I have read numrous times in the past that the .375 H&H magnum is the golden standard for African all-around use. I just read Boddington's "Safari Rifles II" which states the same thing as per the professional hunters interviewed. I, however, am beginning to think that the .416 calibers or perhaps the .458 Lott may be the better all-around calibers/cartridges as they can be loaded with lighter bullets at faster speeds and can still be loaded with traditional weight projectiles for heavy work. Is this flawed thinking on my part or do many of you feel the same on this matter? I did say all-around AFRICAN use, not world-wide use. For world-wide use, I guess the .375 H&H may be the answer but for strictly African use.......?

It's flawed thinking if you're thinking of using significantly different bullet weights for different species.

If you go on safari as a client, are you going to have multiple scope or rifles zeroed for different bullets? How can you be sure you have the correct combination in hand when you have to shoot at a Kafue lechwe at 325 yds. or when you have to shoot an elephant at 10yds.?

You can make a case for the .416 Remington, .416 Rigby, et al. being a 'better all-around' cartridge, but the .416s and .458s are generally beyond the recoil threshold of most shooters.

George

If I was looking for that all-around cartrige for a hunter (not PH backing) I would prefer the 416 Taylor, using Barnes X's and solids shooting to near same point of impact.

I would agree that just about any rifle can be made to work over several different levels of game, but I don't think any of them are quite as versitile as the old 1912 three/ six bits!

It is my opinion that the 375H&H is not only the best "all around" cartridge for Africa but for the one rifle man who hunts the WORLD! I own and have owned several 375 H&H rifles in many types, and I could live quite nicely with two rifles chambered for the two 375 cartridges the 375 H&H, in bolt or singleshot and the 375fl Mag in a 10 pound S/S double rifle, for everything from coyote to elephant if need be!

.............Just saying!

the rifle your comfortable with and can shoot accurately in a caliber you can handle. no body else's opinions matter if you can't shoot what you carry

At whatever your recoil tolerance level, you can almost always make a lighter rifle in a 375 than a 416.

I think, perhaps for the first time here; we have consensus.
The Holland 375 belted magnum has lost nothing to the new ones.

Add a big bore Double and you are in business.

Rich
DRSS
and a 375H&H

.375 H&H

300 gr softs & solids loaded to ~ 2500 fps to impact the same point of aim.

Go get'm!!! Anything!

My 416 rigby has less recoil issues to me than my 375 H&H. The Rigby weighs considerably more than my 375, the 375 is stainless with synthetic stock,,I know that is probably a sin to some but I bought it to use in all weather, climates, and conditions, bounce around in the jeep, 4 wheeler, etc. I am just not recoil sensitive like many folks,so i like the 416 and 458, but,,,,,, if I only had one choice of caliber to use around the world,, 375 H&H mag would be my pick, 300 gn Barnes x bullets, would do the trick on mosts, with solida and softs available for certain game.

.375 H&H

Best all round rifle and caliber, Blaser R93 in .416 Remington.

416 Rem if you do not mind the recoil. 375 H&H is hard to beat and I always take one. But for buff and ele a 416 is a tad better.

Never had a Blaser so make mine a Mod 70

BigB

On a safari where you might be hunting duikers to buffalo it would be hard to beat a 375 of some variety with softs and solids. It is also a great rifle caliber for heavy NA game and has served me well on both continents. The 375 has killed many ele's but I think if targeting elephant specifically perhaps the 416 or larger would serve the pupose better.

Mark

Used in 416 Rigby on a month safari in Namibia this past May...Elephant and Hippo down to Kudu and Steenbok. Not saying it's the best, but it worked well.

Does the .416 Remington magnum really have the pressure problems I've heard about or is this a similar example like the .458 Winchester magnum, as in, earlier loadings had problems but newer ones have none. If there are truly no problems with the .$16 RM, I believe it could replace the .375 H&H as the African all-around caliber/cartridge. I realize the recoil issue may be a problem as I used to own a .416 RM and sold it due to that very issue. I may have jumped the gun though as I never really tried to work around the issue by experimenting with different stocks, mercury recoil reducing devices, etc. Anyway, I'm inclined to retry the .416 calibers and wanted opinions from you all.

Thanks again,

jfm

There should be no pressure problems with the .416 Rem. Mag. when properly and sanely loaded ammo is used. And it is possible to get 2,400 fps out of a 400 grain bullet with such ammo.

I understand (I read it somewhere) that some early lots of Remington-made ammo were too hot and did give pressure problems in some rifles.

But that was over twenty years ago and to my knowledge is a thing of the past.

I have had pressure problems with some old lots of Remington ammo in .375 caliber. Poor QC or live and learn? Who knows?

BTW, in answer to your question, my vote for best all around would go to a .416 of one stripe or another, and for practicality's sake, probably the .416 Rem. Mag.

Where are the guides, PH's and outfitter marketing guys?

The 375 is the best all around something. They wouldn't use one but for the unsuspecting and unknowing client-dude, the 375 is just dandy.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Used in 416 Rigby on a month safari in Namibia this past May...Elephant and Hippo down to Kudu and Steenbok. Not saying it's the best, but it worked well.

So why'd you sell it.

Best all around caliber, 375 H&H. It will kill anything that walks on this planet. It can be made light enough for an ordinary man, or woman, to carry all day and not kick the snot out of you. It shoots flat enough to shoot small game out to 300 yards. Its manageable recoil instills enough confidence in the average shooter to take the big stuff up close. I think you 416 guys bringing elephant in to the equation have moved the scale up a notch. Yes, the 416's are better on the big stuff, but I think they loose out on the bottom end of the scale. If elephant only were on the menu, I would take my 450 Rigby, but I would not feel under gunned with my 375.

Dave

in my humble opinion the 375 H&H is by far the most versatile weapon available for use in Africa. I cant comment on the rest of the world but most clients have said it works well anywhere on any game. As mark said it might be a little light for Elephants specifically but overall I would recomend it over any other weapon.

9.3x64B

I'm very surprised that I am the first to suggest the great 9.3 x 74R.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleDon:
I'm very surprised that I am the first to suggest the great 9.3 x 74R.

i will second you on that donald

peter

Best all round includeing the big 5. The 416 rem. Shoots as flat as the 375 but hits a lot harder. if not counting the big 5 30-06.

JD

John Taylor chose the 375 in either the rimmed or belted versions as the best all around calibers for African as well as world wide hunting. Things haven't changed since 1948 and the 375 Holland still rules the roost!

465H&H

I'd say 375 H&H as well; but do sometimes wonder if we'd be saying 9.3x62 or x64 if Germany had fared better in WWI?

.416Rem or other .416s, will do anything a .375 will, but do it better. I own both.

If I can have but a single rifle --- the 375 holland and holland is the one to have.

What are the opinions on the .375 RUM?

One rifle, one planet, Holland's 375

Just my personal opinion because with minimal practice just about any adult can carry and shoot it. No recoil reducers, etc.

It would be a difficult choice, if I were leaving for DG/Plains combo to walk past my CZ (6-shots!) 375 H&H. But, I might grab my 416 Rigby. It would come down to whether the focus is DG or PG.

There would be no wrong answer, but a man will need more practice if he goes with the Rigby.

Rich

Have to be my 404j.
Loaded with 400 grain softs and Hydro's.

Whatever caliber you choose, make sure you get to know it very well.

My own personal choice is a 375/404. Which several of us have been using for a number of years. Shooting several hundreds of game animals in the process.

These range from duikers to elephants.
Distances are from a few yards to over 500 yards.

If one does his bit, the rifle delivers the goods.

Saeed

If there was no legal requirement for 375 and dangerouse game would the 375/404 still be your choice or maybe 30/404 or 338/404?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
Saeed

If there was no legal requirement for 375 and dangerouse game would the 375/404 still be your choice or maybe 30/404 or 338/404?

I have all of these calibers.

I think it would depend on what I am hunting specifically.

If buffalo are the main game animal, I would stick with the 375/404.

If I was mainly interested in plains game, and shoot a couple of buffalo as well, I would be happy to stick with the 30/404.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:


If buffalo are the main game animal, I would stick with the 375/404.

If I was mainly interested in plains game, and shoot a couple of buffalo as well, I would be happy to stick with the 30/404.

That is more or less saying that the 300 Wby or 300 RUM would be the best all round calibre for the vast majority of shooters going to Africa.

JD advised the .416 Remington magnum is as flat shooting as the .375 H&H magnum but hits harder. I've not seen that it is any flatter shooting as I've always gotten @ 2400 fps from the 400 grain bullets out of the .416 RM and @ 2600 fps with the 300 grain bullets from the .375 H&H magnum. Th .375 was the flatter shooting cartridge by far. The .416 definitely hit harder though. This is one of the reasons why I am asking about the versatility of the larger calibers. Long rang capability is an important factoe to me as well as power.

Thanks,

jfm

quote:

Originally posted by jfm:
JD advised the .416 Remington magnum is as flat shooting as the .375 H&H magnum but hits harder. I've not seen that it is any flatter shooting as I've always gotten @ 2400 fps from the 400 grain bullets out of the .416 RM and @ 2600 fps with the 300 grain bullets from the .375 H&H magnum. Th .375 was the flatter shooting cartridge by far. The .416 definitely hit harder though. This is one of the reasons why I am asking about the versatility of the larger calibers. Long rang capability is an important factoe to me as well as power.

Thanks,

jfm

In my rifle I always load for best accuracy with the chosen bullet give or take a few fps.
I shoot 350 gr barnes tsx in 416, and 270 gr barnes tsx in the 375. Both loads were near max, both were 1/2 moa loads. The 416 did shoot flater pass 250 yards, at 300 there was about a 2 " advantage to the 416. It may have been some differance in the reticals of the scopes .
The 375 was a 10 power mil dot, the 416 was a true post with a fine cross hair. Both rifles were sighted in at 200. Every thing I shot with the 375 pass 300 was lower than the shots made with the 416.I shot several animals with each rifle pass 300 yrds the 416 held up better to the range card.
That was my experience your milage may vary.
JD

If you require 375 trajectory out of a 416 Remington, you might consider a 350 GR Barnes TSX @ 2600 FPS. It will still hit a bit harder than a 300 in a 375 H&H.
I am shooting 370 NF's in my 416 with excellent accuracy @ 2525 FPS. This load flattens out my 416 a tad and delivers a solid punch as well. The NF does not have as good a BC as the Barnes TSX for longer shots.

416 Rigby, My Dakota 76 African loves a 410 grain bullet @ 2550!