Scrub Bull Hunt 2023 Which Rifle?

[Aussie_Hunter]

I have a scrub bull hunt coming up mid 2023 and I'm struggling to decide which rifle I want to take with me. All the rifles I have are suitable its just I like hunting with them all and cant make a final decision, good problem to have right. I'm going for scrub bulls however I will be in buffalo country and I won't say no if the trophy buffalo bull of a lifetime happens to step out in front of me.

There is no shortage of opinions and preferences on calibres and rifles for big game on here so I thought a poll might be interesting. Obviously bullet choice for any calibre is important but I won't include that in the poll, I always use a premium bonded soft point, Swift A-frame, Woodleigh, etc.

I will be hunting in open bushland and all my rifles are mounted with Leupold 1-4 scopes except for my Rigby which is open sights only.

Keen to hear which rifle you would choose for the hunt.

 

[CBH Australia]

Take the Lott.

I did vote for the Kimber but I would like to handle a Rigby because of the pedigree and I'd like to know what makes them what they are.

 

[Jörg Krüger]

What???? No option of a 35 Whelen. @Bob Nelson 35Whelen is going to have a field day with you

 

[AjFourie]

The lott should get the job, it might not be a very objective opinion as I also use one and I'm a fan to say the least...

 

[Scrumbag]

Take the 458 Lott for the bull / buff and either the 9.3 or the 375 H&H with a ~250gr bullet like a Gameking or Accubond zeroed a bit further out for good MPBR for knocking over pigs if there is time.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Either of the 40 cals. Big bulls, big guns, big fun.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I have a scrub bull hunt coming up mid 2023 and I'm struggling to decide which rifle I want to take with me. All the rifles I have are suitable its just I like hunting with them all and cant make a final decision, good problem to have right. I'm going for scrub bulls however I will be in buffalo country and I won't say no if the trophy buffalo bull of a lifetime happens to step out in front of me.

There is no shortage of opinions and preferences on calibres and rifles for big game on here so I thought a poll might be interesting. Obviously bullet choice for any calibre is important but I won't include that in the poll, I always use a premium bonded soft point, Swift A-frame, Woodleigh, etc.

I will be hunting in open bushland and all my rifles are mounted with Leupold 1-4 scopes except for my Rigby which is open sights only.

Keen to hear which rifle you would choose for the hunt.

Will you be by yourself?

 

[zephyr]

Rigby
or
Your 6.5 Kill'more

 

[chashardy]

The Rigby, of course.
I'm bringing my 416 Rigby Big Game to hunt buffalo in NT, Australia next year.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a scrub bull hunt coming up mid 2023 and I'm struggling to decide which rifle I want to take with me. All the rifles I have are suitable its just I like hunting with them all and cant make a final decision, good problem to have right. I'm going for scrub bulls however I will be in buffalo country and I won't say no if the trophy buffalo bull of a lifetime happens to step out in front of me.

There is no shortage of opinions and preferences on calibres and rifles for big game on here so I thought a poll might be interesting. Obviously bullet choice for any calibre is important but I won't include that in the poll, I always use a premium bonded soft point, Swift A-frame, Woodleigh, etc.

I will be hunting in open bushland and all my rifles are mounted with Leupold 1-4 scopes except for my Rigby which is open sights only.

Keen to hear which rifle you would choose for the hunt.

@Aussie_Hunter
I going after scrub bulls in 2023 as well. I will be taking my 35 Whelen loaded with 310gn Woodleigh RNSP at 2,400fps. I expect these will do well.
Another person is taking his 444 Marlin loaded with 280gn Woodleigh and the 3rd person is taking his 9.3x62 and 404J. It will be interesting to compare the Whelen and 9.3x62. I thinks the Whelen will win hand down as it will be using reloads.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Take the Lott.

I did vote for the Kimber but I would like to handle a Rigby because of the pedigree and I'd like to know what makes them what they are.

@CBH Australia
You may like the Rigby mate but your little 375H&H will just have to do next year. Hopefully you can still make it .
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Take the 458 Lott for the bull / buff and either the 9.3 or the 375 H&H with a ~250gr bullet like a Gameking or Accubond zeroed a bit further out for good MPBR for knocking over pigs if there is time.

@Scrumbag
Why not just take the 9.3x62 or the 375H&H for both. Forget the game kings tho.
I'm taking the Whelen loaded with 300gn Woodleigh RNSP for bulls and 225gr Woodleigh RNSP for pigs. Fortunately they group to the same poi at 100yds but after that the 225s are fine to 200. The area we will be hunting won't have many if any shots that far out.
Bob

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Will you be by yourself?

Good question, I didn't touch on that did I. It will be 3 of us, my mates are carrying a 375H&H and a 416 Ruger.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

The Rigby, of course.
I'm bringing my 416 Rigby Big Game to hunt buffalo in NT, Australia next year.

I know I'm really struggling to look past my Rigby, those 550 grain Woodleighs at 2240fps are just a completely different animal to a 375H&H round.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

@Aussie_Hunter
I going after scrub bulls in 2023 as well. I will be taking my 35 Whelen loaded with 310gn Woodleigh RNSP at 2,400fps. I expect these will do well.
Another person is taking his 444 Marlin loaded with 280gn Woodleigh and the 3rd person is taking his 9.3x62 and 404J. It will be interesting to compare the Whelen and 9.3x62. I thinks the Whelen will win hand down as it will be using reloads.
Bob

310 grain Woodleigh at 2400fps is no joke!

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Good question, I didn't touch on that did I. It will be 3 of us, my mates are carrying a 375H&H and a 416 Ruger.

I don’t even register on the DG experience scale so my opinion doesn’t count for much but I WAS going to say to take advantage of your strength in numbers and carry the 9.3 since it’s new to you and probably the lightest(?).

However, the allure of the big bore Rigby has won me over. You’ll have the only true stopper of the pack with open sights ready if things go south and if you need to take a scoped shot you can always borrow one of your buddy’s rifles.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I don’t even register on the DG experience scale so my opinion doesn’t count for much but I WAS going to say to take advantage of your strength in numbers and carry the 9.3 since it’s new to you and probably the lightest(?).

However, the allure of the big bore Rigby has won me over. You’ll have the only true stopper of the pack with open sights ready if things go south and if you need to take a scoped shot you can always borrow one of your buddy’s rifles.

That's exactly the way I am leaning, if I need to take a longer or tricky shot I will have a 375 right beside me if I need it

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I have to go with the Rigby. It just seems proper.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Good question, I didn't touch on that did I. It will be 3 of us, my mates are carrying a 375H&H and a 416 Ruger.

@Aussie_Hunter
Take the 9.3 and show the big boys you don't have to get slapped around by magnums to get the job done.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

310 grain Woodleigh at 2400fps is no joke!

@Aussie_Hunter
No joke mate

But I may back it off a millipoofteenth

Or even the 275 Woodleigh PPSP would do the job at not quite full throttle

They will go another 100 plus fps quicker but the recoil starts to get very noticeable