These animals deserve their own rifle

[towserthemouser]

My idea was based on the concept that I like to keep a rifle that I shoot a special animal with. For example, I still have my first deer rifle, and my first shotgun with which I went and duck and grouse hunting. Neither are necessarily guns I would have chosen today, but they are special to me nonetheless, and I would not sell them.

The animals I listed above would also be special hunts for me so I would love to have the opportunity to have a rifle for each one and then keep that rifle indefinitely. That is not to say I wouldn’t use the rifle for other things, but that it would remain the rifle with which I harvested a special animal first.

While it is unlikely I will have the means to buy my dream rifle for each hunt, I certainly think about what I would dream of having, and that was the impetus for the question on this thread. I am certainly interested in the calibers that people select, but I am also if not more interested in the actual gun they would select. I have learned a great deal from people on this forum, which has expanded my taste and appreciation for unique guns.

In short, just an organized dream list

A new/special rifle for each big trophy animal? To quote a favorite Little Johnnie joke: "I like the way you're thinking, Teach."

 

[LimbNoMo]

I don’t know that I need a specific gun for each animal, but I would like to have a collection of safari rifles.

1. Heym .577
2. Round body Holland and Holland .500ne
3. .500 Jeffery AHR
4. .458 Lott CZ 550/Dakota
5. .458 Win Mag Winchester Safari
6. .450/400 Ruger No. 1/drop lock Westley Richards
7. .416 Rigby CZ 550/Rigby
8. .416 Remington Winchester Safari
9. .375 H&H Winchester Safari/CZ 550

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Nice thread

1. Elephant - 500/450NE Dbl Rifle - Only hunt that begs f/dbl loaded w/ North Fork Cup Point Solids
a proper Holland & Holland like Teddy used.
2. Hippo - Mauser 458 Lott Loaded with 500g Barnes TSX or Col Cooper 460 G&A Spl
3. Lion - 375HH loaded with Swift A-Frame - Belgian FN Browning
4. Cape Buffalo - 416 Rigby Heym Rifle loaded with 400g Barnes TSX
5. Leopard - Husqvarna Swedish Mauser in 30-06 loaded with 180g Swift Scirocco
6. Crocodile - Fierce CT Edge in 7mm Mag loaded with 175g TTSX or 150g Scirocco
7. Brown Bear - Winchester Model 70 pre-64 in 338WM
8. Moose - Mauser Custom in 300WM using 180g or 220g bonded
9. Mountain Lion/Cougar - Large Long Island Iced Tea and party pack of Trojans. These big cats are dangerous game!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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)?

@franzfmdavis
Unfortunately I'm a believer in one calibre for multiple jobs so from 3-9 in your group I would be very happy and comfortable using the humble 35 Whelen loaded with appropriate bullets for the game hunted.
For cape Buffalo and brown bear I would be happy with a nice 310 gn RNSP at 2,400fps.
For the others I would be happy with a nice 225gn bonded bullets.
Bob
Would be nice to have a dedicated rifle for each animal but that's our if my budget.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Elephant .458 Lott
Hippo .425express
Lion .375H&H
Buffalo .425 Schade
Leopard .35 Whelen
Crocodile 7x64
Brown Bear .338wm
Moose .9.3x64
Mountain lion .280a.i

@CBH Australia
LUCKY I was sitting down when I read your post otherwise I may have fallen down.
You actually mentioned the 35 WHELEN. You know that will handle everything from 3 -9 without a problem.
Bob

 

[franzfmdavis]

@franzfmdavis
Unfortunately I'm a believer in one calibre for multiple jobs so from 3-9 in your group I would be very happy and comfortable using the humble 35 Whelen loaded with appropriate bullets for the game hunted.
For cape Buffalo and brown bear I would be happy with a nice 310 gn RNSP at 2,400fps.
For the others I would be happy with a nice 225gn bonded bullets.
Bob
Would be nice to have a dedicated rifle for each animal but that's our if my budget.

What about a 400 Whelen?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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?

@Tom Leoni
I like your Cougar bait but what size gun.
Some of those cougars like big weapons not mid bores or small calibre.
Must have lots of ammo for head shots as well.
I have no personal experience but was told by a younger friend that's what they need/ like.
Bob

 

[jlb1036]

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?

I totally agree with COUGAR i would also add Havanero ciggar

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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

@Tubby’s Canteen
And you know this thru experience I take it not just told to you by a friend of a friend.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I totally agree with COUGAR i would also add Havanero ciggar

@jlb1036
Is the cee-gar for you to make the smell of the perfume they use to attract thier prey. It can be somewhat overwhelming and you can smell it from 50 paces
Bob

 

[wildwilderness]

@franzfmdavis - while I disagree with the premise (a rifle for “each” animal) the number 9 must be a Misprint? A special rifle just for Mountain Lion/Cougar?? As though anything from .223 - .243 - .30-30 and UNDER wouldn’t handle that Cat?….95% of them are shot out of a tree at 50 to 75 feet, don’t carry much lead —-they ain’t No Leopard!— (my guide in Idaho used a .223 or .357 handgun). Also #8 Moose = just about any deer rifle.
But you raise a Fun topic and I agree Africa’s Big 5 (the real Big 5 and Not the brain shot asassinations on Croc & Hippo) require much more thought and (except for Leopard) the .375 H&H seems entry level. I am interested in others opinions especially those that have taken multiple animals of each species

Absolutely a mt. Lion with hounds out of a tree needs its own firearm. Would be ridiculous to carry a big heavy double rifle miles chasing up and down. I would use a Handgun for sure for a cougar- I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 mag from my Father (who never hunted) that would work great and can carry it in a holster til needed!

 

[CBH Australia]

@CBH Australia
LUCKY I was sitting down when I read your post otherwise I may have fallen down.
You actually mentioned the 35 WHELEN. You know that will handle everything from 3 -9 without a problem.
Bob

Bob, the Whelen is ok and the post is an acknowledgement of cartridge choices of a few of our members who I now know as friends. Doesn’t mean I agree with everything you say about the Whelen.
There is more than one correct answer. In this case.
I would like to take that 7x64 to Africa over the .280a.I because it seems more like a traditional thing to do but SAPS might give me a hard time going in with a pink stock. I know the black tracker was startled by my Lily White legs when I done the traditional thing and hunted in shorts. Possibly scared of some game in the next postcode too so I went back to wearing long pants.