I'll let the heavy haulers answer the questions on the 450 - my biggest rifle is a 416! HMMM...?
Don
Check my thread on Quick Twist from a few days ago.
I tested the 458 x 404 at 2,400 fps with solids in 3/4 inch plyboard. the 416 and 375 at different twist.
Andy
As to your question - I have a Dakota 76 African in the 450Dak. I had it build on Don�s special select Bastogne, double cross bolt, with quarter rib and 24" barrel. I shoot 500gr Woodleigh Solids and Softs at 2350fps to 2400fps. It prints cloverleafs at 100 yards off the bench.
While I would not hesitate to take an elephant with a .416, the .450Dak is a wonderful cartridge with plenty of available power. You can load it down to a. .458 WinMag or load it up to a .460 Weatherby type performance. I have shot two buff with my .450. Both cases were one shot kills. Both went down upon impact. One stayed down, the other struggled to its feet and then dropped within a few yards. I think you will find exceptional performance out of your .450Dak.
I take it that you are interested in ele. A word of advice - When you get your gun, put together 4 dummy (un-primed) cartridges. Make sure your gun feeds the rounds properly from the magazine. I have all the faith in the world in the Dakota actions, however, your life can depend upon that second and third shot. You will be running after dangerous game with a new gun - make sure you are quit comfortable with it.
Good luck and good hunting!
Z
Forgot to add - Swarovski 1.25 to 4 X 24 in the 30 mil tube and Talley QD mounts. Plenty of eye relief to prevent scope booboos.
[This message has been edited by Zero Drift (edited 07-08-2001).]
As you found out, talk is cheap about hunting dangerous game until you've been amongst them. And as I have said before, give me all the horsepower I can handle.
Those 416's make good prairie dog rifles!
All that said, your over reacting..your mind is playing games with you...you were perfectly well armed and using a bigger gun may or may not help, I doubt it....
I have used the 416 Rem and 404 Jefferys along with the 505, 500 Jefferys and I have seen the 577 and 500 NE's in action...I'll stick with the 416 Rem and 404 or my enimic 450-400-3" for everything.
Kinda like the 270, 7x57, 308, 30-06, 7 Mag, there's not enough difference in any of them to make or break a situation..
Good accurate shooting is worth a lot of extra milimeters..
------------------
Ray Atkinson
Zero Drift
My wife is doing much better. Thanks for
asking.
Your point about the action is "dead on" so
to speak! I totally agree with you. As a general rule, I will not go out in the field
with a new gun unless I have fired it at least a 100 times from fully loaded magazines. I have read too many horror stories about new guns falling apart. If I got to Africa and my gun broke I would probably cry, even more so if it broke and I
got freight-trained!
Will
Your phrase "until you're out amongst them"
is damn sure right. I have studied The Perfect Shot, studied shot placement photos on the net and read a lot of material. Intellectually, I knew about the shot angles, etc. on the elephant. But when we got up close on the first one in that thick
bush, I just couldn't get over how BIG they
are! 400 grains vs. 4-6 tons. HMMMM.
Thanks for your responses.
Wes
when an ele cow is dropped by a shot which missed the brain, the time to recovery and getting up is far more longer with a .458 500 gr at 2400 f/s than with a .416 400 gr at 2400. This phenomenon is not to explain by simple energy difference or indexes, but must be associated with the special interaction of the bullet with the liquid filled honeycomb structure of ele cow heads.
BTW, with 400 gr at 2600 f/s the Dakota 450 is also an ideal stuff for any other game in the thick jesse os the Zambezi valley.
Thanks
Wes
Thanks for your input on this one. I'm with you...more horsepower.
Are you trying to take all the fun out of this topic? Quit being so practical!
DWS just had his first "up close and personal" with ele. If that cow had been brained we would have seen a small book written praising the virtues of the 416. But since she got up, of course he wants a bigger hammer.
Even Tony Sanchez-Arino took a step up to the 500 Jeffery.
I am just dying to get back to see what difference, if any, the Lott makes compared to the 470. If it wasn't for that darn thing called money...
[This message has been edited by George Hoffman (edited 07-09-2001).]