.275 Rigby - Heart vs head

Nice looking .270’s do exist. I happen to think mine (below) is rather pretty. I went through the same thought process as you regarding head/heart decision over cartridge choice. Bought the 270 and have killed some nice stuff with it. I love it and don’t ever intend on selling it. However, I have a slot for a .275, and I suspect had I bought one to begin with, I’d have never bought the 270.View attachment 460489View attachment 460490View attachment 460491
A lovely rifle and definetly emphasises that the rifle itself matters far more than the cartridge per se. Take that same rifle in 243, 6.5x55, 270, 7x57, 280, 7x64 or 30-06 or similar and load it with a cartridge containing a good and appropriate bullet, set the sights to shoot 4cm high at 100 metres, put the cross hair in the middle of the kill zone, or a little higher if beyond 200 and squeeze the trigger and the end result will be the same if it's a small Roe calf, or a large Kudu bull or anything in between. Certainly I doubt the shooter nor the target animal will really notice any difference.
 
My go to rifle for hunting for the past 32 years is my Ruger No. 1-A in 7x57. Being an early model, it has a long throat and shoots best with the heavier bullets.

Ruger 1-A.webp
 
The 7x57 is one of the greatest cartridges of all time. The round was used by the two Boer Republics and it is extremely deadly. If it is good enough for General de Wet, it is good enough for you.

In the picture you will see two Boer Mausers. The carbine was taken to Magersfontein by Frederik J can Zyl of the Boshoff Kommando on December 10, 1899.IMG_20260621_151508.webpIMG_20260621_151528.webpIMG_20260621_151522.webpIMG_20260621_151515.webp
 
Congrats on your beautiful setup and for getting back into stalking!

If I could only have one rifle for deer stalking up to reds and elk sized game, and I wasn’t worried about a suppressor, it would be what you have. The medium size Mauser cartridges are efficient and get it done with less noise and recoil than the -06 length family, or the 08 pressures. 22-24” barrel and handsome walnut stock. Just about perfection for stalking. Congrats.
 
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Not the best pictures I am afraid, but here it is wearing a Schmidt & Bender 6x42.
Looks a very nice rifle with a very good scope. Nice and handy and good for shooting any deer in the UK, and the scope will very good ability to shoot well and keep the animal in view post shot.

I suppose you could always put a hubble telescope with twiddly turrets or a video screen so you can stream endless videos whilst put hunting. Some would want to put on a chassis stock with lots of mloc for accessories.

But I suspect you won’t and you will just go hunting.
 
Looks a very nice rifle with a very good scope. Nice and handy and good for shooting any deer in the UK, and the scope will very good ability to shoot well and keep the animal in view post shot.

I suppose you could always put a hubble telescope with twiddly turrets or a video screen so you can stream endless videos whilst put hunting. Some would want to put on a chassis stock with lots of mloc for accessories.

But I suspect you won’t and you will just go hunting.
Thank you - you suspect correctly.

I value the simplicity and reliability of the set up. I have 2 factory ammunition options that I like and the rifle likes (Norma Oryx 156gr for Reds and up, Fox Classic Hunter 130gr for smaller game and when non-toxic becomes essential) so that is me ready to go now.

In time I will set to reloading, because that is something I have always wanted to do, and I would like to experiment with some heavy-for-calibre bullets and some high-BC bullets before a Plains Game hunt in RSA next year.
 
Congrats on your beautiful setup and for getting back into stalking!

If I could only have one rifle for deer stalking up to reds and elk sized game, and I wasn’t worried about a suppressor, it would be what you have. The medium size Mauser cartridges are efficient and get it done with less noise and recoil than the -06 length family, or the 08 pressures. 22-24” barrel and handsome walnut stock. Just about perfection for stalking. Congrats.
Thank you! I am very happy with what I’ve got and am now just trying to spend as much time in the field as possible with it.
 
A beautiful set up. I especially like the scope.

Are the markings on the gun in English or in Afrikaans? Mine says "Vervaardig in Suid Afrika"
Thank you, it’s a good combination.

I have found a mix of Afrikaans and English on mine. I think it must have been a commercial import at the time, because it is marked by both the Birmingham Proof House and the South African Bureau for Standards (SABS) with the T set between springbok horns on both the barrel and receiver. I’ll try and take some pictures later if anyone is interested.
 
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