Bringing 2 guns on a dangerous game hunt?

[aminkus]

I see you like eland...well, we got real lucky and took this eland near communal lands. Outrageous eland.

View attachment 672846

thats awesome! and what an Eland

 

[JHT]

Clearly more the exception than the rule, but let’s not forget Tinie Kok’s hundred pounder taken years ago on Hwange Communal Land.

 

[375Fox]

What optic do you have on your 404? I took my 450 Rigby with RMR for elephant and my scoped 375 for everything else last year and that’s what I’d do again. In a place with brush and limited PG a 9.3x62 is a better choice than a 30/06. Shot opportunities might be limited and angles less than perfect. Using a 9.3x62 might be the difference of getting a kudu quartering away in brush vs not taking the shot with 30/06. I’d take 404 and 9.3x62.

 

[aminkus]

What optic do you have on your 404? I took my 450 Rigby with RMR for elephant and my scoped 375 for everything else last year and that’s what I’d do again. In a place with brush and limited PG a 9.3x62 is a better choice than a 30/06. Shot opportunities might be limited and angles less than perfect. Using a 9.3x62 might be the difference of getting a kudu quartering away in brush vs not taking the shot with 30/06. I’d take 404 and 9.3x62.

I have a Swaro Habicht 1.25-4x24 on the 404 and i agree about the 9.3

 

[Green Chile]

@375Fox makes a great point on the 9.3 being a heavier bullet in brushy situations. I had a situation last year where the PH wanted me to take a big nyala on the other side of a dense bush. I said I could wait or...and he said man, it's a 416...smash him. It shattered the bush into the nyala and the bullet exited the nyala and he went 20 feet and fell dead full of shrapnel and a big bullet hole coming and going. I asked him afterwards about it saying, I wouldn't do that in the US and he said, we've got good trackers. We won't lose him. Turned out to be the easiest tracking job ever..20 feet and dead.

 

[Red Leg]

I hate lugging two rifles. Where else in the world do we do it? I personally think the .375 is the most versatile choice, but if using your .404 for your tusker, then use it for everything else as well. With it, your PH will get you in spitting distance of the elephant and well within 200 yards of everything else.

 

[Berettaco]

I’d take the Jeff and not worry - I shot buff and PG with my .404 - it was enough gun for everything

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My proposition-
.404 Jeffery for dangerous game
.30-06 Springfield for plains game

You could also exclusively employ the .404 Jeffery for your entire Safari, as long as you remember to zero in your rifle for it’s maximum point blank range.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have 404 and 30-06. They both fit in single gun Pelican Vault case with scopes tucked in my carryon daypack. I am flat deadly with the old 03A3 and it is much more pleasant to shoot than 404 (+ cheaper to shoot). I usually shoot 165 Partitions. Good range and it kills them.

 

[matt85]

I'm a firm believer in having a backup rifle. If I'm hunting DG then I bring two DG rifles. If I'm hunting PG I bring two PG rifles. If I'm hunting both DG and PG the I bring two DG rifles, with one or both of them being suitable for PG (medium bore guns).

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I'm a firm believer in having a backup rifle. If I'm hunting DG then I bring two DG rifles. If I'm hunting PG I bring two PG rifles. If I'm hunting both DG and PG the I bring two DG rifles, with one or both of them being suitable for PG (medium bore guns).

Hunting in North America I always have a backup gun available. Two shotguns go with me to Montana but usually only the 30-06. A couple times in the past I've had to borrow my brother's rifle when something went wrong with mine. Not a big deal. In Africa the safari operator or PH will have rental rifles available. I don't see any need to drag backup rifles along if there's something else available should my gun break down.

 

[Lancaster]

To my mind I would ask myself: is taking two rifles going to be a lot more headache with paperwork or weight?

If so then obviously a .404 is relatively flat shooting compared to a .458 or 500 so it depends on what sort of ranges you will be shooting PG at. I don't know the Hwange area (I'm going in late June this year for the first time for a photographic safari with my wife) but where I hunted in Zim on the Zambezi it would be very rare to have a shot at more than 100 yards.

If not I'd take the 30:06

I have a 30:06 partly for PG but now I've bought a .375 H&H I'll probably just take that and use it for buffalo and PG

 

[uplander01]

An elephant hunt is the only hunt I would take two guns, double and good 375 or 40…..unless you can scope your double. Otherwise I only travel with one rifle.

 

[AZDAVE]

My first choice of those that you mentioned is to use the 404 for everything.

Second is take the 404 and 9.3x62 you will be hunting bushveld distances and they both make bigger holes than the 30/06

 

[Fatback]

I have been taking 2 rifles the last few safaris. I prefer shooting something that starts with a 4 for DG and then a smaller, faster and flat shooting rifle for DG. 2 years ago it was a 404Jeffery and a 375 H&H, Last year it was a 458 Win and 30-06. This year I plan on taking a 404Jeffery and a 300 Win Mag. No real difference in paperwork and I use a TuffPak gun case for travel so no issue there. I just really enjoy using all.

I will be hunting Alaska as well this year for Mt. Goat and possible a black bear. I plan on taking a 7PRC for the goat and my 9.3x62 for the bear.

I like using all of my riflesfrom time to time. This seems to work well for me. YMMV.

 

[Altitude sickness]

If it’s a rifle style designed specifically for Africa or a caliber specific for dangerous game and it’s never been over there, then I lean towards taking as many as possible to get red dust on them. Give the poor rifle some bona fide.

If it’s a generic rifle used for deer, elk Etc. Then it’s no crime to leave it home.

My last trip I took two rifles for my wife and two for me. It is more hassle for the paper work and carrying it all.

The .404 could use CEB solids and the CEB Raptor for the same POI

 

[HWL]

I will be hunting in Zimbabwe on my first Elephant hunt. I will be using my Custom built CZ 550 .404 Jeffery but i was wondering what people think of bringing a second rifle for plains game? I will be hunting on the communal lands outside and around of Hwange National Park. I would most likely bring my model 70 9.3x62 or my KImber 89 .30-06 for any other game?
What is everyone's thoughts????

I would bring the 9,3x62.
If there is anything wrong with your .404..... the 9,3 can deal with the Elephant in a pinch.
The .30-06 can not.

HWL

 

[Bandera]

I tend to be a one gun guy. Having traveled with multiple guns in the past, I prefer not to do it.
If you are going to travel with the two guns, between the 06 and 9.3 take the one you shoot the best.

 

[lhook7]

My second rifle is always big enough to take the dangerous game I am hunting, just in case there is an issue with my primary DG rifle.

 

[CAustin]

I will be hunting in Zimbabwe on my first Elephant hunt. I will be using my Custom built CZ 550 .404 Jeffery but i was wondering what people think of bringing a second rifle for plains game? I will be hunting on the communal lands outside and around of Hwange National Park. I would most likely bring my model 70 9.3x62 or my KImber 89 .30-06 for any other game?
What is everyone's thoughts????

It’s a matter of preference. Do you want to take two guns? 30-06 will be plenty. However, you can just take extra solids for the 404 and take small game with that…..larger like zebra use your soft points.