same gun room. Perhaps things are different where you are.

I noted that I am a fan of classic rifles as well as more modern interpretations. But for me, practicality has value as well. I own some very fine firearms. Probably quite a few you would deign to use. I hunt them all. But when I travel abroad, only a double is as easy to transport as my Blaser, and no double is anywhere near as versatile.

I truly could care less if anyone else on the planet uses a R8. I do, when discussions allow, try to note its unique advantages which tend, in my mind, to mitigate its cost. I know of no examples where any firearm of any type made any particular hunter more or less virtuous or ethical.

I accept what you say....and I do not say that using a Blaser neccesarily is unethical but it is a fact that many Blaser owners I meet tote the rapid fire characteristics...
FYI I have an M14, M1 carbine and a FN49 in my gun cabinet..

 

[BigSteve57]

Red....I agree that the R8 is very easy to travel with. But when you say that its all about function then I presume you mean it is faster to shoot than a bolt rifle..? If so, I would argue that a modern semiauto is even more sensible.

But there is a sporting aspect here as well..and that is the reason I will never hunt with a Blaser and similar or a semi....its all about coping with a bolt or double rifle and give the game a fighting chance. If I miss an opportunity because I am too slow then so be it....we are not at war with the game..are we..?

Oh really.
I know some hunters that shoot with a muzzle loader who think anyone that hunts with a modern bolt action rifle is unethical.

 

[BigSteve57]

I accept what you say....and I do not say that using a Blaser neccesarily is unethical but it is a fact that many Blaser owners I meet tote the rapid fire characteristics...
FYI I have an M14, M1 carbine and a FN49 in my gun cabinet..

Not "necessarily unethical". Perhaps slightly or sometimes unethical then?
One great "feature" of most traditional bolt guns is that they require a twist to rotate the bolt.
This has a tendency to pull one off the sight picture.
A quick follow-up shot, while being better able to maintain a sight picture, could mean the difference in a humane kill and a wounded animal.
Ethics? Really?

 

[WAB]

Spike, if you have owned Rigby’s how well do they shoot? I haven’t seen one in person and the closest stocking dealer is likely 1500km from my hometown. I’m not sure they will let me handle them anyway.
I have watched the you tube clips of them making these. A lot of hand crafting etc. I understand they are a Mauser action but hopefully refined and smooth. They are beautiful but pricey , traditional and I guess old school which makes me wonder what they are like to shoot

I’m getting 1/2” 3 shot groups at 100 with mine. It’s a Highland Stalker In 9.3x62.

 

[BeeMaa]

Oh really.
I know some hunters that shoot with a muzzle loader who think anyone that hunts with a modern bolt action rifle is unethical.

That's it.
I'm going outside to chip obsidian to make arrow heads...

 

[BigSteve57]

That's it.
I'm going outside to chip obsidian to make arrow heads...

Sarcasm...
Not sure about this...arrows might be too fast, easy, unsporting and therefore unethical.
I mean you can reload and fire arrow in just seconds right?
How ethical is that?
REF : https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/13xlf6/worlds_fastest_archer_reinventing_the_fastest/

Perhaps we can agree these guys have the hunting ethics issue under control:

 

[spike.t]

Sarcasm...
Not sure about this...arrows might be too fast, easy, unsporting and therefore unethical.
I mean you can reload and fire arrow in just seconds right?
How ethical is that?
REF : https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/13xlf6/worlds_fastest_archer_reinventing_the_fastest/

Perhaps we can agree these guys have the hunting ethics issue under control:
View attachment 306688

Where did you get that picture from.....we only just finished painting it on the cave wall.......

 

[BeeMaa]

Sarcasm...
Not sure about this...arrows might be too fast, easy, unsporting and therefore unethical.
I mean you can reload and fire arrow in just seconds right?
How ethical is that?
REF : https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/13xlf6/worlds_fastest_archer_reinventing_the_fastest/

The issue of my arrow speed loader doesn't seem to concern the politicians just yet.
However, I'm still waiting on approval from BATFE f0r my arrow sound suppressor tax stamp, so the critters are safe for now.
Can't be using a weapon so quite to hunt animals...it's unethical.

 

[bruce moulds]

the stabbing spear has some merit.
you don't have to reload and you don't run out of ammo.
bruce.

 

[dchamp]

I'll throw my 2 cents out there. Some like brunettes, some like blondes and maybe secretly, all I think, like red heads. They're all good in their ways. But what we pay for is refinement. So it's just whatever floats your boat and what you're willing to pay.

 

[Philip Glass]

So it’s a weekend and I want to invoke some comments. The Blaser nuts are all over those things and the Rigby are offering some nice CRF rifles assembled by them.

What are you preferences and what other big end rifles should I have named?

I can afford either but I’d like to try a Blaser or a Rigby. I do like the traditional looks etc on the Rigby but I haven’t seen either up close.

I like all nice rifles but preferences vary what’s yours?. I have functional reliable sporting rifles, I Like quality scopes too and could not spent like $3000 plus for a scope for these high end rifles. If I won the Lotto I may consider having something like that but then I would want more than one I guess.

Using these would add to the glamour, the experience and the nostalgia of hunting Africa or elsewhere but would it improve my success.

Until you have a Blaser you just don’t know or understand what it has to offer. There is simply nothing like it. I am working with my new R8 and hope to post about it soon. So those that don’t own a Blaser really can’t comment on this. What I mean is it’s complicated! Not trying to be insulting.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

I will say that I don't own either. I have seriously looked at the R8, I have seen @Red Leg R8. I have been to the Blaser USA showroom in San Antonio and handled a R8 and Rigby's and Mauser's . What I still in my mind cannot resolve is the plastic parts the R8. So for that reason of the two choices the Rigby wins.

That said, I am a die hard SAKO fan.

What plastic parts? Magazine? Yes. All steel as far as what’s important as far as I know.