Rigby Big Game Lightweight 350 Rigby

[pjaln]

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• #48

I’ve seen 333 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 300 H&H and 375 H&H, made by their eponymous maker, in both magnum and standard/intermediate actions. I’ve never seen a 350 Rigby in anything other than a magnum action. It would fit, just as any of the others do, with either finagling or finesse.



HERES ONE ON A STANDARD ACTION

 

[degoins]

I like the concept, but 9.5 is hardly light weight for that caliber.

 

[degoins]

I understand that quite a few of the .350 Rigby rifles were rebarreled by Rigby for the. 375 H&H, in addition to the .404 Jeffery conversions mentioned in an earlier reply to this thread. A shortage of original .350 Rigby rifles might be part of the marketing equation.

I've got one that started out as a 350/400 with the stepped receiver and slant box magazine that was made in 1905 and at some point was re-bored and rechambered to .375. Rigby says they didn't do the conversion. Talk about a true lightweight..........but the recoil with 300 hundred grain bullets is pretty lively.

 

[pjaln]

I've got one that started out as a 350/400 with the stepped receiver and slant box magazine that was made in 1905 and at some point was re-bored and rechambered to .375. Rigby says they didn't do the conversion. Talk about a true lightweight..........but the recoil with 300 hundred grain bullets is pretty lively.

here's a 375 built on an early step ring

 

[318AE]

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• #48

I’ve seen 333 Jeffery, 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, 300 H&H and 375 H&H, made by their eponymous maker, in both magnum and standard/intermediate actions. I’ve never seen a 350 Rigby in anything other than a magnum action. It would fit, just as any of the others do, with either finagling or finesse.



HERES ONE ON A STANDARD ACTION

View attachment 580629View attachment 580630

Thanks for sharing - that is the first I’ve seen. Looks like the front ring was relieved to make it fit. Out of curiosity, do you know the weight? Cool old rifle…

 

[spike.t]

If they're going to call it the "lightweight" model. Why didn't they make it.....lightweight? 9.5lbs is anything but lightweight in my book. Especially if they're chambering it for 350 Rigby. A cartridge with the same ballistics as a 35 Whelen. They could've at least gotten the bare rifle weight down to 8lbs. Then chamber it for 375 H&H and sell them for the same price as the HS. Then they'd have something exciting to announce.

" then chamber it for 375 H&H"..... @TOBY458 wash your mouth out with soap and water instantly.....

 

[baxterb]

Did anyone at DSC happen to ask if they were partnering with any brass manufacturer for new brass? Hornady? Norma?

 

[spike.t]

Did anyone at DSC happen to ask if they were partnering with any brass manufacturer for new brass? Hornady? Norma?

From the horses mouth...they talking to a couple of manufacturers about making the ammunition with the 225 grn bullets....looking at it being good for bigger plains game and north American species....made on the big game magnum action because it was originally designed for the 400/350, and was then used for the 350 which was designed for the magnum action a few years before the 416 came about....
Told its been very well received, and a nice amount have been sold ....

 

[baxterb]

From the horses mouth...they talking to a couple of manufacturers about making the ammunition with the 225 grn bullets....looking at it being good for bigger plains game and north American species....made on the big game magnum action because it was originally designed for the 400/350, and was then used for the 350 which was designed for the magnum action a few years before the 416 came about....
Told its been very well received, and a nice amount have been sold ....

Cool, thanks. Wasn’t the 400/350 on a slant box? I can’t remember which came first, the rimmed or rimless.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Did anyone at DSC happen to ask if they were partnering with any brass manufacturer for new brass? Hornady? Norma?

Yes. Look for ammo for Rigby’s to be available soon.

Safe shooting

 

[spike.t]

Cool, thanks. Wasn’t the 400/350 on a slant box? I can’t remember which came first, the rimmed or rimless.

400/350 mauser made a special 98 action to take the rimmed round...my sons 9.3x74r is a 400/350 action Paul used to build it with ...story of how I bought that is in another thread somewhere

 

[Ontario Hunter]

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.

 

[PerH]

310 Woodleigh soft and solid In .35 or 280 Swift , but there is a few other good .35 also around . New data and strong actions can give some good performance

 

[pjaln]

Thanks for sharing - that is the first I’ve seen. Looks like the front ring was relieved to make it fit. Out of curiosity, do you know the weight? Cool old rifle…

I dont own that rifle its been for sale for a while at Steve Barnett fine rifles ,if he could find the rest of the Lyman sight that should of been with it I would probably of bought it by now ,, but I do own a 400/350

 

[Aaron N]

Two things surprise me about these rifles:

-The fact that they aren’t astronomically priced
-The astronomical prices for upgrades

 

[Rule 303]

I have not read all the thread yet, so I might be repeating what has been said. The 350 Rigby requires a magnum length action. Yes you can squeeze it into a standard length action but you will lose some performance.

The 350 Rigby use to be loaded so as the trajectory matched that of the 303, so I am told, also to cope with the African heat. Its performance equated to that of the 35 Whelen. You can load a 350 Rigby up to match or just surpass the 358Norma mag. In this case it out performs the 9.3X62 especially with heavier bullets, like the Woodleigh 275 and 310 grain bullets. With the magnum length action you can sit even the 310 Woody or monometal bullets out a bit so as to utilizes all the powder space.

I like the rifle, the name needs changing and it could loose a bit of weight with a trimmer stock.

 

[Rule 303]

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 .

Speaking of Bruce B he has taken a bit of African game with his 350Rigby, including Lion, so I am told.

 

[Rule 303]

Did anyone at DSC happen to ask if they were partnering with any brass manufacturer for new brass? Hornady? Norma?

Why not Bertram he already makes various calibre for Kynock, Rhino can't remember the 3rd.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

310 Woodleigh soft and solid In .35 or 280 Swift , but there is a few other good .35 also around . New data and strong actions can give some good performance

@PerH
I sure hope Rigby brings out loads that do it justice. The original 225gn load was only listed as a bit over 2,600fps.
Dang a properly loaded Whelen is close to 300fps better than that.
I can get 2,440fps out of my Whelen with 310s and still be within SAFE pressures.
The big Rigby case has more capacity so should equal or out do the 358 Norma mag. BUT as usual they will probably strangle it in deference to the old guns out there.
I can see it being a hand loaders dream.
Bob

 

[spike.t]

Was waiting for Marc to check this post before I posted it....
Also the 350 has some diffences stock wise as has been noted ....no cheek piece ..slimmer stock and better chequering.....also as been said it will be available in 300 H&H......and for you ones who wanted it ......also in 375 H&H....which is why its called the big game lightweight.....and some other so I been told very interesting other developments appearing in 2025.