This is probably the key issue for me. I had always assumed that a 458/500 would out penetrate a 416/400, but recent research has lead me to question that. Pierre van der Walt talks about this and how the penetration of the 416/400 beats all the others. I have come across this about the 416s penetration elsewhere.
Then when I saw the reaction of the buffalo to my 400 SAF I really began questioning my assumptions that the Lott would be the better elephant rifle.
My PH wants me to use the 416, probably because he and his other guides watched me place every first shot where they told me with it. But like many others here I can do the same thing with any rifle I bring--or I won't bring it.
However, a PH will almost always recommend a smaller rifle for the client. His backup rifle is an M-70 in 458 Lott, and his 500 grainer at 2250 has less
sharp recoil than my 400 grainer at 2430. We will see how I like 500 grainers at 2300.....
To use a cliche, we all know that at the "end of the day" it doesn't matter what I choose as all the options work. It's just fun to think and talk about them. If we didn't, we wouldn't have much of a forum...
I love them both but they are different. I just went to the range a week ago with
@CoElkHunter and his CZ 416 Rigby and my 458WinMag. Now his CZ is heavier than my Winchester by 2lbs but 458 definitely smacks you harder with a 500gr vs the Rigbys 400gr round. The Winchester has a shorter barrel too
We Doppler’d both rifles and the 458 threw a 500gr at 2170fps for 5200ftlbs the Rigby a 400gr at 2400fps for 5100ftlbs so they have equal energy but the 458 has more weight, a larger meplat, and higher sectional density. Theoretically that gives the 458 both a higher TKO and more penetration…
“You’re talking about the choice between two rather different, yet similar in some respects, calibers and rifles designed for different uses.
Now there’s no question the 416 Rigby is a bit more versatile, and will work rather well, but it’s NOT designed as a STOPPING RIFLE.
The 458 Win was designed to duplicate the ballistics and hitting power of a British dangerous game rifles in the 450-470 caliber range, these mostly throw a 480 grain-to-520 grain bullet at between 2100fps and 2400fps, and by design mostly use or at least are intended to use solids that penetrate an elephants skull at any angle or bust both shoulders on a cape buffalo, the 458 Win is designed as a STOPPING rifle for use in stopping a charge at under 60 yards.
The 416 Rigby, like the 375 H&H, is fully capable of killing anything in Africa but it’s not designed specifically as a stopping rifle.
There’s a difference between being able to kill with a single shot (which the 375 H&H and 416 Rigby do well) and stopping a charge of a truly pissed off dangerous animal at pistol shot ranges for which the added caliber (diameter & impact area) and bullet weight of the 458 calibers 500-510 grain slug have over time proven to have a sight advantage.”
AFRICAN RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES by JOHN TAYLOR
Both are awesome! Love them both so there is no wrong way to go. But the 458 is going to smack game harder. If you did go with the 458 I’d personally choose the 458Win over the 458 Lott unless I were a PH, that’s just me though…
