I must be bored...

I saw a beautiful 35 Rigby double on Gunbroker. It's beyond my price range, but it is intriguing - what a beautiful rifle.

My first question is: "How to make brass for the 35 Rigby?"" I understand 348 Win, but then it would not be usable in some countries where cartridge head stamp doesn't match barrel.

My second question therefore is: "Is there anyone who makes the proper head stamp cartridges for the 35 Rigby?"

And finally: "What is this cartridge's capability, i.e. bullet weight / velocity?"

Thanks. I never have seen this cartridge -- and curiosity is the reason for asking.

If it's the same as the 350 Rigby Magnum Donnely's says to use 375 Flanged Bell brass, turn off the rim, recut the extractor groove, cut to 2.8 in. and anneal. Then full length size it, trim, chamfer and fireform. Donnely uses Barnes data which is a 225 gr. bullet at 2625 fps and 3312 fpe. I don't know if Bell brass is even available today so starting with 348 WCF might be the only game in town.

'Bout the same as making my 9 X 71 Peterlongo except I start with a 9.3 X 74R. Ballistics are about the same also.

Barnes says the 400/350 and the 350 are the same case except the 400/350 is a flanged case. The later flanged version was called the 350 #2 and evidently used the same bullet at the same velocity.

The Rigby double is quite nice to handle and the main thing immediately noticeable is the balance.
My Rigby 350 Number 2, was made in 1912 and I was fortunate to get it with the original leather case with all the associated cleaning and maintenance items which is rare in a double so old.
The loads I worked up using the resized and trimmed 9.3x 74 rimmed cases that came with it were:

225gn Barnes X over 68gn of AR 2213 (H 4831) for 2577fps
250gn Norma over 66gn of AR 2213 (H 4831) for 2468fps and also a light load using 60gn of Winchester WMR powder 1973fps
250gn Hornady over 65gn of AR 2209 (H 4350) for 2482fps
250gn Barnes X over 66gn IMR 4831 for 2670fps. (This was the load I settled on as it put 6 shors, being 3 from each mint. "seldom fired" barrel into 1 5/8" @ 50 yards over the express sights.
Lastly, I worked with the 310gn Woodleigh Weldcore over 57gn of AR 2209 (H 4350) fpr2210fps, 60gn of AR 2213 (H 4831 for 2189fps and 50gn of IMR 4320 for 1986fps.

I recommend starting a couple of grains lower of course but these were my results in a Rigby double from the most golden age of Big Game hunting.
Federal 215 primers were used and the velocities were the result of averages between the 2 barrels over my Oehler 35P. With a double, you need to know which is the most accurate barrel but you also need to know the combination accuracy of the 2 barrels as that is real world hunting when you need that second barrel.......fast.

John

Man that would be a sweet rifle! It's been years but as I recall the ballistics were 250 gr @ 2300-2400 fps. With a double it will come down to what the rifle is regulated for or rather working up loads that regulate.

It's long gone, but I built a 350 Rigby on a VZ-24 mauser and formed brass by taking 375 H&H brass, chucking it in the lathe to cut off the belt, deepen the extractor groove and reduce the rim diameter. Then through the FL sizer, back in the lathe to trim to length and hopefully the 45 deg shoulder set back far enough to allow the case to chamber and fireform. Bertram made brass, but it was soft and showed pressure signs when loaded to the relatively mild 250 gr @ ~2400 fps. The H&H brass showed no pressure signs and the gun was most accurate with 250 gr @ 2700 fps.



There is something about those long gracefully tapered cases from the turn of the past century that just looks right.

Bertram makes brass for it but pricey. https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/category/categoryId/810 Might be worth it if you are hunting a country that requires a proper head stamp. Taylor was fond of the 350 and had a long chapter on it. He considered it as one of his lucky rifles as he shot numerous doubles on Eland and Buffalo with it. He had so much confidence in it that he would do a right left double and not reserve a cartridge for a finisher shot.

I am no expert, just an avid reader of cartridge gack, but it should be noted, for complete and possibly redundant clarity, that there are two .350 Rigby cartridges..

The .350 Rigby Magnum (.350 Rigby Nitro Express) is a rimless cartridge for boltr action rifles, which fires a 225 grain bullet at 2,625 feet per second.

The .350 Rigby No 2 is a rimmed case which fires a 225 grain bullet at 2,600 feet per second.

The earlier .400/.350 Nitro Express uses the same case as the .350 #2 and fires a 310 grain bullet at 2000 feet per second.

Thank you AussieGunWriter and 458 Lott for your most interesting and informative posts. And please correct me if I am wrong.

Walt

Walt,
Rigby had a tendency to upgrade loads, 2 being the .350 Number 2 from 310gn to 225gn and the 275 Rigby which was introduced with the 175 grain bullet and later adopted the 140 grain in a faster load. I do not recall however, any information relating to a twist change but do recall reading how Bell purchased the newer version in the early 1920's where he started hunting red stags in his native Scotland.

Regarding the previously mentioned .400/350, these old timers can get confusing as there was also a .400/360 made by Westley Richards which utilized .366 (9.3mm) caliber bullets. Although it was a step up in caliber from the .358 of the Number 2, it was less powerful. I loaded for one of these as well using 250gn Barnes X to 2091fps, 286gn Woodleigh's to 1927fps and 320gn Woodleighs to 1880fps.

Great old rounds in rifles most will never hold, so it was a privileged time from me.

John

AussieGunWriter,
Thanks for sharing your experience. My knowledge of British cartridges comes from Taylor and other writers who weren't always correct in every detail. Always grateful for an update or correction.

Cheers,
Walt

350 Rigby numbers very similar to my 35 Whelen loads with same weight bullets. Think the Whelen has a lot more going for it than a lot give it credit for.

WDM Bell took the bulk of his elephants prior to his WW1 service, using a series of (4) Rigby .275 bore High Velocity (# 2 catalogue model)
which were purchased in the yrs 1910, 1911 and 1912.

In fact, John Rigby & Co. letterhead documentation indicates all (6) .275 bore Mauser sporting rifles he purchased spanning 1910-1923,
were 'High Velocity' versions.......comprising of (5x) #2 catalogue model and (1x) #3 catalogue model 'Special Lightweight'.

What differentiated the #1 model from the High Velocity #2 and #3 models was factory regulation for the 175 and 140 respectively.
One could also order an optional extra rear sight feature, which Bell did opt for.

Bell mentions taking a 600yd shot, which I suspect would have been accomplished with the addition of a cocking piece mounted
Rigby patented vernier peep.There are examples of pre-WW1 era Rigby .275 bore Mausers that have V- sights for 100,200,300yd
and an additional peep arrangement for shots ranging out to 1200 yd.

My .275 John Rigby rifle had 1 standing and 2 folding marked out to 300 yards but as it was factory fitted with a Kahles 2-7 scope in Rigby (probably meaning EAW) rings and bases, I always shot the rifle with scope sights though I did remove and replace the scope to test for rezero, which it held.
John

Check out the 350 G&H Magnum instead. Brass is waaay easier. Cool old chambering, perfect for a P14 project.

I expect my 9 X 71 Peterlongo is equal to the Rigby but I've never pushed it. Problem with the Peterlongo cartridge is rifles are scarce and brass has to be formed and turned from 9.3 X 74R.

I still have 6-7 rounds of G&H 350 Magnum ammunitiion.