458WinMag or 470 Capstick, what would you take?

[CZDiesel]

As some of you know I’ll be going to Zimbabwe next year on a three week Safari for Elephant, Buffalo, and nine head of Plains Game. It will be a three gun Safari with my 300 H&H and 375 H&H going for sure. The third was going to be my 458WinMag but after spending range time with the 470 Capstick I’m thinking I might take it instead! Both are great Custom Shop rifles with the 458 being a little lighter and handier with a 22” bbl but the 470 is easier to shoot with less kick for faster follow ups. Both have drop magazines that hold five rounds, both have a Leupold VX-6 1-6 firedot and irons. The 458WinMag is shooting 450gr CEB solids and the 470 500gr Barnes Banded solids
Which one do you think I should take?

 

[skydiver386]

For Ele, I'd like to see you take the 470.

 

[ftrovato]

As some of you know I’ll be going to Zimbabwe next year on a three week Safari for Elephant, Buffalo, and nine head of Plains Game. It will be a three gun Safari with my 300 H&H and 375 H&H going for sure. The third was going to be my 458WinMag but after spending range time with the 470 Capstick I’m thinking I might take it instead! Both are great Custom Shop rifles with the 458 being a little lighter and handier with a 22” bbl but the 470 is easier to shoot with less kick for faster follow ups. Both have drop magazines that hold five rounds, both have a Leupold VX-6 1-6 firedot and irons. The 458WinMag is shooting 450gr CEB solids and the 470 500gr Barnes Banded solids
Which one do you think I should take?

I'd have to see pictures first to help in making this emotional decision! ;-)

 

[franzfmdavis]

470 Capstick - you will be in a smaller club of hunters with that

 

[krish]

Take 470 capstick and dont look back. It is enough gun even yo stop a charge. As good or better than 458 lott. My recomendations are Acadamic.
Krish

 

[Mountaineer]

458 win mag for everything

 

[Wyatt Smith]

On paper I’d say the 470. But which one feels better.

 

[CZDiesel]

I'd have to see pictures first to help in making this emotional decision! ;-)

Unfortunately both rifle are out being restocked.
The 458 is at LeRoy Berrys place and the 470 is at Kevin Weavers place

On paper I’d say the 470. But which one feels better.

The 470 is much much more enjoyable and easy to shoot. They both are very accurate

 

[ftrovato]

Unfortunately both rifle are out being restocked.
The 458 is at LeRoy Berrys place and the 470 is at Kevin Weavers place

The 470 is much much more enjoyable and easy to shoot. They both are very accurate

With that said, it sounds like the 470 gets the nod.

Some will say, 'what about ammo availability in Africa' and they make a good point.

I say make the decision with your gut when both return....

Have fun planning!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Unfortunately both rifle are out being restocked.
The 458 is at LeRoy Berrys place and the 470 is at Kevin Weavers place

The 470 is much much more enjoyable and easy to shoot. They both are very accurate

Sounds like the 470 to me. You have no wrong choice however.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Since I have 2- 458WM, my vote is for the 458WM.

However, you seem to favor the 470 so go with the 470. If you think you are going to need additional 470 ammo check with your outfitter to find out if the nearest gun shop, if the local gun shop doesn't already, will stock a couple of boxes for you.

I am curious as to taking the 300 and the 375, it seems a little redundant for PG, since both calibers are great PG calibers.

 

[CZDiesel]

Since I have 2- 458WM, my vote is for the 458WM.

However, you seem to favor the 470 so go with the 470. If you think you are going to need additional 470 ammo check with your outfitter to find out if the nearest gun shop, if the local gun shop doesn't already, will stock a couple of boxes for you.

I am curious as to taking the 300 and the 375, it seems a little redundant for PG, since both calibers are great PG calibers.

Unfortunately there is no 470 Capstick made by anyone at this point. Not even custom makers. But I did a bunch of brass so I wonder if I could mail several boxes to my PH?
The 375 is for Buff as the 470 will blow straight through it with the Barnes X I have. And it makes a good backup if there is a issue with the 470 or 458 ammo

 

[ftrovato]

Unfortunately there is no 470 Capstick made by anyone at this point. Not even custom makers. But I did a bunch of brass so I wonder if I could mail several boxes to my PH?
The 375 is for Buff as the 470 will blow straight through it with the Barnes X I have. And it makes a good backup if there is a issue with the 470 or 458 ammo

I'm a fan of bigger is always better for buffalo... I'd use the 458 or 470 for everything I was not shooting with the 300 H&H...

 

[One Day...]

In general terms, if this was about getting the rifle, my answer would be "good luck finding .470 Capstick ammo".

Conversely, any duka in Africa - heck even this guy! - has .458 Win on the shelf...

For that reason alone................................

But since you have the rifle and the ammo, a more specific answer to your special situation is that either will work, but 500 gr is better on Elephant than 450 gr (assuming both at appropriate velocity and of appropriate construction).

Much more importantly, I believe, shootability is paramount, and if you find the .470 easier to shoot (I shall assume that it is heavier and recoils less *), then this factor alone makes the decision. Repeating fast under duress in the bush is a lot different from repeating fast at the range (or in the living room with snap caps)...............................

Either way, you 3 rifle battery will be flawless. Enjoy your hunt and welcome to the bush

* I never understood this "need" for shorter and lighter DG rifles. On one hand 2 or 3 inches of barrel less will make exactly zero real world difference in the bush - you would need to chop 12 or 16 inches to get to a point where you can ignore your barrel while snaking through dense jesse - but the bark of a 22" barrel is noticeably louder; and on the other hand anything under 10 lbs in .45+ is pure murder to shoot, and truth be told 11 lbs is even better as no one can tell the difference between 10 and 11 lbs when the rifle is on your shoulder, but another pound sure makes a difference when shooting, especially in action.

 

[CZDiesel]

I'm a fan of bigger is always better for buffalo... I'd use the 458 or 470 for everything I was not shooting with the 300 H&H...

I’d have no problem doing just that but I’ll be hunting in heavy bush and my PH is concerned about over penetration with a 500gr Barnes X at 2260?
But I’ll have them both with me so if a stud shows himself and I have the 470 with me that’s what he’s catching!

 

[CZDiesel]

In general terms, if this was about getting the rifle, my answer would be "good luck finding .470 Capstick ammo".

Conversely, any duka in Africa - heck even that guy! - has .458 Win on the shelf...

View attachment 699021

For that reason alone................................

But since you have the rifle and the ammo, a more specific answer to your special situation is that either will work, but 500 gr is better on Elephant than 450 gr (assuming both at appropriate velocity and of appropriate construction).

Much more importantly, I believe, shootability is paramount, and if you find the .470 easier to shoot (I shall assume that it is heavier and recoils less), then this factor alone makes the decision. Repeating fast under duress in the bush is a lot different from repeating fast at the range (or in the living room with snap caps)...............................

Either way, you 3 rifle battery will be flawless. Enjoy your hunt and welcome to the bush

Dang that dude has a nice shop

 

[ftrovato]

I’d have no problem doing just that but I’ll be hunting in heavy bush and my PH is concerned about over penetration with a 500gr Barnes X at 2260?
But I’ll have them both with me so if a stud shows himself and I have the 470 with me that’s what he’s catching!

I suspect those Barnes will penetrate as well as most solids....

 

[CZDiesel]

I suspect those Barnes will penetrate as well as most solids....

Probably! My PH loves them but said in these conditions with the 500gr and up anything over 2150 starts to really over penetrate hit other things

 

[Ridge Runner]

Unfortunately there is no 470 Capstick made by anyone at this point. Not even custom makers. But I did a bunch of brass so I wonder if I could mail several boxes to my PH?
The 375 is for Buff as the 470 will blow straight through it with the Barnes X I have. And it makes a good backup if there is a issue with the 470 or 458 ammo

Ok, just an idea, to save any overweight charges : what about...

Since the 470 is only for the ele, 30 rounds should be more than sufficient for checking zero and the ele with a few rounds left over. The 375 is good for your buff and all your PG, thus pack the remaining ammo difference weight with 375 ammo?

Or

If you go with the 458WM with 40 rounds ammo for checking your zero and hunting ele and buff, and the 375H&H or 300 with remaining weight difference of ammo for checking zero and PG? Both calibers are readily available in Africa just check with your outfitter to request the local gun shop to have ammo on hand.

 

[CZDiesel]

Ok, just an idea, to save any overweight charges : what about...

Since the 470 is only for the ele, 30 rounds should be more than sufficient for checking zero and the ele with a few rounds left over. The 375 is good for your buff and all your PG, thus pack the remaining ammo difference weight with 375 ammo?

Or

If you go with the 458WM with 40 rounds ammo for checking your zero and hunting ele and buff, and the 375H&H or 300 with remaining weight difference of ammo for checking zero and PG? Both calibers are readily available in Africa just check with your outfitter to request the local gun shop to have ammo on hand.

That sounds like it could be a good plan! I’ll get it all figured out by the end of the year.
I get the 458 and 470 back by New Years with their new stocks so I will shoot them again and make a final decision.
But as of right now I’m leaning towards taking the 470 Capstick. I’m really loving this cartridge and rifle!!!
Because the 470 NE originally used a 480gr bullet the 500s are large for them but I wish there were a good 550gr to use with the Capstick at 2250 to 2300