I have an isatiable craving for a CZ 550 in .404 which at the moment I have no need for. In the event of an African Safari with a mixed bag of Plains game and either some or all of the Big 5, would it be a good choice for a one gun Safari?

I took a 416 Rigby (similar ballistics) to Namibia last year, and took an Elephant, Hippo, all the way down to a Klipspringer with it.

Biebs, was this in the Caprivi?

If you can do an entire safari with a .375, as many have done over the years, you can do it with a .404. And, yanno, there would be something very, very satisfying about doing so. Have to give it some thought . . .

quote:

Biebs, was this in the Caprivi?

Bill, yes it was. I was doing the Caprivi (Sobbe Tribal area) with Karl Stumpfe for 10 days, then spent 2 weeks down at a Plains Game conservancy further south. I didn't want to lug a bunch of rifles around, and found the Rigby did it all with "aplomb" !

The 404 Jeffery would be an excellent choice.
A 400gr bullet at @2150fps is an excellent killer with low recoil.

I would not be afraid to hunt Jurassic Park with one.
I would prefer a 450/400 double[same ballistics], just because I like doubles, but for a Bolt Rifle a 404 is Excellent IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by pacecars:
In the event of an African Safari with a mixed bag of Plains game and either some or all of the Big 5, would it be a good choice for a one gun Safari?

pacecars,

The 404 Jeffery would be a great choice for PG/DG rifle. I used my 404 Jeffery last December to take 2 Buffalo, Zebra, Impala, Grants, etc..I load mine at 2400 fps, very effective.

I plan on using it for Elephant in the future.

quote:

Grants, etc.

Grant's?? The Massailand? I'm jealous!!! :-(

I have used my .404 Jeff twice as my one gun battery in Zimbabwe and have taken everything from grysbok to elephant with it! Buy the CZ and enjoy it!

I think the new CZ option with the integral peep site is the cat's meow on a big bore.

Bill, yes it was. I was doing the Caprivi (Sobbe Tribal area) with Karl Stumpfe for 10 days ...

Dang it Biebs, you're living MY dream ...

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I would prefer a 450/400 double[same ballistics], just because I like doubles, but for a Bolt Rifle a 404 is Excellent IMHO.

That actually might be a great battery: 450/400 double for the close work, 404 bolt for longer. As you said, same ballistics. Best part is they are the same round, different numbers. That should mean you could bring both to countries that only allow one rifle of a given caliber!

Cole

That makes to much sense-- go back and rethink.





I know its true, but which countries in Africa dont allow you 2 rifles in the same caliber?

Can it be planned around?

SSR

I've got .458's, a .450 N.E., .375's, .416's, 9.3x62's and 74's, but I think the .404 Jeffery (at least for a bolt rifle) is the cat's meow.

Lots of folks think of the .375 H&H as the best all around cartridge, but I like the Jeffery better. I've found that Hornady ammunition at 2300 fps does quite well on buffalo (DGX) and elephant (DGS). I just use solids for the little stuff like bait impala. Kills them dead with no meat damage.

I like the extra "umph" of a .423 inch bullet at 400 grains (vice a .375 of 300 grains) on stuff that can bite or stomp you. The sectional density of the 400 grain .423 bullet is significantly better than that of the 300 grain .375 and at factory velocities (2300 for the former and 2500 for the latter) the Jeffery at 4700 ft. lbs v. 4139 ft. lbs for the H&H is a lot more of a DG round. JMHO, though.

I've taken it on several one gun safaris and find that to 200 yards, a velocity of 2300 fps at the muzzle causes no great problem in killing stuff.

I'm taking my .404 Jeffery to Zim tomorrow and back to the Selous in August. It is accurate, weighs less than 8.5 lbs with scope and is a joy to shoot.

Works for me.

quote:

I'm taking my .404 Jeffery to Zim tomorrow and back to the Selous in August. It is accurate, weighs less than 8.5 lbs with scope and is a joy to shoot.

Have fun Ernest!

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Cole

That makes to much sense-- go back and rethink.





I know its true, but which countries in Africa dont allow you 2 rifles in the same caliber?

Can it be planned around?

SSR

Thanks! As to the 2 rifles of the same calibre ban, South Africa is the only one I know of. It does not make any sense to me, but nobody asked my opinion :-)

Shikari would know more than me, thats for sure.

404 jeffery .423 dia bullet
450-400 .408-.412 dia bullet
the bore diameter is not the same so there should be no problem with this combo

I have done RSA plainsgame hunts then hopped a flight to Tanzania and done DG hunts with the 404 Jefferys on several ocassions, and on another couple of visits I did the same with a .416 Remington and found both of them very suitable for all game from Duiker to Buffalo. I don't care to haul a bunch of guns through that many airports and overnight stays etc. One gun makes it much more convienent.

BTW I have done the same with the 9.3x62 and the 375 H&H, they all worked just fine...I'm not particularly caliber conscious, more into proper bullet construction and bullet placement.

BTW, contrary to popular beleif the Tanzania regs clearly state that the "375 H&H and the 9.3x62 Mauser" are legal DG calibers...I read those regs just the other day and was surprised as so many times the .375 has been quoted as the minimum on these blogs, and so many PHs have quoted the 375 as minumum. Good news for the 9.3x62 fans, of which I am one..All this time I thought I was stealing watermelons!

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaCole:

quote:

Originally posted by Cross L:
Cole

That makes to much sense-- go back and rethink.





I know its true, but which countries in Africa dont allow you 2 rifles in the same caliber?

Can it be planned around?

SSR

Thanks! As to the 2 rifles of the same calibre ban, South Africa is the only one I know of. It does not make any sense to me, but nobody asked my opinion :-)

Shikari would know more than me, thats for sure.

I cant argue with buearocrats, but my idea of a perfect back-up rifle is a matching one- same idea as the old matched pairs of doubles. Anything goes wrong you can mix and match-and just one Caliber of ammo.

Ah well if life made sense we wouldnt have politicians

SSR

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
I think the new CZ option with the integral peep site is the cat's meow on a big bore.

Wink, can you give a link for that? I looked on the CZ website and couldn't find it. I think it's a great idea!