These animals deserve their own rifle

[Kevin375]

If we admit prices are not a problem and my eyes were better to use open sight, I would say :

1. Elephant : A Rigby Rising Bite in .577 Nitro express loaded + CEB Safari Solid 750 gr
2. Hippo : On Land, a Heym 89 in .500 Nitro express loaded + CEB Safari Solid 570 gr
3. Lion : My Blaser R93 in .375 H & H magnum + Leica Magnus 2.4-16x56 + Degol Lion Load 350 gr
4. Cape Buffalo : My Blaser R8 in .458 Lott + Zeiss V8 1.1-8x30 + Degol Starkmantel and FMJ 500 gr.
5. Leopard : My Blaser R93 in .300 Winchester magnum + Swarovski Z6i 3-18x50 + Nosler Partition 220 gr
6. Crocodile : My Blaser R8 in .338 Lapua magnum + the S&B PMII 5-25x56 + Degol Starkmantel 300 gr
7. Brown Bear : My H&K SLB 2000 in 9.3x62 + Swarovski Z6 1-6x24
8. Moose : A Tikka T3X in .338 Winchester magnum + Swarovski 2.5-15x56 BT + Woodleigh Weldcore 250 gr
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar : A Winchester 94 in .30-30 + Winchester Silvertip 170 gr and of course a big pack of hounds.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I never subscribed to the “one rifle to do it all” theory but I take it even further and like to buy a new rifle/cartridge combination for every game I pursue.

In the last year I have purchased:

Ruger M77 in 338WM for elk hunt
Model 70 in 6.8 Western for goat Hunt
CZ550 416 Rigby for brown bear (and Buffalo) hunt
Merkel 470 NE for Elephant hunt one day..

If I were to only use one for each from your list of what I already own.

1. Elephant - 470NE
2. Hippo - 458 WM
3. Lion -375HH
4. Cape Buffalo - 416 Rigby
5. Leopard - 338WM

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Buffalo 450/400

And it will do the rest too.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I like this game ! My turn ! I'll limit myself to only currently manufactured firearms, in order to keep things simple...

1. Elephant- .600 Nitro Express Heym Jumbo Sidelock Ejector

2 a) Hippopotamus on land- .505 Gibbs Joe Smithson Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser action
2 b) Hippopotamus in water- 9.3x64mm Brenneke Voere Model 2165

3 a) Lion on foot- .500/416 Nitro Express Heym Model 89B Boxlock Ejector
3 b) Lion on bait- .416 Rigby John Rigby Big Game

4. Cape Buffalo- .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Mauser Model 98 Magnum Diplomat

5 a) Leopard over hounds- 9.3x74mmR Fausti Sidelock Ejector
5 b) Leopard over bait- 9.3x62mm Mauser Model 98 Diplomat

6. Crocodile- .300 Winchester Magnum Voere Model 2165

7. Brown Bear- .338 Winchester Magnum Griffin & Howe Springfield Model 1903A3

8. Moose- .30-06 Springfield Ruger Hawkeye

9. Mountain Lion/Cougar- 7x57mm Mauser Model 98 Diplomat

 

[BeeMaa]

There are some boring people not playing the game here......just saying....

Boringly reliable, boringly accurate and boringly repeatable results. I be boing with my Blaser R8 375H&H all day long.

 

[AN.87]

Because repeats are "not allowed", otherwise it was a lot of DR 450/400, DR 9.3, bolt or DR or kipplauf. 8x57/7x65r/308
And because I don't have to pay, it's the big names, otherwise it would be merkel, sauer, quality local artisan (Belge).
Given it is about hunting, I do not assume a mayhem situation ( because then 450 or 500).

1. Elephant - H&H royal 450NE
2. Hippo - rigby rising bite 416 no2
3. Lion - WR droplock 375 flanged
4. Cape buffalo - marcel thys 450/400 3" boxlock
5. Leopard - mauser 98 expert 9.3x62
6. Crocodile - k95 baronesse 7x65r
7. Brown Bear - J Fanzoj DR round 9.3x74r
8. Moose - J Fanzoj kipplauf 8x57r
9. Mountain lion - mauser 98 expert 8x57 or 308w

 

[K-man]

Boringly reliable, boringly accurate and boringly repeatable results. I be boing with my Blaser R8 375H&H all day long.

There are some boring people not playing the game here......just saying....

Yep! Guilty. I guess I'll just be boring with a few others.

 

[Safari Dave]

I'll play...

1. Elephant - .470 NE double
2. Hippo - .416 Rigby, or .470 NE double. if on land.
3. Lion - .375 H&H
4. Cape Buffalo - .416 Rigby, if you can't get close enough to use you elephant rifle.
5. Leopard - . 300 Weatherby, if legal. .375 H&H if not. Scoped with night vision, etc. A thermal on a .300 magnum or .30/06 would be optimal.
6. Crocodile - .300 Weatherby, if legal, .375 H&H, if not.
7. Brown Bear - .338 Winchester Magnum in a stainless/synthetic platform. A .340 Weatherby might even be a tad better.
8. Moose - .300 Weatherby for me. .300 Winchester would be fine, as would a plain ole' .30/06.
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar - This would normally be a short range shot. .30-30 Winchester rifle or a .44 Magnum revolver.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Elephant Westley Richards 577 drop lock
Hippo Heym martini express 500 Jeffrey
Lion pre 64 375
Buffalo Rigby big game 450 Rigby
Leopard Mauser 9.3
Crocodile Winchester 30-06
Brown Bear Winchester 338
Moose Springfield 03 35 whelen
Mountain lion Winchester 94 30-30

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Gray goose martinis seem to be the preferred caliber for eastern cougar

Or a chicken salad sandwich.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Or a chicken salad sandwich.

If you can fill that tag with only a sandwich I tip my hat to you

 

[mgstucson]

If I had to use a different caliber for each:

1. Elephant : 458 Lott CZ550 500gr 2250fps
2. Hippo : 458 WM Mauser 98 500gr 2140fps
3. Lion : 375F Valmet 412 DR 300gr 2500fps
4. Cape Buffalo : 416 Ruger Ruger African 400gr 2200fps
5. Leopard : 9.3x74R Tikka 512 DR 286gr 2500fps
6. Crocodile : 30-06 Win mod 70 180gr 2700fps
7. Brown Bear : 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action 400gr 2150fps
8. Moose : 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3 250gr 2700fps
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar : 35 Rem Marlin 336 Lever Action 220gr 2000fps

In reality:
1. Elephant : 458 Lott CZ550 or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action
2. Hippo : 458 Lott CZ550 or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action
3. Lion : 375F Valmet 412 DR or 9.3x74R Tikka 512 DR or 375 H&H Mod 70 Win
4. Cape Buffalo : 458 Lott CZ550 or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action
5. Leopard : 375F Valmet 412 DR or 9.3x74R Tikka 512 DR or 375 H&H Mod 70 Win
6. Crocodile : 30-06 Win mod 70 or 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3
7. Brown Bear : 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 458 Lott CZ550
8. Moose : 30-06 Win mod 70 or 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar : 30-06 Win mod 70 or 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3

3 gun battery for anything anywhere
458 Lott CZ 550 - 375 H&H Win Mod 70 - 30-06 Win Mod 70

2 gun battery for anything anywhere
458 Lott CZ 550 - 375 H&H Win Mod 70

1 gun anything anywhere
375 H&H Win Mod 70

All bullets would be mine own construction either:

Soft point partition, bonded soft lead in tip, .035 solid copper jacket, bonded hardball, high antimony lead in base with solid copper .07 jacket thickness. (Similar to Swift A-Frame with a more solid non-expanding base even at high velocity.)

or

Flat point solid with .07 solid copper jacket and bonded hardball core.

 

[Slickshooter]

Franz, you're as bad as me: a rifle battery is like a golfbag--each shot deserves its own specialized tool!

Here's what I would use:

1. Elephant: a Westley Richards .577 double rifle
2. Hippo: a Jeffery .500 magazine rifle
3. Lion: a .375 H&H (double or magazine) loaded with 270-grainers
4. Cape buffalo: a Rigby Mauser in .416
5. Leopard: a .318 WR, double or magazine
6. Crocodile: a nice .30-06
7. Brown bear: a .404 Jeffery magazine
8. Moose: a .405 Winchester 1895
9. Mountain lion: a 7x57 like the one I just got
10. Cougar: a Margarita heavy on the tequila

How does that sound?

Atta boy Tom!!

 

[franzfmdavis]

If I had to use a different caliber for each:

1. Elephant : 458 Lott CZ550 500gr 2250fps
2. Hippo : 458 WM Mauser 98 500gr 2140fps
3. Lion : 375F Valmet 412 DR 300gr 2500fps
4. Cape Buffalo : 416 Ruger Ruger African 400gr 2200fps
5. Leopard : 9.3x74R Tikka 512 DR 286gr 2500fps
6. Crocodile : 30-06 Win mod 70 180gr 2700fps
7. Brown Bear : 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action 400gr 2150fps
8. Moose : 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3 250gr 2700fps
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar : 35 Rem Marlin 336 Lever Action 220gr 2000fps

In reality:
1. Elephant : 458 Lott CZ550 or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action
2. Hippo : 458 Lott CZ550 or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action
3. Lion : 375F Valmet 412 DR or 9.3x74R Tikka 512 DR or 375 H&H Mod 70 Win
4. Cape Buffalo : 458 Lott CZ550 or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action
5. Leopard : 375F Valmet 412 DR or 9.3x74R Tikka 512 DR or 375 H&H Mod 70 Win
6. Crocodile : 30-06 Win mod 70 or 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3
7. Brown Bear : 400 Whelen Browning 1895 Lever Action or 458 WM Mauser 98 or 458 Lott CZ550
8. Moose : 30-06 Win mod 70 or 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar : 30-06 Win mod 70 or 35 Whelen Springfield 1903a3

3 gun battery for anything anywhere
458 Lott CZ 550 - 375 H&H Win Mod 70 - 30-06 Win Mod 70

2 gun battery for anything anywhere
458 Lott CZ 550 - 375 H&H Win Mod 70

1 gun anything anywhere
375 H&H Win Mod 70

All bullets would be mine own construction either:

Soft point partition, bonded soft lead in tip, .035 solid copper jacket, bonded hardball, high antimony lead in base with solid copper .07 jacket thickness. (Similar to Swift A-Frame with a more solid non-expanding base even at high velocity.)

or

Flat point solid with .07 solid copper jacket and bonded hardball core.

The reported FPS is worth extra points!

 

[Michael70]

Franz, you're as bad as me: a rifle battery is like a golfbag--each shot deserves its own specialized tool!

Here's what I would use:

1. Elephant: a Westley Richards .577 double rifle
2. Hippo: a Jeffery .500 magazine rifle
3. Lion: a .375 H&H (double or magazine) loaded with 270-grainers
4. Cape buffalo: a Rigby Mauser in .416
5. Leopard: a .318 WR, double or magazine
6. Crocodile: a nice .30-06
7. Brown bear: a .404 Jeffery magazine
8. Moose: a .405 Winchester 1895
9. Mountain lion: a 7x57 like the one I just got
10. Cougar: a Margarita heavy on the tequila

How does that sound?

Close thread........we have a winner!!

 

[BryceM]

If money was no object, I'd use:

1. Elephant .470 NE in a Rigby, Heym, or H&H double, possibly with a red dot
2. Hippo same as number 1 on land. In the water, the same as the lion.
3. Lion - .375 H&H in a bolt Rigby rifle, 2-7X quality (Swaro or similar) optic.
4. Cape Buffalo - .416 Rigby in a bolt Rigby rifle, 1-4X scope
5. Leopard - Likely a .300 WM bolt rifle. Why not a classic Win model 70, 2-7X scope? .375 H&H if legally required.
6. Crocodile - same as the lion
7. Brown Bear - same as the lion
8. Moose - same as the lion, maybe a bit more mag on the optic
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar - most of these are shot out of trees from close range. Probably a .243 Win or maybe 44 mag. Something lightweight, because I've hiked those mountains.

 

[VINOYASADO]

Hey guys, a little qestion...

Why so much difference in the choice of caliber with the hippo in land/water?
Is it just a question of danger or is there something else?

Thank you

 

[grand veneur]

Hey guys, a little qestion...

Why so much difference in the choice of caliber with the hippo in land/water?
Is it just a question of danger or is there something else?

Thank you

On land the hippo is to be comparable with big game and accordingly the choice of the cartridge.

In the water it is still a heavy game, but to kill it you only have the brain shot at your disposal. A smaller caliber is enough for this.

 

[Granygudness]

I have not personally shot a crocodile, but have shot alligators, and know others who have shot alligators with rifles, or arrowed them and used the 200-lb test braided line to draw them near enough for dispatch with a .38 Special or .357 to the brain. A friend, who used to be a PH in Kenya and still returns to hunt with his cousin, a gamekeeper, has killed a fair number of large crocodiles which were making a habit of killing people. The long and short of it is that he had taken them, with instant kills, using 7x57 Mauser, .270 Win, .30-06 and .375 H&H. I and others I know have done the same with some smaller and very large alligators, using .308 and .30-06. In all cases, conventional soft point spitzer and round nose bullets did the job. You don't have to hit the tiny brain dead-on, when the wound is a hole 2.5 inches in diameter. You don't have to shoot them only between the eyes. You are more likely to have a side shot present itself, because you want to lure them out of the water or catch them well up on the bank. They will open their mouths wide to help cool themselves, blocking a head-on shot.

 

[MS 9x56]

In contrast to the threads seeking one do it all rifle, I think each of these “big ticket” animals deserves their own rifle and optic:

1. Elephant
2. Hippo
3. Lion
4. Cape Buffalo
5. Leopard
6. Crocodile
7. Brown Bear
8. Moose
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar

Im curious, what nine gun battery would you put together (regardless of cost)?

I would only need one a Mauser style 9.3x62, and a variety of bullets