Preparing to order or buy a Double Rifle: help me choose the caliber

[zephyr]

 

[towserthemouser]

I will be 79 next month and still enjoy the big bores. I was also extremely myopic until I had Excimer surgery years ago. Since then I have experienced tears in both retinas. The left eye when hit by a softball and the right eye after getting too close to the scope on a 300 Win Mag. Since the tears I still shoot my 416 Rigby, 450 NE, and 470 NE with no issues other than at my age I do not agree with open sights. I have RMRs on my double rifles.

With respect to calibers, with the modern bullets (Woodleigh Hydros) I would believe the 450/400 to adequate for Elephant and as the client you have the PH for backup. I also second the choice of a Heym 89B. I love mine in 450NE and I have been able to handload reduced loads that regulate.

Hope you can get to Dallas to shoot the Heyms and I am sure you will enjoy your time with Chris.

79 and going strong...... I wanna be like you! Thank you for the kind advice.

 

[Mountaineer]

I love the 458 caliber. The bullet selection is nothing short of amazing. From to 225 to 600 grains. From varmint soft to solid. With today’s powder you can load or have a custom shop like Hendershot’s find you a regulated load heavy or light.

 

[Tanks]

I would go with the .500 NE, don't be afraid of the recoil as it is negligible with the right technique and training. Most of the people that are afraid of the recoil are those who have not fired a big bore rifle more than a very few times, if at all.

Having been charged by an elephant and been the one that brought it down, I was glad I had a .500 caliber rifle with me at the time.

 

[Fixfire]

What manufacturers other than Rigby offer the 416 #2?

 

[Saul]

450 NE. You can never go wrong with a classic.

 

[Wiley64]

I think the 450/400 is a no brainer here, as the Heym guy put it at dsc last year “us mortals need something we can shoot well, not necessarily a stopping rifle”

Good luck!