| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 16/06/05 10:30 AM |
|
Old Rigby
|
Hi guys, I have been reading the posts for a while and am impressed with the knowlege of the membership. I have already learned quite a bit. I am keen to have some opinions on afew things. A few months ago I aquired an old Rigby .470. Serial # 18xxx, so it seems to have been built in the 1920s. All matching #'s. I get emotional just looking at it! For my first time at the range I ordered a box of regulating ammo from a guy who advertises in SCI. He gives you 20 rounds, 5 different loads, 4 of each load (make sense?)to see what your rifle shoots best. My rifle would not close with about half of the ammo. The top lever would not swing all the way to the closed position. (But understand that when empty or with snap caps in it, it closes very very crisply.) The brass that he sent me was stamped "Rigby". So I now purchased a box of Federal ammo. The rifle will close with that ammo but not as crisply as when empty. Is this a common problem? Anyone else have the same experience? I will start reloading soon and hope that I can fix this myself. Next question is about sighting in. Should I do this at 50yds, 100yds? I started at 50, however the express sight is marked 100yds. Does this mean that they regulated it at 100? OK my fingers are tired now, must stop typing. All your responses are appreciated. Thanks
| 475Guy |
| (.400 member) |
| 16/06/05 11:58 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Seems like he didn't size the brass all the way before he loaded them. Just set them all aside until you get a chance to reload. Pull all the leftover rounds and start over. Unlike boltactions, DR's usually need to be FL resized just like most autoloaders. Another thing, also, is that you may have a tighter chamber than normal. When you have the chance, do a chamber cast and have your sizing die made to those specs using only one type of brass as other types of brass may be thicker or thinner. BTW, please post a pic of your new toy.
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 16/06/05 01:06 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Thanks for the reply. Now for the dumb questions... what is FL sized? Does that mean that I shouldn't buy an RCBS off the shelf die? Should it be custom made to my bore size? And how or who does a chamber cast. Is that something I could do myself? Does Brownells sell a product to do a chamber cast? I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how.
| JPK |
| (.375 member) |
| 17/06/05 02:21 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
FL resized refers to full length resizing of the previosly fired case. Hope this helps.
JPK
| JPK |
| (.375 member) |
| 17/06/05 02:28 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
By the way if you ordered the ammo your having trouble with from Superior Ammo you should call. I'm sure he'll make things right. I've used his ammo and its been just great; every report that I've read on using his ammo was the same - great stuff, but expensive.
Another issue might be rim thickness.
good luck
JPK
| 475Guy |
| (.400 member) |
| 17/06/05 02:47 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
armbar
I wouldn't worry as yet, just was putting out some ideas. Now, does your Federal rounds just drop into the chamber with a big Ker-Plunk sound? If so, then the resistance is due to the extractors engaging the rims of your ammo when you close the action. Have you fired any Federal ammo yet? When you get the chance, measure the brass thickness between your Federal's and the other stuff. If the other brass is much thicker, I'd just put it aside and contact the guy and tell him of the problems you've encountered and get a refund. I believe Norma makes brass for Federal so I suggest you lay into some of that Norma stuff.
| clark7781 |
| (.375 member) |
| 17/06/05 03:58 AM |
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
In reply to:
By the way if you ordered the ammo your having trouble with from Superior Ammo you should call. I'm sure he'll make things right. I've used his ammo and its been just great;
Amen to that. Great people to deal with.
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 17/06/05 04:09 AM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
No I haven't fired any Federal ammo yet. When I do I'll post the results. Again, thanks for the suggestions.
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 17/06/05 04:20 AM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
| clark7781 |
| (.375 member) |
| 17/06/05 04:32 AM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Armbar:
That is one GORGEOUS gun! Drooling over here!!!!!
CptCurl
|
| (.450 member) |
| 17/06/05 07:03 AM |
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Wow!
You ought to be ashamed flashing that level of temptation around the 'net! You say you get emotional looking at the rifle. Well, I'm emotional just looking at my computer screen with your rifle laid across it.
That crowbar would fit pretty nice in my toolbox!
Beautiful,
Curl
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 17/06/05 07:40 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Very nice indeed. Good pick up - I am extremely jealous as I would love
a Rigby 470 Sidelock.
What is the serial No.
Mine is 17171 in 375 Flanged Magnum.
Also, is your built on the Webley Action (Large, Spade shaped 3rd Bite)
or the Patent Rigby Bissell Rising Third Bite (A long, thing extension at the top
of the barrel with an elongated oval shape in the middle that intersects with a rising
bite in the action.
Look forward to your reply.
500 Nitro
| 475Guy |
| (.400 member) |
| 17/06/05 08:58 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Dude, there's just something about OLD WORLD engraving that just floats my boat. Shur is purty!!
| mickey |
| (.416 member) |
| 17/06/05 11:38 AM |
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Armbar
Very nice.
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 17/06/05 11:52 AM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Thank you. It is not the rising bite fastener. It has the dolls head extension. I guess that makes it a Webley action? From the little bit that I have gathered it appears the rising bite fasteners are a bit more desireable. Obviously I am happy with the one I was lucky enough to get.
| Chasseur |
| (.375 member) |
| 17/06/05 12:00 PM |
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Wow!! That is one beautiful rifle...
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 17/06/05 01:04 PM |
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Beautiful rifle. More photos please!
| 500Nitro |
| (.450 member) |
| 17/06/05 02:48 PM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
armbar
It is almost certainly a Webley action.
However don't knock it at all. Yes, to a certain extent the rising bite fasteners are slightly more
desirable BUT it has to be offset by the fact that rising bite fasteners were only made for a few years
so if a gun is made after the finish date it could never have been made with a rising bite fasteners !!!
Also - the Webley Action is superb - absolutely one of the best Actions made, particularly for
Larger calibre double Rifles.
500 Nitro
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 17/06/05 03:42 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
.500, I'm sure that you've done it before, but for a new guy how about showing a picture of your Rigby? Thanks.
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 19/06/05 10:00 AM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
This is what I have found regarding the rifle not closing: I put a micrometer to the rounds that would not allow the rifle to close. All of these rounds had rims that were from 1-2 thousandths of an inch thicker than those that would. It seems that I will have to find and use brass that has that thinner rim. As I wrote before, all of the factory Federal works. Armbar
| Marrakai |
| (.416 member) |
| 19/06/05 10:54 AM |
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
armbar:
Make sure you don't have a deposit of accumulated grunge in the the 'corner' of the rim-recesses at the breech-face. That could do it too...
| 475Guy |
| (.400 member) |
| 19/06/05 12:17 PM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
In that case, call the guy with the info and ask for a refund. Also, I'd ask him if he used Bertram brass for his hanmdloads. Since Federal's fit, then try out just a box of Norma's first before you lock into a supply of brass. As mentioned before, Huntington's has 470 brass on hand.
| 475Guy |
| (.400 member) |
| 19/06/05 01:16 PM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
Just went to Huntington's site and ordered something. Checked the brass availability and found that only Norma has 470 NE brass anyways.
| armbar |
| (.300 member) |
| 19/06/05 05:21 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
you guys are great.........thanks for the additional info!
I'll keep everyone updated.
Armbar
| Morten |
| (.275 member) |
| 27/06/05 02:01 AM |
|
Re: Old Rigby
|
High There armbar.
What is the thing with Rigby. Couldent you have just bought your self another blazer and saved the money untill you coud have bouth something properly
Just kidding Armbar. beautifull rifle. wish I had one. nice name and nice round. read some Robert Roark books and and realy get into the nostalgia.
Thanks for joining us in London on Saturday.