Buffalo rifle

[Hoss Delgado]

Jacques P. Lott (July 15, 1920 – August 12, 1993), best known as Jack Lott, was a big game hunter, writer, historian, and inventor of the .458 Lott.

He was born in Maryland USA, so the .458 Lott is as American as can be....

Oh , the Jacques name got me confused. Sounded Frenchy !

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Maybe I shouldn’t have said “American” what I was meaning was what I consider traditional caliber. 300 win mag, .338 win mag, 7mm and so on. None the less it appears the .375 is winning the debate hands down.

Then , .404 Jeffery all the way !
I own .375 HH Magnum rifles too and have used them with great success on Australian Water Buffalo with double lung shots from a broadside position , but l like the extra power of a .404 Jeffery. Am currently scouting for a BRNO ZKK - 602 in .404 Jeffery for my own use.
Anyway if you pick between a .404 Jeffery or a .375 HH Magnum , you won't be unhappy.

 

[Ridgewalker]

the .375 is winning the debate hands down

Try it. You’ll like it! Test some ones out at the range some time.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

With limitations the .375 H&H with the proper bullet will serve your needs just fine, just remember for Africas dangerous game it is a killer, not a stopper, but it will stop when placed in the right spot.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Then , .404 Jeffery all the way !
I own .375 HH Magnum rifles too and have used them with great success on Australian Water Buffalo with double lung shots from a broadside position , but l like the extra power of a .404 Jeffery. Am currently scouting for a BRNO ZKK - 602 in .404 Jeffery for my own use.
Anyway if you pick between a .404 Jeffery or a .375 HH Magnum , you won't be unhappy.

Agree 100% I am just putting the finishing touches on 1 of 3 .404j, an original W.J. Jefferies, it had been restocked fortunately there was about an extra 1 lb. in the stock that I was able to whittle, file, grind and sand away. Now perfectl sight alignment when I put it to my shoulder, no need to aim. I am hopping I can get a client who starts a 14 day buffalo hunt on Friday to use it.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Agree 100% I am just putting the finishing touches on 1 of 3 .404j, an original W.J. Jefferies, it had been restocked fortunately there was about an extra 1 lb. in the stock that I was able to whittle, file, grind and sand away. Now perfectl sight alignment when I put it to my shoulder, no need to aim. I am hopping I can get a client who starts a 14 day buffalo hunt on Friday to use it.

Lucky you l want a ZKK -602 in .404 Jeffery now

 

[Shootist43]

Hoss, that might be difficult to find. I thought that the only ZKK 602 calibers produced by the factory were 375 H&H and possibly the 458 Winchester. Anything other than that would be a "Custom" rifle. CZ 550 (s) can be ordered out of their custom shop in 404 Jeffery. However getting a 404 Jeffery from The Montana rifle Co. would be a lot cheaper.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Hoss, that might be difficult to find. I thought that the only ZKK 602 calibers produced by the factory were 375 H&H and possibly the 458 Winchester. Anything other than that would be a "Custom" rifle. CZ 550 (s) can be ordered out of their custom shop in 404 Jeffery. However getting a 404 Jeffery from The Montana rifle Co. would be a lot cheaper.

Like you , l also thought the same , Shootist43 Turns out , there ARE BRNO ZKK - 602s in .404 Jeffery which have been produced. IvW has even seen a few of them .

 

[Foxi]

Take a look at the 9.3x62.

......and an American bullet .Swift A frame or so

The .375 Ruger (I dont have it) is the better .375 H+H ( I have it ).
Thats my opinion.Powerful,accurate and in a short system.
The only thing (for me) is,when you are often in Africa-the .375 H+H is a really beloved currency (USD 20.- one cartridge there)
With the Ruger they can't do anything.
The Ruger is a perfect Cartridge in the upper middleclass.
Foxi

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Lucky you l want a ZKK -602 in .404 Jeffery now

Hoss, as always there will be many opinions, but here is just one A BRNO ZKK-602 or current 550 with a McMillan stock, Model 70 safety plus 2 optical sights number 1 a reflex red dot & a Swarovski 1X5 with dangerous game reticle. The benefits of iron sights are obvious, I am liking the reflex sights more and more with each passing day! The Swarovski scope gives you the benefits of shooting with an artificial light or at longer distances and certain hunting conditions. The synthetic stock is not a matter of preference, I like wood better. A proper synthetic stock is just more indestructible and less prone to warping.

 

[Shootist43]

Hoss, I just went back and reread a post on AH from a year ago that addresses which calibers the ZKK -602(s) were produced in. As you said 404 Jeffery was made but probably as a special run for a large distributor. Good luck finding one of those. My 404 is on a CZ 550 platform that was built at their Custom Shop. Once the feeding issues were cleared up it shoots and functions just fine.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Tree

Hoss, I just went back and reread a post on AH from a year ago that addresses which calibers the ZKK -602(s) were produced in. As you said 404 Jeffery was made but probably as a special run for a large distributor. Good luck finding one of those. My 404 is on a CZ 550 platform that was built at their Custom Shop. Once the feeding issues were cleared up it shoots and functions just fine.

CZ -550s modified by AHR are gems . You've got a steal

 

[Ryan]

Traditional American cartridges are great plains game cartridges, but buffalo is not plains game. .375 is the minimum in most countries for dangerous game.

Sounds like you're about to add a new rifle to the collection. Good luck and good hunting.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said “American” what I was meaning was what I consider traditional caliber. 300 win mag, .338 win mag, 7mm and so on. None the less it appears the .375 is winning the debate hands down.

 

[Nyati]

Welcome to AH !

I go with the majority here and recommend the .375HH

 

[Bullthrower338]

First off just quit with the rational thinking when it comes to rifles! Resistance is futile! I bought my first 375 a long time ago telling myself this will be all the rifle I will need and I can use it for elk also! Blahhahaha!
Save yourself the trouble and when you swing into the store to pick up a 375 go ahead and just order a 416 while you are at it and save some gas by not having to drive to the gun store twice. As far as an “American” cartridge, you can get past that. The names Holland and Holland, Rigby and westley Richards sound so much better when talking guns than Springfield or ruger.
Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

First off just quit with the rational thinking when it comes to rifles! Resistance is futile! I bought my first 375 a long time ago telling myself this will be all the rifle I will need and I can use it for elk also! Blahhahaha!
Save yourself the trouble and when you swing into the store to pick up a 375 go ahead and just order a 416 while you are at it and save some gas by not having to drive to the gun store twice. As far as an “American” cartridge, you can get past that. The names Holland and Holland, Rigby and westley Richards sound so much better when talking guns than Springfield or ruger.
Good luck and let us know what you decide!

I, like you, bought a 375 telling myself “one rifle for the whole world”. Now I find myself wanting a 404 and I’m scared I will build or buy one because that will add two more years of saving for my safari

 

[sierraone]

The names Holland and Holland, Rigby and westley Richards sound so much better when talking guns than Springfield or ruger.

When it comes to calibers, the above is absolutely true!

 

[BeeMaa]

First off just quit with the rational thinking when it comes to rifles! Resistance is futile! I bought my first 375 a long time ago telling myself this will be all the rifle I will need and I can use it for elk also! Blahhahaha!
Save yourself the trouble and when you swing into the store to pick up a 375 go ahead and just order a 416 while you are at it and save some gas by not having to drive to the gun store twice. As far as an “American” cartridge, you can get past that. The names Holland and Holland, Rigby and westley Richards sound so much better when talking guns than Springfield or ruger.
Good luck and let us know what you decide!

Listen to @Bullthrower338 , he knows of where he speaks.
I bought my 375H&H and had the same bla bla bla in my head.
Now...I'm a BBA (Big Bore Addict), currently not seeking help for my condition.
I need at least one more 375H&H, a 416Rigby, a 500/416NE double, and probably a 450Rigby to round things out.

375 is the "Gateway Drug" of the African big bore, big game hunter.
Good luck.

 

[K E Johnson]

I bought my first 375 H&H many many years ago to take to Africa. I have not been yet, but it will happen. My youngest brother owns that one now.
I let him have it when I traded for a Winchester 70 Classic in stainless.

I have shot length wise through a black bear with a Nosler partition. I have always used 300 grain Sierra boat tails on deer. It has brought down a lot of deer at a very wide range of distance. This isn’t a brush gun by any means. The longest shot I have ever made or even attempted, was with it.

Having said that I am a fan boy, when I do make it to Africa for dangerous game, I hope to be carrying my new to me 416 Rigby. I was looking for a 416 Remington, but I think my Rigby will be a keeper.

Neither will be for sale while I still draw a breath.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I bought my first 375 H&H many many years ago to take to Africa. I have not been yet, but it will happen. My youngest brother owns that one now.
I let him have it when I traded for a Winchester 70 Classic in stainless.

I have shot length wise through a black bear with a Nosler partition. I have always used 300 grain Sierra boat tails on deer. It has brought down a lot of deer at a very wide range of distance. This isn’t a brush gun by any means. The longest shot I have ever made or even attempted, was with it.

Having said that I am a fan boy, when I do make it to Africa for dangerous game, I hope to be carrying my new to me 416 Rigby. I was looking for a 416 Remington, but I think my Rigby will be a keeper.

Neither will be for sale while I still draw a breath.

So what you are saying is you should have just bought a 416 while you were at the store getting the 375? Lol. Funny how that works out. I like my 416 RM’s but the 416 Rigby just makes me so much happier. It is like a good looking girlfriend that actually has a good personality too!