Ruminating on the idea of building/ buying the wife a safari rifle

[Backyardsniper]

But I did get her a real diamond, and I asked her to marry me on the Eiffel tower, and I did that before Tom Cruise did it. Ha ha.

 

[CM McKenzie]

The up side if she is not interested….. you have a Rigby!?

 

[Backyardsniper]

The up side if she is not interested….. you have a Rigby!?

Now this is true! If they make one with a stock with an adjustable LOP via spacer or whatever then that may be the way to go.

 

[ActionBob]

Ha ha. I'm gonna make sure she is interested in doing some killing before I drop $12,000 on her a rifle. I would love to buy her a rigby, but I can buy her a really nice rifle and a pretty decent PG hunt for what that rifle costs.

Hey it's cheap because it ticks all your boxes for her. You mentioned getting a gun that works for both of you. Buy her the real diamond ring and get yourself one of those newly hip steel rings. In other words, get her a Lady's Rigby and get yourself a Savage Make a point to her.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I had my wife's London Best 275 Rigby fitted for her. I have no problem shooting it with the shorter stock. I am at least 12" taller than her. For the longest time, she didn't want to take it to Africa for fear of damage during the flight or "scratches" while hunting. I convinced her that scratches while hunting build character, so she took it on our month adventure in Limpopo last year. Biggest animal she killed was a monster sable with one shot.

Before that, we shared my Highland Stalker in 30-06. I had to take off the Swarovski scope and mount a Leupold for her to use it, but I did not need to cut my stock for her. I did have my Rigby stock cut about 1/2" shorter when the leather wrapped recoil pad was added. I did that because the recoil pad I added was thicker than the Rigby rubber pad. In my experience, Leupold scopes have a longer eye relief than European scopes and have a bit more "slop" or variance built in that is user friendly for eye/head alignment. Using the Leupold eliminated the need to move the Swarovski scope back and cut more off my stock. It still fits me perfect and she can use it as well.

Safe hunting

 

[ActionBob]

Now this is true! If they make one with a stock with an adjustable LOP via spacer or whatever then that may be the way to go.

They don’t. That would be a Ruger Guide gun or Ruger Predator with laminated stock and black plastic spacers.

However, I'm sure a good shop could set you up with something

 

[CM McKenzie]

Now this is true! If they make one with a stock with an adjustable LOP via spacer or whatever then that may be the way to go.

I forget you probably have a longer than normal length of pull.

Still….. I don’t think the biggest, clearest diamond ring conveys your love quite like a Rigby.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

A Rigby fit for Mi Reina (my Queen) by Larry Leadingham - John Rigby & Co.

While at the Dallas Safari Club (DSC) annual convention in 2013 my wife Clara and I hadLearn more

www.johnrigbyandco.com

Nothing says I love you like a Rigby.

 

[Andrew62]

If you’re looking for something compact, consider a 308…

Shorter action and you can get solid performance out of a relatively short barrel using 165gr projectiles…

The 06 brings a little more versatility being able to throw 200+ gr bullets… but ballistically the308 and 06 are virtually the same using up to 180gr…. Which is more than enough for any PG (although I’d be hesitant on eland personally… more than a few have been effectively taken by 308s)…

Shorter action and barrel will balance better with the short stock you’re going to need with a 12.5” lop…

FWIW I have taken everything from impala and springbok to blue wildebeest and zebra on the @bos en dal property with a 308… never a problem..

I have a Kimber Mountain Ascent, .308, green colored version, with a Leupold 4.5x14 scope, my rig weighs a total of 5lbs 14oz. It comes with a muzzle brake, and it is not a loud muzzle brake, I love love love this gun!! I used Black Butterfly ammo with terminate trex bullets, 168 grain, I shot 4 zebras on the point of the shoulder, all 4 wheeled around and fell over dead. I took several blue wildebeest and they all ran a few yards and fell over.

 

[ActionBob]

I have a Kimber Mountain Ascent, .308, green colored version, with a Leupold 4.5x14 scope, my rig weighs a total of 5lbs 14oz. It comes with a muzzle brake, and it is not a loud muzzle brake, I love love love this gun!! I used Black Butterfly ammo with terminate trex bullets, 168 grain, I shot 4 zebras on the point of the shoulder, all 4 wheeled around and fell over dead. I took several blue wildebeest and they all ran a few yards and fell over.

Yea I have one of those in a 300WSM. It's great going vertical up a mountain on all fours chasing hairy white goats. But I can't ever see taking it to Africa.

Africa just screams for Blued Steel and Fine Walnut In other words, a rifle with soul

 

[ActionBob]

Ha ha. I'm gonna make sure she is interested in doing some killing before I drop $12,000 on her a rifle. I would love to buy her a rigby, but I can buy her a really nice rifle and a pretty decent PG hunt for what that rifle costs.

Heck why not be happy with her even joining you at the range...... After she's done shooting, maybe you can get her to hold your beer while you shoot. Hahaha

 

[Inline6]

Yea I have one of those in a 300WSM. It's great going vertical up a mountain on all fours chasing hairy white goats. But I can't ever see taking it to Africa.

Africa just screams for Blued Steel and Fine Walnut In other words, a rifle with soul

Dang...maybe that's why everyone thinks I don't have a heart or soul? Might need to look into one of those rifles you speak of.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Heck why not be happy with her even joining you at the range...... After she's done shooting, maybe you can get her to hold your beer while you shoot. Hahaha

Very possible

 

[sureshot375]

Get it threaded for a suppressor. Have your PH buy a suppressor with the right thread pitch before you get there.

 

[Rare Breed]

I'm going to Zim in a couple months, but I have started looking ahead to my next trip. I will be going to South Africa to hunt with Bos en Dal safaris next June I believe. I am trying very hard to convince the wife to make this "her safari" she has taken to the hunting a little bit, she is quite serious about killing turkeys, but she has not graduated to four legged game yet. I am hoping to get her to warm up to the idea a bit more by getting her a nice mild recoiling rifle that actually fits her, she has a super short LOP, like probably 12.5-13" I had to buy a franchi affinity compact model to find a turkey gun she can shoot comfortably.
I thought about having a custom 30/06 built and have it made with 2 stocks, one for me and one for her. Also thought about a removable block at the back of the stock for adjustment. Maybe a ruger #1?
I'm just kind of looking for ideas. I would love a 275 rigby, but to me I just don't think it has the horsepower for larger plains game. I think 30/06 is probably the way to go, you can load way down and way up as far as power levels.
All ideas, gunsmith recommendations, rifle recommendations and such are welcome. Let me know what you all think. Ideally it would be set up where it could be used by both of us with just a bit of reconfiguring by swapping stocks or removing or adding a spacer. Enough horsepower for Kudu, Eland, all the big plains game but also keeping the recoil as reasonable as possible.

You’re getting respected input from our peers. If it was me I would go with your gut which is the 30-06. No caliber has the wide range of bullet weights, powders or powder weights available as this. No not the 308 or 300 series. Just my POV

 

[Rare Breed]

You’re getting respected input from our peers. If it was me I would go with your gut which is the 30-06. No caliber has the wide range of bullet weights, powders or powder weights available as this. No not the 308 or 300 series. Just my POV

It will also put down any PG on this earth do not let anyone tell you it will not

 

[Andrew62]

Yea I have one of those in a 300WSM. It's great going vertical up a mountain on all fours chasing hairy white goats. But I can't ever see taking it to Africa.

Africa just screams for Blued Steel and Fine Walnut In other words, a rifle with soul

Bob, I'm lazy, I don't want to carry any more weight than necessary, that's why I have the Kimber, lmao. But, I have recently purchased a 9.3x74R Sabatti double and a Verney Carron in 450-400 O/U and will be taking these guns on my next couple of safaris. The 9.3x74R I am taking to SA this fall for a giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest cull hunt, I'm super stoked for that. Then I'll take the 450-400 to Uganda for buffalo and Zim for elephant next year, so I am coming around to the blued steel and walnut point of view!! lol

 

[Backyardsniper]

You’re getting respected input from our peers. If it was me I would go with your gut which is the 30-06. No caliber has the wide range of bullet weights, powders or powder weights available as this. No not the 308 or 300 series. Just my POV

I'm kind of liking that idea. I have a 25/06 that was my dad's first deer rifle and I am considering doing a custom build off the action on it. I messaged Clayton at WTO, he built my long range rig as well as a a couple more for two buddies of mine and they are all absolute shooters. He is supposed to call me tomorrow and we are going to hammer out the details. I have 800 or 1000 pieces of /06 brass laying around and a ton of 308 projectiles. Lots of powder and primers to go with it. That just seems like the sensible way to go. Plus I do love the old 30/06, it is a classic and it has a wide range when it comes to its capabilities.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I'm going to Zim in a couple months, but I have started looking ahead to my next trip. I will be going to South Africa to hunt with Bos en Dal safaris next June I believe. I am trying very hard to convince the wife to make this "her safari" she has taken to the hunting a little bit, she is quite serious about killing turkeys, but she has not graduated to four legged game yet. I am hoping to get her to warm up to the idea a bit more by getting her a nice mild recoiling rifle that actually fits her, she has a super short LOP, like probably 12.5-13" I had to buy a franchi affinity compact model to find a turkey gun she can shoot comfortably.
I thought about having a custom 30/06 built and have it made with 2 stocks, one for me and one for her. Also thought about a removable block at the back of the stock for adjustment. Maybe a ruger #1?
I'm just kind of looking for ideas. I would love a 275 rigby, but to me I just don't think it has the horsepower for larger plains game. I think 30/06 is probably the way to go, you can load way down and way up as far as power levels.
All ideas, gunsmith recommendations, rifle recommendations and such are welcome. Let me know what you all think. Ideally it would be set up where it could be used by both of us with just a bit of reconfiguring by swapping stocks or removing or adding a spacer. Enough horsepower for Kudu, Eland, all the big plains game but also keeping the recoil as reasonable as possible.

How is she with recoil? If the .39-06 is ok with her, I'd go that route. If that's too much for her you might want to go back to the 7x57 idea. The equal of that is the 7-08 which works well in a short action and might balance better with the short LOP that she requires. I have been very impressed with the performance on game, though I haven't taken anything larger than blacktail deer with it. On African PG I' be always used the .30-06 and .300 Win Mag. I would still lean toward those for kudu, zebra and bigger stuff, but it comes down to what she can shoot and reliably place a bullet where it needs to go.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I say pre 64 model 70, and have a stock made to fit the lady. You already know the caliber.