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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416
#366947 - 22/06/22 03:04 AM

June 21, 2022

Side-Plated Drop-Lock .500/.416
.
Side-plating a body-action gun is a practice almost as old as the 1875 Anson & Deeley patent. As a revolutionary concept, the aesthetic of the 'boxlock' was unlike anything the gunmaker or sportsman of the day had seen before. They were used to looking at lock plates and appreciated the graceful lines and scope for engraving they created.

continued:

https://www.westleyrichards.com/theexplo..._eid=d5302545e7

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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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rigbymauser
.400 member

Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: Ripp]
#366948 - 22/06/22 03:59 AM

Very very beautiful rifle.

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26514
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: rigbymauser]
#366955 - 22/06/22 06:30 AM

Indeed. I would accept that as a gift - hint, hint.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39248
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: Ripp]
#366972 - 22/06/22 03:29 PM

You beat me. I was thinking of posting that to the forums last night.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Waidmannsheil
.400 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2387
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: NitroX]
#366980 - 22/06/22 08:28 PM

LOL, I was going to post it as well. Superb looking rifle for sure. The cartridge has a small following but has never been a huge seller, which is strange as it is obviously a superb cartridge. It will be interesting to see if the 416 Rigby No.2 can become at least as popular or even more so.

Question, does anybody know what the small oval hole in the rib front of the rear sight is for.

Matt.

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There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: NitroX]
#366983 - 22/06/22 11:40 PM

Quote:

You beat me. I was thinking of posting that to the forums last night.

I'm like the 6.5 Creedmoor of posting.. consistent, accurate and reliable...

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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39248
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: Waidmannsheil]
#366985 - 22/06/22 11:56 PM

The rib might have dovetail grooves on the sides of the rib near the oval hole. Perhaps so a dot sight can be fitted on? The oval hole might be an anchoring hole?

One reason a .500/416 was not more popular is the cartridge has recoil approaching a .450 or 470. So why not just get one of those?

A 450 gr .416 could out do a 480 / 500 gr .450/.470. But the usual bullets is a 400 gr. Of course doubles may not be as versatile as a bolt action with different bullet weights.

Still I have always liked it, but my 450 happened by first. Now I am keen for a .375 s by s as it is better as a medium game rifle as well. .I do wonder if 416 barrels are possible on a custom set of Valmet barrels.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (23/06/22 12:12 AM)

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: NitroX]
#366988 - 23/06/22 12:11 AM

Quote:

The rib might have dovetail grooves near the oval hole. Perhaps so a dot sight can be fitted on?

One reason a .500/416 was not more popular is the cartridge has recoil approaching a .450 or 470. So why not just get one of those?

A 450 gr .416 could out do a 480 / 500 gr .450/.470. But the usual bullets is a 400 gr. Of course doubles may not be as versatile as a bolt action with different bullet weights.

From what I read, the 400gr bullets were traveling close to 2400fps.. that's serious ft/lbs of energy.. with the exception of one hunt, all I ever carried in African was a 416.. and frankly, based on what I saw in its ability to drop game, all I will probably ever carry..

YES, IF I had more money than I knew what to do with, this would be on the list of purchases to be made..

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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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3DogMike
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1414
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: Waidmannsheil]
#367016 - 23/06/22 07:53 AM

Quote:

……(snip)……. It will be interesting to see if the 416 Rigby No.2 can become at least as popular or even more so.

Matt.

I wonder about the .416 Rigby No.2 as well. I have no idea if it remains a "proprietary" cartridge or not, but if it is I'd opine that Rigby cannot possibly expect to sell that many doubles or their new single shot to make it a common sight. Over the long term, obtaining factory ammunition or reloading brass could become an issue.
- Mike

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"Here's to killing people you don't like with people you do"

"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26514
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: 3DogMike]
#367021 - 23/06/22 09:04 AM

Tried looking but could not find any ballistics. Do I assume it develops the same ballistics as the .426 Rigby?

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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bwanabobftw
.375 member

Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 667
Loc: Texas

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: DarylS]
#367026 - 23/06/22 09:56 AM

Beautiful rifle !!!!!!!!!
Robert

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Waidmannsheil
.400 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2387
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: NitroX]
#367028 - 23/06/22 10:44 AM

You are correct, the rib has dovetails in the side of it at the rear. You can just see them in a couple of pics. So I would agree that the oval hole is for locating a recoil lug on a custom made base for a red dot sight.

Matt

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There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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Waidmannsheil
.400 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2387
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: Westley Richards Side Plated Drop Lock--500/416 [Re: 3DogMike]
#367029 - 23/06/22 10:46 AM

Yeah not sure either if it is proprietary or not. They have a few new guns being made in that cartridge at the moment but of course in the overall scheme of things its only a small number.

Matt

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There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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