What’s your ideal Dangerous Game bolt gun?

[Red Leg]

As some of you know, I am off to Johannesburg in just under tw0-weeks. I took the R8 out this afternoon for a quick three shots - first one from a cold barrel. The Federal Premium 300 gr A Frames were as consistently accurate as almost everything else that I fire in this rifle.

Blaser R8 three-round group/ 100 meters/ Federal Premium 300 gr Swift AFrame

• Red Leg
• Jun 11, 2018

 

[geoff rath]

What a cracker! G0od hunting, mate!

 

[dchamp]

Well, looks like you're ready to go. I too have Blasers and find them utterly reliable and accurate. I think they are among the most well engineered rifles on the market today. Are you taking any smaller caliber barrels along with you?
Good Hunting.

 

[Bas]

I have yet to shoot my first "dangerous game" animal but when I started to think about what rifle I wanted when the time came I decided that it had to be something I was comfortable with. I have been a bolt action fan for a long time and am very familiar with them so that made action choice easy. Then I had to decide on a caliber, I first bought a 9,3x62 and I still really like it but as my hunt plans started coming together I found out that Tanzania requires a .375 minimum for dangerous game. I decided that the .375 would make the most sense for me and I ended up buying a Whitworth Express in .375 H&H. I added a Leupold 2.5-8 VX3i in Leupold quick detach mounts and while practicing I always try to shoot a few rounds with the iron sights. For the last 2 years the .375 has been the rifle of choice when I head to the woods. I have used it to hunt deer and wild hogs, carried it on my woods walks and while checking game cameras, it is becoming a very familiar rifle. I have fired in excess of 300 rounds in practice and load development with the majority fired from sticks and a few offhand for good measure. I have good loads worked up with 300 grain A-Frames and 300 grain CEB solids and it will accompany me to Tanzania in August for my first try at a Cape Buffalo. I have gained a lot of confidence in the rifle over the last 2 years so for me it is (for now anyway) the ideal DGR.

I wish great luck and fortune to both you and your rifle. Sounds like you have all covered. Looking forward to your posts after your return. Be careful, be safe at all times. The adventure begins when closing the door behind you leaving home.
Bob

 

[littlebear]

I use a costume made CZ550 in .416 Rigby

 

[Bas]

I use a costume made CZ550 in .416 Rigby

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It looks better than the few Rigbys I held in hand this past March. Nice....
Bob

 

[Bas]

I use a costume made CZ550 in .416 Rigby

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Forgot to ask where the stock came from. It looks like Turkish.

 

[geoff rath]

Nothing like a great custom rifle, made especially for your good
self.

 

[littlebear]

Hi, it is Turkish walnut, and the stock are made by Game and Gun in Denmark. https://gameandgun.com/en/
The rifle is made with cast-off, and fits me like a glove.

 

[littlebear]

 

[Jaeger717]

I am thoroughly impressed with my CZ 550 American in .416 Rigby. Enough so that I'm going to get another in .375H&H. It just fits me well and is comfortable to shoot. Well as comfortable as a .416 Rigby can be anyway.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

I’m have a Dakota Arms in 416 Rigby with a Leupold 1 x 6 scope that shoots fine but I’ve just never liked...should probably sell it but haven’t. I’m having AHR build me a 505 Gibbs with a Granite Mountain action and will be topping it off with a Swarovski Z6i 1-6x24 L. Will post photos whenever it gets finished.

 

[meigsbucks]

I have a Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan in .416 Ruger that I took my buffalo and seven head of PG with in Zim a few years ago. It's topped with 1.5-5X Leopold with heavy duplex. It handles great and is very accurate. I had a Sako .375 H&H along and only used it on three head of PG. Liked the Ruger. Sometime, I do plan on switching out the scope for something with an illuminated reticle of maybe 1-6X.

 

[Bas]

I’m have a Dakota Arms in 416 Rigby with a Leupold 1 x 6 scope that shoots fine but I’ve just never liked...should probably sell it but haven’t. I’m having AHR build me a 505 Gibbs with a Granite Mountain action and will be topping it off with a Swarovski Z6i 1-6x24 L. Will post photos whenever it gets finished.

Have you put the Dakota online ?
Almost never see one below $6K, some go for a couple $K more. ( More $ for more "stuff")
Bob

 

[Red Leg]

I’m have a Dakota Arms in 416 Rigby with a Leupold 1 x 6 scope that shoots fine but I’ve just never liked...should probably sell it but haven’t. I’m having AHR build me a 505 Gibbs with a Granite Mountain action and will be topping it off with a Swarovski Z6i 1-6x24 L. Will post photos whenever it gets finished.

Just curious - why would you scope a .505? If it is a vision thing - like my 65-year-old eyes - I think I would use a reflex or red dot sight of some sort on a .505. Even sighting 3-inches high at 100 meters will give you a point blank hold only to 150 or so. I have always thought of the Gibbs as very much an up close and personal caliber.

 

[WAB]

Just curious - why would you scope a .505? If it is a vision thing - like my 65-year-old eyes - I think I would use a reflex or red dot sight of some sort on a .505. Even sighting 3-inches high at 100 meters will give you a point blank hold only to 150 or so. I have always thought of the Gibbs as very much an up close and personal caliber.

Good point! One alternate to consider, I’ve been playing around with a 1-4x Steiner with an illuminated red dot. On 1x I doubt you could shoot any faster with a reflex sight and it gives you the added advantage of 4x for picking a hole through brush. It is really designed as a combat sight but I contacted Steiner to see if it could take the recoil of a Lott. They assured me that it can and that it is tested at much higher recoil levels. I think the model number is P4xi.

 

[Red Leg]

Good point! One alternate to consider, I’ve been playing around with a 1-4x Steiner with an illuminated red dot. On 1x I doubt you could shoot any faster with a reflex sight and it gives you the added advantage of 4x for picking a hole through brush. It is really designed as a combat sight but I contacted Steiner to see if it could take the recoil of a Lott. They assured me that it can and that it is tested at much higher recoil levels. I think the model number is P4xi.

I get it. Just don't see setting up what is a classic stopping caliber like it is a .375. If you want something bigger that can truly take advantage of a telescopic sight, then a .416 in one guise or the other would seem to make more sense. Then again, unless one is going to go brain an elephant, I don't see much purpose to the Gibbs as a client's rifle. Probably won't have an opportunity to back-up the PH. But that is my practical side creeping unasked into the discussion.

 

[WAB]

I get it. Just don't see setting up what is a classic stopping caliber like it is a .375. If you want something bigger that can truly take advantage of a telescopic sight, then a .416 in one guise or the other would seem to make more sense. Then again, unless one is going to go brain an elephant, I don't see much purpose to the Gibbs as a client's rifle. Probably won't have an opportunity to back-up the PH. But that is my practical side creeping unasked into the discussion.

With age comes wisdom, or at least that is the hope my wife clings to...

 

[Bas]

With age comes wisdom, or at least that is the hope my wife clings to...

Having killed whitetails, black bear, brown bear and elk I'm certain a scope would help counter low light situations.
BTW my vintage is 1954

 

[BeeMaa]

BTW my vintage is 1954

Is that you or your firearm?
Either (or both) would be perfectly acceptable in my book.
But there is something to be said for at least acting like a 12 year old every now on then...at least when you take that big DG trophy.