What rifle do you totally trust on dangerous game and what rifle do you mistrust on Dangerous game

[dgr416]

I learned very good lessons in Alaska with rifles and watched others really mess up and almost lose their lives .My top Alaska DGR was a Weatherby Accumark in 338-378 .I put that rifle through so many test i wonder why Weatherby is not considered more often .I found a custom 416 rem mag weatherby that looks totally promising also .I love how smooth their bolts work and compared to todays worse ever bolting guns they are the perfect DGRs to me .I hardly ever see Weatherby rifles talked about but saw alot of them in the field .The Ruger 77 stainless was way more popular in Alaska but they are not as smooth as weatherbys .I would like for the mark V to be able to open the bolt without taking off the safety thats the only thing i dont like on my favorite DGR .
I would not trust a savage or marlin lever gun as a DGR i have seen both jam like crazy and be totally useable .I had my sav 260 rem totally jam on a big buck .I bought a savage 458 that was 6.75 pounds didnt even fire it .

 

[grand veneur]

Do you mean in relation to certain types and also brands of rifles? Regardless of caliber, I suppose. This question is not easy to answer objectively. There will certainly be as many different answers as there are people answering.

As far as I am concerned, for me the best rifles for hunting DG are those built on Mauser actions, followed by those built with M1917 Enfield actions or Mannlicher-Schoenauer actions. As the various break-actions are concerned, only the double rifles of well-know gunmakers. All of these rifles have proven themselves in the field over the more than 100 years they have been in use.

At the other end of the spectrum are all these technically complex bolt actions, such as those from Blaser for example, in which I have no trust when hunting DG. This also includes all the cheap very affordable double rifles.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I concur with above re Mauser style control feed actions. BUT they must accommodate extractor snapping over on a cartridge dropped into empty rifle. Almost endless aftermarket add-ons are available for Mauser actions. For example Model 70 3-position safety can be had from a couple of sources for ~$200. I have smoothed the actions on both my 98 Mauser 404J and WWII Springfield to the point they almost cycle themselves. As smooth as any Sako or Weatherby. I don't believe Weatherby is controlled round feed and that is important to some folks for dangerous game. I suppose in a heated situation short stroking a push feed rifle can be done more easily resulting in potential for closing on an empty chamber. Push feed generally ejects the fired case as soon as it clears the locking ring. For CRF the bolt must be fully retracted before the empty is ejected, thus reducing the probability of short stroking.

Double rifle is not for me. I'm not comfortable only having two rounds in a DGR. Do not want to be attempting to reload a broke open rifle on the run. I prefer four shots before having to reload magazine. And the ability to simply drop a fifth cartridge in an emptied rifle and close the action without looking at it. Obviously, it is more desirable to keep eyes on dangerous game, especially if it decides to kill me.

 

[BeeMaa]

Reliability needs to be proven over hundreds of cartridges shot from the same rifle with full power ammo.

This is the reason I trust my Blaser R8.

I’ve personally witnessed exactly ZERO failures that could not be traced back to operator error, mistreatment of the rifle or ammo issues. That said, I’ve heard about failures to certain types of rifles but can not comment on because I wasn’t there.

If it’s mechanical, it can fail. Some designs are better than others in certain areas, but PROVEN reliability is the key. Get out there and practice.

 

[buffybr]

I've only hunted 2 African dangerous game animals, a Cape Buffalo and a Leopard. Both were one shot kills with my handloads. The buffalo with a 300 gr Barnes TSX bullet from my Rem 700 .375 RUM and the Leopard with a 168 gr TTSX bullet from my .300 Weatherby.

 

[RR 314]

All my rifles .375 and up I would completely trust on dangerous game. All of them are CRF and with notable exception of factory Rigby etc. have been custom/semi-custom rifles evaluated and built by someone much more skilled than I am. I do not screw around with tweaking actions on rifles. Much of it is intuitive, but I would send it off to someone else to make flawless in their professional capacity. That being stated, I have numerous Weatherby rifles in sub DGR chamberings and have never had a failure/concern. I would feel completely comfortable hunting with a push feed Weatherby DGR (or 700 as mentioned above as well) if I ran it through its paces prior to the hunt.

 

[dgr416]

I had one control feed rifle my 264 win mag ruger stainless totally fail to feed on a hunt and couldnt figure out what was wrong but it totally refused to pick up a shell from the mag .I had to trick it to load the mag and load it opening the mag and putting shells in totally crazy .I also had my winchester model 70 control feed stainless 338 win refuse to feed i had to replace a ton of parts and the bolt and magazine and spring and floorplate to make it work .I have shot Ruger 77 push feeds 45 years never a jam .My model 700 rem guide gun jammed till i changed out the floorplate , triggerguard floorplate and the biggest problem weak mag spring .I put a weatherby spring in the mag never any more problems .My Weatherby accumarks mark V are the slickest actions and i put them thtough total hell in Alaska that most rifles wouldnt last through.I just dont like taking the safety off too take one out of the chamber .

 

[double rifle newbie]

in my humble opinion, there is a stark difference in a rifle that will KILL dangerous game, and one that will STOP dangerous game. animals like mbogo, or griz have low heart rates in addition to extra large adrenal glands to keep them going even if mortally wounded. the more hydrostatic shock u can impart on an animal with designs on tearing you to shreds, the better.

if targetting DG, .40 cal or bigger with premium bullets is my preference.

In Alaska there is a chance to encounter a griz anywhere. this being the case, even hunting non-dangerous game like caribou, goat, sheep, etc, bring a 338 win mag minimum because u just might run into a grumpy griz.

again just my humble opinion.

 

[Red Leg]

You will not find a universal appreciation of the Weatherby design as a good choice for dangerous game and particularly not among professional hunters in Africa. I am glad it has worked for you. It would not be the basis of a DG rifle that I would use.

There are Mausers and there are Mausers. Most are extremely reliable and make fine dangerous game rifles. That said, the only DG rifle that I have ever had fail was a custom job built on an FN Mauser action. It had the FN articulated bolt release, and if the tiniest bit of dust made its way into the release, I would find myself with the bolt in my hand on the reload. It worked on a cape buffalo, but it has never been back to Africa with me.

I am a big fan of the Blaser R8 design. By this point I have likely used twenty different rifles, mine and rentals, in at least half a dozen calibers in North America, Europe and Africa. All have worked perfectly and would be my go to choice were I headed to Africa, BC, Europe, or SA tomorrow for either regular or dangerous game.

 

[dogcat1]

Trust - Winchester Model 70 in .375 HH, Granite Mountain Custom in .416 Rigby, Blaser R8

Not Trust - Anything in 45-70, any lever gun

 

[dgr416]

in my humble opinion, there is a stark difference in a rifle that will KILL dangerous game, and one that will STOP dangerous game. animals like mbogo, or griz have low heart rates in addition to extra large adrenal glands to keep them going even if mortally wounded. the more hydrostatic shock u can impart on an animal with designs on tearing you to shreds, the better.

if targetting DG, .40 cal or bigger with premium bullets is my preference.

In Alaska there is a chance to encounter a griz anywhere. this being the case, even hunting non-dangerous game like caribou, goat, sheep, etc, bring a 338 win mag minimum because u just might run into a grumpy griz.

again just my humble opinion.

I bought my 416s just for Gizzlies that tried to come in the tent with me .I had one pick up my bronco 4 inches almost blew out the back window with my 416 .I did have a 375 win model 94 loaded with 300 gr fmj for my old gf to use .It never jammed either .I had friend who was an assitant guide shot a charging 10 foot coastal bear 4 times with barnes x bullets with 416 taylor .Those bullets blew the petals off didnt work right and the bear had already been shot 3 times with a 250 grain 358 norma .My Taxidermist shot a 10 foot coastal bear 3 times with a 300 grain bullet with 375 H&H at 20 yards almost got him last shot .He said next time he would borrow one of my 416s .I had a small piece of the bolt blow off my winchester model 70 control feed freaked me out at first but was not hurt to shoot replaced bolt finally .

 

[Flbt]

I learned very good lessons in Alaska with rifles and watched others really mess up and almost lose their lives .My top Alaska DGR was a Weatherby Accumark in 338-378 .I put that rifle through so many test i wonder why Weatherby is not considered more often .I found a custom 416 rem mag weatherby that looks totally promising also .I love how smooth their bolts work and compared to todays worse ever bolting guns they are the perfect DGRs to me .I hardly ever see Weatherby rifles talked about but saw alot of them in the field .The Ruger 77 stainless was way more popular in Alaska but they are not as smooth as weatherbys .I would like for the mark V to be able to open the bolt without taking off the safety thats the only thing i dont like on my favorite DGR .
I would not trust a savage or marlin lever gun as a DGR i have seen both jam like crazy and be totally useable .I had my sav 260 rem totally jam on a big buck .I bought a savage 458 that was 6.75 pounds didnt even fire it .

I have been told that the weatherbey not that reliable in the hot.
I do know a buddy had a lot of problems with a 300 wbm sight it in in august in fl after leaving a box of weatherbey ammo in the truck. Had to beat the bolt open
Never had that problem in the winter.

Idk

 

[375Fox]

There are a lot of rifles I’d be willing to use, but I’m not going to completely trust anything beyond the round in the chamber. Anything mechanical can fail. I had an empty get stuck in chamber with bolt locked shut on a Blaser R8 at range. I short stroked the bolt on my CZ 550 during an elephant hunt for first time ever. My Sako ejected empty cartridges into scope until I discovered issue and turned the scope. I would however still use any of them or a model 70.

I would never trust a Savage on any hunt. I hope I never see a 375 Ruger in Savage as a rental rifie. I just expect a Savage to let me down.

 

[K-man]

I have always trusted the rifle in my hands on DG. That's because I have practiced until I have complete confidence in my rifle and myself. But on a more specific note, my first DG rifle is a browning abolt in .375. Took all the dangerous 7 with it except rhino. Lately I carry my R8 in .375 and 416 ruger. It has one shot kills on all the DG since except for insurance shots. Again, because I put hundreds of rounds through it also. I have only used camp rifles on plains game.

 

[mark-hunter]

As flawed as I may be:
I trust scoped bolt action rifle.
I don't trust any iron sighted rifles (due to my eyes) and I dont trust double rifles (I dont have skills for them).

So, "not trusting" is the fault of mine. Not the fault of the equipment.

For all those aspiring a dangerous game traditional hunt with traditional equipment, with a gear that I find not trusty due to errors of my ways, following video (10 min) is very educational.

Lesson learned on the end, as stated by Phil Massaro, "Iron sighted double rifle is fantastic weapon, but in a hind sight, if I had scoped rifle...."

What should be noticed is the VISIBILITY conditions in the moment of the shot. Bush, and branches. This in my opinion is not for iron sighted rifle.

Whatever was the case, buffalo was lost. And there is not much videos like that around, this one is realistic.

 

[Pondoro]

As flawed as I may be:
I trust scoped bolt action rifle.
I don't trust any iron sighted rifles (due to my eyes) and I dont trust double rifles (I dont have skills for them).

So, "not trusting" is the fault of mine. Not the fault of the equipment.

For all those aspiring a dangerous game traditional hunt with traditional equipment, with a gear that I find not trusty due to errors of my ways, following video (10 min) is very educational.

Lesson learned on the end, as stated by Phil Massaro, "Iron sighted double rifle is fantastic weapon, but in a hind sight, if I had scoped rifle...."

What should be noticed is the VISIBILITY conditions in the moment of the shot. Bush, and branches. This in my opinion is not for iron sighted rifle.

Whatever was the case, buffalo was lost. And there is not much videos like that around, this one is realistic.

My take is a scoped large bore double rifle, with a quick detachable scope.. I scoped my .470 Krieghoff with a red dot Leupold...that give you an edge to place shots in dense bush.. OR detach the scope if the bush is darn dense and use the irons..

I took a quick shot at a buffalo cow at about 70m..took her in the neck as she stood in the front of a herd.. I could not have taken such a quick snap shot sanse optics..

I also scoped my 9,3 x 74R double..

I would NOT trust a non CRF bolt rifle or a Blaser R8 (I will get flogged for this..)

 

[mark-hunter]

(I will get flogged for this..)

Haha, I know what you mean!
Thats why I carefully chose the words in my previous post, trying not get the forum wrath for this!

 

[Pondoro]

Haha, I know what you mean!
Thats why I carefully chose the words in my previous post, trying not get the forum wrath for this!

 

[Major Bonkers]

As flawed as I may be:
I trust scoped bolt action rifle.
I don't trust any iron sighted rifles (due to my eyes) and I dont trust double rifles (I dont have skills for them).

So, "not trusting" is the fault of mine. Not the fault of the equipment.

For all those aspiring a dangerous game traditional hunt with traditional equipment, with a gear that I find not trusty due to errors of my ways, following video (10 min) is very educational.

Lesson learned on the end, as stated by Phil Massaro, "Iron sighted double rifle is fantastic weapon, but in a hind sight, if I had scoped rifle...."

What should be noticed is the VISIBILITY conditions in the moment of the shot. Bush, and branches. This in my opinion is not for iron sighted rifle.

Whatever was the case, buffalo was lost. And there is not much videos like that around, this one is realistic.

I am not sure that I draw the same lessons from this video. My conclusion would be: if you are not sure of the shot, don't take it. While it is possible that a stick or something deflected the bullet in flight - an excuse which I have always found rather dubious, and in this case is alleged to have moved the bullet from behind the shoulder to the brisket - a distance between aim and point of impact of perhaps 2 1/2 feet at a range of 45 yards - strangely only a horizontal deflection and not a vertical deflection - I am not sure that adding a telescopic sight to a double rifle would have made much difference.

There is something a bit peculiar about adding telescopic sights to double rifles. These are short-range weapons, ideal for use on moving game. Deliberately reducing the field of view negates the purpose of the rifle.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Let’s see now…

Calibers:
I like .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, .404 Jeffery (German loading only), .416 Rigby, .416 Remington Magnum, .425 Westley Richards, .450 Rigby Magnum, .505 Gibbs, .500/416 Nitro Express, .577 Nitro Express, .600 Nitro Express.

I dislike 10.75x68mm Mauser, .460 Weatherby Magnum, .600 Overkill, .700 Nitro Express.

I don’t particularly like the .458 Winchester Magnum, but I don’t mind using it as long as I have access to fresh hand loads (or Barnes 450Gr ammunition).

Actions:
I like Granite Mountain Arms Mausers , Waffen Prechtll Mausers, FZH Mausers, Reiner Johanssen Mausers, Hambrush Mega Magnum Mausers, Armeria Concarri Mausers, Mauser Oberndorfs (both the new ones AND the original pre 1939 ones), Ruger Hawkeyes, pre 1964 Winchester Model 70s, BRNO ZKK 600/601/602, Pattern 14 Enfields, Enfield Model 1917s, ManuFrance Rivals, Mannlicher Schoenauers, BSA Royal, Parker Hale Mausers, FN Mauser Series 300, Webley & Scott PHV-1 boxlocks, Heym Model 89B boxlocks, John Rigby & Co. Shikari boxlocks.

I dislike the Weatherby Mark V, Remington Model 700 (unless the factory extractor is replaced with an M16 extractor), push feed Winchester Model 70, BSA Monarch, BSA CF2, James Purdey & Sons sidelocks, any kind of single shot.

I’m not a Blaser R8 guy, but this is purely because of my whimsical nature (I like traditional looking rifles). They are really actually extremely reliable rifles. I’ll happily use a Springfield Model 1903A3 if the factory two piece striker is replaced with a titanium striker. I’ll happily use a BSA Majestic if somebody cuts off those beastly muzzle brakes. I’ll happily use an FN Series 400 if the factory coil spring on the magazine base plate is replaced with stronger one. But not in any dusty areas (otherwise what happened to @Red Leg , will happen again).


Ammunition:
I like Federal, Barnes & Labor Fur Ballistik

I dislike Weatherby, Hornady & Prvi Partizan (the latter almost got me killed by an elephant bull in 2006). Probably the one ammunition I hated the most, were Winchester Silver Tips. But fortunately, they haven’t been produced since 1999.

Norma & Swift are both good, but seldom available these days.


In General:

I like quick release mounts, wide V backsights, uncovered ivory bead foresights, ghost rings, red dots, India rubber recoil pads, Limb Saver recoil pads, manual safeties on double rifles, English or Turkish or French walnut stocks.

I dislike slings, telescopic sights with too high magnification, steel butt plates, automatic safeties on double rifles, Claro stocks on any caliber larger than 9.3mm.

I’m not a huge fan of synthetic stocks, but again… my reasons are purely whimsical. I’ll happily use one if it’s what I have available to me.