Would you use a 416 Rigby or a 458 WinMag for lion? I can shoot either one equally so I don't need the usual answer of which ever one you shoot best. Have heard rumors that the 416 is ideal for lion.

What else is on your list of animals ?
IF shooting buff for bait mostly then then 458 but if some plainsgame the extra range will come in handy either or they will both do the job just fine, I think.

I'd shoot the Rigby with a 370 gr NorthFork soft. That thing really opens!

Shoot the .416 Rigby. The higher velocity of 2400 fps and a bullet designed for thin skin dangerous game will give you better performance on lion.

Buliwyf

Thanks for your responces! I am leaning towards the 416 with Northforks. My motive here is if I'm going to take a certain rifle then it is that rifle I will do work to and practice with. New scope, slick up the action, new bolt handle, chop the barrel, etc. Can't afford to work on both rifles if I'm going to shoot a lion. They are spendy.

With my vast experience of hunting lions (so far I haven´t been able to afford it -but it does sound catchy!) I´d choose the .416 Rigby. A PH I met said that in his opinion a .338 WM was the caliber of choice.

The .416 for the flatter trajectory which should make it more functional for other critters as well.

I'm not a huge fan of 416's but I gotta say that this seems to be their niche.

JPK

If I where ever to go to Africa for Lion I would take my .416 Rigby over my .458 lott so Rigby it is.................although with a woodleigh 500 gr soft out of the lott I would feel I was well armed for lion as well.

Without question or hesitation, the .416.

John

I have shot two lions with a 458 using Federal 350 grain soft points and one lion using 375 H and H 300 grain Swift A Frame - no personal 416 experience.

Frankly, they all acted about the same after being shot. Do not discount the 458. I would be quite confident with this caliber for lion.

the 416 Rigby, of course...


Robert Ruark

My experience is with big bears and not lions but I would agree with the comment made by Craig Boddington when he stated that a 500gr 458 bullet @ 2100fps hits lions with more authority than a 400gr 416 bullet @ 2350fps and that has been true since 1912.

Finn Aagaard certainly agreed as well.

Still, the 416 is a world standard and superb big game round.

In practical terms, it doesn't matter. Both are probably equally effective.

he 458 has less recoli than the 416 using the same weight bullets (50 vs 58ftlbs with 400gn).

mike

IMO, the caliber is not the important question to be asked.
If I were to hunt Lion again the same way as last time {Tracking sometimes for ten + hours , twenty + KM's in 40deg C heat.}
I would use the lightest best "off hand " balanced Rifle with 42mm scope from 9.3 on up to 458 cal.
My Blaser R93 ATTACHE was great for this use.
ozhunter

I don't understand why the .416 is said to be better for "long range."

Handload the .458 with 400 grain bullets, sight it and a .416 Remington in at 150 yards, and they'll be within 3" of one another at 300 yards.

And the .458 makes a bigger hole in the lion.

400 or 450 grn Premium bullet out of your .458 Win Mag gets my vote.

Not that I think that the 416 is wrong.

It's just a matter of IF your ammo does not make it to AFRICA but your rifle does.

I am told that .458 win mag ammo can usually be obtained over there without TOO many hurdles.

[and .375 H&H ammo is the easiest to get within AFRICA]

416 ammo may well be harder to get.

If you are taking a .375 H&H or .375 Weatherby [which readily shoots the H&H ammo] as a second rifle, them I would pick the 416 over the .458WM.

I have zero experience, I am just thinking there is more to it than "which is the better caliber".

They both kill dead and both need to be well aimed.

Pegleg,

I think the reality is that the lion won't know the difference as Will basically stated. Either caliber is fine at normal safari ranges. If you are hunting with only one rifle for everything and there is a possibility of a longer shot the 416 is probably the best choice over the 458. If you are taking a lighter "plains game" rifle it makes no difference which caliber you use for the lion.

Mark

375 H&H = 300 gr @ 2550fps, the 416 is .042" larger and throws a 400 grain bullet at 2350fps and the 458 Win is .042" larger still and throws a 500gr bullet 2100fps. (yes modern loads will do that)
do the math and pick your poison. They all work.
The bottom line is that the nut behind the butt makes the most difference.