Most efficient 3 cartridge spread for dangerous game?

[Tundra Tiger]

I'll go with just one, though (disclaimer) I don't own one: a Marlin converted to a .50 Alaskan. Heck, I've even got the GBL to convert, and as an Alaskan, I SHOULD have an Alaskan, shouldn't I?

 

[358 Norma]

The OP was talking about DG so not sure why many mention pea shooters....

I guess it depends on what kind of dangerous game you're hunting.

 

[IvW]

I guess it depends on what kind of dangerous game you're hunting.

Well he sais Africa so for most countries that would mean minimum 375....

 

[Flewis]

375h&h. 404j. 500j-505gibbs.

 

[Flewis]

As much as I like the 505, the 500j makes more sense. I lot less recoil so it can be built lighter with a shorter barrel and length. I need to build another on my 602, need two.

 

[Spooksar]

What has worked for me
9.3x62 plains game
404 Jeffery/416 Rigby
470 NE Double
have used all 4 with a great amount of success

 

[wvfred]

9.3x62
450/400 3"
500 NE

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

I'll go with just one, though (disclaimer) I don't own one: a Marlin converted to a .50 Alaskan. Heck, I've even got the GBL to convert, and as an Alaskan, I SHOULD have an Alaskan, shouldn't I?

Do it! Do it! Do it!

 

[Spooksar]

I'll go with just one, though (disclaimer) I don't own one: a Marlin converted to a .50 Alaskan. Heck, I've even got the GBL to convert, and as an Alaskan, I SHOULD have an Alaskan, shouldn't I?

I had Wild West Guns build me a 50 Alaskan 10 years ago, great packing gun for hiking in bear country.

 

[xausa]

I had Wild West Guns build me a 50 Alaskan 10 years ago, great packing gun for hiking in bear country.

The three calibers I actually used on dangerous game were my wildcat .505 SRE (duplicates .500 NE in performance), .458 WM (my Krieghoff double rifle) and .375 H&H (my second set of rifle barrels for my Krieghoff). They never failed me.

 

[Capebuffalo]

Interesting, I've never actually seen a rifle chambered for 400H&H or commercial ammo for it. That's one of H&H's newer inventions right?

In my search for the perfect dangerous game cartridge, I stumbled across the following article:

.400 H&H Magnum

Does anybody on this forum have experience with the 400 H & H? Seems to me very close to perfect...

 

[Capebuffalo]

The three I'm planning at the moment are
.300 H&H bolt
.400 H&H or .404 Jeffery bolt
.450/400 3" double
Might even do a second set of barrels in .300 H&H for the double OR...get the 300 and 400 in a two barrel breakdown combo

The 400 H&H has my interest at this moment....I can not see any flaws in this cartridge!

 

[Capebuffalo]

9.3x64 Brenneke
400 H&H Magnum
450 Rigby

This make a lot of sense....

 

[Pheroze]

In my search for the perfect dangerous game cartridge, I stumbled across the following article:

.400 H&H Magnum

Does anybody on this forum have experience with the 400 H & H? Seems to me very close to perfect...

@zephyr has the most experience with this cartridge of any person I know of. But check out the threads for 400H&H too.

 

[ET1775]

I would probably go 3-4-5
375 H&H
450 No 2 NE or 470 NE
500 NE

A possibly more versatile triplet in the same vein but to optimize for longer range PG opportunities would be:

300 H&H
450-400 NE
500 NE

 

[Capebuffalo]

@zephyr has the most experience with this cartridge of any person I know of. But check out the threads for 400H&H too.

Thank you, Pheroze! That will put me definitely on the right track....

 

[Longwalker]

Most “efficient” for me is what I already own.
A 9.3x62 Verney-Carron take down bolt action,
A .375 H&H Sako m85 Kodiak, and
A .450-400 3” Nitro Express Merkel double.
Good low power variable scopes in good QD mounts on all three.
All are reliable, accurate, and “powerful enough” for my wants and needs.

 

[ACM]

375 H&H
458 Lott scoped bolt
450 3-1/4” NE Double

 

[CamoManJ]

458 B&M…all I ever need for DG, all 7 of them!

my choice for everything else:
243 AI
300 WSM LA

 

[DrBob]

9,3 x 62
416 Rigby
500 NE

The argument can be about the 9,3 vs. 375 H&H. I see this as light, moderate and heavy... with overlap. If I were stuck with one for everything, I'd go with a 416.... carries the water at long and short range. A 4 rifle spread for everything... add a 7mm.