Rigby Big Game DSB 404 Jeffery Build

[PCC600]

Got out on the range today now I've got the swarovski mounted, 3 shots at 65 yards shooting 450 grain Woodleighs at 2263fps. I challenge you to find a 404 Jeffery anywhere in the world that shoots better than that.

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All the big Rigby’s shoot well . I have a 450PH and a 416 Big Game . Both single square bridge and the accuracy is astonishing .

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Unbelievable how accurate these Rigby rifles are, especially considering they are big calibres and realistically they are a very simple and basic build. At the end of the day they are just a big relatively clunky, barrelled magnum Mauser action sitting in a wood stock but man do they shoot. And to touch on the scope mounting again, maybe high for some but I'm the same as you, it works just fine for me and not uncomfortable at all.

What ammo did you use to shoot that group and at what distance?

That group was with factory Barnes ammunition with the 400gr TSX FB, and shot off bag and rest at 100 yards.

I didn’t get to really play with the Barnes anmmo off rest and on paper until this year because of the timing of getting the rifle last year shortly before leaving for Africa. I had planned to take a Dakota in 375HH (already had the permit and everything lined out for it) but just a couple weeks before leaving I got the Rigby…and couldn’t not take it. It was a bit of a rush though. Alaska isn’t always the easiest to get ammo and cannot just order it from the lower states and have it shipped. So I had to scramble to get ammo to sight and practice with and have enough to take for the trip.

I was able to locally find some old stock Federal 400gr trophy solids and bonded bear claws, 1 box of the solid and 3 boxes of the bonded. I also had some custom loaded ammo that I got with another Dakota in 416, a box of 50 with A-Frames and two boxes of 20 with solids and TSX. The Rigby also shot the old federal well, but NOT any of the expensive “custom loaded” ammo, so brought Federal bonded for my trip in 2024. I was able to get a box of the Barnes delivered to my brother in Colorado where I stopped for a couple weeks in-route to Africa. Never got a chance to shoot them, but brought the box and part way through the trip tried them at the range and POI was spot on at 50yds. Used them on an eland at the end of the trip and was impressed with performance so planned to look more closely at using the Barnes this year or working up a load since I hand load for many of my rifles and large bore handguns.

Shifted to shooting other calibers for hunting seasons here in Alaska so didn’t get the Rigby out until this spring. Shooting the different factory and so called custom ammo I had on hand, I chrono’d them all and the Barnes was both the fastest and most consistent. The supposed custom ammo which was loaded in new Federal Brass with 400gr A-Frames was the most inconsistent of the lot, which matches how it patterns. I use that stuff mostly for fouling shots after cleaning and when practicing faster firing off sticks…things where I’m not bent by a loss in accuracy.

Here is the first three shots through my rifle at 50 yards. This is before my scope arrived, so iron sights and was off the bench.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Here is right after the scope arrived and getting it rough sighted. The top left is the Federal Trophy Bonded and the center was the custom loaded A-Frames.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

This spring I had more time to try different ammo and chrono what I had so I could decide whether to shoot factory or work up a load, intending on using the TSX. Photos of chrono for some shots with Federal, Barnes and the so called custom loads (it’s the photo with federal nickel brass, no box and huge spread in speed). Barnes was the fastest and most consistent, which matched other range days using the Barnes. It shot so well, and my local shop was able to get two cases, that I’m sticking with it for the time being…however long it takes me to blow through 20 boxes. At least I’ll have brass when the time comes.

Now please get us back on track talking about your gorgeous 404. Tease with more photos of that beauty. I’m itching for another BGR, but leaning toward a 450.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]