Reproducing Harry Selby's 416 Rigby

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

The two bullets I have used to date are a 350 Linotype flat nose bullet and the Woodleigh 410 gr solid that Kynoch loads. Neither deform in the magazine. I have the 350 gr loaded to about 34,000 psi to keep velocity reasonable for a cast bullet (2300 fps), which helps. I do get deformation of the cast bullet when I seat them in the case, as I get a distinct ring around the nose. I assume that is from a seater cup that is too small in diameter. I may open it up to see if that solves the problem.

You might want to place an 1/8" thick plastic shim in the front of the magazine, but if those are spire points, I think there is little you can do to prevent deformation. These rifles do set back pretty hard, but with their excellent sectional densities and ballistic coefficients, accuracy shouldn't be an issue, and penetration should be awesome. I have a downed oak tree from the hurricane, and I shot the tree at a point where it is about 18" in diameter, and the Kynoch solid penetrated the entire tree and continued it's southerly journey. I still need to sit down at the bench and check accuracy, and I may do that today. I am having no problems with offhand recoil, but from a bench I may experience something different.

What bullet/load are you using?

jt

[Larry C.]

I loaded up some 400 gr. Hawk spire points and do get the deformation on the nose. But they still shoot, and even with the soft nose will go through a 12" tree. I have some 300 gr. x bullets and these are the ones I try for long range accuracy. It is probably a case of using the rifle for something other than what it is intended for, and expecting too much from the bullet.

[PeteDavis]

Jim!

This project is completely amazing. You obviously bring a lifetime of acquired skill to the bench, along with some pretty canny instinct. This is a fine weapon regardless of the thrift factor. I hope I can fire this beauty one day both to do it, and to be able to say I did!

Awed-PD

[buttebob]

Amazing!! I read the whole post tonight, and to see where you started and where you ended is simply amazing. I am envious of your skill and talent. Thanks for sharing.

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Jim!

This project is completely amazing. You obviously bring a lifetime of acquired skill to the bench, along with some pretty canny instinct. This is a fine weapon regardless of the thrift factor. I hope I can fire this beauty one day both to do it, and to be able to say I did!

Awed-PD

Now you know how I feel when I see your stone work. Didn't come easy, did it?

I may be in your area in the next few months, and if so, I will bring old Rosey and a hand full of ammo. Be prepared for the muzzle blast of your life.

I am taking some new medication for my hypothyroidism (dessicated porcine thyroid), and I feel great for the first time in years. I can go all day without passing out, and it has been a very long time since I could say that in honesty. I can work all day now, and most of the pain is gone. I can also drive more than 15 miles now. I have a new lease on life!

Jim

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Amazing!! I read the whole post tonight, and to see where you started and where you ended is simply amazing. I am envious of your skill and talent. Thanks for sharing.

Bear in mind I learned from many others way more skilled than I.

Thanks.

Jim

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

I just weighed Old Rosey on a very accurate scale, and she weighs 6.16 lbs empty. I thought she was setting back pretty hard. Next time I will add 2 lbs of weights in the stock. Tomorrow we go to the range and sight her in from the bench. It should be an interesting day in more ways than one.

jt

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

This was a non-hunting day in NC, so we took Old Rosey to the range with a pocket full of 410 gr Kynoch solids. Those Kynoch loads make my handloads look like wimps, and had a nice flat primer. First round and the fore end came out of my grasp and headed skyward. The good news is that Old Rosy will shoot MOA with no sweat (3 shot groups). I also was somewhat curious as to how much penetration I could get out of those solids. We located a living oak tree with the top blown out, and marked a spot on the trunk where the diameter was about 18". I backed off about 40 yards and let one of those beast busters loose, centered the spot, and completely penetrated the tree and went points south.

All in all, it was a fun day. Shooting Old Rosey is something of an enigma, if you know what I mean.

Jim

[da gimp]

nice shootin, always figured that medium/heavy bores like Rosie & such oughta weigh 9- 9 1/2 lbs in fightin trim. Have several of the old Win 86's in heavy calibres, never understood why they ever put crescent buttplates on em........

[scottw9120]

416 rigby conversion

can you open bolt face for similar project for me?

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

I would like to hear about your project - send me an email with your phone number and I will call you.

Jim

[Marine A5 Sniper Rifle]

Pic of harry Selby's Original 416 Rigby

I found a picture of Harry Selby's original Rigby built 416 Rigby in AR. This is the original Selby rifle built on a standard length 98 Mauser action. Comparing mine to his original, some features of mine I prefer, but his has all the glory.

Jim

[da gimp]

both are damm nice rifles Jimmy, glad you shared building it with us........now I need a pix of it leaning against an old Dugga boy, with you smiling from ear to ear,behind him.

[NorthernHunter]

Marine A5 Sniper. Thank you for taking the time to publish this comprehensive post. I am envious of your skill and knowledge. I have always wanted a .416 on a standard Mauser 98 action. Most factory .416 Rigby loads are 3.625" OAL or less and fit in the mag of my FN Browning Safari .375 H&H.
I would like to build a rifle with a 3.625 mag ( a full 1/8" shorter than the 3.75 British specs, 3.72 + clearance) . My .375 has the rear wall of the mag thinned out. Removing the full thickness of this wall ( as you did) would allow for even less metal removal from the feed ramp. A stronger bottom recoil lug shoulder and the lower ( than H&H) cartridge pressure of .416 Rigby factory loads or equivalent handloads would make me feel more comfortable. I will try to have one built.
How did you time the barrel ? How did you adjust headspace? Could the .050 spacer have been made the same diameter as the barrel instead of receiver? Are you confident that the barrel threads have sufficient contact?
Any chance you would share your rust blue secret? Thanks again. You can be proud of Rosey.

[Hagar]

Marine,

Go for it! I will enjoy watching your progress.

Hagar