A lot of us have more than one dangerous game rifle, based on hindsight what caliber would you choose to use in Africa if you were starting from scratch? You only get one rifle to use the rest of your hunting days - what caliber would you pick?

For example, I have used a 375H&H and a 416 Rigby. If I could only have one rifle I would keep my 416 Rigby.

No doubt about it. I would keep my tried, true and trusty six shot (five down in the magazine and one in the chamber) .458 Lott.

I'm reading this to say an all-purpose heavy game rifle to also include use on DG... Under these circumstances it would be my M77 RSM in .375 H&H hands-down...

If I misinterpreted this question and it was to mean only for DG, then I'd not hesitate to use my M77 in .458 Win.

While having worked on an made numerous DGR's over the years, I am now building the first one for myself. My Africa-rifle is built on a very nice M98, worked all over with a win70 safety, custom tuned original trigger, a rather slim 22" barrel in a beautiful piece of walnut.
The caliber is 10,75x68, four rounds in the magazine, with todays powders and bullets easily giving a 400grs 2150f/s and a 350grs at 2300f/s.

This is the ballistics that made the .404Jeffery and .450-400NE famous.

Only a 4000f/p gun, I know, but I believe in shot placement and accurate follow-ups, and that is my recoil level for such.

Forty is enough gun.

jim

for now my 700 nitro is my go to rifle.

.416 Rigby....

416 remington with 400 grain solids.

I would have to go with my 416 Rigby over my 375H&H.

I've never hunted dangerous game (love these public forumns, eh?) but if I did it would definitely be with a .475" caliber. A 500g A-Frame going 2500 fps would be about as close to comnfortable as I can imagine.

375 h&h or 9.3x62mm for me.

A hypothetical answer to a hypothetical question.

If I were new to Dangerous game hunting and had fired no large calibre rifle previously, I would confine my trial to both .375 H&H & .416 Rigby and happily accept whichever I was most comfortable with.

In reality I would take the Rigby every time, but this takes nothing away from the .375 which would be a great runner up.

Nothing like sitting on the fence as the question sought one rifle only, but this would still be my thoughts

I'd go with my 375 H&H and take my 10.75x68 along too!

.416 Rigby with .458 lott second.

.375 H&H for me. .416 kicks too much.

MHC_TX

I would go with a .416 Rigby.

Solid punch with a reasonably flat trajectory.

Regards,
Dave

.416 Dakota.

.470 NE DR for Buf and El ... .416 Rigby for others. Got lucky and bought the right stuff.

Ah,Ladies.. hate to bust up this tea party with some BBQ!!!

...
for all around DGR and plains game
470 mbogo

for serious shite
550 express

the same, as a PH, in the jesse
550 flanged

all around knock about rifle?
376 steyr

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
based on hindsight what caliber would you choose to use in Africa if you were starting from scratch?

A Searcy .470 NE PH model and a Reimer Johannsen .375 H&H or 9.3 x 62 takedown double square bridge Mauser with integral mounts, iron sights and all the bells and whistles. The Johannsen rifle would be for PG and for backup in case the PH drives the truck over my double. The double would be for DG.

Of the ones I have (.375H&H and a .470 Capstick), I'd pick the .375H&H.

Of the chamberings I don't have, a .458 Win. Mag. would be my choice.

George

Guess I'd vote for the 416 rigby, but everybody ought to have 2 or 3 375's.

My .416 Rigby built by Sterling Davenport!

I would go with the 470 Mbogo. It has great versatility and hits with authourity. With the awesome bullets that are available today most of the 40's work like bigger bore rifles but the really big ones, well they just do it.
Take good care
Dave

Since this is actually a reality w/ folks living in the new RSA, I would go w/ a .42 caliber. I like my .404jeffery, but a .416Rem. or .416 Rigby would be just as good. If I was a practicing PH in RSA, you only get one rifle choice, it would be the .416Rem. I can make brass from .375h&h & there are many good .416 bullets available for Impala to Elephant.

Predictably, I am going to "third" the 470 Mbogo as my "go to" DGC (dangerous game cartridge). Party because I have one, and it is packaged in the best DGR (dg rifle) that I own, but mostly because it is nice to shoot and it really thumps!! As a result I have incredible confidence in it.

It may not be the most "practical" cartridge (ie. not a factory chambering), but I don't think anyone can dispute its performance.

Cheers,
Canuck

I would pick the following:
1 416 Rem Mag (M70)
2 416 Rigby (CZ)
3 375 H&H (M70, CZ, Whitworth in that order)
4 9.3X62 (better still 64 if I had one)

.416 Rigby

458 Lott

I second the Lott. 404Jeff on a standard length Mauser would be nice too.

This would be difficult. I guess the 470
Capstick. With the 375 or 458 WM close seconds.

I like most cartridges over .400, but like everyone else I have my favorites.

In doubles I like the 450/400 3", and the 450NE 3 1/4", or No2! In bolt, and single shots I like best of all the 458 LOTT, but a close second is the 404NE. and 416 Rem. If I were going to use a wildcat, then it might just be the 470 Capstick!

My Edwinson Green & Sons 450 No2 double rifle.

I will skip ahead here and say for all other African Game to back up my 450 No2 I choose my [scoped] 9,3x74R Chapuis double rifle.

Only one rifle! Horrors! The only way you will get my 465 double, 375H&H or 458 Lott is to pry them from my dying hands!

465H&H

Thats a tough one..I like the 40 calibers best..I shoot a 404 and a 416 most of the time, but one of the only guns I have never sold is my Mauser in 375 H&H...I can shoot a 2" group at 100 off hand or nealing most of the time with it...then I wouldn't part with my .470 Searcy, its so bloody accurate..I am near finished with my walk about Tanzania rifle, its a 10.75x68 and duplicates the original 404 spects...weighs about 7 pounds and recoil is about like a .375, I think I will really like it and Horneber makes brass now and I have a stock of it, so we'll see, but I'm a gun whore and never have been known to keep any rifle long with the exception or a very few...

I've got 10 Doubles over .40 caliber and three bolt rifles but I will pick my 450 3 1/4 Westley Richards as the one to pick up and go to town with.

Or maybe the .577 2 3/4 750 grain Hollis.

One or the other, I think.

I am near finished with my walk about Tanzania rifle, its a 10.75x68 and duplicates the original 404 spects...weighs about 7 pounds and recoil is about like a .375, I think I will really like it and Horneber makes brass now and I have a stock of it, so we'll see

Ray,

please do post pics of the .423 once its completed, i've been trying to post some pics through photobucket.com the past 2 days but nuthins happenin...damn page just doesnt show up

Regards,

Zubin

Never having been to Africa. However, I have hunted Alaska for over 10 seasons. I have an arsenal of Medium bores and a few Big Bores (416 Rem Mag, 375 Wea Mag and 375 H&H). If I had to pick only one I would go with the 375 Weatherby Mag in my Sako Forester which I shoot well and very comfortable with. I believe the confidence factor and experience level with a particular firearm weighs out, after a minimum caliber for the proposed game is selected.
My .02 for what it is worth.

I would go with my 416 Rem Mag. A friend shot a cape buffalo with the 416 Rem, with one shot.

No doubt about it: my stainless steel Model 70 in .375HH with factory plastic stock and 20 inch barrel, all metal parts spray painted flat black, XS aperture sight on the receiver and a hooded ramp out front, with light nylon QD sling and elastic ammo carrier on the buttstock. Its a simple, utterly reliable, dead on accurate, handy, magnificently balanced, and nearly indestructible -- though soulless -- utility tool. Which is what I would need.