Rigby Big Game Lightweight 350 Rigby

[ay2626]

The 404J is built on the same big game model configuration as the 416 etc, they actually brought it out last year but I suppose just hadn't officially released it. At least that's how it was configured when I talked to them about it last year.

The current production 404J does match the specs of the Big Game in 416. This one weighs in at 10lb 6oz bare. If they eventually offered the 404J in the lighter weight version i think that would be a nice set up. This could lose a pound and still be very pleasant to shoot.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

The current production 404J does match the specs of the Big Game in 416. This one weighs in at 10lb 6oz bare. If they eventually offered the 404J in the lighter weight version i think that would be a nice set up. This could lose a pound and still be very pleasant to shoot.

Nice rifle! How does it shoot? And have you got a hunt planned for it?

 

[pjaln]

I wish they would offer it with the scope flats in front of the receiver ring and single square bridge with the caliber engraved on the front receiver , than it would be worth taking a look as for whats they released is just the typical rigby highlander in 350 out side of the magazine box thats bigger , in guess if I want an exact copy of a prewar 350 I have to spend an additional 15k or so and they know it because they have produced new 350,s that look like the prewar ones in fact I think they made 25 of them a few years ago ,, im going to get a price on one this week the way I just described

 

[pjaln]

I think Matt Roberts of MNR does a pretty good job of building a rigby clone

 

[ay2626]

Nice rifle! How does it shoot? And have you got a hunt planned for it?

Thanks. I’ve only had it since the beginning of November but have tried Barnes flat point solids, DGX, NF percussion points, NF cup point solids and A-Frames. Feeds all of them perfectly and probably more accurate than I am. Nothing booked currently. I have 4 very young ones at home that will need to get a little older before I can get away.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don't know if it's just me but this new offering from Rigby doesn't really make sense to me? The Big Game rifles are chambered in exactly that, big game calibres- 375H&H, 416 Rigby & 450 Rigby. Rigby then offer the Highland Stalker in smaller calibres suitable for plains game etc but also chamber this model in the good ole 9.3X62 which alot of us already know is the legal minimum in quite a few African countries for DG.

• The new Big Game "lightweight" is chambered in 350 Rigby, which won't be legal for DG in the majority of African countries.
• Is a smaller calibre than the 9.3X62
• From my research and understanding this cartridge produces slightly less energy than the 9.3 though with modern powders the ballistic performance can probably be improved.
• Typically uses a lighter weight projectile than the 9.3
• Given the calibre, bullet weight and powder charge I can't see the 350 Rigby producing a significant amount of recoil (doesn't need to be chambered in a heavy rifle)
• The new "lightweight" big game model in the 350 Rigby chambering still weighs around 9.3-9.5lbs, compared to the Highland Stalker in 9.3 which weighs around 7.8lbs and in my opinion is the perfect configuration and weight for the 9.3 chambering

So with all that being said, why chamber a lightweight version of the big game model in 350 Rigby? Wouldn't it have made more sense to chamber the Highland Stalker in 350 Rigby? Most of you already know I'm a Rigby fan boy and that's never going to change but yeah I am really struggling to understand this new offering. Also just to be clear my questioning of this new offering has nothing to do with the cartridge itself, it's the configuration of the rifle that doesn't make sense to me.

What's everyone else's thoughts?

Below from the Rigby website.

Big Game Lightweight​

Chambered in .350 Magnum, the Lightweight features a slim profile 24-inch barrel, with the stock profile reproduced to mirror the vintage pre-war models housed in the Rigby Museum, with no cheek piece and larger hand-chequered panels. The rifle weighs 430grams less than the standard Big Game.

@Aussie_Hunter
I can't see that it would need a magnum lenght action because the COAL is only 3.44", but the case capacity is over 90grains. Maybe they are anticipating that people will load it to its potential and equal or a bit better than the 358 Norma mag. If so the extra weight would help with recoil. Apart from that I can’t see why.
The original Rigby loads are still below a good Whelen but can be improved a lot.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

they are probably using a magnum sized action them and given the way they are building rifles it makes more sense to use the big game template.

Ithink it's a great idea and I hope someone like Hornady, et. al., gets off their butts and makes good brass for it. I would love a 350, but being a man of very modest means an original is out of reach.

@baxterb
Settle for the poor man's 350 Rigby and get a Whelen it can be loaded to easily exceed the original Rigby at a fraction of the cost.
I know it's not a Rigby but you can always pretend it is.
Bob

 

[318AE]

I’ve seen 333 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 300 H&H and 375 H&H, made by their eponymous maker, in both magnum and standard/intermediate actions. I’ve never seen a 350 Rigby in anything other than a magnum action. It would fit, just as any of the others do, with either finagling or finesse.

The question in my mind is not why they chose to put the 350 in the magnum action, but why bring back the cartridge at all (don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they did). It’s a hand loaders only proposition at the moment. As some of our Aussie friends have mentioned, it’s basically a 35 Whelen you can’t get brass for.

Rigby is all about nostalgia - it’s a 125 year old action design, walnut and blue steel. There is a little Corbett and Selby in every rifle they sell. If you want to spend that money on something practical, get a Blaser. If you want similar action features, and save some of that money, buy a Winchester.

I’m glad Rigby is back in London with the offerings they have. Maybe I’ll actually be able to buy 350 Rigby ammo now. If they put the 350 in an intermediate action with the Prince of Wales stock, they should call it the “Paso Robles Stalker”.

 

[cajunchefray]

@baxterb
Settle for the poor man's 350 Rigby and get a Whelen it can be loaded to easily exceed the original Rigby at a fraction of the cost.
I know it's not a Rigby but you can always pretend it is.
Bob

My thoughts exactly @Bob Nelson 35Whelen . I'm on my third .35 Whelen, thinking I need just one more.

 

[Tintin]

Here’s a pic a mate just sent me

 

[R eight]

Here’s a pic a mate just sent me

View attachment 580600

That Land Rover in the background has ruined a nice photograph.

 

[Tintin]

That Land Rover in the background has ruined enhanced a nice photograph.

Fixed your typo

 

[steve white]

I believe Pondoro Taylor spoke highly of the Rigby 350?
Ran the actions on the rifle as DSC yesterday, and man was it smooth.

 

[TOBY458]

If they're going to call it the "lightweight" model. Why didn't they make it.....lightweight? 9.5lbs is anything but lightweight in my book. Especially if they're chambering it for 350 Rigby. A cartridge with the same ballistics as a 35 Whelen. They could've at least gotten the bare rifle weight down to 8lbs. Then chamber it for 375 H&H and sell them for the same price as the HS. Then they'd have something exciting to announce.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

If they're going to call it the "lightweight" model. Why didn't they make it.....lightweight? 9.5lbs is anything but lightweight in my book. Especially if they're chambering it for 350 Rigby. A cartridge with the same ballistics as a 35 Whelen. They could've at least gotten the bare rifle weight down to 8lbs. Then chamber it for 375 H&H and sell them for the same price as the HS. Then they'd have something exciting to announce.

I'd be happy with the bare rifle weight at 9lbs for the 375H&H but yep you and I are pretty much thinking along the exact same lines. Hence my original post of, it doesn't really make sense to me......

 

[baxterb]

@baxterb
Settle for the poor man's 350 Rigby and get a Whelen it can be loaded to easily exceed the original Rigby at a fraction of the cost.
I know it's not a Rigby but you can always pretend it is.
Bob

yup... already slowly heading that way. I just got this NOS bottom metal from D'Arcy Echols and I think I'll use it on a 1935 Brazilian. I already have a couple hundred rounds of brass i got many years ago... the poor man's 350 Rigby may make an appearance in 2024 if the stars line up...

 

[baxterb]

View attachment 580540
I think Matt Roberts of MNR does a pretty good job of building a rigby clone

Matt does very nice work. I like watching the videos of his processes.

 

[ZG47]

I’ve seen 333 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 300 H&H and 375 H&H, made by their eponymous maker, in both magnum and standard/intermediate actions. I’ve never seen a 350 Rigby in anything other than a magnum action. It would fit, just as any of the others do, with either finagling or finesse.

The question in my mind is not why they chose to put the 350 in the magnum action, but why bring back the cartridge at all (don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they did). It’s a hand loaders only proposition at the moment. As some of our Aussie friends have mentioned, it’s basically a 35 Whelen you can’t get brass for.

Rigby is all about nostalgia - it’s a 125 year old action design, walnut and blue steel. There is a little Corbett and Selby in every rifle they sell. If you want to spend that money on something practical, get a Blaser. If you want similar action features, and save some of that money, buy a Winchester.

I’m glad Rigby is back in London with the offerings they have. Maybe I’ll actually be able to buy 350 Rigby ammo now. If they put the 350 in an intermediate action with the Prince of Wales stock, they should call it the “Paso Robles Stalker”.

I understand that quite a few of the .350 Rigby rifles were rebarreled by Rigby for the. 375 H&H, in addition to the .404 Jeffery conversions mentioned in an earlier reply to this thread. A shortage of original .350 Rigby rifles might be part of the marketing equation.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Rigby is set to unveil new Big Game Lightweight rifle at Dallas Safari Club Convention - John Rigby & Co.

London gunmaker John Rigby & Co. proudly introduces the Big Game Lightweight rifle to its renowned BigLearn more

www.johnrigbyandco.com

I love the looks and feel. To me, it is an excellent platform for magnum cartridges below 416 Rigby.

Safe hunting.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

That Land Rover in the background has ruined a nice photograph.

Fixed your typo

Sure that would depend on how big the oil leak under it was.........
gumpy