There is a broad leather flap on the underside of the buckle which protects the rifle - just not visible in the pics .
I’m 26, my two most expensive guns were pretty much the same price. One is an absolutely lovely 270 on pre war Model 70, the other is a pre ban HK-91.
After my post I thought about it and presumed Rigby must have added a protective flap under the buckle. It's too easy a solution for them to have overlooked. I am about to start on a travel case (that won't actually travel) for my 404J. I still have most of a sheet of 1/2" cherry veneer plywood and some dimension lumber left over from making this case for a Citori I bought a couple years ago.
I'm 35 and none of my friends and hunting companions like nice guns. They all want black plastic stocks and big chunky scopes. I only have one friend who likes wood on his guns and he is perfectly happy with Remington and Ruger stuff. I had to explain what a CZ was. Terms like Blaser or Rigby mean nothing to them.
you are so correct about Clinton being the greatest black rifle salesman the country has ever seen. In the early 80s, you’d see some big ads for black rifles in Soldier of Fortune but it wasn’t until the ban that that type of rifle became mainstream. And the ban unleashed firearms creativity that continues to this day, starting with the Colt Sporter: they milled off the bayonet lug and changed the name and all of a sudden it’s no longer dangerous in the eyes of the law .From an old guy (75 this month) that's done a mix of the gun games starting with skeet and IMSHA (pistol silhouette) in the '70s through action pistol and 3-gun tactical in the 80s thru the mid 20-teens:
The AR15 and similar is the easiest firearm with which to become proficient with, and more importantly the easiest to maintain proficiently, that ever existed.
How do I know? As I've aged and no longer compete, I still go out and run some of the same pistol and rifle drills from when I competed in the IPSC and 3-gun matches.
My pistol times have gone up by at least 50% (sub 8 seconds to ~ 11 or 12) for a standard El Presidente. And these days I cheat by not doing the 180* turn.
But with the AR or similar gas or piston rifles, be it 5.56/223 or 7.62/308, the times are holding so even it's magical. For home defense, I don't think a properly set up AR15 can be beat. Especially as one's reflexes and eyesight go through the aging process.
And why are black rifles so popular? The initial desire to own one still applies and originated with Billy Bob Clinton's AW ban in 1994.
But I still appreciate my other rifles equally well, if not more so
Not sure I agree with this. I was a range safety officer for a few years and what I experienced was Black guns taught people to shoot fast not accurately. Especially the younger people. Trying them to slow down and concentrate on hitting the same hole was impossible. Instead, they wanted to see how many times they could hit the 10 ring on a man sized target at 50 years in under a minute. Compare that to the hunters shooting at 200 yards getting 3 shots off in ten minutes while trying to keep barrel temp the same to fine tune their skills and the guns sighting. Big difference.
1/2 inch and it will be heavy before the gun ever gets in it! Better have a stout handle. I'm amazed how thin the wood actually is on fancy gun cases. (BTW, I am speaking from experience--the case I made is freaking heavy)
Not sure why you would think that a detachable magazine would be better than a hinged floor plate on a bolt action hunting rifle. It certainly isn't any safer and I have heard the stories of loose magazines falling out and lost. I had one fall out, I saw it and picked it up, catastrophe avoided, but it could have been a problem.
Not sure why you quoted me about the detachable magazines, I don’t like them and don’t build around them.
That’s an example of a loose not behind the trigger. Any coach can stop that in a heart beat. As far as using them as a marksmanship training tool they are light weight, low recoil, well balanced and the sights are easily manipulated.
Agreed. Last 2 guns I bought were a marlin 1895cb ($1100) and a winchester 94bb ($1250). Before that was a Howa .30-06 ($900 with a bipod and scope brand new). Before that a $300 .22. And before that there was a 5 year gap when I couldn’t afford anything at all.
Ask some of your friends what a CRF action is? If they’re like mine they won’t have a clue. LOL
That wooden gun case for your Citori is magnificent . A real testament to your skills. The Rigby Americase of mine is lined with a material like felt . The “Big Game” leather case is not made by Rigby but sold by the Rigby distributor for 10% of what Rigby want for their own case . It is not as good as the proper case but not bad at all . It is felt lined . I baulk at paying A$7000 for a rifle case !
To those points I will concede as long as someone is teaching them this way.
