.375H&H or .458 WM which should I keep

[CBH Australia]

Yeah cause if a .375H&H isn’t big enough just go big or go home!
I get it you want a .500 Jeffery but like Grand Dads .375 has done it all to date.

I’m only planning on one Big Bore and the .375 is small enough to be versatile big enough to do the job if I do my part right. I mainly use a .308 for regular use shooting pest pigs often a .223 if I’m just shooting foxes.

I thought the .30-06 was what every American started with as a baseline for hunting and an AR15 just because you can and then everything else as it comes along . Best keep reading some more.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Yeah cause if a .375H&H isn’t big enough just go big or go home!
I get it you want a .500 Jeffery but like Grand Dads .375 has done it all to date.

I’m only planning on one Big Bore and the .375 is small enough to be versatile big enough to do the job if I do my part right. I mainly use a .308 for regular use shooting pest pigs often a .223 if I’m just shooting foxes.

I thought the .30-06 was what every American started with as a baseline for hunting and an AR15 just because you can and then everything else as it comes along . Best keep reading some more.

Funny , you should mention the .30-06 . That's all my father uses . A Remington Semi Auto rifle . Us Americans LOVE the .30-06 . I am currently reading the auto biography of Ivory Hunter , Harry Manners . He mentions using a .30-06 Winchester Model 70 to dispatch 40 elephants , during the time when ICI Kynoch stopped making centre fire rifle ammo. He mentions that the .30-06 bullets would often deviate from course in the honey combed structure of an elephant's skull and often got him into problems.
But do get a .30-06 in the future. You will know why we Americans love it so much .

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

Keep the 458 as it will do everything that a 375 will do and then some...…..
EJ

 

[CoElkHunter]

Keep the 458 as it will do everything that a 375 will do and then some...…..
EJ

Or get a bolt action Barrett in .50 BMG and take Duiker or jackals at two miles! Ha! Ha!

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’ve agreed on a purchase of a CZ550 in .375H&H as I wanted this over my current .458Wm in same.
I believe the .375 is more versatile and adequate for most things used correctly with the right projectile.

I wanted and still want the .375, I have no DG experience and will get limited opportunity to hunt DG except other than a paid safari which is not in the near future for that.

If you were only able to keep one which should it be? Open to discussion. I have fired exactly 1 shot from a .375 and then bought a new .458 on clearance, the same way I get most of my guns on sale.

I have dies, cases and various projectiles that I built up in .458 so I can put togetherness a nice little package for sale then start over, I’ve put 50+ rounds through it, just to get a feel for it.

I am planning on just the .375 and I have some sentimental idea of it bein a classic calibre. Staying with the same model I’m keeping the scope and rings and I have a Timney trigger if I want to fit it

Whichever I have will get taken in the field for use, pigs generally but I want Tom be comfortable with it and I feel I can’t carry it on a 5km walk then no point thinking I’m going to do anything more with it

Anyway any thoughts on the pros and cons of these for a one big bore solution for someone who is hoping to use it in the future?

My first African hunt is booked. A PG cull hunt and I’m using a hire rifle. And I’m happy with that. Keeping it simple

If and when I get a chance I will hunt Camel, Donkey and try for Buffalo in Oz, and if I get a second shot at Africa a .375 would be a versatile rifle to take.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Kind of off the subject here, but can you or anyone else on this forum tell me what is the difference between a CZ 550 and a CZ ZKK 602. I've seen photos of both, but I don't know what their differences are? Thank you!

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Kind of off the subject here, but can you or anyone else on this forum tell me what is the difference between a CZ 550 and a CZ ZKK 602. I've seen photos of both, but I don't know what their differences are? Thank you!

The Zkk 602 is the earlier BRNO action and much , much better than the CZ550. Try getting one of the pre -77 actions as they come with a refined peep sight

 

[CoElkHunter]

The Zkk 602 is the earlier BRNO action and much , much better than the CZ550. Try getting one of the pre -77 actions as they come with a refined peep sight

You say much better than a CZ550. Is the action smoother and/or is the overall balance of the rifle better? Thanks!

 

[Hoss Delgado]

You say much better than a CZ550. Is the action smoother and/or is the overall balance of the rifle better? Thanks!

Both. I am in talks with a gunsmith at the moment to build me a .400/350 Nitro Express on a ZKK602 action .

 

[CoElkHunter]

Both. I am in talks with a gunsmith at the moment to build me a .400/350 Nitro Express on a ZKK602 action .

Cool! Thanks for the info! I'm not familiar with that cartridge. I'll google it.

 

[daawg1963]

Keep both hunt more .

 

[CoElkHunter]

I had read the .338 has noticeable recoil. Never fired one. Fired a .375H&H once and that lead to needing a big bore, I agree with the description of the recoil being a slow push. I have read the .338 has sharp recoil. Damn I wanted one in all weather version for a bear gun just in case.
grabbed the .458 on. Runout deal 6 years ago, don’t use it much but I have plenty of light projectiles for practice
I will have a Play with the .375 when I receive it, maybe I hold off on selling the .458, use it for Buff with express sights and just shift the scope to the .375. I dunno, I want it all but time space and money are still it as free as I’d like but working on that.

CBH,
I bought a CZ550 .458 WM a few weeks ago. Just shot it today. I LOVE it! Looked for a ZKK 602 for awhile, but they're just not that common here in the states. Anyway, if your able to afford to keep your .458, don't sell it! I'm in the process of gathering reloading components so I can reload ammo for it.

 

[Rule 303]

CBH, the 375 will do you fine. For DG just load the Woodleigh Hydros. Put a low powered scope, 1.5 or 2.5 to whatever. Keep the objective bell 42mm or smaller, helps mount the scope low which IMHOP is what is needed.

Camel can be taken with a 243, 6.5 is better and 375 just hums, big animals not hard to kill.

 

[bruce moulds]

camel can be taken with a 243, but it is pretty much limited to headshots or neck shots if humane killing is part of the equation.
6.5 similar but a little better.
338 and up with good bullets allow humane killing with good body shots
the 7mm stw will do some body shots with barnes bullets, but even that cannot compete with 338 and up.
when you consider all the time, money, and planning involved in a camel trip, why not take adequate firearms.?
bruce.

 

[CBH Australia]

I agree, I want to use my big stuff if I own it. Collecting the .375 H&H ASAP I need to get to town.
Wife has a .243, haven’t joined the Creedmore club yet or owned any 6.5, I’m confident of shooting well with my 7mm-08 for head shots I have a .300wm but the .375 will be my go to if I’m asked to cull a few. Either way I’m hoping to run some, factory PPU loads through it by end of week.
I know a bloke who wants to butcher one so maybe we can plan a trip since we have contacts for the same area.

 

[Rule 303]

Shot a camel or two and they drop to shot with a 270 through the heart, but neck shooting is preferred method. 30 cals work fine as does the 7X57, 8X57 but I do prefer 35 cal and up, just because I can.

Miss the heart even with a big cal and they can carry a lung shot quite some distance.

 

[CBH Australia]

@Rule 303 Neck shots? Somewhere specific or is to break the neck windpipe?

I’ve looked at anatomy pics for the heart. I have read they will stick around if you take the dominant Bull first. They look to follow his lead..

 

[Rule 303]

Chris my observation is they don't run off in a hurry if A) They have not been hunted before. B) They have not seen you and do not know where the shot has come from, C) they don't see one of theirs drop.

I have never dropped the Dominate bull first so do not know about that.

Main thing is, if they see you they will keep their distance. There are others with far more experience than me and these are just my observations.

 

[BenKK]

My bro dropped the dominant bull once with a shot to the back of the head with a 7mm STW from about fifty metres as we crept over a dune. The next biggest bull tried to dominate the dead bull, and I clobbered him with several shots from the Winchester .30-30. Meanwhile the cows legged-it, and back then Dad was fairly quick, too, and caught-up to two of them with the .22-250, braining them.

 

[PaulT]

From what I hear from a buddy of mine who is doing guided hunts is that since the increase in aerial shooting by the Government they are very "toey".

In saying that, how many do you want/need to shoot ?

If you want to clean them up then shoot fast and shoot straight.

My friend had an excellent shooter from the U.S recently account for 61 in 5 days hunting by knocking them over efficiently and quickly.