Most efficient 3 cartridge spread for dangerous game?

[Rare Breed]

Sure, there are many cartridges that will do-it-all and take everything from plains game to elephant.

But

If you were to choose 3 cartridges (+rifles) to hunt dangerous game. Which 3 would you choose?

A few thoughts:

A. 375--416--458
Basically small, medium and large. The 375 being arguably the most versatile African game cartridge for hunting plains game on up to elephant. The 416s as being similar to the 375 but being more ideal for larger game, less ideal for plains game(?). And the 458 for having the stopping power and authority on Buffalo on up that you don't get with the other two.

B. 375--470 NE--500 Jeff
Same as above except your cutting out the middle and reducing the overlap of the 375 & 416. Adding a 470 NE fills the middle the same as the 458 (similar ballistics/energy) but also opens up the options of carrying a double rifle. For anything above and beyond what you would conceivably need a 470 for, there's the 500J that will take anything and act as a stopping rifle moreso than anything else mentioned so far.

C. 404 Jeff--450 NE --505 Gibbs
The classic Africana threesome?

What combo would you consider? What would the most efficient spread consist of if you were to limit it down to three cartridges?

375 H&H, 404 Jeffery, 470 NE

 

[Schroeder]

9.3x64
470NE

 

[Jack Stevens]

9.3x64
470NE

Good, but that’s only two. … OP is asking for a “spread” of three cartridges.

Fine print and such.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I see what you are saying but it's not legal for ALL dangerous game in Africa. That was my only point.

Ah, your reference to bears threw me off.

 

[IvW]

What about leopard and lion? .359 RM still wouldn't be my first choice, but it would be legal.

Only in some African countries not all.....375H&H has you covered for all on the kats

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Only in some African countries not all.....375H&H has you covered for all on the kats

This from the man that said a .243 was good for giraffe?



Okay, I'm joking. Just messing with you. Seriously, though, does any country require a .375 for leopard? What about lion? I'm not planning on shooting a lion, but leopard is next on my hit list.

Cheers mate,
Doug

 

[Schroeder]

Good, but that’s only two. … OP is asking for a “spread” of three cartridges.

Fine print and such.

View attachment 643207

Bugger, I thought I would slip that one through.
Ok, let me try again.
9.3x62 or 64 in a bolt gun.
416 in a bolt gun.
500 Jeffery in a bolt, or 500 NE in a double.

Ok, so I have gone from 2 to 5…
But that’s as good as your going to get out of me with my schoolin…lol

 

[Fatback]

My DG battery includes the following
458 Win Mag
404 Jeffery
375 H&H

All are left handed Winchester M70s. I do have a 416 Rem Mag being built at the gunsmith’s at the moment (also a LH M70) and depending on how I like it it may replace the 375 H&H in my DG line up but the 375 H&H will always remain part of my hunting rifle battery.

 

[odonata]

I love my 9.3x74r but if I was going after dangerous game, I'd really prefer that it was a double instead of the Ruger No. 1S single shot it is.

So I would put my LH Winchester M70 in 375 H&H at the bottom.
My LH Ruger M77 in 458 Win Mag would be at the top.

The interesting choice would be the middle rifle since I don't currently have anything suitable in that range (I'm wouldn't go DG hunting with my 405 Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter with a peep sight).

The nostalgic side of me that loves the classics would choose a 404 Jeffery so my list would match @Fatback's selections in the previous post. Since I have a hunting buddy who lives in Alaska, I might be tempted by a Ruger 416 Alaskan instead if I could have an LH model built. The obvious solution is to ignore the OP's original question & buy both so that I had four rifles. That has been my preferred way to solve rifle-purchasing dilemmas so far.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Except the 350RM isn't legal for DG in Africa. However, it would be fine for the bears of North America.

Perhaps the OP needs to define what species are with his meaning of “DG.” If it’s only Buff or elephant, then you’re correct. The .350RM isn’t legal for those. But there are a lot of African species that pose a significant “danger” to humans because they can attack and stomp, maul, claw, bite, stab (as with horns), etc., a hunter.

So in that sense there’s a wide swath of huntable critters that are, technically, DG.

The .350RM would be legal for some of those such as the lions and leopards that Doug Hamilton mentioned. I included it because of the short-range platforms I have (Rem models 600 and 660) and the environs in which they’re the most useful.

 

[Brian]

Yes it's common to think of an African arsenal in terms of three calibers.

But for the sake of simplicity I would at least look at just choosing one calibre. The great selection of modern bullets make that practical.

Here is an example of one bullet manufacture's offering:

For PG and DG
- .416 calibre. CEB bullets range from 180 grains to 400 grains.
- .458 cal. CEB bullets range from 250 to 500 grains.

For DG and some big PG.
- .510 cal. CEB bullets range from .350 to .570 grains.


Just a thought. Brian

 

[grand veneur]

I have not fully understood the question since the beginning of this topic, but if it's just about hunting big and dangerous game, you only need to consider the heavy bullets of the various caliber classes. PG hunting is not taken into account in this case. Which three cartridges you choose for hunting big and dangerous game depends on your personal concept, meaning you are convinced that smaller or medium calibers are enough, or that you need big bore calibers for this purposes. I belong to the last group and therefore my choice is clear, only 460 Weatherby Magnum, 500 Jeffery and 577 Nitro Express are available to choose from.

 

[Bandera]

Mine has ended up being
375 Ruger
450-400NE
458 Win Mag

 

[BeeMaa]

Perhaps the OP needs to define what species are with his meaning of “DG.” If it’s only Buff or elephant, then you’re correct. The .350RM isn’t legal for those. But there are a lot of African species that pose a significant “danger” to humans because they can attack and stomp, maul, claw, bite, stab (as with horns), etc., a hunter.

So in that sense there’s a wide swath of huntable critters that are, technically, DG.

The .350RM would be legal for some of those such as the lions and leopards that Doug Hamilton mentioned. I included it because of the short-range platforms I have (Rem models 600 and 660) and the environs in which they’re the most useful.

I understand, as does @Doug Hamilton.

My take on it is UNIVERSIALLY legal for ALL dangerous game...mostly because this is a website dedicated to hunting Africa. That puts the bar at .375 (or 9.3 mm in some cases) caliber and above. And let's be real...a .375 with proper practice isn't that hard to shoot for most people.

However, I also see the other side where the bears of NA along with the big cats of Africa (and other parts of the world) are certainly top predators and indeed dangerous game. And yes, it's legal to shoot them with less than a .375 bullet in some locations.

I would also say that if I found myself on the coast of Alaska on the crawling toward big brownie or by chance in the elephant grass stalking gaur in southeast Asia, my 375H&H would be by my side. You choose as you wish.

If I were man enough, I'd be toting a 458LOTT...but I'm only little.

 

[Rule 303]

I understand, as does @Doug Hamilton.

My take on it is UNIVERSIALLY legal for ALL dangerous game...mostly because this is a website dedicated to hunting Africa. That puts the bar at .375 (or 9.3 mm in some cases) caliber and above. And let's be real...a .375 with proper practice isn't that hard to shoot for most people.

However, I also see the other side where the bears of NA along with the big cats of Africa (and other parts of the world) are certainly top predators and indeed dangerous game. And yes, it's legal to shoot them with less than a .375 bullet in some locations.

I would also say that if I found myself on the coast of Alaska on the crawling toward big brownie or by chance in the elephant grass stalking gaur in southeast Asia, my 375H&H would be by my side. You choose as you wish.

If I were man enough, I'd be toting a 458LOTT...but I'm only little.

Not quite right as some African countries have a minimum energy requirement for DG not calibre. Also the energy level is different for some of the DG. For example, cats have a lower energy level requirement than Buff and Elephant. So my 358RUM is legal for Elephant. I have not done the figures for the 338RUM but suspect that is also legal for Elephant where a min energy level is required.

So to say it has to be universal calibre wise is not a wise choice of criteria, as it can not actually be done. As a base level that will fit all it would be the 375H&H but this is not the Minimum in all countries.

As the OP was asking for the most efficient spread of calibre's, then we can include, say, the 308 for Leopard. The OP is not requiring all the calibres you list as being legal on all DG.