I've heard anything from .375 through .458 Lott.
I've actually heard people say their favorite was .500 NE as it will handle anything and therefore must be the best AP caliber. What about longer ranges? Anyway, what might yours be?

Thanks,

jfm

If one gun.... .375 H&H

Next trip I'm probably taking a 300 H&H and .416 Rigby.

ONE GUN ALL THE WORLD CZ 375HYH

I assume it must be large enough for dangerous game.
375 H&H if elephant are not on the menu, 416 Rigby or Remington if they might be. A case could certainly be made for 458 Win or Lott.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
If one gun.... .375 H&H

My favorite too...BTW she's named Thelma and has taken everything from Dik-Dik to elephant!

Regards, D. Nelson

.375 Holland and Holland is my pet.

Hard to beat the .416 Rem. Mag. for impala to elephant, all-purpose work. I like the harder punch it has over the .375 for the elephant end of things.

My 375 H&H was used to take more animals than all my other rifles combined. When the barrel finaly went south I decided to build a .404 J to fill the same nitch.

jfm

I've been using a 375 for about 20 years now and I just can't find any flies on it. No its not a big boomer but I just think it makes the best choice for a one gun safari.

Mark

I prefer my .416Rem over the .375H&H, as an all-purpose rifle. Fortunately I don't have to exercise that preference, given that my personal armory allows me specific purpose firearm selection.

My signature line.

416 Rigby, and load it for what you need.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
416 Rigby, and load it for what you need.

The one I got from you is a freakin tack driver. I haven't even finished testing all the loads.

I just wish they would have done a better job with the bottom metal.

In twenty years living full time in Africa, I tried and owned many different calibers.

The only caliber that has always been on my rack is .375 H&H.

In a CZ.

Philip

9,3x62...never been without one since 1983

own or have owned over the same period a couple of .404's a .458. a .458 Lott a .450 NE, 500/416 and a .375FL...just about always have the 9,3 in my hands when something needs shooting.

At the moment 404J.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
.375 Holland and Holland is my pet.

Mine, too.

quote:

Originally posted by jetdrvr:

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
.375 Holland and Holland is my pet.

Mine, too.

+ another

For me in 30 years it went like...7x57R, 7x64, 7,62 Russian, 8x68S, 9,3x62 and now 9,3x74R.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
9,3x62...never been without one since 1983

83 eish - I was 13 then...IMO it is about time to swing over to 74R - BTW I just like numbers

It's hard to deny the history and support for the 375H&H as the all purpose rifle,but jamming all needs into one bucket is not my game.

There are much better choices for shooting Springbok at 300 yds and Ele at 75 ft.

Mine are a 257 AI and 450 Dakota,respectively.

CZ ZKK-602 in .375 H@H

+1 for the 375. Are there better buff/ele calibers? Sure! But the 375 will do anything.

Ganyana, you just want to carry a lite rifle.

My favorite rifle is one that fits me and is accurate and big enough to do the job.

Mike

Thanks for the comments folks.
Always have loved the .375 H&H for its shootability, versatility and effectiveness but have recently thought of getting back into the .416 Remington as a secondary all-around set-up. First rifle in .416 RM kicked the daylights out of me but I forget the pain and once again think I might be able to deal with it. We shall see.
Take care,

jfm

quote:

Originally posted by jfm:
Thanks for the comments folks.
Always have loved the .375 H&H for its shootability, versatility and effectiveness but have recently thought of getting back into the .416 Remington as a secondary all-around set-up. First rifle in .416 RM kicked the daylights out of me but I forget the pain and once again think I might be able to deal with it. We shall see.
Take care,

jfm

Don't discount the importance of good stock fit. An -06 will kick the stuffing out of you is the stock doesn't fit right.

I love my 416 RIGBY. and am becoming very fond of my 450#2 NE. But if I had to choose one rifle it would be my model 70 375H&H. She's been with me for 45 years, and never let me down.

So far it has ranged from 6.5X55 through 7mm08, 280 Ack imp, and now I am starting to dream DG with my 9.3X62. I still dream of a particular 450/400 DR that a friend is reluctant to part with !

.375 H&H

One of my 9.3x62s always come along on Safari with me and provide good results.

416 Rigby, no question; and I shot a Black Wildebeast at 428 yards with a 325 North Fork bullet. It has you covered across the board.

My 06 with 200 gn noslers,@2700, and 200 gn solids @2650....never failed me

My 9.3 X 62 is my "favorite" rifle to carry and hunt with here in the USA and Africa. Close behind and sometimes edging to the front is my .375 H & H.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

375 H&H - from 10 to 400 yards and with the same bullet and load.

From Duiker to Elephant....

From North to South Pole......

ONLY .375H&H

Roberto

I've used a 375 on african game from impala to buff and out to over 300 yards on whitetails here at home...

But I have also used a 416 Remington for the same.

No real complaints with either.

My 'favorite' would depend on whether we're talking North America or Africa. For here in North America, it is my model 70 in .338 win mag. I love that rifle, and there is nothing on this continent I'd hesitate to hunt with it.

For Africa, it'd have to be my .416 hoffman if in dangerous game country. If not, my .338. And that is because I don't own a .375 H&H.

My son, 23 years old, is considering buying a rifle for African hunting. I've advised him to buy a .375 and told him he'll never NEED another rifle to hunt Africa. Of course, that doesn't mean either of us won't want more rifles, but we'd never need anything beyond the 375.

I believe there is a better caliber than the standard 375 H&H and it's the 375 H&H Ackley Improved (aka., 375 Weatherby), especially if you reload. It equates to 200 more fps for a 300 gr. bullets and ~700 more ft.# of energy. The extra thump makes the 375 more than good for elephant. Many believe the 375 H&H is too light for elephant and to have too much of a rainbow trajectory for long-range plains game. The 375 H&H AI can shoot standard H&H and Weatherby ammo, as well as 375 AI ammo. Factor Weatherby ammo is available advertizing 2800 fps with 300 gr. Nosler Partitions. I chrono'ed this ammo in my gun and got 2936 fps, but I'm using a 26.5" barrel and no freebore. For my gun this is too hot, but with proper freebore it would be fine. Regards, AIU

1951 FN Mauser in 375 H&H Improved, if I get only one. My gunsmith is fiddling around the conversion, to add a 300 H&H barrel. Throw in the Searcy 470 NE, and I am good to go anywhere.

Rich

Whatever one I happen to be carrying in the bush!!!

9,3X74R