So you think you need to own a Stopping Rifle...

[BryceM]

@Northern Shooter

Hand loaded .416 Rigby with 400 gr Barnes Solids at 2400 fps. It’s a recipe which works well. H-4831SC with Fed 215 GM primers. Can’t get the flat nose Barnes any more so when I’m out, I’ll go to something else.

 

[CZDiesel]

@Northern Shooter

Hand loaded .416 Rigby with 400 gr Barnes Solids at 2400 fps. It’s a recipe which works well. H-4831SC with Fed 215 GM primers. Can’t get the flat nose Barnes any more so when I’m out, I’ll go to something else.

I shot @CoElkHunter 416 Rigby a week or so ago over Doppler and his CZ shot Hornady DGS at just over 2400, something like 2425 if I remember right?
That’s a steel jacketed solid that has a great reputation and should punch hard!

 

[Tanks]

375 and above requires me to stand differently, grip and hold the rifle differently, and pull the rifle hard into my shoulder in order to mitigate the effects of recoil and maintain proper control over the rifle so that I can get back on the animal quickly for a followup.

Interesting. I don't hold my hunting rifles any differently regardless of caliber. I let recoil happen rather than trying to fight it.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Interesting. I don't hold my hunting rifles any differently regardless of caliber. I let recoil happen rather than trying to fight it.

I find that I might just lie the forend across my hand lightly on the sticks when shooting an ‘06 or even the 375. Or pinch it lightly between thumb and forefinger. I grip my 404 or Lott firmly, but it’s more so with the front hand than a hard pull into the shoulder. Although I try to seat them all firmly. The Lott IS going to rise at the barrel end.

 

[BeeMaa]

No, I don't think I need a stopping rifle.

Things seem to be going just fine with my 375H&H. For the number of times I'm likely to hunt DG, it's all I need. My time and resources are better spent honing the skills I have on one rifle rather than splitting time by having another one.

I'll stay in my lane and leave the .458 caliber and up to the professionals.

 

[WAB]

I shoot my .375 H&H and .458 Lott equally well. The .375 works well, but the Lott hits buffalo like the hammer of Thor.

I have twice been in a position on a follow up where the PH did not have a shot but I did. One was my mess and I was carrying my .375. The other was not and I was carrying the Lott. I felt better with the Lott. My buddy had to kill an elephant in an unprovoked charge after it put his PH to the ground.

If you think there are no circumstances where you will be called to stop a charge or save your PH, you simply have not spent enough time in the bush yet.

I personally think that for buffalo and elephant a 9.3 or .375 will work just fine unless something unexpected happens. In that event, you will want to be carrying as much gun as you can shoot well.

 

[uplander01]

Been through roughly the same journey. One of my last buff hunts was with a gma 500 jeffery. It was a goal of mine to whack a couple bulls at close range with open sight. I accomplished that, and that rifle will probably see very little use for the remainder of my life. A handy 416 or 404 is easier to lug around and easier to shoot, and will get the job done. Recoil, 70ish ft pounds is where I like to stay below, when you get to 80-90 + there is a whole lot that can happen to your human body that I prefer to avoid,…if I didn’t have that problem I’d be shooting big bores all the time, because quite frankly they are very effective on everything. To get ready for the 500 jeffery hunt it took absolute dedication at the range once a week for months leading up to the hunt, I have a a few africa trips left in me, for them I will be using a “easier to master” 375 or 40 and have less head and back aches lol.

 

[Rare Breed]

I have found my CZ 416 Rigby all I’ll ever need proven recently on a one rifle Safari where all animals were taken with one shot apiece, excluding a second “insurance” shot on the Buffalo. I’m able to precisely place my shots with this rifle and see no need for a larger caliber yet today I just concluded a deal with luvthunt for his custom Brno 458 Lott! You may ask why? I’m not sure I can answer. I like the look of it, the history of it, and it deserves to go to Africa and slay buffalo, hippo and elephant. So that is my mission for this 458 Lott when I return to African in 2026.

I like your answer for why you bought it!!!!!