I am looking forward to another Buffalo hunt in acouple of years. I inhereted both a Krieghoff 470 double and a Rugar 416 rigby from my brother. I know that both will work, hell my 375 H&H did fine on my first Buff, but I am curious as to how these compare. In the end I'll shoot them both and pick the one that I shoot best, but any input is welcome.

Thanks
TerryR

damn...i would go with the Krieghoff 470 just to be different...

this will answer your question


http://www.krieghoff.com/pages/downloads/Duckworth470NitroSafMag.pdf

If you will be hunting open country, then the bolt gun with a scope may serve you better.

But personally, and this is just me, if I cannot get close enough to a buff to use iron sights, then the buffalo is at a sufficient distance that the 'dangerous' part of dangerous game is no longer applicable.

If I owned a double 470NE there is NO other gun that I would hunt with for Cape buff. It may not be the best choice out of every caliber on earth, but its a damn fine choice!

I sure do like the sounds of the double rifle.

Too me the choice would depend on what I wanted out of the buffalo hunt. If I was in Masailand looking for a Roland Watd big boy, I would chose the scope sighted 416. The big boy may be too far or on the other side of a cow herd and reguire a difficult shot. The scoped bolt rifle would be a definite advantage here. If I was hunting the thick jess of Zimbabwe and was just looking for any good hard bossed bull the 470 double would get the nod.

46H&H

I would take both and let one of the trackers carry one. That way you are prepared either way, plus it is always prudent to have a backup rifle.

Any of them (.375, .416, .470) will crumple a buff with a properly placed shot.

The .416 Rigby gives you more versatility in terms of the variety of game and distances it can handle.

An iron-sighted .470 is much more limited for general hunting, but the one I'd want in a pinch on charging buff.

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
I am looking forward to another Buffalo hunt in acouple of years. I inhereted both a Krieghoff 470 double and a Rugar 416 rigby from my brother. I know that both will work, hell my 375 H&H did fine on my first Buff, but I am curious as to how these compare. In the end I'll shoot them both and pick the one that I shoot best, but any input is welcome.

Thanks
TerryR

Well take the Krieghoff DR in 500/416 N.E.!

I am interested in this rifle, too...

I go along with MHC_TX. Since I now have both a double .500 NE and a .416 Rigby, I will have a tracker carry the Rigby on my next trip.

Consider it. I don't know if you were thinking this or not but if you are concerned about not having a 'plainsgame' rifle, think about loading 370 gr. North Fork bullets with H4831SC in the Rigby at 2500 + fps. It will shoot plenty flat and dead is dead. The bullet works for buff and anything else, but it will exit.

Yes, they are similar in caliber but I feel like one is a sledgehammer, the other is a 5lb. mallet. Both are hard hitters; one just hits harder.

Good luck with your "dilemma".

Cheers,

Sam

For buff and elephant the 470 double would be my pick.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
For buff and elephant the 470 double would be my pick.

I agree! The 470 would be my pick for Buffalo hunting, as well. In fact, almost any double would be my pick for hunting Buffalo. I'd have JJ install some QD scope mounts on the 470,if it doesn't already have them, and carry a small scope already zeroed in, in a belt pouch, in case a really complex shot was needed. I'd take the 375 H&H for my back-up rifle, and leave it in the Bakki, till needed. The scope would negate the need for the tracker to carry the other rifle, and there would be no chance of getting the wrong ammo, in the excitement.

sell the wife, kids and house then bring both the 416 and 470. shoot one buff with each.

Clem
You a genius

TerryR

Last week I nailed a Buff in the Zambezi Jesse with my 470NE, but I think a scoped 416, 404 or 450/400 is a much better option for a first shot at buffalo most of the time, no mater what range is. My PH cringed when the open sighted double came out, saying that more f ups occur with this set up than any other. He soon found that I could use it well, thanks to about 100 rounds of use.
Many oportunities were lost not having a scope, many times there were three Dagga Boys in thick Jesse Bush at less than twenty meters, but it takes time with Bino's to work them out, to much time with shifting winds.
BUTT.. if you get familiar with shooting a O,S Double and dont mind missing a few oportunities,then open sighted Doubles can be great fun and a joy to carry, providing no more than 11.5LBS, Also they feel good when you bump into a angry Lyon or Ele.
Cheers,
Adam C.