Too Much Gun?

[Partagas]

Let me start of by saying that I am not a novice at big game hunting. I have taken an Alaska grizzly, an Alaska bull moose and several caribou. But Africa is a new horizon for me. It has been my dream for several years to get a cape buffalo. SO, after much research I picked up a Ruger M77 RSM in .416 Rigby. I absolutely love this rifle and the cartridge. However, my PH and I have talked, and it has been decided that it would be better if I took a safari for plains game first, before tackling the Buffalo. I do not want to buy another rifle. Is this rifle far too serious overkill for gemsbok, eland, sable, Kudu or wildebeast, what ever may come to pass? I know it is way more than needed, of course, but is it way too much? I have a Marlin 1895 in .45-70 which I have killed everything mentioned above in Alaska. Im just hoping there is some way I can use what I have and am familiar with. I will talk to my PH about it and get his advice of course, but I wanted to get opinions from here as well.

 

[norfolk shooter]

I would use the 416 Rigby on the PG you have mentioned in a heartbeat. Last time I checked the animal is dead or alive it cant be more dead than if you used a 375. Eland are a big animal too.

Also it will give you confidence with using the 416

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I picked up a Ruger M77 RSM in .416 Rigby. I absolutely love this rifle and the cartridge. However, my PH and I have talked, and it has been decided that it would be better if I took a safari for plains game first, before tackling the Buffalo.

Can you hit a 6" or maybe an 8" circle/target from shooting sticks CONSISTANTLY at 200 yards?
If so, then unless you go to the wide open Eastern Cape, you are more than ready!

I shot a zebra at 150 meters with my 458 Lott. It was a nice clean kill.
I also shot a wildebeest at 150m with my 458 Win double rifle using a Trijicon SRO reflex for the sight. Neither 458 is a long range cartridge and my double isn't a tack driver!

On another occasion, I sat in a blind overlooking a pan just to watch animals and wait for a warthog. I got a warthog and also used a 375 H&H to bag three monkeys at 150m. Monkeys are not large targets.

Ask your PH about the terrain, vegetation, and expected ranges of your shots.
Then, compare that distance against your ability to put bullets on target.
Your 416 Rigby is probably more than adequate for the task at hand.

Remember, a PH will have you sight in your rifle for that and to evaluate how far you can hit a target!

 

[Dinsdale]

If you want to hunt buffalo you dont need a tune up first PG hunt, go hunt what you want.

Lots of reports even on here with first time DG hunts and not always plains game.

I didn’t get interested in buffalo or elephant until after several PG trips to several places. And my finances lined up with the costs of the hunts at the same time.

After doing elephant and buffalo, I can tell you shooting a pile of plains game didnt do anything to prepare me ”more” other then shooting my rifle a bunch.

 

[rifletuner]

There is no such thing as "too much gun". The only people who complain that a rifle is "too powerful" to hunt a given animal have never actually tried it.

I have used a number of rifles in 375 to 450 cal to hunt a broad range of species in Australia and Africa, and never once has an animal complained to me that I shot them with too large a bore.

 

[Sourdough]

@Partagas you've taken an Alaska Grizzly and an Alaska Moose, go enjoy taking a buffalo on your first Safari, and your .416 is fine for everything.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I agree with Dinsdale. Sounds to me like that safari operator is just trying to sell more trophy fees. You obviously know how to shoot and killing a buffalo isn't rocket science. I shot my first buffalo on my first trip with a 375 I'd never fired before that afternoon. Shot it in the heart at 110 yards in a brisk wind. No sweat. Next trip I shot another one with the same borrowed gun, again after shooting it once at the range to make sure it was zeroed.

Sure, you can shoot plains game with a 416. It won't be fun dealing with that excessive recoil but if that's what turns your crank ... You might want to consider having your PH bring along a distance shooter in case something special pops up way out there.

 

[Partagas]

In all fairness to the PH, the earlier hunt for PG was my thought, not his. Im not concerned at all with my rifle or shooting ability, I just dont want to be the arrogant American that thinks that my way of doing things here at home applies automatically to the whole world. It's the African experience itself I want to fully be respectfully aware of, and all that entails. I sure appreciate all of the feedback and advice. It is exactly what I am looking for.

 

[meigsbucks]

My first safari was for buffalo plus PG. Unless someone going to Africa, lacks hunting experience, I’ve never really seen the logic in doing a PG hunt first. I wanted a buffalo since I was 15. If you want to hunt buff, go for it.
If you do opt to do a PG hunt first, talk to your outfitter about average shooting range. If less than 200 yds, the .416 will do fine.
I took two rifles, a .375 and a .414 Ruger on my first safari . I used the .416 on the buff and seven PG animals and the .375 on only three PG.
p.s.: Welcome to AH.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Sounds like you and your rifle are ready to hunt. The 416 will be fine. Go for the Buffalo and take some plains game along the way if you want.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Keep your shots to within 200 yards and you won't have a problem. Sight in your telescopic sight for maximum point blank range.

 

[TOBY458]

Go hunt buffalo. Then shoot PG on the same hunt. 416 would be ok for a mixed bag hunt. But a better idea is to take two rifles.

 

[Hogpatrol]

My 2¢, You've taken great animals and as long as you're proficient with the .416, go for the buffalo and the various PG you listed. If you're concerned with tearing up trophies and you reload, you can always scale down for the little stuff. Good Luck and please give us a hunt report!

 

[Berettaco]

That will be just fine - as others have mentioned, as long as your hunting where shots will be under 200 you’ll be fine. I’ve shot PG with my 404J - they didn’t know it was “too much gun”. I say load up some A frames or TSX then do a mixed bag. Kudu, eland, wildebeest, warthogs and a buff.
A lot of the PG isn’t heavy boned enough to really open up an A Frame or TSX, most likely will zip right through with entrance and exit holes close to the same size - just be aware of any animals behind the target animal

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I will echo everyone else, hunt what you want and use your 416 for it all. I killed all my African animals with my outfitters 30-06 except my Blue Wildebeest, I used my PH’s 458 Lott that I only fired the one kill shot from. A zeroed scope is a zeroed scope and most iron sight pictures are very similar and can be learned in a very few shots by an experienced hunter.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

You can always bring 2 Rifles. I do. Bring your .416 and a 7MM or .30 cal. Or if you have a smaller cal like a .243 you shoot well, bring it for your small to medium PG out to distance that you may not be comfortable shooting a 416 to. There are plenty of options…

 

[pc3]

If you load a 300 gr TSX (do they make a 300gr tipped version?) or a 340 gr woodleigh protected point..even the speer 350gr with practice you would have a rifle capable to 300 yards,think 30/06 ballaistics.

I do recall those Ruger RSM's had a pretty hard red recoil pad but they were the right weight. I have a cz550 .416 Rigby I possibly intend to take as the only gun in 2025 Buff and PG. I will be taking my son and his .270 win so didn't want to take a third rifle if I didn't have too.

 

[Inline6]

Took a buffalo on my first hunt, would not change it for anything. I'm not that interested in plains game, will take one if the opportunity is there. Much rather DG.

 

[Dr Ray]

Let me start of by saying that I am not a novice at big game hunting. I have taken an Alaska grizzly, an Alaska bull moose and several caribou. But Africa is a new horizon for me. It has been my dream for several years to get a cape buffalo. SO, after much research I picked up a Ruger M77 RSM in .416 Rigby. I absolutely love this rifle and the cartridge. However, my PH and I have talked, and it has been decided that it would be better if I took a safari for plains game first, before tackling the Buffalo. I do not want to buy another rifle. Is this rifle far too serious overkill for gemsbok, eland, sable, Kudu or wildebeast, what ever may come to pass? I know it is way more than needed, of course, but is it way too much? I have a Marlin 1895 in .45-70 which I have killed everything mentioned above in Alaska. Im just hoping there is some way I can use what I have and am familiar with. I will talk to my PH about it and get his advice of course, but I wanted to get opinions from here as well.

Probably the distance you’d be shooting at for plains game would be, in reality, too far out for the 45/70.
Suggest you hire a suitable caliber.

 

[Happy Myles]

Get your hands on something like an 06 or 7mm. You can probably borrow one from your PH if you don’t want to buy one. Save your 416 for Buff. Except for weight, taking two rifles is about as easy as taking one rifle. Three rifle turns into a hassle.