Hello,

I am thinking about taking a hunting trip to Africa in about 4yrs. Can you please recommend a caliber for all dangerous game that is good for a beginning reloader and also a rifle platform to get?

Thank you.

375 H&H

If you are not a traditionalist, then a Blaser R93 simplifies things because there is no gunsmithing work needed.

If you are a traditionalist, then a pre-64 Winchester, or a custom Mauser-based .375. Look here at some of my favorite magnum mauser work: www.rbbigbores.com and http://www.johannsen-jagd.de/

by then the 375 ruger would be an option too but in a smaller action but we need to know more...

pricerange?
back up rifle?
how recoil sensative are you?
modern or traditionalist as meistro 500 has stated?
double rifle or bolt rifle?
specific game?
how heavy of a rifle can you carry around for miles without being too burdensome?
range? (hopefully under 50 yards)
sights?
ect...

this will help a lot with answers and you will probably change your mind 10 times before you go. it will probably take a year before you can gain the experience and make the best decision for you. this is a verrrry important decision cuzz you will probably cherish the rifle and memories your whole life. we just want to to make the right decision first time around good luck and dont be afraid to not know all the answers right away.

if parameters permit i say 404 jeffery as a classic!

CZ 550magnum, in 375 HH or 458 lott.. load down to get started.. reloading is a must for bigbore shooting

jeffe

500 grains has been there and done that and his post must be considered as worthy of consideration.

That said, you'll do well to listen to a lot of folks on these forums as there are many that can talk from experience rather than monday morning quarterbacking.

I've not hunted DG so will reserve my opinion but ask you do a lot of walking and talking on AR and get a feel for the opinions of many.

The only suggestion I'll make is that whatever you use you get it a couple years in advance and do a lot of practicing with it as shot placement is far more important than what caliber you're using and that requires practice.

Buy a CZ 375. Put a good scope on it. Buy basic reloading equipment. Then stop spending money on guns and save it for your African trip.

375H& Sako. Very nice rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by mrpants:
Hello,

I am thinking about taking a hunting trip to Africa in about 4yrs. Can you please recommend a caliber for all dangerous game that is good for a beginning reloader and also a rifle platform to get? Thank you.

375 H&H in a pre-64 M 70 Win., an M77 Ruger, or a CZ. A Dakota or a Kimber if you can afford one........ IMO, MUST be a CRF action for dangerous game! I realize there are some people willing to trust a Remington. Not me!

Now here's a GOOD ONE at a reasonable price!!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=53599569

Depending upon your toleration for recoil you should strongly consider the .375 H&H, or larger calibers if you have tried them and understand how to manage recoil. The .375 is a great cartridge for the bigger spectrum of African adventure. Use a rifle that fits you and points well, it should feel natural to you. Shoot as frequently as your schedule permits and by all means become or continue reloading. Choose bullets that match your quarry, and place them well. That is all it takes!

Thank you to all who have posted advice. I am working on a budget now but plan to buy a good quality rifle such as the CZ550 or maybe a Sako if I can afford it.

My requirements are a hard hitting caliber in a bolt action with open sights that will work effectively against dangerous game such as cats and buffalo. I have my plains game rifle already sorted out. If .375H&H is the caliber to learn on I will get one and practice shooting it every week. I enjoy heavy recoil and shoot a 375RUM and a 45-70 almost weekly.

You might find yourself handicapped with iron sights. There are many situations where a scope can be very beneficial.

there is less recoil in the 375 H+H compared to the 375 rum. if you like recoil than jeffe's suggestion of the lott might fit yer bill and you can use your 45-70 bullets for plinking practice.

so within reason possible bolt cals

375 H+H
416 rigby
416 rem
404 jeffery
458 lott
460 weatherby
470 capstick
500a2
550 magnum

out of those the 416 rigby, 404 jeffery and 458 lott win the goldilocks nod (not to hot not too cold) and all are factory cz rifles!

since you already shoot a 458 diameter the 458 lot wins the practical nod and has the best cheapest bullet selection. ammo in africa wont be a problem because of popularity.

good luck!

Based upon your comments I would recommend a Ruger M77 MkII RSM or if you want to "save" some money a CZ550 either chambered for the 458 Lott.

The average hunter can't handle the recoil of a 458 lott. Shot placement always trumps power, and a 375 in the right place trumps a 458 in the wrong spot.

Barring physical impairment, any adult can handle a 375 H&H and totally ignore the recoil.

I'd say to a serious rifleman, a 416 is a better choice, but if you have to ask about calibers on the internet, you aren't a serious rifleman.

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/battery_1125/

for the lott, this says it all...

load down to 45-70 levels which he already is accustomed to and move up to win mag and then mule kicking hunting loads...

500Grains

I cannot beleive you just recommended a Blaser R93. Have you come out of the closet.
Aleko needs to see this.
Finally, it is about time. :thumb

mrpants
Take a hard look at the Blaser R 93 in 375 H&H.
You can also get a lesser calibre bbl to practice with, and if you master the 375 you can go to the 416 Rem Mag.
The Blaser r 93 is my bolt rifle of choice.

i was a little shocked too but i think his point is entry level rifles usualy need to be slicked up, sometimes reinforced or hardened, examined by a good smith for potential problems ect ect rugers excluded



458 lott pictured above mr pants "she's a beauuuuuty! (in my best crockodile hunter voice)

450NEno2,

Actually I tire of typing all the gunsmithing modifications that an Interarms Mark X or Winchester Model 70 needs to be DG ready, and I admit it is much easier to just type "blaser" and move on.

grains...cut and paste...or better yet program yer keyboard to do it at the touch of a button

How about if I type it one more time, and you cut and paste it for me once a month when the topic comes up?

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
How about if I type it one more time, and you cut and paste it for me once a month when the topic comes up?

Maybe BS can do a search and find it and cut/paste from there?

i remember you posted it once for me on what to do to a c.z.

maybe it can have its own section on the homepage between the forum and the a.r. store

we'll call it "best of 500 grains" all the best 500 grains posts and repeats. we will make it required reading for all new a.r. pledges

in fact we could have a "best of" from quite a few here...call it a.r. 101. its where you get indoctrinated into art of the rifle, bullet and practices. and "topics to avoid" should be manditory as well. newbies will be forced to read the longest threads on "gamekings", "crf vs pushfeed", "d.g and the 45-70" and the "r.n. vs flat nose"

Look closely at what 500grains is saying.
Ane he is [used to be?? ] a Mauser kind of guy.

If you buy a Blaser you do not have to do ANYTHING to it.

It will feed, extract, and eject.
The trigger needs no work.

The scope mounts will fit, and will not shear off. They are "square" so your scope will not run out of adjustment.
You can take the scope on and off and NOT change your zero.

The rifle will be accurate, plenty enough for hunting.

The stock will not split or break. Their wood stocks do great durring several days of heavy rain in a row. [I have proven that one myself].

As a bonus the rifle takes down, and follow up shots are nearly as fast as a full auto.

Give one a try.

Paul,
if we can talk our new friend into reloading, the lott can start off as a capgun and work up ?!?!?!!!!!!

if not, the 375 is his choice.

jeffe

Hey guys this may sound a little naive, but what's wrong with one of these in 458win? I have one and recoil is not bad at all.

Paul H,

I assume your post was directed at me, at least partly so anyway. I will ask you why you would recommend a 375 H&H to an individual who already professes to own a 375 RUM? That is why I recommended the Lott, coupled with the reasons Jeffeosso mentioned.

I didn't claim to own a .375 RUM, it is owned by a friend but I do shoot it nearly every weekend. Couldn't afford to shoot it as much as we do but he reloads for it and is helping me get my own reloading setup put together.

I have a Marlin 45-70 but am looking for a flatter shooting caliber. Sounds like .375 H&H will fit my bill perfectly.

I am very interested in the CZ 550 American. A lot of you are mentioning having a gunsmith work on a factory rifle and something about "CRF." I think it means controlled round feeding but please explain. Also is the CZ not Africa ready? If not what stock factory guns are recommended for dangerous hunting? Thanks! You guys have been a big help.

What is your current rifle experience? For most hunters, a .375h&h for sure. A M70, Ruger RSM or CZ in that order. If you are not a seasoned big bore shooter, you will not like the .458Lott. A .416 will kick less than the Lott but again, not a beginners round. I think anyone can learn to handle a .375h&h well & while I wouldn't call it a "stopper" it will handle DG well w/ good bullets in the right place. It is easy to handload for w/ 220gr bullets for practice & 260gr to 350gr to handle a pretty broad spectrum of game animals.

quote:

Hey guys this may sound a little naive, but what's wrong with one of these in 458win? I have one and recoil is not bad at all.

Nothing is wrong with a Ruger #1 in 458 until...



And dangerous game hunting is not the place for a single shot... IMO.

mrpants,

My bad, I misread your post. I stand corrected. Perhaps a 375 is your best option then.

Second-hand ZKK 602 in .375H&H. I had two, these things are AKMs of sporting rifle world.