Heym Express Rifle Which Calibre?

[AES]

375 H&H goes into a H&H Rifle.
416 Rigby goes into a Rigby Rifle
450 Rigby goes into a Rigby Rifle
458 Lott goes into.. well, CZ and Win 70

404 Jeffery goes into a Heym.

Almost…

404 Jeffrey goes in a WJ Jeffrey ! The Lott can go to Heym (or any other, non-proprietary cartridge gunmaker)

 

[VertigoBE]

I’d vote to replace your aging .458 Lott with something very special. You know the caliber, know what it can do, what impressions it makes on game, now give it a brand new suit to work in

Alternatively if you want something new, the .404 Jeffery

I would also add, imagine at some point in the future you go out hunting big dangerous game with (not a 458 Lott) new Heym. You do not want to risk at some point having a feeling that you are under gunned , wishing to have a bigger boom stick with you and then longing for your old rifle. Your next safari, you might just grab for Old Faithful again, or at least have a nagging doubt when deciding on which rifle to take.

For Old Faithful, a retirement hanging on your wall in your study, perhaps framed would be most appropriate then

 

[colorado]

How come you didn’t list my favorite offering- The .505 Gibbs ?

Or my favorite the 500 Jeffery? What's with all these medium bores?

 

[Tiger2001]

As most of you probably already know I am a big Rigby fan boy and I have recently been looking at putting another Rigby in my safe. However the price point of the Heym Martini Express rifle, the good things I hear about it especially on this forum and the fact they make these rifles to order with cartridge specific actions & cartridge specific magazine boxes has got me looking away from Rigby for my next big game rifle.

The lead time on the Heym is a bit if a turn off, having said that I'm in no hurry for the rifle and apparently good things come to those who wait? I already know some specifics I'll be asking for- 14" LOP and grade 7 wood upgrade but I really am stuck on calibre. As most of you already know the Heym is offered in 375H&H, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 458 Lott and 450 Rigby. I already own rifles chambered in 375H&H, 458 Lott and 450 Rigby so I am leaning towards 416 Rigby but I love both the 458 Lott and 450 Rigby calibres. Also the 458 Lott I have now all though still in good working order has had a hard life to say the least so I'm think of retiring that rifle and possibly making this Heym it's replacement and yeah before anyone asks I'm more than happy to make this Heym a working rifle, I put all my rifles to work in the field.

I always hear so much talk on here when it comes to the 404 Jeffery and have seen many of these rifles online chambered in this calibre but I just feel the 416 Rigby is a better option, more bullet and brass choices in the 416 calibre, definitely much more readily available atleast where I am in the world anyway.

So at the moment for me it's a battle between the 416 Rigby and 458 Lott calibres but which calibre would you choose in this rifle and why? I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts. My rifle will be scoped with a low power 1-4 scope and will be used for buffalo, scrub bulls and banteng.

I do not reload so I am beholden to what ammo is readily obtainable. Given that limitation I would vote for the 375 H&H first and the 458 Lott second. Any one of those calibers will bring down your stated query over there in Oz easy enough. Personally I always seem to come back to the 375. It's obtainable, reasonably priced, available in several options, moderate in recoil and yet powerful enough on the receiving end to take anything on earth down. I just shy away from it in a DR given that its a rimless cartridge.

 

[colorado]

My choice wasn't on there. They used to make that rifle in 500 NE.

 

[geoff rath]

If the chance arose, mine would be, as you wrote, either the 416 Rigby or the Lott. Both would be most effective on just about anything ...

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I saw a Heym Martini Express 416 over the weekend next to a Rigby Big Bore I think in 450. The Heym looks a bit slighter, probably perfectly suited to 375H&H, ok for 416. But bigger?

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I saw a Heym Martini Express 416 over the weekend next to a Rigby Big Bore I think in 450. The Heym looks a bit slighter, probably perfectly suited to 375H&H, ok for 416. But bigger?

I have been told by the Australian distributer that the 450 Rigby chambering is bigger, from memory they said it's not just the barrel profile that's bigger, but the action is bigger as well. Would be the same for the 505 Gibbs chambering. And I am pretty sure they said the 450 chambering was more expensive than all the other chamberings 375, 404, 416, 458 about 3-4k AUD from memory, I didn't get a price on the 505 Gibbs chambering, but I believe it is significantly more again.

 

[IvW]

The vote is very clear.....yet the chitter chatter is about all the rest.....sounds like politics....just go with the vote.....

 

[BeeMaa]

The vote is very clear.....yet the chitter chatter is about all the rest.....sounds like politics....just go with the vote.....

Not at all. When you are spending that kind of coin you should get EXACTLY what you want. Regardless of what anyone else thinks.

 

[rookhawk]

I'm a cheapskate, so I never buy something new for full retail that has "enhanced depreciation". It's just me and my way.

There is a sea of $20,000-$200,000 custom rifles out there in calibers like 375HH, 416 Rigby, and 458 Lott. For that reason, I would not opt to buy a new bespoke rifle in a caliber where I can buy that gun used for half to a tenth the price.

So what can't you buy with a briefcase full of money any day of the week? 404J, 450 Rigby, and 500 Jeffery. Those three will therefore have much less depreciation, particularly the Jeffery calibers, than the other choices on the wishlist. They are just scarcer calibers and are highly sought.

So putting it another way, your purchase price is the same with any caliber you rattled off, what its worth ten seconds after you walk out of the gun shop is the only thing that differs.

404J and 500J if a new bespoke gun, every other caliber just buy a barely used one for thousands or tens of thousands less.

 

[rookhawk]

But don't take my word for it:

 

[tarbe]

 

[John458Lott]

As most of you probably already know I am a big Rigby fan boy and I have recently been looking at putting another Rigby in my safe. However the price point of the Heym Martini Express rifle, the good things I hear about it especially on this forum and the fact they make these rifles to order with cartridge specific actions & cartridge specific magazine boxes has got me looking away from Rigby for my next big game rifle.

The lead time on the Heym is a bit if a turn off, having said that I'm in no hurry for the rifle and apparently good things come to those who wait? I already know some specifics I'll be asking for- 14" LOP and grade 7 wood upgrade but I really am stuck on calibre. As most of you already know the Heym is offered in 375H&H, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 458 Lott and 450 Rigby. I already own rifles chambered in 375H&H, 458 Lott and 450 Rigby so I am leaning towards 416 Rigby but I love both the 458 Lott and 450 Rigby calibres. Also the 458 Lott I have now all though still in good working order has had a hard life to say the least so I'm think of retiring that rifle and possibly making this Heym it's replacement and yeah before anyone asks I'm more than happy to make this Heym a working rifle, I put all my rifles to work in the field.

I always hear so much talk on here when it comes to the 404 Jeffery and have seen many of these rifles online chambered in this calibre but I just feel the 416 Rigby is a better option, more bullet and brass choices in the 416 calibre, definitely much more readily available atleast where I am in the world anyway.

So at the moment for me it's a battle between the 416 Rigby and 458 Lott calibres but which calibre would you choose in this rifle and why? I'm interested to hear everyone's thoughts. My rifle will be scoped with a low power 1-4 scope and will be used for buffalo, scrub bulls and banteng.

Aussie I'm from Oz too. Have owned a 404 Jeffrey since 2000 but only hunted with it in 2022 in South Africa! I was lucky enough to buy Bob De Vries of Kudu Services personal rifle on an Argentine 1909 Mauser. Absolutely beautiful and he custom worked the magazine and floor plate so it fits 3 down in the mag, tight but it fits.

I am a convert to the 404J! So much wallop for recoil that is not less than but less sharp than a 375 H&H shooting 300 grainers at 2550fps. This I attribute to the leisurely 2150fps with the 400gr Woodleighs.

Take your pick, the 416 Rigby if loaded to sub 2200fps would be the same. But that case is so huge the temptation would be to load to 2400 or so.

I believe the Heym loads 4 in the mag in 404J not sure with the Rigby.

BTW who in Oz can we order Heym from and how long is the wait? I thought I'd have to go to Huston to order one at Heym USA. Have thought I should get a custom for me not someone else's custom.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Aussie I'm from Oz too. Have owned a 404 Jeffrey since 2000 but only hunted with it in 2022 in South Africa! I was lucky enough to buy Bob De Vries of Kudu Services personal rifle on an Argentine 1909 Mauser. Absolutely beautiful and he custom worked the magazine and floor plate so it fits 3 down in the mag, tight but it fits.

I am a convert to the 404J! So much wallop for recoil that is not less than but less sharp than a 375 H&H shooting 300 grainers at 2550fps. This I attribute to the leisurely 2150fps with the 400gr Woodleighs.

Take your pick, the 416 Rigby if loaded to sub 2200fps would be the same. But that case is so huge the temptation would be to load to 2400 or so.

I believe the Heym loads 4 in the mag in 404J not sure with the Rigby.

BTW who in Oz can we order Heym from and how long is the wait? I thought I'd have to go to Huston to order one at Heym USA. Have thought I should get a custom for me not someone else's custom.

Hermans guns mate, they seem really good to deal with. I don't know about lead times, they quoted me 9 months but I'm very sceptical seeing Europe is waiting 3 years and the USA is waiting around 18 months. I still haven't ordered my Heym as I found a really nice double rifle in Australia I wanted and have just spent a fortune on that, but I will still be ordering a Heym when I get around to it, I'm leaning towards 416 Rigby chambering.

Firearms - Heym - Page 1 - Hermann's Sporting Guns

hermannsguns.com.au

 

[John458Lott]

Hermans guns mate, they seem really good to deal with. I don't know about lead times, they quoted me 9 months but I'm very sceptical seeing Europe is waiting 3 years and the USA is waiting around 18 months. I still haven't ordered my Heym as I found a really nice double rifle in Australia I wanted and have just spent a fortune on that, but I will still be ordering a Heym when I get around to it, I'm leaning towards 416 Rigby chambering.

Firearms - Heym - Page 1 - Hermann's Sporting Guns

hermannsguns.com.au

Thanks Aussie!

I considered a double but I'm getting too old and my eyes are no good with open sights. What calibre is your double? What make?

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Thanks Aussie!

I considered a double but I'm getting too old and my eyes are no good with open sights. What calibre is your double? What make?

Chapuis 470, I'd love a Heym double but unfortunately for me I'm cursed with impatience, not to mention the Chapuis doubles are fine rifles

 

[John Telford]

I have been told by the Australian distributer that the 450 Rigby chambering is bigger, from memory they said it's not just the barrel profile that's bigger, but the action is bigger as well. Would be the same for the 505 Gibbs chambering. And I am pretty sure they said the 450 chambering was more expensive than all the other chamberings 375, 404, 416, 458 about 3-4k AUD from memory, I didn't get a price on the 505 Gibbs chambering, but I believe it is significantly more again.

The bolt also needs to be bigger to accommodate the case of the 505.