Rigby Big Game Lightweight 350 Rigby

[Aussie_Hunter]

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.

 

[93marlin]

I like it! It may have been designed for other than African DG, i.e. large bear, elk, moose, etc.
Just my addled brain thinking...

 

[Aaron N]

Does it require a magnum length action? Maybe that has to do with it

 

[rifletuner]

I like the 9.3s a lot, but if I was wanting a medium bore rifle from Rigby, I would go for a 350 Rigby over a 9.3x62 every time.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Does it require a magnum length action? Maybe that has to do with it

Yeah good point, I think it does require a magnum length action, I didn't think of that. So that bit makes sense and I suppose there is only so much you can do in reducing size and weight when building a rifle on a M98 magnum action

 

[baxterb]

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.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I like the 9.3s a lot, but if I was wanting a medium bore rifle from Rigby, I would go for a 350 Rigby over a 9.3x62 every time.

What makes the 350 your preference over the 9.3? Again I'm not questioning the cartridge, I'm questioning the rifle itself, even given it requires a magnum length action to chamber the 350, it just doesn't make sense to me to have a cartridge with slightly less performance than the 9.3 or I suppose fairly close to equal in a much bigger rifle, the rifle isn't a little bigger it's much bigger. I think this new lightweight version of the big game model makes much more sense to be chambered in 375H&H. In my opinion the original big game configuration is too big and heavy for the 375, this light weight version would be perfect size and weight for the 375.

 

[rifletuner]

I get your point in the sense that a 375 or even a 9.3 has the potential to be a more versatile rifle.

For me personally, the medium bores are what I would reach for if I hunt sambar in Aus, plains game in Africa, elk or maybe bear in the USA. If I am going after DG (excepts cats) I would take a 40 cal or bigger.

I have a 9.3x74, 9.3x 64 and a 375H&H, so I am not really worried about clear differentiation of cartridges. Any of those 3 will do a lot of the same job - there is a lot of overlap there. But I like all of them, and in fact Im thinking about building a 333 Jeffery as well. If I were to buy a Rigby, being able to get a classic Rigby chambering like the 350 Rigby would hold a lot of appeal for me.

 

[Jäger_Ivo]

Marketing? With minimal changes in production, they will go to press with the "new for 2024".
No criticism, that's how it's done. Just my opinion.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I get your point in the sense that a 375 or even a 9.3 has the potential to be a more versatile rifle.

For me personally, the medium bores are what I would reach for if I hunt sambar in Aus, plains game in Africa, elk or maybe bear in the USA. If I am going after DG (excepts cats) I would take a 40 cal or bigger.

I have a 9.3x74, 9.3x 64 and a 375H&H, so I am not really worried about clear differentiation of cartridges. Any of those 3 will do a lot of the same job - there is a lot of overlap there. But I like all of them, and in fact Im thinking about building a 333 Jeffery as well. If I were to buy a Rigby, being able to get a classic Rigby chambering like the 350 Rigby would hold a lot of appeal for me.

Yeah don't get me wrong, I love that Rigby are continuing to increase their offerings especially in classic chamberings and I'm sure the 350 Rigby chambering will appeal to quite a few people and to be honest I reckon the sales will be significant.

 

[Tintin]

@Aussie_Hunter

Thanks for the heads up.

You know deep down you want one, you're just looking for some justification from your enabling AH brothers

The cool factor does it for me - I like it. Pretty sure no other maker is chambering in 350 Rigby, so having a factory offering from the original maker is pretty special.

Interesting that the PH in .350 is dearer than the other BG chamberings.


Coolness meter

9.3x 62mm =
350 Rigby =

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

@Aussie_Hunter

Thanks for the heads up.

You know deep down you want one, you're just looking for some justification from your enabling AH brothers

The cool factor does it for me - I like it. Pretty sure no other maker is chambering in 350 Rigby, so having a factory offering from the original maker is pretty special.


Coolness meter

9.3x 62mm =
350 Rigby =

Nah I never need an excuse to buy another Rigby, it's a Rigby thats all the justification that's needed haha

Yeah I imagine majority of sales will be based on nostalgia and the fact that the 350 Rigby chambering is quite rare and hard to come by

 

[PerH]

Swift , Rhino , Woodleigh 225 Nosler Accubond

I would used 275 Woodleigh as allround and Hydro










Please no Oryx In it , if speed and energi is similar .

 

[Tintin]

Nah I never need an excuse to buy another Rigby, it's a Rigby thats all the justification that's needed haha

While you're speaking to Tom in the morning to place your order - I'll call Bruce B and let him know he might need to schedule another run of 350 Rigby cases .

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

While you're speaking to Tom in the morning to place your order - I'll call Bruce B and let him know he might need to schedule another run of 350 Rigby cases .

What do you mean speaking to Tom in the morning? I text him at 10pm last night and expected an order to be placed with Rigby immediately haha
Nah to fill the gap in my collection I would go with a big game model in either 416 or 404, given it's a Rigby I'd most likely stick to the 416 chambering. Maybe one day......

 

[baxterb]

@Aussie_Hunter

Thanks for the heads up.

You know deep down you want one, you're just looking for some justification from your enabling AH brothers

The cool factor does it for me - I like it. Pretty sure no other maker is chambering in 350 Rigby, so having a factory offering from the original maker is pretty special.

Interesting that the PH in .350 is dearer than the other BG chamberings.


Coolness meter

9.3x 62mm =
350 Rigby =

Here are the two cool cats:

The 9.3 is mine with a 286 North Fork and the 350 is one I found on D'Arcy Echols' bench when I was visiting a few years ago.

Hubba Hubba

 

[Tintin]

Nah to fill the gap in my collection I would go with a big game model in either 416 or 404, given it's a Rigby I'd most likely stick to the 416 chambering. Maybe one day......

.416 = Classic Rigby

It was interesting to see Rigbys offer the .404 Jeffery.

I'm wondering with this new 'Big Game Lightweight' if they might also offer a .300 Holland?

BTW - I'm not sold on the name 'Big Game Lightweight'

To my mind 'The Rigby Plains Game' has a better ring to it.

 

[baxterb]

.416 = Classic Rigby

It was interesting to see Rigbys offer the .404 Jeffery.

I'm wondering with this new 'Big Game Lightweight' if they might also offer a .300 Holland?

BTW - I'm not sold on the name 'Big Game Lightweight'

To my mind 'The Rigby Plains Game' has a better ring to it.

Agree with the oddity of the Lightweight name. In point of fact before Rigby was bought and moved back to England, they were planning on making a 416 called the Lightweight - I held one in my hands. It was light! They were also going to make one called the Selby - but he knew nothing of it until I told him! ha!

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

.416 = Classic Rigby

It was interesting to see Rigbys offer the .404 Jeffery.

I'm wondering with this new 'Big Game Lightweight' if they might also offer a .300 Holland?

BTW - I'm not sold on the name 'Big Game Lightweight'

To my mind 'The Rigby Plains Game' has a better ring to it.

Yeah I agree, again for me it just doesn't make sense. Ok I over looked the fact of the required magnum action for the 350 chambering but even so that doesn't mean it needs to be called "big game" does it, just because it's built on a magnum length action? The chambering and it's purpose doesn't align with the other big game models.

 

[318AE]

I’m so glad we continue to see new offerings from Rigby.

I think pre-war, Rigby sold far more 350 Rigbys, on magnum Mauser actions, than 416s. I think this rifle is targeted at nostalgia and duplicating their vintage recipe for success. My guess is that they will mostly sell these to a customer that already has a 416, and perhaps a 275, and wants another one. I wouldn’t buy a Rigby bolt gun in a caliber other than 416, 275 or 350. If I wanted a 9.3x62, I’d buy a Mauser type A, but that’s just me.

The original line up is back….