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The pressure of these new Rugers are getting pretty high in my view. 62,000 lbs

The Rigby can hold that much powder (132 gr) but no one I know loads it that much. Mt CZ shoots a 400 gr TSX or Partition at 2420 ft/s with 100 gr RL-15 in its 24 1/2 inch bbl. And at much much lower pressures.

I remain to be convinced of the greatness of the Ruger rounds. Smaller and compact - for sure. But you have to push the envelope somewhere with the denser round - pressure would be that envelope. I am sure it is safe, but your margin for error must be shrinking. I am still willing to carry that extra 1-2 lbs to allow for low pressures and long nosed bullets, and a lesser recoil.

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For sure there is a lot more pressure intensity in the newer shorter high aspect ratio cases. So you get the double thrill of high pressure working on chamber walls and increased bolt thrust and lug stress working on these guns. We have a CZ .416 Rigby in queue for review and I am looking forward to it. We've done the .416 Weatherby, another high pressure case, amd I am sure the Rigby in the big CZ action could handle the same pressure levels, but we want to take a look at comparative penetration and bullet expansion between the two, loaded at proper levels. My guess is they will be quite similar and the Rigby will put a lot less stress on the shooter and firearm.

I think Ruger is working toward a very specific type of application with the Hawkeye and these not quite stubby rounds. They offer the M77 Magnum in .416 Rigby and .458 Lott in a more conventional size package as well as in the No. 1. Ssomething I noticed about Ruger and Hornady is that they have a lot of gun geeks per capita as employees and magagement. Their tech departments are loaded with hunters, competitive shooters and handloaders. If you ask the basis for designs they always begin from the perspective of an enthusiast. There is always some hunting or shooting goal they are trying to achieve. I don't think they are trying to replace or displace other cartridges as they can just as easily chamber for any standard, I think they are pretty much like most of us, they like to experiment and try new concepts.

Personally, I have no favorites in modern firearms. I just look forward to the next gun as a form of enjoyment. I like a lot of the older early 20th century firearms. There are crafts represented that are long gone, even from custom shops and limited production guns.

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