Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Picked up a Ruger M77 Mk II Magnum...

...in 416 Rigby. Loaded up some start loads last night, using the Speer 350gr Mag-Tip. Trying IMR 7828 first, using Norma cases and WLRM primers. Following the Speer #14 manual start loads at 101grs and working up.

Got a Leupold VX-3i 1.5-5x20mm scope mounted on it today. Now I just need the temperature to cooperate and get above the single digits to go get it sighted in.

One of the best-priced dangerous game rifles made (or were), and there's nothing you can't take with a 416 Rigby. Good choice!

i have zero use for a rifle like that but i would love to have it. that thing is a beast. excellent combo.

Congratulations for snagging that great rifle!

Oh, and welcome to the 'Fire.

Ed

Thanks all!

I'm excited about this one and can't wait to get it sighted in and ready to go. I've been shooting a 375 H&H with 300gr Swift A-Frames at 2600fps for years. So, I figure a 350gr bullet at 2500 fps or so, isn't going to be all that different.

One thing that caught my eye on the M77, is the swept back bolt handle. Ideally it should be straighter on a kicker like this... but we shall see if it bites me or not.

Been to RSA twice already and thought I'd better go a step above the 375 H&H. The Rigby ought to fit the bill just fine. Maybe someday I'll make it back to Alaska and find a use for it there. Always nice to have plenty of rifle/caliber options.

Ruger always puts nice wood on their express rifles. Your's is no exception!

That looks like a terrific rifle!

I've got a similar 1.5-5x Leupold scope on my .375 H&H.

Regards, Guy

Very nice. exceptional wood on that one. The load you are talking about should feel just like your 375 h&h load. to be honest, the 400gr at 2400 fps has a bit more kick than the 375, but not that much. It's kind of like going from a 300 win mag to a 338 win mag.

The nice thing about the rigby is the case is so big that you can use damn near any powder to safely get factory velocities without worrying about pressure until you hot rod it.

Also, I'm jealous as that is the exact rifle I'm wanting right now, but can't afford.

Gohip,

I figured as much, thanks!

In fact, today I went to an indoor range that brags about their rifle range being good to .50 BMG and asked them if I could sight in my 416 Rigby... at first the range guy wasn't sure and went and asked the manager... the answer I got back was it would be okay but I would have to do it when they weren't busy... (which is almost never). So, I circled back to the manager and asked him directly and he said he told the range worker that the limit was 300 Win Mag. I asked why, if the bullet stop was rated for .50 BMG?!?!? He said liability / insurance reasons and ricochets. Crap! Really?!?!? So, I know the owner really well but I try not to exploit that... He and I went to Africa on safari together years back. I'll ask him what the real scoop is but I don't want him to make a special exception for me, if that is the rule.

As an aside, I've got 7 new rifles to sight in too! A new AR in 5.56 I built, two new .22 long rifles (one of them is a CZ 455 Varmint), a Rem Model 700 in 243 Win, an old Win Model 71 in 348 Win, a Sako 75 in 300WSM and the M77 MkII Magnum 416 Rigby. I will need to make multiple trips to get all of this done properly.

CheckSix - nice catch in a really great caliber. Wife would kill to have a dining room table with that kind of wood grain. Homesteader

I happened to pick one up too. That scope should be perfect. I'm planning on using the factory sight at least for now. I'm also planning on shooting a lot of cast bullets for practice.

Have one on the way that should be here next week - also a 416 Rigby. It's meant to replace an RSM in 458 Lott that I sold a few years back and now regret having done so. These are great DR rifles.

I'm seriously considering a re-bore to 458 and rechamber to 450 Rigby. Same 416R case, a wide selection of 45 bullets, and real MVs with 500 grain Bullets in the 2400-2500 fps range.

Very nice boomer you have there.
I'm trying to get an accurate value for my Dad's M77 RSM in 416 Rigby.
At 84 years of age, he's not going to use it and wants to sell.
Would any of you foks that bought one of these lately PM me and tell me what the present value is on these please?
Thanks,
Mark

Mark, you'll see some listed for $1,800 to $1,950, but they don't sell. The ones that move are in the $1,300 to maybe $1,450 range. I bought 2 for $1,050 each a year ago, but that was an exceptional deal.

The best powder for mine is still H4831, mostly with the 370 North Forks. With this, it thinks it's a varmint rifle.

RL22 will really make it hum, but pushing the 370's to 2700 or so makes it a little brutal. My H4831 loads go 2530 fps.

I had one of the very first ones off the line with the sling swivel stud in the stock and a 24" tube. Did well on buffalo with 400gr TSXs and old fashioned 410gr Hornady solids. Damned thing was heavy, but it shot like a varmint rifle with 90.2gr IMR 4350 and F-215 primers @ 2450 fps. It also loved the 400 and 350gr TSXs with H-4350:

I have a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm on my Ruger 416 Rigby too. I think I'll by buying RCBS 400 grain mold for mine so that I can practice a bit. Sort of spendy to shoot jacketed bullets in it. I understand that 400 grain cast bullets can be loaded full speed in the 416.

That's a nice feature to know, if true. Anyone chime in to validate this
A great looking MKII by the way!

The 300 & 350gr TSX bullets are a great combination in the .416. The 300gr TSX are remarkably easy on the shoulder.