I know this horse was flogged to death and buried a long time ago, but as a few friends and I were photographing a few rifles on Sunday morning, we got round to talking about an ideal African battery, assembled from among the rifles in our safes. This is what we came up with:

1. Scoped .275 Rigby (No 2 model);
2. Scoped .318 Westley Richards;
3. Rising-bite Rigby .450 NE sidelock ejector;
4. 12-bore Holland & Holland Paradox.

There are other calibres that will fit in just as well, but this is my own choice at present. I already have the .318 and am working on the .275 (a take-down model). I'll just have to talk my friends into selling the .450 and Paradox!

What do you guys think?

I would prefer a 9.3x64 in lieu of the 318WR as it can be used on the big stuff when necessary.
So my ideal realistic African battery would be;
1. QD Scoped 7x57 Ritterbaush.
2. QD scoped 9.3x64B Ritterbaush.
3. Heym Safari 450NE with 12GA barrel.

Here's mine again:
open sighted .450 Rigby Rimless
QD scoped 9.3x64
scoped 8x68S
scoped 7x64
scoped .243
my 2 x 12 bore shotguns are unfortunately not in this pic:

quote:

Originally posted by Karl S:
Here's mine again:
open sighted .450 Rigby Rimless
QD scoped 9.3x64
scoped 8x68S
scoped 7x64
scoped .243
my 2 x 12 bore shotguns are unfortunately not in this pic:

Karl

Very nice small arsenal.... PITY ABOUT THE BIG TOE....

question - your 450 Rigby Rimless, I heard that they are quite difficult with regards to ammo? - I was looking for a 450. but was advised agianst it due to difficulty of ammo?

Thanks

quote:

question - your 450 Rigby Rimless, I heard that they are quite difficult with regards to ammo? - I was looking for a 450. but was advised agianst it due to difficulty of ammo?

At leats 3 manufactureres make ammo for it; Norma, Wolfgang Romey and Kynoch, and it is easy to reload, see this article:
http://www.huntingsafaris.net/pdf/reloadingtherigby450rimless.pdf

Karl
What wood is that on the 7x64 second from the bottom. Is it an African wood. Love your toys man. The carry-worn 450 really has houding.
boet

My African battery is:

1. Merkel 140 in 9.3x74R with a Trijicon Accupoint 1.25-4x scope in QD mounts,

2. Additional 20 gauge barrels for above rifle, and

3. Merkel 140A in .500NE.

Now all I need.... IS TO GET BACK TO AFRICA!!!!!

All those rifles are lovely but I am glad that I don't have to transport them to and from Africa. I've finally reached the point where I just do all my hunting with a .375 unless my personal backside might be in danger. Then I unlimber the .450 Rigby. K.I.S.S. And no, mine aren't anywhere as pretty. They work, but.

Winchester Model 70 Supreme in 375H&H
Remington 870 12g, magnum
Plane tickets, days off, and extra money.
This is all I need to return to Africa.
Jeff

My current battery

William Douglass, .470NE, double
Winchester, M70, Safari Express,.375H&H,QD Scoped
Winchester,M70, Classic Sporter, .30/06, Scoped

and in reserve if needed

Ruger, No1, Tropical, .450/400
Winchester, 1895, .405Win.

.500 Jeffery
.375 Weatherby
7mm STW
12 ga

Top is my 458 Lott, 24" Shilen #5 barrel, Lyman 48 receiver sight (ghost ring), Rust blued.

Bottom is my 375 H&H, 24" Shilen #4 barrel, Lyman 48 receiver sight (ghost ring), Redfield Widefield 3-9 with Pilkington QD lever.




Got the rifles covered, now I just need a BIG sack full of C notes, for some jumbos.

Keith

Model 70 Classic in .375 H&H
Dakota 7mm RM.

Time and money, mainly money.

Of course there is no answer only opinions and those change with the game to be hunted. If I were going to pick a battery for game I chose to hunt it would probably be my 7x57 custom M98 and my custom Mdl70 375H&H. The mix changes if you introduce elephant into the equation and desire a gun to handle all occaisons. If this becomes the case I would use my CZ550 416Rigby custom. The question really boils down to whether you require a gun capable of handling anything you are likely to encounter where you are hunting or if you intend to depend on the PH to handle those occaisons you are undergunned to handle. Until these questions can be answered I don't see how anyone could pick a battery to be used.

My perfect African battery is one gun. My African battery consists of a .30-06, 7x57, 338, 375 H&H, 416 Rem, and 404 along with a 450-400.

I only take one rifle, depending on where I am going, its easier in the airports and I can make do with any of them on anything..

If DG is on the agenda then the 404 is my usual choice, if just for plainsgame then the .338 is usually my pick, but sometimes the 7mm or 06..

If I am on one of my extended trips that start in RSA and go to several other countries and both DG and PG is on my agenda, then I will go with the .404 or .375 H&H as it works fine on everything.

I used to take more rifles, but they are a pain to deal with while traveling and there is so little difference between any of the calibers that I find I can get by with about any caliber as long as I have a well constructed bullet.

I think I could hunt everything in the world with:

Rem 870
Encore in 22lr
Rem M700 30-06
Charles Daly 485WM