Your preferred DG cartridge

[sgt_zim]

If you could only pick one...

 

[KJE81]

Went with the .375 H&H for its versatility, also went with it in my "one gun to hunt the world".

 

[WyoBull]

[emoji[emoji6]][emoji6] H&H here as well. Can hunt anything “big” that I will ever realistically hunt.

 

[spike.t]

As usual with these things I can't choose one......

416 rigby
470NE
500 jeff...

Don't have 470 anymore...

 

[towserthemouser]

I always remember taking a pistol course years ago. Sitting at lunch one day, we all got into a discussion about various pistol calibers. Which is best, 9mm with magazine capacity, 45 ACP with bigger heavier bullets and battle-proven ability, 10mm with velocity, etc.

Finally someone turned to the instructor who was quietly eating his lunch and asked him, "If you knew you were gonna be in a gunfight, which pistol would you choose?"

He chewed a bit, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and drawled, "Well, boys, if I KNEW I was gonna be in a gunfight, I'd choose the 12 gauge shotgun in the trunk."

You could have heard a pin drop. Lesson learned.

In this application, it all depends on the situation, right? Trying to reduce the number of rifles to carry on a plane, maybe want to shoot some PG and also have the ability to take a buffalo hiding in thick cover with branches and brush all around him? The scoped 375 or possibly the 416 all day long. Trying to shoot a leopard at last light off a rest in a blind? Again, the scoped 375.

Following up said leopard or buffalo if he's wounded and might come from close range in thick cover? Now you KNOW you're gonna be in a gunfight. Maybe the calculus changes a bit, huh? What about hunting anything in an area with thick cover and a lot of elephant cows? You start to ask yourself if it's only a tool for hunting, or are you choosing a tool for self-defense? Maybe you start to value sheer power and quick-handling characteristics above all else......

I voted 470NE, but I love 'em all.

 

[BourbonTrail]

I love pretty much all of them, but I am never going to say no to a 416.

The 505/510 class is a close second for me.

 

[BJH65]

416 Rigby is my first choice for the overall versatility on the Big Five or Dangerous Seven. Couldn’t go wrong with the good old 375 H&H either.

458 Lott after the above. All chambered in CZ 550/Brno 602 or CRF Winchester M70.

 

[deewayne2003]

I’ve only taken one African dangerous animal, but the .470 worked wonderfully.

 

[ftrovato]

After having several elephants on several occasions on my (first) safari pointing out that I stood between them and the water they so desperately needed, I vote for bigger is always better. I'll stick with carrying my 500 NE.

 

[KCSafari]

Mine would be 416 Rigby or 404 Jeffery. Ammo is typically available if it gets lost on the way to Africa.

 

[IvW]

Cannot be only 1......

375 H&H
404 Jeff or the 400 H&H the latter actually being a very well thought out design and performer....
458 Sabi (basically a 458 Jeff)
500 Jeff

 

[Wyatt Smith]

If only one probably the 416 rigby. I think it would be awful hard to do better than a 50 something if chasing elephants and buffalo in thick brush.

 

[grand veneur]

My preferred DG caliber depends on which world I am in at the moment.

From a practical point of view the caliber 458 and from a traditional point of view the caliber 510, maybe depending on the rifle used, also the caliber 585. This primarily means the cartridges 460 Weatherby Magnum, 500 Jeffery/Schüler or 577 Nitro Express.

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

If you could only pick one...

My .500 Bushwhacker. All the power of the .500 Nitro, but with 5 shots, and it cost about 25 grand less than a. 500 Nitro double. So there's that.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

404J

It's what I have. One DGR is enough.