What gun do Professional Hunters like to use?

[Whit]

Only been on a single safari. My PH carried a Musgrave bolt rifle in .458 Lott. He was a lefty with a right-handed action. When asked, he said he felt very confident in his ability to reload, acquire a target, and fire again due to practice. He also said he'd give half of a certain, special part of his anatomy for a DR in .470NE and had been busy saving for one.

 

[BJH65]

My african PH’s 1997 Moz and SA.

BRNO ZKK-602 458 Win Mag, iron sights (Moz)
BRNO ZKK-602 450 Watts Magnum, iron sights (Moz)
Winchester M70 Safari Express 416 Rem Mag, Leupold Vari XII 1-4 scope (SA)

African PH’s Limpopo 2024

CZ 550 Safari Magnum 458 Lott, iron sights
CZ 550 Safari Magnum 375 H&H, iron sights

Alaskan Guides - Brown Bear/Grizzly 2004:

Ruger M77 stainless zytel stock 338 Win Mag, Leupold Vari XIII 2.5-8, 250 grn nosler part.
Remington 700 Custom Shop stainless 338 RUM, Leupold Vari XIII 2.5-8, 250 grn SAF
CZ 550 Safari Magnum, 416 Rigby, LPVO, unknown ammo

 

[DLSJR]

The PH’s I’ve hunted with carried the following:

Roy Vincent 460 Weatherby, Weatherby Mark V
Cecil Riggs 458 Winchester. Model 70
Richard Bell-Cross. 458 Winchester. Model 70
Tom Dames. 470 NE. Don’t recall which double, 375 Weatherby, Model 70
Alan Vincent 450 Ackley. Mauser 98. Also a 500 NE Heym 88B

 

[Hillcountry63]

In Africa my PH's have carried the following, Winchester 70 375 H&H, Winchester 70 458 WM, Merkel 88 450NE, Mauser 98 9.3x62......all iron sights

 

[IvW]

Brno ZKK 602 375 H&H, Brno ZKK 602 500 Jeff, 12ga/9.3×74R or 12ga/12ga poormans double with brenneke slugs the last two for leopard.

In doubles I would prefer 500 NE by Heym, Krieghoff or VC.

I am currently drooling over a Krieghoff double rifle drilling 500/416 NE or 500 NE barrels over 12ga with insert for 9.3x74R, 7x57R and 22 Hornet....I can dream at Christmas....

The above......plus.....
404 Jeff on ZKK602 in progress and then a 458 Sabi on ZKK602 as soon as I find a doner rifle for an action....

I will no longer concider a VC......
I am also looking at a sidelock double by Joseph Winkler but it is in the dreaded 458WM......if it can be reamed to 450 No.2 3 1/2 and re regulated I may still buy it but to get someone to re regulate it in RSA is not possible.....