Rigby Big Game Lightweight 350 Rigby

[spike.t]

I will put another post on aftee I have listened to Marcs last voice message and typed it ....Will take a little bit to relisten and make sure I get it correct

 

[spike.t]

If Rigby could stuff 416 Rigby cartridge into Harry Selby's standard Mauser action (and apparently they did it as he sent it back to them at one point to be rebarrelled), then I'm sure they could do it with the shorter and less pressure 350 Rigby cartridge. That, I think, would have made more sense. I also think this is an attempt to go after the nostalgic novelty crowd. Nothing wrong with that. Gunmakers do it all the time (e.g. Browning). Often it's just a flash in the pan that barely, if at all, pays the cost of retooling. Practically speaking, the caliber choice in that action doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Same bullet as 35 WH and about same amout of gas. I see no advantage to having a longer action and heavier gun. Mind you, I am no advocate of lightweight guns but a "lightweight" medium bore rifle that's as heavy as a DGR thumper magnum? Why? And I'm sorry, I just don't see this gun being a big drawing card on this side of the pond. Hunting for moose and brown bear is supposed to be rough stuff. Stainless and plastic rules in the Great White North.

If you want one of these cute baby thumpers, I suspect you should order it now. Rigby will probably drop it from the lineup in a couple years ... or sooner.

Not sure why you are so negative...and as stated the Magnum action after the ones designed for the rimmed calibres ie 400/350 ,and a smaller slant box rimmed action for the 303 was then developed for the 350 rimless/Magnum. This was a few years before the 416 was developed...the 350 was very popular and many more were sold than the 416...if you look at the silhouette of the 350 and 416 together they are pretty identical...the 416 was an enlarged 350.....this is why today the 350 is made with the Magnum action. Yes some 350 and odd 416 were made on standard actions, but it wasn't the greatest option and not many were built due to this

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I think Rigby building 416R on standard action was perhaps pushing the envelope. However, building 350R on standard action not so much. I'm not sure why the magnum action was/is a better option for 350R if unnecessary. Standard action has a shorter stroke than magnum action and is lighter weight to carry. Personally, if I was on a nostalgia kick, I think I'd be more attracted to owning a replica of something similar to Harry Selby's gun. I just think it would be more profitable for Rigby to pursue that angle rather than the baby DGR cartridge on an overweight magnum action.

 

[spike.t]

I think Rigby building 416R on standard action was perhaps pushing the envelope. However, building 350R on standard action not so much. I'm not sure why the magnum action was/is a better option for 350R if unnecessary. Standard action has a shorter stroke than magnum action and is lighter weight to carry. Personally, if I was on a nostalgia kick, I think I'd be more attracted to owning a replica of something similar to Harry Selby's gun. I just think it would be more profitable for Rigby to pursue that angle rather than the baby DGR cartridge on an overweight magnum action.

OK you obviously know better...so won't bother beating my head against a brick wall....

 

[spike.t]

I will put another post on aftee I have listened to Marcs last voice message and typed it ....Will take a little bit to relisten and make sure I get it correct

OK here I go....
Basically Marc said when he "inherited" rigby 10 years ago it was in his words on its arse, and he didn't have two pieces of paper to rub together....he says Rome wasn't built in a day, and he has a grand vision for the continuing future of rigbys. He as ceo and a shareholder in rigby chose the name , as they didn't want to introduce another whole new model so used that platform. He says the 350 is the first step in a new chapter of the grand vision he has for where he is heading with rigby....so at moment as said, you have the 300H&H ..350 rigby and 375H;&H in this model.....as i said previously he said they have some neat new stuff for next year and onwards, but he can't tell me what they are at the moment...says please be patient.

 

[Rule 303]

Ontario hunter, As I said before, the 350 Rigby needs the magnum length action to get its best performance. I do not see any advantage to shoe horning it into a standard length action unless you will be happy with Whelen ballistics. Also the magnum action makes for better and more reliable feeding.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

OK here I go....
Basically Marc said when he "inherited" rigby 10 years ago it was in his words on its arse, and he didn't have two pieces of paper to rub together....he says Rome wasn't built in a day, and he has a grand vision for the continuing future of rigbys. He as ceo and a shareholder in rigby chose the name , as they didn't want to introduce another whole new model so used that platform. He says the 350 is the first step in a new chapter of the grand vision he has for where he is heading with rigby....so at moment as said, you have the 300H&H ..350 rigby and 375H;&H in this model.....as i said previously he said they have some neat new stuff for next year and onwards, but he can't tell me what they are at the moment...says please be patient.

Sounds interesting.
And as I said in one of my earlier comments, this configuration in 375H&H would be good, I'm looking forward to seeing that.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I think Rigby building 416R on standard action was perhaps pushing the envelope. However, building 350R on standard action not so much. I'm not sure why the magnum action was/is a better option for 350R if unnecessary. Standard action has a shorter stroke than magnum action and is lighter weight to carry. Personally, if I was on a nostalgia kick, I think I'd be more attracted to owning a replica of something similar to Harry Selby's gun. I just think it would be more profitable for Rigby to pursue that angle rather than the baby DGR cartridge on an overweight magnum action.

@Ontario Hunter
The difference between a short action for 308 and long action 06 is half an inch then another half inch for the Magnum action.
If people can't pull a bolt back an extra half to one one inch without short stroking it the should take up golf, or buy a pump or semi auto
Easy just pull bolt back as far as it will go then push it forward. It ain't rocket surgery.
I'm not say you would short stroke a rifle, but stroke an idiot maybe.
Bob

 

[PerH]

Rigby built the .416 of Selby on the standard action due to after ww1 the Oberndorf actions could not be obtained . And it was not before the Rebuild of Germany for a few years actions could be obtainable again

 

[PCC600]

I think Rigby building 416R on standard action was perhaps pushing the envelope. However, building 350R on standard action not so much. I'm not sure why the magnum action was/is a better option for 350R if unnecessary. Standard action has a shorter stroke than magnum action and is lighter weight to carry. Personally, if I was on a nostalgia kick, I think I'd be more attracted to owning a replica of something similar to Harry Selby's gun. I just think it would be more profitable for Rigby to pursue that angle rather than the baby DGR cartridge on an overweight magnum action.

The 350 Rigby will sell like hot cakes . A really good cartridge .

 

[SFRanger7GP]

The 350 Rigby will sell like hot cakes . A really good cartridge .

It appears as if it is doing just that.

Safe shooting

 

[baxterb]

I think Rigby building 416R on standard action was perhaps pushing the envelope. However, building 350R on standard action not so much. I'm not sure why the magnum action was/is a better option for 350R if unnecessary. Standard action has a shorter stroke than magnum action and is lighter weight to carry. Personally, if I was on a nostalgia kick, I think I'd be more attracted to owning a replica of something similar to Harry Selby's gun. I just think it would be more profitable for Rigby to pursue that angle rather than the baby DGR cartridge on an overweight magnum action.

A true replica of Selbys rifle from Rigby would I think be impossible. Harry took to the stock himself with rasps and files to make it how he liked it. Aside from the hassle of shoehorning the 416 in a standard action.

My guess on the magnum action is it was less work with the mag box and feeding/rails, and they were able to maintain the feed ramp length/angle they wanted. But that’s just a guess.

 

[mdwest]

It appears as if it is doing just that.

Safe shooting

I know when I asked Gary at noon on Thursday (first day the floor was open) if he thought it would be a big seller.. he responded with "we've sold 4 already since opening"....

Im guessing they sold A LOT of the lightweights by the time the show closed on Sunday..

 

[SFRanger7GP]

It was over a dozen when I did the podcast on Saturday morning.

Safe shooting.

 

[baxterb]

It was over a dozen when I did the podcast on Saturday morning.

Safe shooting.

You have a podcast with Rigby? Where can I find it?

 

[mdwest]

You have a podcast with Rigby? Where can I find it?

The Rigby Campfire Podcast

Podcast · John Rigby and Co. · Welcome to the Rigby Campfire Podcast, your exclusive invitation to the heart of the world of Rigby. Join us as your host, Marc Newton, MD of John Rigby & Co, founded in 1775, talks to luminaries, experts, and adventurers in the realm of best gunmaking and hunting...

open.spotify.com

they only have a couple of episodes posted so far.. Im sure a handful more are already in the hopper, being edited, etc.. and will be published soon..

 

[SFRanger7GP]

The Rigby Campfire Podcast

Podcast · John Rigby and Co. · Welcome to the Rigby Campfire Podcast, your exclusive invitation to the heart of the world of Rigby. Join us as your host, Marc Newton, MD of John Rigby & Co, founded in 1775, talks to luminaries, experts, and adventurers in the realm of best gunmaking and hunting...

open.spotify.com

they only have a couple of episodes posted so far.. Im sure a handful more are already in the hopper, being edited, etc.. and will be published soon..

After Simon finishes editing, mine should be about 2 minutes long.

Safe shooting

 

[spike.t]

The Rigby Campfire Podcast

Podcast · John Rigby and Co. · Welcome to the Rigby Campfire Podcast, your exclusive invitation to the heart of the world of Rigby. Join us as your host, Marc Newton, MD of John Rigby & Co, founded in 1775, talks to luminaries, experts, and adventurers in the realm of best gunmaking and hunting...

open.spotify.com

they only have a couple of episodes posted so far.. Im sure a handful more are already in the hopper, being edited, etc.. and will be published soon..

Not available in this region it says....and there's me doing all this pr for them....

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Making this baby thumper in 300 H&H and 375 makes a bit more sense. Both are based on the same case so minimal retooling is necessary to produce them. The 350R is a proprietary case. I can't see that it was used for any commercially successful "wildcatting." Finding brass will be a headache (we who shoot the proprietary 404J know all about that!). And Rigby must significantly retool for this gun specifically. I guess since their guns are essentially handmade anyway, that probably won't be a huge issue.

Perhaps fitting the 350R onto a magnum action does fit the nostalgia niche better than a standard action since it was introduced in 1908 on a magnum action. But it would have been in production only six years before access to magnum actions dried up. And that dry spell was long term. More importantly, in my opinion anyway, the dry spell spanned the golden age of African safari hunting. After WWI motorized vehicles, planes, and motion pictures enhanced the safari industry/sport/culture. Ironically, the Great Depression only enhanced it more. Depressed unemployed or marginally employed were eager to escape their grim reality through press and media exposure to the glamor and mystery of the Dark Continent. So ... for nostalgia junkies wishing to resurrect those golden years, would it not be more fitting to hunt with rifles that mimic Great Depression production safari guns, i.e. magnum calibers built on standard actions? Seems like that would be a great marketing angle. 375 & 416R were introduced shortly before WWI and 300 H&H in 1925. British gunmakers would have had very limited to no access to new Mauser magnum actions for producing guns in these new popular calibers during the Safari Golden Age.

I don't know about 350R but the popular contention that 404J "shoehorned" on a standard Mauser action was fraught with feeding and cycling problems is, in my experience, more myth than reality. 350R is slightly longer but looking at my 404J, it certainly appears its standard action could have handled a longer cartridge without cutting into the forward ring.

My 404 standard Mauser conversion actually cycles much smoother than my sporterized Springfield 03A3 and that gun is VERY smooth.

Anyway, my point was if Rigby wants to pander to Golden Age romantics (and I am not critical because I also shoot "classic" rifles with history attached), perhaps they should consider something historically accurate to that period?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Rigby built the .416 of Selby on the standard action due to after ww1 the Oberndorf actions could not be obtained . And it was not before the Rebuild of Germany for a few years actions could be obtainable again

I am wondering if magnum Mauser actions were available in Britain during the preWWII Nazi years after the collapse of Weimar Republic? Presumably Mauser was making them again as Hitler thumbed his nose at the Versailles Treaty, but were they legally importable for English gunmakers? If not, then that meant the period of "shoehorned" British safari rifle manufacturing must have indeed been rather lengthy? Or were they not able to make their own magnum actions? Interesting period when many remarkable developments were made in magnum cartridge development while access to actions for them was apparently very limited.