Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Which 416 rifle and cartridge?

If you were going to buy a 416 rifle and had to choose from these three choices, which would you go with and why. 1. CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 416 Rigby. 2. Ruger Hawkeye African in 416 Ruger. 3. Winchester Model 70 Safari Express in 416 Remington. Would the rifle or the cartridge drive the decision? These 3 were picked because they are standard offerings and priced below $1,600.00. If you didn't want one of these, what rifle and cartridge would you choose?

Ruger RSM in 416 Rigby

Seems there's one here on the Fire that's for sale, IIRC, ask is around $ 2K..

.416 Rigby RSM's tend to go for more than $1,600.

DF

Found the link.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...4611/re-ruger-416-rigby-wts#Post15134611

The Ruger I was referring to is the Ruger Hawkeye in 416 Ruger. The Ruger RSM in 416 Rigby is no longer in production.

They can be had used, one of the best.

DF

Here's one that scored a 41" cape buff in Zim. One 400 gr TSX did the trick. The seller in the above link has 400 TSX's to include with the deal.

The RSM is a lot gun for the buck... Cost to manufacture that one had to be pretty high, maybe why it's no longer offered.

DF

I have a New Haven Model 70 Safari Express in .416 Rem Mag that is a pretty nice outfit. I’d recommend it. No flies in the Ruger RSM either, and in that caliber (.416 Rigby), it’s a gem.

New Haven .375 H&H, chopped and fluted. I like it; it's a keeper.

DF

Winchester M 70 .416 Remington.

In all honesty either the CZ or Winchester would be my choice. I like both the Rigby and Remington cartridges.

I think SAKO does -- or did -- chamber the .416 something, maybe Rigby, in one of their models...

Just a thought...

-Chris

I sold my Dakota 416 Rigby and bought a NH M70 416 Rem. I tweaked it some and took it to Zimbabwe loaded with the 350 gr TSX. The M70 is a much lighter rifle and ammo and brass is pretty easy to find.

Yes, SAKO apparently did both .416 Rigby and .416 Remington at one time or other.

-Chris

Bought a CZ550 in 416 Rigby. Nice rifle but very heavy. While practicing for Cape buffalo hunt discovered I had to twist the left hand on the forearm to get the bolt to clear my face. Not a fan of the euro hogback stock. Someone described that handling a CZ550 Magnum was like driving a garbage truck. I concur. Sold it and bought a Ruger Alaskan in 416 Ruger. Shot 4 buffalo with that rifle. Superior in every way except for ammo availability. Better hope that your ammo makes it to Africa or you are screwed. 416 Ruger 2000 MR powder 400 grain Swift A Frame or 400 grain Sledgehammer solid 2400 fps in 20" barrel.
Ruger needs a little work. I like the Hogue overmolded stock because it is so quiet in brush. One day in the African bush dust will remove the stickiness of the rubber stock coating. Smooth up action: sharp edge on magazine box, bottom edge of feed rails, cartridge follower and slot for ejector. Polish barrel feed ramp and break sharp edge on chamber. Trigger smooth up as per readily available instructions on web. Buy a NECG receiver sight that clamps to integral scope base on Ruger receiver for scope backup.. Needs higher front sight for receiver sight. Added bonus stainless metal with receiver sight a confidence building bear gun in Alaska bush.

I've only had a couple 416's. Go handle the ones you might want. Pick the one that feels best, where the bolt feels like it's in the right place and the safety is where you automatically go for it. I fell for 'it's a classic' on one. Didn't have it six months. Lovely gun, classic, but felt like a 2x8 to me. I spent the money to get the stock fitted to me on my last one. It was the best thing I did. Reduced the recoil and made it come up like a shotgun and point where I was looking. That is what I consider the important part.
Wish you luck on your search, it's a lot of fun.
Bfly

I recently picked up the CZ in the Rigby. I just love that huge Rigby cartridge. Beautiful American stock. I can fit four of those big cartridges in the magazine. The rifle shoots well, as all my cz do. The double square bridge is superb for mouting optics.

I have hunted with a CZ in 375 for many years, and have one on 458 Lott as well.

They all fit me great. Looking at one in 505 Gibbs right now , it has been worked on a bit, and is a beauty!

Door number 3 please.
Winchester Model 70 Safari Express in 416 Remington

Have one at the gunsmith's right now getting Dakota Arms open sights on it.

Have had the CZ 550 in 416 Rigby and 375 H&H. Pass the Model 70 please.
Not much of Ruger fan and have only handled the RSM in Rigby. Pass the Model 70 please.

Ruger Africans in 416 Ruger handle much better IMO, and would be choice number 2.

My favorites are the 416 Ruger in the older Alaskan and a re-barrel M70 stainless Classic in 416 Remington. For North America a 350 TSX. The TTSX version may become the favorite, if I ever hand load them.

I have a couple of CZ550 magnums but not in 416Rigby. They are big and heavy. I fired a friends Ruger Safari (?) in 416RemMag and was impressed. It was lighter than my CZ 458WM but was still very comfortable to shoot.

I have one for sale in the classifieds.