I have posted similar threads in the gunsmithing and big bore forums. I am looking for as many points of view and as much data as possible.

Essentially I want to build a rifle to hunt dangerous game with. I want to use a standard length action and achieve performance levels similar to the 375 H&H Mag.

I was considering the following calibers: 375 Taylor, 376 Steyr, 411 Hawk, and 416 Taylor. It was also recommended I chamber in 9.3mm.

I understand that the 9.3 is legal in parts of Africa but not all of Africa while the .375 and larger are legal everywhere. Not having much �African� knowledge beyond that (practically none) I do not know if the 9.3 will be too limiting. I would rather have a single rifle to do my Dangerous game hunting than have two separate rifles.

I have been cautioned that both a standard length action and wildcats are not good choices. Well the 376 Steyr is factory as well as the 9.3�s but are they available? I also plan to use the rifle in Alaska for Brown Bears someday. On the other hand if I build it up as a 35 Whelan and use it for African plains game am I not in the same boat as far as ammo availability? 35W is not too available here and I imagine the same is true in Africa. Thus I would still be relying on reloads unless I took my 30-06 in the plains game role.

I am not yet very familiar with my intended cartridge choices either. As I understand it the 9.3 would be the �lightest�; the 375 Taylor, 376 Steyr and 411 Hawk are about equal supposedly duplicating 375 H&H performance; and the 416 Taylor is definitely a step up from there.

Am I asking too much? Am I letting desire get in the way of common sense? How limiting is the 9.3? I mean if it only limits me from a couple countries and those countries are only mediocure in ther offering than in reality I may not be limited. However, if one of those countries is realy the best prospect for certain game species than I have limited myself.

See my comments on the Big Bores forum....

In a nutshell, it beats the dogcrap out of me as to why you simply don't get a standard factory action suitable in length for the .375 H&H or .416 Remington cartridges and take it from there.

Why take the long, hard way around the barn? What utility or ecomony is actually realized by selecting off-beat, under-powered cartridges merely for the sake of utilizing a 1903 action that you happen to have laying around?

Is some romantic angle or the price of an action the barrier here between having a truly worthy dangerous game rifle or a compromise rifle? If so, you're playing the wrong game.

My honest opinions........

AD

54JNoll,

First of all, what DG do you intend to hunt? I mean realistically...I say this as a gun and scope optimised for leopard is going to be different to one optimised for buff which is going to be different to one used for brown bear in Alaska!

Have you shot any of these calibers? If not I would recommend trying a .375H&H or a .416 whatever in something fairly generic like an M70. That should give you an idea as how much recoil you can handle before your shooting starts to degrade...

Regards,

Pete

54JNoll,

Allen gives good advice. Also, I think you're over thinking this and agonizing over your decision too much. There are going to be pros and cons with any cartridge you choose. Insisting upon using the '03 action limits your choices. No one cartridge will be perfect for every possible use. Many posters on the Big Bores forum suggested several good cartridge choices. In the end, you will have to make the decision as to which cartridge to use. I would respectfully suggest that you do some more reading up on the different cartridges. Get Craig Boddington's Safari Rifles and Gregor Wood's Rifles for Africa if you don't have these books already.

Quote:

---

Essentially I want to build a rifle to hunt dangerous game with. I want to use a standard length action and achieve performance levels similar to the 375 H&H Mag.< !--color-->

---

That pretty much says 9.3x62. It fits the 30-06 size action (length and bolt face); it's available in factory ammo (especially in Europe and Africa); it is close to the .375 H&H in power and effectiveness; and good bullets and cases are available for handloading. Plus it is legal for most any dangerous game hunting you are likely to do.

Also, don't get too hung up on this "legal in Africa for dangerous game" business. No, I'm not advocating breaking any country's laws. I'm just saying be practical about it. How many Cape Buff, Elephants, and Rhino are you really planning on hunting? Don't let a theoretical "someday; maybe" limit you too much in your cartridge choice.

Just my 2 cents worth...
-Bob F.

Allen,

Yes I like the Springfield. Have I commited to using it? No. At this point I was simply fishing for information. As I said, I have no actual knowledge of African Hunting. I can get a hold of a 375 H&H (my brother-in-law)and see how well I shoot it to form a better opinion. The info about proper headstamped brass into counerty IS A BIG Issue. That is a hurdle which cannot be evercome.

Sometimes it takes asking the question several ways to get some of the answers. Will I ever hunt dangerous game in Africa? I would like to ... that I know. Most likely it would be plains game. If I do get to hunt the dangerous game I would only be interested in Lepard and Lion. The others do not intrest me at this time. I definately want to go after big brears in Alaska.

I was really wanting to know two things, 1. was it feasable and 2. is it practicle. I guess my answers are; Yes it is feasible but NO it is not practicle. And I can live with that. Heck it will make a nice 25-06 that will be gentler on pronghorn or a nice 35W or 9.3 for Elk.

Thanks for putting up with my persistance.

Unless you can actually do some or most of the work yourself it would be cheaper to start with an off the shelf rifle. For the amount of time (and your money) it would take a qualified gunsmith to effect what you have described you would have acheived less and spent more. If you merely like tinkering with guns then go ahead and knock yourself out.

Except for the 9.3x62, none of the rounds you mentioned in your first post is likely to be available on African gun store shelves; in most cases, they are not even available here.

A few hours spent with some books on wildcats may help you decide which round is best for you, but remember that you are compromising in order to use a standard-length action. You can only fit so much powder and bullet into a .30-06 length cartridge.

Pick one, work up a load using a super-premium bullet, practice diligently, then go kill yourself a buffalo!

George

54JNoll,

I was one of the early users of the .376 Steyr, and Eric Ching (Slingster) was one of the first. We have both hunted in Africa with Steyr rifles chambered in .376 Steyr. Steyr-Mannlicher has ceased producing .376 Steyr rifles.

If you can stand the pain of an orphan cartridge, go ahead with the .376. I would not recommend you do so however.

The Springfield has features intended for an infantry rifle, and I think those actions are best left in their original rifles. I have marched with and shot a flock of them too.

If you want to hunt dangerous game, I recommend you start with a suitable rifle in .375 H&H. You can then move to another larger cartridge, or perhaps a custom rifle if that works for you. This way you can focus on the hunting, and not the building of the tool -- and you can keep your eye on the real ball.

jim dodd

New plan ...

Build the 03 into a 9.3X62.

Later get a .375 or something bigger.

Thanks

54JNoll,

I think you have chosen wisely.

-Bob F.

Wise plan, excellent cartrige. May I recommend Lothar Walther for a barrel?

Why not a Mauser though? Or do you just like the Springfield in the same way that I like the Mauser?

Best,
Todd

54JNoll



I would recommend a mauser action, a Brno ZG 47, Obendorf, VZ 24, FN 98 or Argentine. Find an action that is fresh and not been modified or alterd.



The 03 will cost considerably to modify and take lost of time. Supply of parts and custom aftermarket products is better for the mauser. I think the final result will be better with a mauser action. I would recommend a Krieger barrel in classic mauser profile.



A great matching pair would be a 9,3X62 and a 404 Jeffery or 416 Rigby



Cheers

/ JOHAN

I would like to know what is wrong with the Springfield action if it is a properly numbered one...I remember when you saw a lot of them in 300 H&H an 375 H&H, and I don't recall any problems except with Rock Island Arsnals low or high numbered brittle guns and never knew that for a fact as I never knew of one giving up the ghost...

If one put the same effort into a Springfield as one does a Mauser, I suspect it would be just as good and the Springfields are very smooth actions...I shot a lot of them early on in milsurp and custom fashion in std. calibers and I like them real well.

So my question is to those that are condeming them to be specific with exactly what is wrong with them from a functional and practical standpoint without being nit picking, I know the resale would be less than say a M-70 or a Mauser,...Probably something all of us should know..I have not ever owned one in a big bore, so tell me more...

I've been told that the two piece firing pin of the Springfield is prone to breakage although I've never seen it personally. Some smiths don't seem to like to work on them either, at least a couple that I used were negative on them.

Yep I just got a thing for Springfields. I like Mausers too. They even look good sitting next to each other in my safe.

54JNoll,

If using the 03 Springfield action is what makes you happy then that's what you should use. As someone else used to post on these forums, "The sole purpose of a rifle is to please its owner".

-Bob F.