404 or my 375

[Tucketed]

I should get my 404 in the next few weeks and have been contemplating taking it on a plains game trip to Zimbabwe in June. I was planning to have it stay at home and take my 375. I know their are plenty of you who have used your 404 on PG but just looking for thoughts and opinions.
Thanks
Ed

 

[IvW]

I should get my 404 in the next few weeks and have been contemplating taking it on a plains game trip to Zimbabwe in June. I was planning to have it stay at home and take my 375. I know their are plenty of you who have used your 404 on PG but just looking for thoughts and opinions.
Thanks
Ed

PG only take the 375......

 

[sierraone]

I have both and have taken both to Africa. The way my .404 performed on buffalo, zebra and warthog, I could be tempted to take it on a just plains game hunt. Just doesn't have the same range as the .375. So my opinion is the .375 is more practical but either caliber will work just fine as long as you understand your range abilities with the rifle. Good luck!

Might add that even though the .404 has less range ability than the .375, it shoots as far as I am going to shoot at any animal

 

[cpr0312]

For PG only .375

 

[HWL]

.404....because it gives me a good feeling!

Ernest HWL

 

[Hank2211]

I have both and have used both on plains game. The .375 is more flexible and allows you to reach out a bit farther with confidence than the .404, but realistically, this is Zimbabwe you're talking about, not Namibia, so shots are unlikely to be too long. Spend a bit of time studying a ballistic chart for the .404 ammo you're planning to use, and then go have fun with it. That's what I'd do . . .

 

[Ray B]

Considering the trajectories of the lighter bullets in both, I'd consider the maximum range I'd consider shooting the 404 to be 250 yards. The 375 could add another 50-75 yards. Within the 250 yards I'd prefer the 404. So the question is: how important is it to have another 50 yards of potential shot distance.

 

[USMA84DAB]

If you take the .404 you get extra practice with your "heavy" for when you return to hunt dangerous game - all PHs would love to see that!

If you want to stalk less/hunt less and take advantage of the range the .375 offers, that is OK too -

I was "raised" hunting to stalk as closer as one can - the closer to the game when the trigger is pulled, the greater a hunter you are

Both are superb choices - what tickles your fancy?

At some point, I hope to return to take a buffalo with a .495 A-Square - you can bet your bottom dollar I will slay plains game with it too! When I had my first .495, I would stalk cottontails in the in-laws windbreak early in the morning - the rabbits would bark the trees and kill them when the South Dakota snow got deep. Nothing quite like a .495 going off in the grey before sunrise!!!!. Field dressed the bunny at the same time too! I got pretty familiar with the rifle this way.

 

[Newboomer]

If you can get 250 yards and good shot placement from a 404, take it. For 90 % of pg you won't shoot much over 150 yards. PHs don't like long shots. Too much chance of wounding and that means a possible long chase. Choose a good bullet and practice as much as you can.

 

[Tucketed]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and inputs. I pretty much realized it would work for me but you guys are the experts. Shots should be under 200 yards. I was hoping you would say go with it. I’ll wait and see how it feels and shoots. My guess since it’s a custom stock with a thinner english style it might be more fun than my Win 70 Safari. Again thanks for all

 

[TOBY458]

375 if you want to be practical, and have more range capabilities.
404 if you want to keep ranges closer and get practice with a heavier caliber.
Taking both is the obvious solution.

 

[BeeMaa]

Either will work within all practical distances that you will most likely be shooting.
Take whichever rifle you shoot best.
You said you don't yet have the 404J...are you going to have enough time to be comfortable with it?
How long to your trip?

Shoot both rifles up until you are almost ready to leave and see how you feel at that point.
Having a level of comfort in a firearm comes with time...time spent at the range.

 

[meigsbucks]

For a PG only hunt, I would normally say take the .375, but when I hunted Zim, I took a .375 and a .416 Ruger... similar to the .404. I only used the .375 on two impala and a bushbuck. Buffalo, kudu, warthog, zebra, impala, waterbuck and two wildebeest were all taken with the .416. So I’d say take whichever one floats your boat. Just realize that the .404 will have some range limitations.

 

[Pondoro]

Take the .375 and use 235 Barnes X or 260 grain Nosler Accubond....both are splendid on PG..

 

[One Day...]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and inputs. I pretty much realized it would work for me but you guys are the experts. Shots should be under 200 yards. I was hoping you would say go with it. I’ll wait and see how it feels and shoots. My guess since it’s a custom stock with a thinner english style it might be more fun than my Win 70 Safari. Again thanks for all

I will say "go for it"! And without a second thought I might add!
I suspect that you are not really interested in practical, rational considerations.
You likely waited long for that .404 and drooled all over it. Heck yes, go hunt with it!
Anyway, they keep saying that you do not need to shoot further but to hunt closer

 

[Fastrig]

404J because it screams AFRICA, and is just plain cool.....have fun!!!

 

[spike.t]

Take both.....sorted and can stop stressing....

 

[Major Khan]

Both of them will work just fine . The .375 Holland & Holland magnum is a bit more flat shooting out to greater distances which can be advantageous . Use a good quality expanding bullet , like a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw .

 

[Red Leg]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and inputs. I pretty much realized it would work for me but you guys are the experts. Shots should be under 200 yards. I was hoping you would say go with it. I’ll wait and see how it feels and shoots. My guess since it’s a custom stock with a thinner english style it might be more fun than my Win 70 Safari. Again thanks for all

I presume you are planning to scope it. Doing so, you will have a rifle, assuming you find a load it likes, that will be fine inside 200 meters - even a bit farther. My real question is weight of the final package. I keep my .375's, with scope and ammunition, under eleven pounds. I hate dragging a heavy rifle around the bush. I have a wonderful custom built .404 that has yet to go to Africa simply because that weight puts me off whenever I think about a hot six hours are so trailing a buffalo (or eland). And I can actually do more with the .375 than I can with the .404.

I am also a bit of a proportional caliber to the game animal type. For instance, I don't use one of my .375's on Texas whitetail.

But those or my prejudices. If you want to take it, and you shoot it well, then you would be fine with it.

 

[Tucketed]

Red Leg
Thank you, by the way it was nice to meet you at the Get Together, I alway love your inputs especially double guns. My 375 all in with ammo and sling is 11.15 lbs. Since I am still waiting on the 404 not sure of weight. If I used the 404 for PG it would be scoped with a 1-6. Likely I’ll take my 375HH but the 404 gets me excited and it would be nice to add the heritage of a trip to the rifle.
Ed