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If you could take only one rifle to Africa to use strictly on dangerous game (big 5 or 6) what would you choose? I've been thinking about my 2009 Cape Buffalo hunt and I thought I already decided on the .416 Taylor but I'm beginning to think that I should buy the CZ550 in .505 Gibbs - so I think I will. Make mine the .505. Namibiahunter  . | ||
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Any of the .416's would be great. If you want something that is easy to put together you may wish to consider the .458 Lott. The lott is chambered in rifles by both CZ and Ruger that are fairly inexpensive and readily available and it is easy to find components to load the Lott. A 500 grain .458 bullet loaded to 2150 fps in the Lott will do all you need to do. If you want a real step up in power (and recoil), you can get a .500 Jeffery or a .505 Gibbs from CZ. I chose the .500 Jeffery just because I don't think the Gibbs is a good fit in the CZ action and the Jeffery is so easy to load for. I know that there are others who feel differently but the Gibbs is a massive cartridge and I think if you want to have a Gibbs you need an action with a larger bolt face than the CZ like a Granite Mountain or a perhaps a Heym as well as a bigger magazine box. Dave Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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So far my African rifle has been a 375. I have taken buffalo, lion, hippo, croc, and several leopards. I guess the next one for me is ele. I may be under gunned with the 375, if I step up it would be to the 416, but I may just go with the 375, have not decided yet. | |||
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...stick with your first inclination, and go with the .416Taylor. I've shot five buffalo, and five elephant using the Taylor. 400gr bullets @ 2385fps, both SP/FMJ (Trophy Bonded bullets) Let your PH carry the stopper, if needed. | |||
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If I were you I would shoot a 505 before I bought one! The only easy day is yesterday! | |||
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The .375. | |||
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I have shot buf with a 375 and X bullets, a 458 Lott with an X bullet, and ele with the Lott also , and another ele and buf with a 450#2... I prefer standard cartidges and not wildcats. and also available ammo also..If your ammmo is lost can you get replacement ammo??? If not all you have in an expensive club... If I was going to build a stopper rifle a 500 Jeffery all the way... But one also has to be able to take the punishment of a big rifle..The Lott with a full power load maybe all you can handle... I would recommend you try one before going and building one... Mike | |||
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I guess my post was too nebulus. I was asking what the rest of you would take if you had to take only one DGR. I've shot the .505 Gibbs and I like it better than the .460 Wby that I shot on the same day. I've been aware, at first hand, of Newton's Law. I probably will get the .505 Gibbs based on some of the prior posts of some of the experienced and learned that I've read here. I have the .375 H&H. My .416 Taylor is still being built. I've shot the Lott and would have bought one but I think the .505 would be what would please me personally. Thanks for looking out for my shoulder, Namibiahunter . | |||
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I have not shot or even handled one, but I think some who got the CZ 505 had feeding problems. You might ask on the Big Bores board. Perhaps it was an early problem and was fixed, or maybe I have remembered incorrectly. ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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Tsibindi - you didn't reveal your most recent acquistion. If you did, you'd be really injection some doubt into the decision.  | |||
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My one rifle has been a 9.3x62 but I would recommend the following four. 375H&H with 300 and 350grn bullets. 416Taylor 416Rem 404Jef All set with a 1-4 or 1.5-6 Schmidt&Bender Magnum Scope. | |||
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Namibiahunter: Sounds like you are committed to the .505 Gibbs. It is indeed a dandy cartridge. However, if you are getting a Gibbs, I would encourage you to explore other options other than a CZ such as a Heym or maybe have one built up for you. If you look on the big bore threads you will see a thread about the Montana "Pro-Hunter" action which should become available next spring. Ed Hubbel says that it will have a .805 inch bolt face and a four inch magazine. I have never seen or handled a Heym bolt rifle but my friend has a Heym double and I can tell you it is very high quality. I would be willing to bet that you would find their bolt rifle to be just the ticket for your .505. If you are thinking about something less expensive, take a long look at that Montana PH. They will put together an action for you for about $850. Dave Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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I'm going over in '09 as well. It'll be a .375 and a .505 Gibbs. Ele to Klip's is on the docket. BTW, for me the CZ Gibbs is much easier on the shoulder than a .460WBY, and I like the .50" hole it makes a lot! Now I'm trying to decide if I go with heavy for caliber on the .375, or go lighter... | |||
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Well, the CZ 505 is still the cheapest way to get a Gibbs and I hear they are selling like hot cakes. ------------------------------- Will Stewart / Once you've been amongst them, there is no such thing as too much gun. --------------------------------------- and, God Bless John Wayne. NRA Benefactor Member, GOA, N.A.G.R. _________________________ "Elephant and Elephant Guns" $99 shipped “Hunting Africa's Dangerous Game" $20 shipped. red.dirt.elephant@gmail.com _________________________ Hoping to wind up where elephant hunters go. | |||
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Dangerous game species are as follows:- elephant,cape buffalo,black rhino, lion, leopard, hippo, and crocodile. The .500 caliber bullet design is "too tough" for lion and leopard being designed for thick-skin game. A croc requires precision from different shooting positions which recoil of the .500's may limit. May favourite DGR is the .500 Schuler Jumbo. However, bottom line only one would be a .416 Rigby. The .416 allows scope use (with less fear of getting hit in the face anyway), versatile bullet choices, and a step-up in power over the .375. | |||
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BWANNA: You have a PM | |||
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Bill, you are right! I am a huge CZ fan and the CZ is indeed the "cheapest" way to go. I'm am just not sure it is a good choice in the .505. Now that they make a .500 Jeffery which WILL work with their bolt face and their magazine, I think the .500 would be a better choice in a CZ. If I was going to go with the .505 (I'm not), I would put my order in for one of those Montana Pro-Hunter actions. I'll bet by next spring, they will be putting out barreled actions in that caliber. Dave Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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I should have read more posts about the CZ .505. I didn't realize that there has been problems with the feeding. Dave, thanks on the heads up on the .500 Jeff. That might be the way to go. I have one P17 rifle being converted to .416 Taylor. I'm going to buy another one on Tuesday and have it converted to something (I don't know what yet). I want a .50+ and the CZ is the cheapest way to go. What I meant to do with the original posting was to find out what DGR you all would take if you could take only one to Africa and use it only for dangerous game. Namibiahunter . | |||
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Namibiahunter, I sent you a pm. Dave Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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namibiahunter, If there was a chance of hunting ALL dangerous game on one safari and I could take only one rifle I'd bring a 375 with some solids and softs. I think a scoped 375 is far more appropriate for everything than a much heavier caliber. Of course ideally for people that can shoot them an open sighted 458 or larger combined with a scoped 375 might just be perfect if leopards to elephant were on the menu. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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I'm with Mark on this one. One gun equals a 375 H&H. "There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark | |||
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Any rifle from 9.3 up as long as you can start with the rifle down and on safe and hit a 6 inch circle every time twice at 50 yards in 10 seconds and can hit a pie plate every time at 100 off the sticks.  Remember all modern cartridges with good bullets work well the important thing is the human element.If you own a gun and you are not a member of the NRA and other pro 2nd amendment organizations then YOU are part of the problem. | |||
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Of the rifles I have: Dakota Model 76 Safari in .375 H&H (first choice) Heym Magnum Express in .416 Rigby (second choice) A rifle I want: An Empire in .416 Rigby Paul Smith SCI Life Member NRA Life Member DSC Member Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club DRSS I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas" "A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck | |||
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Buli, you forgot to mention that the .416 Rigby also offers LOW PRESSURES which may be its' greatest asset  Dave Dave DRSS Chapuis 9.3X74 Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL Krieghoff 500/.416 NE Krieghoff 500 NE "Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer" "If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition). | |||
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If your only taking one, better punch out that Taylor to a 416 Rem. Most PHs have access to .416 Rem ammo...its not that big a deal to open a magazine and rechamber.. If I were taking one gun it would definately be a standard caliber with the ease of finding ammo, and that about limits one to a .375, 416 Rem or .458 in most African countries. Sometimes your ammo and rifles get seperated, in fact quit often, and even standard ammo can be hard to find... Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Hey Ray: You were the one that recommended that I turn my P17 into something bigger than a .416, into something like a .505 Gibbs - and that started me thinking, maybe I should. Anyway, I'm still having that .416 built and I'm buying another P17 tomorrow. The only reason I was thinking about the .505 Gibbs in the CZ was because I wouldn't have to have it custom made and maybe it'll be a bit cheaper (under $3000). I'm trying to learn from you guys what you would take as a one DGR for African dangerous game. Never mind that I made an uneducated choice. BTW, when I do my buff hunt in 2009 I'll be taking the big something gun and the .375 H&H so it won't really be a one gun DG hunt. Namibiahunter . | |||
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easy question...460 weatherby..but have at least 200 min rounds practice fired (factory rounds)before you go.. | |||
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Thanks Dave. Good point | |||
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The only DG that may merit anything larger than the .375 are elephant, buffalo and hippo (not while in water, but when stalked up close on land), and possibly rhino as well, although by all accounts rhino are not that tough to put down. But the .375 will work just fine on elephant, buffalo and hippo, too, as long as the hunter does his part. Still, speaking for myself only, I would like to have at least a .458 Lott along for that kind of work. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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