Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa 416: Ruger or Winchester

I'm having a tough time with this one. I don't know about you guys but usually I know what I want and I go get it. Now, however, I find myself debating the merits of the models above.

Anyway, it's come down to a Ruger in 416 Rigby or a Winchester in 416 Rem. Mag.

With a Cape Buffalo hunt in mind, which would you rather have?

Thanks,

Landrum

Whichever one you like best. Absolutely ZERO difference in performance. I own a 416 Rigby and on reflection the 70 in 416 is the more practical choice. Same performance is a lighter, trimmer action. If I'm going to cart around that huge Rigby action, might as well stuff it with a 45 cal big bore. jorge

Yea, I guess the sensible thing to do is buy a Ruger Lott and get the Winchester in 416 Rem.

I need to dust off the old 460 Wby and take her for a stroll this weekend at the range. You know, even though I have owned that rifle for almost twenty years now I have never given it serious consideration for hunting. I bought it way back when just because I wanted it. Now that my dream of going to Africa is turning into reality, I might at least give the old gal some consideration.....push feed and all.

Landrum

[bleep], if you have a 460 Weatherby why bother with that other crap??? I'm a CRF guy but I also hunt a LOT with Weatherbys. Nothing wrong with the RIGHT push feed, i.e, not a 700. jorge

I like them too, jorge. Perhaps my favorite cartridge of all time is the 340 Wby and the MK V has never given me a minute of trouble.

I guess I'm just looking for a reason to buy a 416 of some persuasion.

Landrum

Well that is a different story, and the 340 is just about my favorite as well. Just picked up a gorgeous Lazermark two months ago. half inch shooter with hand loaded 250 TSXs.

I love my Rigby, but I also like heavy actions with standard weight stocks and barrels. Puts the weight in the middle. And I don't like belts.

What's wrong with belts?

I have a RSM. Extremely well built and worth the money. Having said that, the rifle is a trifle heavy and a tad clumsy. The brass is very expensive. If the new 70 is as well built as the Ruger, that would be the route I would go. However, since the only data point I have is the Ruger, I would trust it moreso than any unknown quantity.

They just don't work. My pants still fall down. I prefer suspenders.

Just don't wear them both together. John Wayne said, "Never trust a man who won't trust his own belt".

I'd go for the Rigby every time when we're talking Africa. The combination of "Rigby romance" and fringe benefit of lower pressures is irresistable to me.
The Ruger/Rigby will come out ~ a lb heavier than the Win/Rem, but I don't see that as deal breaker since we're talking 9.6 vs 10.6.

Of course I'm going from experience with USRAC mid '90s 416.
A list of a few 416s I've played with over the last 20 years.
Rigbys - RSM x 5, CZ, McMillan Talon, and Kimber (the one that got away).
Rems - M70, No1.
416-375 Dakota on a Ruger MKll.

Not surprisingly, I'm a tad biased towards the Rigbys. Of the list above, I still own 3 RSMs, the CZ and the wildcat, which is about to become a 416 Ruger.

Pete

I would go win model 70 .416 rem to save money on ammo and lighter gun. The .416 Rigby was not very popular even in the old days of Africa hunting,

Not a big Ruger fan, but I like the newer RSM with the barrel band sling swivel and I think the integral quarter rib is sweet. However, if I were you and just had to have a new rifle, I'd go with a new M70 in 416 Rem. No flies on your Weatherby, and FWIW, I am also a big fan of the 340.

Not a good picture of it and a little off topic, but this is my take on the subject.
Left Hand Ruger 77 MkII, .416 Taylor. if I can just figure out how to get over there to use it.
Kevin

I'm just not a fan. I like the Hollands, both of them, for nostalgia but there is absolutely no advantage to a belted case.

Actually I think that it would have been nice if cartridge designers back in the day had made basic cases on .4, .5 and .6 case heads, 2.5, 3.25 and 3.75 in length and in six or seven bore sizes from .19 to .45. Maybe 30 cartridges in all. And all without belts or rebated case heads.

Or disadvantage, except for magazine capacity and that is easily fixed. The belt as far as I'm concerned is a transparent issue with no bearing on cartridge efficiency. Some of the best cartridges in exisitence (and you mentioned two of them) have belts. Most of the calibers I use are belted so I suppose I have a bias. jorge

Prior to all the short magnum craze (this latest run, that is), hardly ever did one hear fellow rifle nuts complain about belted cartridges. Now it's in vogue to complain about the 'useless belt' and all the theoretical reasons why a cartridge is hindered by having one.

Just an observation.

Landrum

Well when faced with the decision of choosing which .416 caliber big game rifle, I went with the Winchester model 70 and have had no regrets about doing so. George Hoffman told me it was a good one and that was good enough for me at the time. Never had a problem with my model 70 Winchester in .416-Rem. mag. I once fired it 8 times in a row quickly in 102 degree heat and no extraction problems period.

I know two PH's who carry push feed 460 Weatherbys, and one who carries a push feed Husqvarna .458 Win. CRF ain't all that important, even though I own three of them. My personal preference is the Winchester, and I own a custom .458 Win on a Ruger action, which ain't really CRF, although they say it is.