Recommended load for Rigby

[joeyclimbing]

I bought an older rifle years ago; the
Top of the barrel is inscribed ‘John Rigby& Co, St Jamess
Street London’. lower down are some hallmarks and ‘nitro proved’ but no manufacture date.
The rear of the bolt has an integral peep sight and the receiver sight has 100,200 and 300 steps.
The action and bore are both in good shape and all appears original. It has had very little usage.
I fired only 3 or 4 rounds of 7x57 federal blue box 140s at the range at the time and it
groups were fine. Id like to take it deer hunting now and wonder what safest pressures
to load this one for? I’ve some 175 grain bullets coming.
Thanks.

 

[Hitzy]

If it's a 98 Mauser you don't have to worry, load up like you would any modern rifle.

 

[Potashminer]

I suspect that you will want to find a load with 140 grain bullets - I think that is what a 275 Rigby is - and what your sights are likely set up for. As you mentioned - a perfectly identical case to 7x57 Mauser - I think the Germans / Spanish etc. commonly loaded to 173/175 grain bullets - Rigby 275 "High Velocity" was 140 grain, I believe. You will have to research what the original speeds were in Rigby ammo - I am thinking like 2,800 fps or so? - but am not sure. I assume, but do not know, that the twist rate in a Rigby 275 might have been different than in a German or Spanish 7x57 - to accommodate the shorter bullets - but someone who knows will have to confirm that - is only a presumption that I am making.

Some time ago, when you could buy a Lipseys Ruger #1 in 275 Rigby, Hornady was also selling boxes of brass that were head stamped "275 Rigby". The fellow who bought my 275 Rigby No. 1 rifle, also got that brass. If you can find out what bullet characteristics that Rigby used - likely similar B.C. could be found today?? I have some Woodleigh 140 grain PPSN - 7mm - that says a B.C. of .436; Nosler Partition 140 grain - 7mm - says a B.C. of .434. I suspect that you want similar muzzle velocity and similar Ballistic Co-efficient as the originals, for the settings on the rear sight to work properly. It is my guess that easy enough to match those old days velocities with modern powders?

As I understand, Rigby was the only "official" and "legitimate" importer/distributor of German Mauser actions to Great Britain - any other makers had to get their Mauser actions from or through Rigby. Without knowing more, my guess is your Rigby is built on a German Mauser 98 action - I think. There is a company today with the name "Rigby" - I think in USA - about all that is connected to the original British gunmaker - just the corporate name.

 

[SuperCub]

I use 120gr NBTs in mine with Varget.

 

[9.3mauser]

Rifles sighted for the high velocity load usually had that information engraved on the barrel or receiver ring. It would read: " Sighted for Rigby's Special High Velocity .275 Bore cartridge, Pointed Bullet 140 grs. " Depending on when the rifle was made, you should be able to find that information in the proof marks as well. There will be a powder charge, bullet weight, and max pressure.

Given that your sights are marked for 100, 200 & 300 yds, I'm going to take a wild guess and say that your rifle is probably regulated for the old 173 gr load. Velocities of 2300-2400 fps should shoot pretty close to the sights.

The "High Velocity" load should run around 2,800 with a 140 gr bullet.

and btw....

 

[SuperCub]

and btw....

X2 ...... I got an email from Chris Griesbach this week telling me there was a Rigby out west for sale recently.

 

[DGY]

X2 ...... I got an email from Chris Griesbach this week telling me there was a Rigby out west for sale recently.

Hmmm what are those Rigby go for usually? Just asking for a friend…..

 

[A-zone]

I bought an older rifle years ago; the
Top of the barrel is inscribed ‘John Rigby& Co, St Jamess
Street London’. lower down are some hallmarks and ‘nitro proved’ but no manufacture date.
The rear of the bolt has an integral peep sight and the receiver sight has 100,200 and 300 steps.
The action and bore are both in good shape and all appears original. It has had very little usage.
I fired only 3 or 4 rounds of 7x57 federal blue box 140s at the range at the time and it
groups were fine. Id like to take it deer hunting now and wonder what safest pressures
to load this one for? I’ve some 175 grain bullets coming.
Thanks.

I would suggest trying the "high velocity" load, 140 grains at a velocity of 2,800 fps.
Would be curious to know if the sights are regulated for that load.

 

[SuperCub]

Hmmm what are those Rigby go for usually? Just asking for a friend…..

https://store.theshootingcentre.com/rigby/

 

[hoytcanon]

The 7X57 load that has worked for me in many rifles and continues to prove itself is 50.0 grains of RL-19 under a 150 grain bullet with a Magnum primer.

 

[SuperCub]

Oooopsie

 

[SuperCub]

Hmmm what are those Rigby go for usually? Just asking for a friend…..

The Rigby I was made aware of from Chris was an older gun, not a current production rifle as found in the link above.

 

[Potashminer]

The 7X57 load that has worked for me in many rifles and continues to prove itself is 50.0 grains of RL-19 under a 150 grain bullet with a Magnum primer.

I used exactly the same powder and charge - but I used Fed 210 primers in R-P cases - with Nosler Partition 150 bullets. I had tried testing, initially, with 140, 150 and 160 Partition. To my mind, the 150's gave better groups in my Ruger #1 with 22" barrel. That might or might not have been "real", but was what I thought at the time. Shooting Chrony said plus or minus 2,800 fps from at least half dozen velocity tests over the years. Results on deer never gave me any reason to change anything in 20+ years of Saskatchewan White Tail and Mule Deer hunting. Mostly under 2" 5 shot groups at 100 yards - more than often, closer to 1 1/4" 5 shot groups.

 

[DGY]

The Rigby I was made aware of from Chris was an older gun, not a current production rifle as found in the link above.

Thanks for the link… but that is a little(lot) out of my budget hahaha!
What is the older one going for if you know?

 

[SuperCub]

What is the older one going for if you know?

Don't really want to say in case the deal is not complete. Lets just say, it was a lot more last year.

 

[hoytcanon]

I used exactly the same powder and charge - but I used Fed 210 primers in R-P cases - with Nosler Partition 150 bullets. I had tried testing, initially, with 140, 150 and 160 Partition. To my mind, the 150's gave better groups in my Ruger #1 with 22" barrel. That might or might not have been "real", but was what I thought at the time. Shooting Chrony said plus or minus 2,800 fps from at least half dozen velocity tests over the years. Results on deer never gave me any reason to change anything in 20+ years of Saskatchewan White Tail and Mule Deer hunting. Mostly under 2" 5 shot groups at 100 yards - more than often, closer to 1 1/4" 5 shot groups.

I mostly use R-P brass aswell, but have not found that other brass (notably PPU and Norma) has made a significant difference on the functionality of this load, as tested from many rifles. I find the Magnum primers give more consistent ignition in cold weather, as my 7X57 rifles are used alot in November and December... it has remained remarkably consistent for accuracy and velocity across the board.

 

[joeyclimbing]

Thanks for this information; the old rigby has been
sitting for a very long time and my decision is to take it out.
Will try several different loads as it sounds like a stronger action
than a 95.

 

[SuperCub]

Thanks for this information; the old rigby has been
sitting for a very long time and my decision is to take it out.
Will try several different loads as it sounds like a stronger action
than a 95.

Any pics for the gawkers?

 

[joeyclimbing]

Never gotten the hang of posting here. Can you post some pics if I send to you via
Email?

Any pics for the gawkers?

 

[Potashminer]

Pictures from the OP - hoping that I got the orientations to work properly!!