Dangerous Game Rifle Caliber for an Enthusiast

[Velo Dog]

I agree with the 2 3/4" buckshot, I can shoot that all day. I am all for the 375 to start, but the future holds the 416...and the 458...and...Anyhow, I emailed CZ and they straight up told me there was not enough interest in the Safari rifles to continue them.

Yes, sadly CZ seems now, if not suddenly, to be primarily focused on the Military and Police type firearms.
Certainly I can appreciate M & P type firearms, for what they are.
Plus, sadly we may all NEED them again here in the USA one day soon.
(I sincerely hope not).

Anyway, if the M & P market is where the bulk of the buyers are today, likewise I can appreciate that as well.
All companies are in business to make money.
Can’t blame them for that.
Nonetheless, hunting rifles and hunting are my favorite things.
And I lament the passing of all versions of truly large sized Mauser-type (dreaded CRF) bolt action rifles.

After you get super proficient with your .375 H&H:
As for choosing between one of the .416’s and one of the .458 cartridges...
If you are a hand loader, I recommend you skip the .416 and go straight for the .458 Lott.
The multitude of available bullets (they will be available again), is much more diversified in .458 diameter than in .416, by quite a margin.
If you decide to get into casting lead alloy bullets for cheap practice and lower recoil plinking of soda pop cans, etc., moulds for the .458 diameter will be common again but, in .416 diameter, they have always been somewhat scarce.

Of course, owning all 3 caliber rifles is a very fine thing, to include really annoying Joe Bidet, Nancy Pgrossley and other big shot communists, here in the formerly greatest nation to ever jump and breathe.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

Yes, sadly CZ seems now, if not suddenly, to be primarily focused on the Military and Police type firearms.
Certainly I can appreciate M & P type firearms, for what they are.
Plus, sadly we may all NEED them again here in the USA one day soon.
(I sincerely hope not).

Anyway, if the M & P market is where the bulk of the buyers are today, likewise I can appreciate that as well.
All companies are in business to make money.
Can’t blame them for that.
Nonetheless, hunting rifles and hunting are my favorite things.
And I lament the passing of all versions of truly large sized Mauser-type (dreaded CRF) bolt action rifles.

After you get super proficient with your .375 H&H:
As for choosing between one of the .416’s and one of the .458 cartridges...
If you are a hand loader, I recommend you skip the .416 and go straight for the .458 Lott.
The multitude of available bullets (they will be available again), is much more diversified in .458 diameter than in .416, by quite a margin.
If you decide to get into casting lead alloy bullets for cheap practice and lower recoil plinking of soda pop cans, etc., moulds for the .458 diameter will be common again but, in .416 diameter, they have always been somewhat scarce.

Of course, owning all 3 caliber rifles is a very fine thing, to include really annoying Joe Bidet, Nancy Pgrossley and other big shot communists, here in the formerly greatest nation to ever jump and breathe.

You got their CCP names wrong ... it's Nan See PeeLo See and Xiden Jo. Speaking of the WH sock puppet, I see the rabid left in Australia are pushing for more gun control, raise the licence age, more security, and lo and behold a gun registry - what a coincidence. I'm all for gun safety, but this isn't about that. Legal and careful gun owners are in the firing line again by the socialists.

 

[mark-hunter]

You use it in the field as well?

Of course, NOT!

 

[EZRider]

Of course, NOT!

You should try, when using it in the bush I ALMOST never miss!

 

[Velo Dog]

You got their CCP names wrong ... it's Nan See PeeLo See and Xiden Jo. Speaking of the WH sock puppet, I see the rabid left in Australia are pushing for more gun control, raise the licence age, more security, and lo and behold a gun registry - what a coincidence. I'm all for gun safety, but this isn't about that. Legal and careful gun owners are in the firing line again by the socialists.

Hello Cervus elaphus,

Yeah so, it turns out that criminals ignore laws (who knew ?).
Writing more laws while expecting an “about face” change in criminal behavior?
One definition of insanity is: “Doing the same thing over and over, while hoping for a different result”.
In this case however, the commies are not the loonies, we are for putting up with them.
Indeed they know that criminals will laugh at new laws.
The USA commies always scramble to climb over each other and defend their beloved criminals.

They are wanting to disarm the common tax payer.
They just crow loudly about the crime thing in their efforts to camouflage their true goal, IE: hoping we the people won’t see that they really want to take away our individual wealth, and put it in their own pockets, with less chance of an effective revolt.

Ghee gaad wah, I have hijacked this thread.
I do apologize.
Right here I will shut my big mouth.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[mark-hunter]

You should try, when using it in the bush I ALMOST never miss!

Absolutely!
I am now considering to order, two.
One, as onhand gadget, and the other one to keep spare in backpack (with extra weights to mitigate recoil), during bush hunting, in case that one in use gets damaged or lost.

 

[Captain Munro]

Yes, sadly CZ seems now, if not suddenly, to be primarily focused on the Military and Police type firearms.
Certainly I can appreciate M & P type firearms, for what they are.
Plus, sadly we may all NEED them again here in the USA one day soon.
(I sincerely hope not).

Anyway, if the M & P market is where the bulk of the buyers are today, likewise I can appreciate that as well.
All companies are in business to make money.
Can’t blame them for that.
Nonetheless, hunting rifles and hunting are my favorite things.
And I lament the passing of all versions of truly large sized Mauser-type (dreaded CRF) bolt action rifles.

After you get super proficient with your .375 H&H:
As for choosing between one of the .416’s and one of the .458 cartridges...
If you are a hand loader, I recommend you skip the .416 and go straight for the .458 Lott.
The multitude of available bullets (they will be available again), is much more diversified in .458 diameter than in .416, by quite a margin.
If you decide to get into casting lead alloy bullets for cheap practice and lower recoil plinking of soda pop cans, etc., moulds for the .458 diameter will be common again but, in .416 diameter, they have always been somewhat scarce.

Of course, owning all 3 caliber rifles is a very fine thing, to include really annoying Joe Bidet, Nancy Pgrossley and other big shot communists, here in the formerly greatest nation to ever jump and breathe.

I would do anything to annoy those swamp vermin.

 

[Jarrah]

As for choosing between one of the .416’s and one of the .458 cartridges...
If you are a hand loader, I recommend you skip the .416 and go straight for the .458 Lott.
The multitude of available bullets (they will be available again), is much more diversified in .458 diameter than in .416, by quite a margin.

Good advice. I was originally intending on specifically getting a .458 of some kind, but in the last couple of days have been researching other larger rounds as well such as the .416 and even some of the 500's (Although I suspect recoil wise they may turn out to be too much of a good thing)

 

[Cervus elaphus]

Good advice. I was originally intending on specifically getting a .458 of some kind, but in the last couple of days have been researching other larger rounds as well such as the .416 and even some of the 500's (Although I suspect recoil wise they may turn out to be too much of a good thing)

I was watching a video with J Alain Smith (he's a good entertainer like Capstick) shooting a cape buff with a .577 double and he used it like a .22 so I guess recoil is subjective when the adrenalin's up. It's very hard to get the pulse racing with a paper target.

 

[Berettaco]

As most here mentioned I would look at a 375 H&H in a win 70 or maybe a custom Mauser. If you want to step up a little more maybe the 404 Jeffery.
I would caution against moving up too far - I found my limit is a 458 Lott - many people can handle the recoil just fine, but I shoot 5-6 rounds (standing off sticks) and my neck hurts for 3-4 days.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

As most here mentioned I would look at a 375 H&H in a win 70 or maybe a custom Mauser. If you want to step up a little more maybe the 404 Jeffery.
I would caution against moving up too far - I found my limit is a 458 Lott - many people can handle the recoil just fine, but I shoot 5-6 rounds (standing off sticks) and my neck hurts for 3-4 days.

The old 404J is a pussycat compared to the Lott if using factory loads, recoils of 41 v 70. Unless culling, how many shots would the average hunter fire during a hunt? probably very few.

 

[uplander01]

I'd take your ladies contribution, throw in a couple k more and get a nice 375, of which there are some really good ones on the US market right now in the 4-5 range that would be light years better than any american "big brand" production rifle.

But if you had to choose between win and ruger, winichester for sure, triggers better, barrels better, balance better. And if you stick with the factory gun and go winchester, I'd a get a 416 rem,...had a couple over the years, they were bulletproof and enough gun for everything all in a reasonable recoiling rifle as they come with a good pad with a big footprint.

 

[Captain Munro]

I'd take your ladies contribution, throw in a couple k more and get a nice 375, of which there are some really good ones on the US market right now in the 4-5 range that would be light years better than any american "big brand" production rifle.

But if you had to choose between win and ruger, winichester for sure, triggers better, barrels better, balance better. And if you stick with the factory gun and go winchester, I'd a get a 416 rem,...had a couple over the years, they were bulletproof and enough gun for everything all in a reasonable recoiling rifle as they come with a good pad with a big footprint.

I was considering the Kimber Caprivi as a potential upgrade. I have seen them between $2800 and $3200.

 

[uplander01]

Kimbers are nice rifles, I had one in 416 remington and it didn't have real strong primers strike, I sent back to Kimber and they "fixed" it but I couldn't in the back of my mind trust it, so it went away. May have been an and isolated experience for sure, but it happened.

Do a search on Gunsinternational for 375 in "dangerous Game Magazine Rifles" category, lots of good 375 choices by really good makers. Spend more than you should on a DG rifle, you won't regret that purchase ever.

 

[uplander01]

Mauser ~ Custom .375 H&H Mag

Mauser ~ Custom .375 H&H Mag for sale online.

www.gunsinternational.com

Recoil pad and maybe timney trigger and its the perfect classic BG rifle. If you have to, drill and tap for scope but .....

 

[lwaters]

Lead sled good for getting an accurate zero. One thing is do not put to much weight on it or you can break your stock. Otherwise let the rifle re oil some. I think some early 375 ruger Africans stocks were broke because of the lead sled.

 

[Viral_SIGness]

I would take a Ruger over a Remachester any day of the week and twice on Sunday. The only gripe anyone can ever come up with is the bolt isn't smooth and the trigger. Easy fixes, plus Ruger had the best and strongest scope mount system out there period.

I own an African and Alaskan in .375 Ruger and I can tell you, the difference in the 20" and 23" is 65 fps give 1 or 2 here and there. I have a whole topic dedicated to my testing of this. I currently have Rugers in .264 WM, 7 RM, 300 WM, 338 WM, and two in 375 Ruger. So my suggestion is obvious

 

[Viral_SIGness]

Lead sled good for getting an accurate zero. One thing is do not put to much weight on it or you can break your stock. Otherwise let the rifle re oil some. I think some early 375 ruger Africans stocks were broke because of the lead sled.

I've written about this before. They break stocks, and ruin scopes. I've checked to verify it, but a friend told me Leupold won't warranty their scopes if you damage it with a sissy sled.

 

[mark-hunter]

I've written about this before

Could you remind us?
This is the first time I hear, for such type of damage!?

 

[lwaters]

Just don't load it with weight. The rifle needs to be able to move.

Could you remind us?
This is the first time I hear, for such type of damage!?