Big Bores for small things

[Safari Dave]

I used a .416 Rigby to take a baboon.

I shot it with a solid to minimize pelt damage, but the bullet hit the humerus and damage was done.

 

[Jack Stevens]

How many of you have used your big bores, I'm thinking .40 cal or bigger, to take smaller game than these guns are typically used for? Have you used them for plains game, or maybe North American and European game? If so, tell me about it. What animal did you hunt and what caliber and load combination did you use? I'd like to hear what led you to use the big bore rifle, for example maybe you got a chance at nice trophy impala while on a buffalo hunt, or maybe you were getting ready for a DG hunt so decided to use it for mule deer to practice. And of course, pictures make everything more fun.

All the Big Bores - or for inclusivity's sake, let's just say "375H&H and up" - with the right amount of AA 5744 can be loaded down to "deer load" velocities and still be accurate. I've done that with handloads for my .375H&H and 200grn bullets for a few deer camps, and still want to do a deer camp with my .404J.

I also definitely want to smash some feral hogs with my .404.

 

[BryceM]

One klippie at 220 yards with a solid from a .375 H&H. Went about 5 feet. One little hole in, and one out. Not much damage to the cape.

 

[ftrovato]

I used the 416 Rigby for everything other than the Buffalo. And I wish I used my 500 NE double for more than I did! It's the land that big calibers were built for. If we dont use them there than where.....

 

[V.Veritas]

I've shot a Black Bear (450 lbs) with a 450/400 NE, using Hornady 400gr DGX non-bonded.

 

[Kevin375]

I have shot almost 50 plains game with my .458 Lott as well as few european games. It includes impalas, warthogs, kudus, wildebeests, oryx, Burchell zebras, wild boars and also a red hind. I have also killed a good number of elands and two giraffes with that caliber.
At the beginning, I used Barnes TSX 350 gr with the Zeiss 3-12x56 and after, I only used 500 gr bullets (Degol Lion Load & Starkmantel as well as Hornady DGX Bonded) with the Zeiss 1.1-8x30.
I like to use a big calibers while I hunt in the thick bush. I bought this rifle because I met a PH who had the same one, and because it was in my rack, I think it was better to use it in real just to see how it perfoms in the field.
Here is why it came with me during several hunting trips.

 

[ftrovato]

I have shot almost 50 plains game with my .458 Lott as well as few european games. It includes impalas, warthogs, kudus, wildebeests, oryx, Burchell zebras, wild boars and also a red hind. I have also killed a good number of elands and two giraffes with that caliber.
At the beginning, I used Barnes TSX 350 gr with the Zeiss 3-12x56 and after, I only used 500 gr bullets (Degol Lion Load & Starkmantel as well as Hornady DGX Bonded) with the Zeiss 1.1-8x30.
I like to use a big calibers while I hunt in the thick bush. I bought this rifle because I met a PH who had the same one, and because it was in my rack, I think it was better to use it in real just to see how it perfoms in the field.
Here is why it came with me during several hunting trips.View attachment 657567View attachment 657568View attachment 657569View attachment 657570View attachment 657571View attachment 657572View attachment 657573View attachment 657574View attachment 657575View attachment 657576View attachment 657577View attachment 657578

A man after my (and Elmer Keiths) heart shooting big bores for everything!