I agree that a .375 of some sort and a 458/470/500 would be a great combination for everything but I don't believe the .458 and above are the best for the longer range aspect of the equation. This is why I chose the .375 and the .416 magnums. Not that I would know that much about long range shooting with .458 and above calibers as I never have really tried. Are they any good for that purpose? If so, I maybe missing out on something here. Are you guys talking about 350 - 400 grain bullets in these calibers?

Thanks,

jfm

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by jfm:
This is a topic which I am somewhat borrowing from a post on the Big Bore forums. What is your choice of the best two interchangable rifle cartridges for an African safari? These rifles would have to be able to handle everything from game at long range to dangerous game at close range. If one rifle failed, the other would have to be the perfect backup for the failed rifle. That is to say, it would also have to be capable of taking game at long range and dangerous game at short range. Is there such a combination? I picked a .375 H&H magnum and a .416 Remington magnum for their versatility and power.

Thanks,

jfm

If one reads his post...for his criteria....338 won't be legal anyway.

I think if you go back and look you'll see I said essentially the same thing. That a .375 leeps you legal. A .338 doesn't.

There are a lot of silly laws.

Judge G:

I've always thought carrying two different bullet weights for the same rifle was a bad idea. However, I always carry a spare scope, usually of a greater power (for plains game at greater ranges), as a backup. Why not a different zero for a different load? You still have the spare scope as a backup and it could be rezeroed quickly, especially if you had done your homework with the heavier bullet before you left. Can't believe I never thought of it, but the idea of two scopes for two different bullet weights in the same rifle is a great one. Thanks.

9,3x62 or .375H&H and a .458 Lott or .450/.470/.500 NE
What is long range - and how much difference would the 150-200fps difference between a .416 Rem and a .458 Lott make? Not much - less if you know the trajectory

quote:

Best Two Rifle Battery?

How can a rifle and an an almost idenical back-up rifle be the BEST 2 gun battery?

Am I missing something here?

Actually, the irons were regulated for solids for elephant and the scopes for PG. As to re-zeroing the gun if you take two scopes, a quality QD system (Talley, Warne or European claw mounts) make changing scopes a one shot check instead of fooling with settings.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Judge G:

I've always thought carrying two different bullet weights for the same rifle was a bad idea. However, I always carry a spare scope, usually of a greater power (for plains game at greater ranges), as a backup. Why not a different zero for a different load? You still have the spare scope as a backup and it could be rezeroed quickly, especially if you had done your homework with the heavier bullet before you left. Can't believe I never thought of it, but the idea of two scopes for two different bullet weights in the same rifle is a great one. Thanks.

JabaliHunter, I see your point. I guess it's all about knowing the range. RaySendero, my perspective was one rifle to replace the other in case of failure and being capable of reaching way out there for long range shots as well as for close range dangerous game. I chose the .375 and .416 as they would closely resemble each other for both tasks. I know where you're coming from though as the traditional best two gun battery would be a medium bore and a large bore. However, as JabaliHunter stated, if you know the trajectory of the big gun, it doesn't really matter.

Thanks,

jfm

quote:

Originally posted by RaySendero:

quote:

Best Two Rifle Battery?

How can a rifle and an an almost idenical back-up rifle be the BEST 2 gun battery?

Am I missing something here?

Depends on if one wants 2 guns each with a specialized task, or if one wants redundancy in case of Bwana Murphy tagging along.

In the past 3 months I have had two things happen for the first time in over 35 yrs of hunting-- A Leupold scope fell apart and the safety lever on a new M 70 brokein two inside the bolt- I am seriously into redundancy now esp on expensive trips at this point.

Bwana Murphy has FRIENDS

SSR

quote:

Originally posted by cable68:
Depends on if one wants 2 guns each with a specialized task, or if one wants redundancy in case of Bwana Murphy tagging along.

Well...I'm not advocating 2 real specialized rifles with no useful over-lap. While, I do see some posible need for a back-up scope (my 9,3 has broken 2 over the yrs), I just didn't get the same/similar rifle idea. Seems if every that could go wrong DID - You could borrow (or rent) a back-up in a pinch.

quote:

Originally posted by AZWriter
My favorite is the .338 Win Mag and .416 Rem.

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:

quote:

Originally posted by China Fleet Sailor:
I agree with AZ writer that a .338 and a .416 are good choices.

A .338 punches way above its weight; it's a real killer and it just hammers plains game.

I still want to take 2 416s one with 1x4 and one with 3x9 matched pair like the old doubles. Lots of redundency. May just have to figure out how to avoid RSA.

SSR

"I'm with you guys" [Delmar, "Brother Where Art Thou?"]

The 338 WM is a 'sleeper', available in inexpensive, accurate rifles, and capable of cleanly taking everything in the right hands with proper bullets. I done so (but don't do elephant), and match the 338 with a 416 Rigby handloaded to its potential. A devasting duo where legal.

But this year my son and I are doing two 416 Rigbys with 350 grain loaded to 2800fps. (They're only 5-6" low at 300 yards, which should be flat enough for anyone.)
If we had a third rifle between the two of us we would like a 'light 500' like the 500MDM or else a Rigby re-barreled as 500 Mbogo. Donations are accepted.

For someone starting out from scratch on a budget, without a previous stock of cases, dies, and rounds, I would recommend looking real hard at the 416 Ruger Alaskan. That's about as much bang for the buck as there is out there. It basically handloads to the 416 Rem specs, and weighs in at just under 9 lbs, scoped.

For scopes, we like Nikon Monarch 2-8 with its good eye-relief (4.0--3.8"). For double the money one can get a Bushnell 1.25-8 with 5" eyerelief.