Rigby mauser

[john corry]

Hi All,
I’m trying to figure out a problem that 3 of my pre war Rigby’s have. When I load the rifle, with 3 - 5 rounds in the magazine, the rounds move around and one can hear them jangling away when moving the rifle. This happens in two 350s and one 350 No. 2. I have tried both modern ammo and even a box of the original stuff from 1920. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[MontanaGrant]

Weak magazine springs? I cannot think of anything else that should have that effect. I can’t say as I’ve seen that on any rifle

 

[john corry]

The springs seem fine. The rifles are all in very good condition, with little use.

 

[baxterb]

Are you in the US? Might call Lon Paul, I know he has worked on /built several 350s including standard and stepped ring/slant box versions. As a random guess it sounds like the box dims or follower are slightly off and the round are tight at the base but are not being held together throughout their length. That’s just a guess.

 

[RyanPalmer]

Send a message to @RIGBY. They seem to keep an eye on the forums.

 

[uplander01]

If it's causing problems, I would have Rigby look at the guns, service or replace ethe springs, and run a reliability check. Springs can look fine, but they lose their spring, you can't see it, they may look like new, but they are not. Same for firing pin springs, should be replaced over time.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Sounds like the box is oversize for the cartridge ... as in way oversize. You should be able to look in the magazine when it's loaded and see very little space between bullet tip and forward end of the box. Actually, I would have thought the gun would not cycle smoothly if the mag box was too long. Is the box length longer at the bottom (depth) than the top? However, that would seem unlikely if the bottom metal is machined. The opposite would usually be the case to allow for "drift" when machining. If you can see a lot of space ahead of the bullets loaded in the box, a gunsmith could add a spacer. Bullet seating is obviously not the issue because you have the same problem with period factory loads.

This is a strange one. Hope you get it figured out. You should look after fixing this as cartridges rattling in the box could mean bullets getting shoved back in their cases during recoil = messed up velocity = trajectory changes.

 

[john corry]

Sounds like the box is oversize for the cartridge ... as in way oversize. You should be able to look in the magazine when it's loaded and see very little space between bullet tip and forward end of the box. Actually, I would have thought the gun would not cycle smoothly if the mag box was too long. Is the box length longer at the bottom (depth) than the top? However, that would seem unlikely if the bottom metal is machined. The opposite would usually be the case to allow for "drift" when machining. If you can see a lot of space ahead of the bullets loaded in the box, a gunsmith could add a spacer. Bullet seating is obviously not the issue because you have the same problem with period factory loads.

This is a strange one. Hope you get it figured out. You should look after fixing this as cartridges rattling in the box could mean bullets getting shoved back in their cases during recoil = messed up velocity = trajectory changes.

So, after a phone call with Paul Roberts he explained to me it’s actually a common issue - the Rigby 350s were built on Magnum actions which were really designed for the 416. A very desirable action but quite annoying to hear that it’s a known prob. I have no feed probs just the noise. Will be rectified by fitting a small spacer.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Or do as a doctor would say.

“ doctor it hurts when I do this.”

“Well, don’t do that”

I’m here all week.

Sorry I couldn’t help myself.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

So, after a phone call with Paul Roberts he explained to me it’s actually a common issue - the Rigby 350s were built on Magnum actions which were really designed for the 416. A very desirable action but quite annoying to hear that it’s a known prob. I have no feed probs just the noise. Will be rectified by fitting a small spacer.

Good news that it will be an easy fix. I have to wonder what Rigby was thinking. Why build that caliber on an oversize, heavier, longer bolt stroke, more expensive action? Perhaps they ordered more magnum actions than they could fill orders for? If your guns were made during the Depression, that may very well have been the reason. Makes for an interesting story to your rifles.

I wonder if the spacer will go at the front or rear of the box?