Back to the 416 Rigby, JMO, I will try stay on this caliber;
I doubt anyone would ever buy a secondhand 416 Rigby with a 22inch barrel.
Why... because it should have a 24 or 25" barrel for the combustion of the cartridge..
Of course you can do what ever you like. 99.9% of gunsmiths aren't PHs, and don't do DG hunts every year, some will sell anything for an income, even muzzle brakes on DG rifles.. OMG..
If the 416 Rigby rifle is too heavy out front for someone, don't buy the rifle.
Its not the rifles fault, its that the hunter needs to practice, get stronger arms and practice some more.
Expensive long established DG rifle makers, make sure barrels are profiled to not be heavy out the front.
A 5" OAL shorter 10lb double rifle, feels lighter than a 10lb 416 Rigby... funny that, and yes its easier to carry in thick bush. But I personally want my rifles muzzle blast to be far from my ear hole for 5 months in the field. For someone doing one or two DG hunts a year, they can use whatever they like, and pop ear plugs in before the shot.
If you want to hunt dangerous game or anything in the field with a 22" barreled 416 Rigby, (or anything muzzle braked for that matter) you will need ear muffs or ear plugs, or you will have nasty muzzle blast and permanent ear damage. Fact.
A correct barrel length for caliber will have a manageable muzzle blast for limited hunt activity ie a few shots.
Re electronic muffs - over the years we have had people arrive with electronic muffs, and put them on and start walking around, by the afternoon its annoying them and hot and sweaty around their neck. By day 2 its still annoying them, and either swinging off the rifle somewhere, or now in the day-pack (doesn't get used). Day 3 is left in camp.
The only time I ever saw a hunter wear the muffs of his head like mickey mouse for 7 full hunt days, was a film hunter, and he had to for one of his sponsors. I declined my allocated pair.
A factory CZ 416 Rigby is a tiny bit light for caliber, but a DG PH carrying all day open sights will be very happy under 10lb, as he rarely ever shoots it. But the same rifle for a slim Jim hunter, or person who wants to practice lots, or a Big Game Rifle event shooter, then yes I think a recoil reducer in the stock is a good idea, and or adding a scope and mounts adds weight to make the rifle a bit more comfortable to shoot.
As Nhoro said, (if in doubt), shoot the rifle first.... if it boots the hell out of you, cutting the barrel shorter will just make more recoil, more muzzle jump and more muzzle blast noise.
I can shoot a 375H&H lots and enjoy it, but a 416 Rigby I do not enjoy practicing with, but I love the 416 Rigby ballistics, penetration and effect for back up on an escaping or charging Buffalo.
So a 22" 416 Rigby hunter needs ear muffs or ear plugs at every shot, or WILL permanently damage hearing.
A 24" barrelled 416 Rigby hunter with no ear protection in the open, its not so bad... but after +30 years of 3006, 375, 416, 458 etc, I have some hearing loss, and must not lose more, now I use the $10 Sonic ear plugs if I remember, small and fast to put in. (I dont like the molded ear ones, and have never seen any DG hunters use them for a whole week).
You can get bigger interchangeable front sight beads for CZ and 602 rifles, a very good system. Come in bronze, white, red and silver... I have spares of these in white at different heights as they are great.
Now changing topic to a 458WM, this cartridge and combustion is fine at 22". (but 20" or 18" would bring on that muzzle blast noise again).
Many old time PHs or experienced hunters if they arrived at a camp, and had 6 rifles to pick from, 99% would chose the longer barrel ones, for that reason... and never a brake.
