Hi,
I have been stalking these forums for a year or so...
I have always been interested in hunting, I haven't hunted much though but decided recently to start doing it regularly.
My dream is to hunt in Africa one day. Here's the thing though, I am a very minimalist person, I don't want to own too much stuff in general. I feel that if I own less things, I am more free. Free to move to another country, more free to travel and so on. However, I do want the thing I own to be of the highest possible quality. In some sort of less is more zen way. Or something.
So, I am planning a minimal rifle battery with which to hunt the World. After a year or more of research I have reached some conclusions of what my ideal battery looks like. In reality I have shot very few different rifles, .22 LR, .22 Hornet, .223, .243, 6.5x55, .270, 7x64, .308, .30-06, 9.3x62. And 12 gauge shotgun. A couple of calibers more, I cannot recall which ones, but normal available calibers anyway. When I say shot, I don't mean hunt. I have hunted with even less. If I would leave Africa out of the equation everything would be super simple. In theory at least. The battery has changed several times over time, but it seems to get more refined with every couple of months. Add different loads and it gets even more complicated. That is why I decided to only use on load per rifle.
In a wide spectrum of different conditions as well (woods, mountains, plains). With versatile, classic and worldwide common ammunition.
Here's what I currently think is ideal:
.22 LR. For minks, squirrels and other similar small game.
6.5x55 SE or 7x57 - 140 grain. Basically all larger CXP1 game (fox, golden jackal, beaver), all CX2 game (which is what it is intended for), maybe some smaller CXP3 game like red deer but not going up to 160 or 175g
9.3x62 or 9.3x74R - 286 grain. Red stag, wild boar, moose, elk, bears and similar.
I would prefer to have a double rifle in 9.3x74R over a bolt action in 9.3x62 because it seems more suitable for bear hunting. On paper, this somehow feels like it actually could work, 2 rifles to hunt all big game outside of Africa. Of course, there will be situations where neither rifle would be optimal (a lightweight short falling block mountain rifle in .270 with a variable scope is probably better than the allround 6.5x55 SE bolt action w/ a 22" barrel and a fixed 4x scope I am thinking of) , but it seems like it could work. Even if it would mean that I would have to stalk closer, which is fine, because it seems more interesting and "fair" than shooting from a kilometer away killing the animal before she has any possibility to spot you.
The 9.3 also seems to be "enough gun" for certainly leopard at least. Possibly lion as well. And cape buffalo (I mean bison are shot with less gun and they are larger, or am I a complete idiot and I am missing something, maybe they are super tough?)
Which would leave only 3 game needing more gun than a 9.3: Elephant, Rhino and Hippo. I don't think hunting Rhino will be an option anyway unless the Rhino population grows and prices drop). Which brings me to the point: Is it really worth buying a new rifle for the single purpose of hunting 2 animals? Now, I have never shot a double rifle, but if we are talking about large calibers the doubles "speak" to me way more than bolts. I mean, .470 Nitro Express. It just sounds so incredibly sexy! I'll repeat that. .470. Nitro. Express. With all respect to Rigby, who make fantastic rifles (I want to purchase a smaller caliber bolt action rifle from them) and have made some great cartridges, but .416 Rigby just doesn't sound that cool.
Now, I am thinking, maybe there is a cartridge that would be good enough for the pachyderms but would be usable outside of Africa as well. Yeah, I know. .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. Sure. It's great for moose and bear and other CXP3 game. But, personally, I feel, that it's a bit overkill for moose and not quite enough gun for elephants. Maybe I am wrong. I have never shot one. Personally, I feel that the 9.3 is ideal for CXP3 game. Just the right amount of power. And it's so versatile, it can take some bigger CXP2 game as well. And perfect for brown bear. So, I'd rather have the 9.3 and leave the super classic .375 out the equation even if it's more readily available and legal for the Big 5. Because, I feel it's not really ideal for CXP3 game nor CXP4. I guess its strength, namely the versatility, is also its weakness.
.416 Rigby then. It's most certainly enough gun for the pachyderms. I think. Never shot one. Can be used on CXP3 game as well. Sure, it's overkill. Maybe even on Kodiak bears. But at least it would be a better choice 0n CXP4 game. However, I feel it's a bolt action cartridge. I know, it's available in doubles as well. Even in the double I want to buy (Heym 88B). But, my heart tells me it's the wrong caliber for a double. Yep, I thought I was a practical person, but hey, I am just human. I feel the same about the .375 H&H as well, it's a bolt action cartridge. Then I'd rather pick the .416 Rigby.
Of course, there is the .470 Nitro Express. Aaah. Even the name makes me want to buy it. I am sure if I would own a double rifle chambered for that round, I would sleep with the rifle in the same bed. Would need to name the rifle with a nice female name though. It would still of course be the Heym 88B. You know, even if could afford an English double, I wouldn't buy one for those prices. Not saying they are not worth they're price. I am sure they are. Not just for me. So, a German rifle pretending to be a British one. Maybe Marlene would be a suitable name. Or Big Bertha. However, now, I *am* practical after all. What on Earth would I do with a .470 NE (besides sleeping in the same bed)? Shoot moose? Has anyone done that by the way? I mean, I am sure someone has.
Then, I read somewhere about the .450/400 Nitro Express 3". And here I almost reached the conclusion that this would be the perfect second rifle. I mean, it is weaker than the .416 Rigby (at least according to all the statistics I have been reading), but maybe it's "enough gun", I mean, reading all the stories it seems even the 7x57 Mauser (or .275 Rigby as it is also called, hey, wait a minute, we have a German rifle pretending to be British, namely Heym and also a German round pretending to be British, I see a trend here! Why cannot they be happy to be what they are?) was enough gun with proper shot placement on all pachyderms. And it's stronger than the .375 H&H, okay, so maybe not ideal for CXP3, but perhaps not "too much overkill" on brown bear, moose and wild boar?
This is my first post, and it was a bit longer than I thought, hopefully my question is clear enough...
Has anyone used the 450/400 for CXP3 sized game? How is the recoil compared to 9.3x74R? How common is the ammo?
Would this be a good 2 rifle combination for all the big game in the World? Namely:
Bolt action 6.5x55 SE or 7x57 (I like both equally much) in 140 grain for CXP2/3
.450/400 NE 3" 400grain for CXP3/4
The practical person in me says that I should get one of the following combos:
.270 / .30-06
.375 H&H / .416 Rigby
2 bolt action rifles in common calibers.
But my heart tells me to go with:
6.5x55 / 7x57
.450/400
Or perhaps I should forget about the 2 rifle thing and just get three:
6.5x55 / 7x57
9.3x62 / 9.3x74R
.470 NE
But I don't like to think I have one beautiful rifle that never gets any action. She'd get jealous if she didn't get the attention the other 2 would have all the time.
