Prior to the fall of 2022, the largest caliber rifle I owned was a 300 Win Mag. The rifle I had in that caliber served me very well all over the world, accounting for about 90% of the big game animals I’ve killed, to include some DG like a leopard and brown bear. That all changed for me in the Caparivi strip on a buffalo hunt. When I booked the hunt I thought it would be a “one and done” type deal, so I rented a CZ550 in 375H&H.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Since that hunt I hunted another buffalo and an on land hippo and have 2 more buffalo hunts booked for 2025 and 2027. The 2025 hunt will also be for elephant and the 2027 hunt will include a lion and probably hippo for bait as well. So I knew I needed my own DG rifle and the quest began for me as soon as I got back from my 2022 hunt.
Since I was brand new in terms of looking for a DG rifle/caliber I began researching pros and cons of the available options out there. What a grand and expensive world I found to explore. The folks here at AH were a great asset in my research. I’ve learned a not here about DG rifles, bullets, etc…
As I reflect on the rifles I’ve purchased over the last 2 years while I am very pleased to own them all, I realize I’ve got more than I’ll ever “need” but I don’t know that I’ll ever sell any of them either. I had one of my 375s up for sell here on AH but to be honest I am glad it didn’t sell. The fact that I’ve been able to get the rifles I have, all left handed, is somewhat of an accomplishment, I feel like. Some of these are re-barreled into their current configurations and all of them feed and preform well.
In Winchester M70s I have 458 Win, 404Jeffery, 416 Rem and 375 H&H, the 458 has taken a buffalo and the 404 has taken a hippo. The 375 has accounted for a handful of PG. the 416 Rem hasn’t drawn blood, yet….
In CZ 550s I have 404Jeffery and 375 H&H. Have not shot anything with this 404Jeffery yet but have killed a few deer and pigs with the 375. I am sure the wise decision would be to actually get serious about selling some of these rifles as there is obvious overlap in what they are capable of. At some point I may do that but for the time being I quite enjoy having them, shooting them and hunting with them. I think I am going to wait till I become a grandpa to see if there is a chance that my grandchild is also a lefty shooter and then I’ll have somebody to leave these rifles to. In the meantime, I think I am done adding to this collection and I don’t really have any interest in owning a double rifle and 458 seems to be about all the recoil I can manage and still enjoying shooting the rifle.
So as it relates to this particular thread, I’m sure my 2 year “bender” could be seen as a sign of some type of addiction but it is one that I’ve quite enjoyed. Now the questions becomes can I “stop anytime I want.” With my last big note purchase being in April, I am 6 months, “clean” but I do find my self still looking here and at the auction sights regularly for LH rifles, and I seem drawn to the bigger calibers for sure. What’s a fella to do??
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Since that hunt I hunted another buffalo and an on land hippo and have 2 more buffalo hunts booked for 2025 and 2027. The 2025 hunt will also be for elephant and the 2027 hunt will include a lion and probably hippo for bait as well. So I knew I needed my own DG rifle and the quest began for me as soon as I got back from my 2022 hunt.
Since I was brand new in terms of looking for a DG rifle/caliber I began researching pros and cons of the available options out there. What a grand and expensive world I found to explore. The folks here at AH were a great asset in my research. I’ve learned a not here about DG rifles, bullets, etc…
As I reflect on the rifles I’ve purchased over the last 2 years while I am very pleased to own them all, I realize I’ve got more than I’ll ever “need” but I don’t know that I’ll ever sell any of them either. I had one of my 375s up for sell here on AH but to be honest I am glad it didn’t sell. The fact that I’ve been able to get the rifles I have, all left handed, is somewhat of an accomplishment, I feel like. Some of these are re-barreled into their current configurations and all of them feed and preform well.
In Winchester M70s I have 458 Win, 404Jeffery, 416 Rem and 375 H&H, the 458 has taken a buffalo and the 404 has taken a hippo. The 375 has accounted for a handful of PG. the 416 Rem hasn’t drawn blood, yet….
In CZ 550s I have 404Jeffery and 375 H&H. Have not shot anything with this 404Jeffery yet but have killed a few deer and pigs with the 375. I am sure the wise decision would be to actually get serious about selling some of these rifles as there is obvious overlap in what they are capable of. At some point I may do that but for the time being I quite enjoy having them, shooting them and hunting with them. I think I am going to wait till I become a grandpa to see if there is a chance that my grandchild is also a lefty shooter and then I’ll have somebody to leave these rifles to. In the meantime, I think I am done adding to this collection and I don’t really have any interest in owning a double rifle and 458 seems to be about all the recoil I can manage and still enjoying shooting the rifle.
So as it relates to this particular thread, I’m sure my 2 year “bender” could be seen as a sign of some type of addiction but it is one that I’ve quite enjoyed. Now the questions becomes can I “stop anytime I want.” With my last big note purchase being in April, I am 6 months, “clean” but I do find my self still looking here and at the auction sights regularly for LH rifles, and I seem drawn to the bigger calibers for sure. What’s a fella to do??
