I was surprised nobody until recently mentioned a .5 caliber. I would take my Gibbs .505. I use Woodleighs, TSX, two types of solids and Northfork cups depending on whether PG or DG. It groups 3" off sticks to 300 yds and with the scope is great for low light also. Fun to shoot! I note that Duckworths, Robertson, and Oosthuizen use it for their rifles apart from of course Percival. While not the same caliber but same case (.505) necked down I use it for .375 AM and Snipetac. Both superb. If their was a caliber that would be he last to leave my safe it would be the Gibbs.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
376 steyr<br />416 rem/rig/tay<br />500 jeffe

wow, what i have learned in 15 years -- 458 lott if it was one caliber

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
I was surprised nobody until recently mentioned a .5 caliber.

.... i suggested the 500 jeffe in '03 ....

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
I was surprised nobody until recently mentioned a .5 caliber.

.... i suggested the 500 jeffe in '03 ....

Absolutely, 500 Jeffery, they don't get up ...

.458 Win, will do anything, anywhere

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
I was surprised nobody until recently mentioned a .5 caliber.

.... i suggested the 500 jeffe in '03 ....

quote:

Absolutely, 500 Jeffery, they don't get up ...

I wonder if I'll feel the same way about the 500 AccRel after they re-open local hunting in TZ?
So far, off the bench and on paper it is similar to a 416Rigby at 62kft#.

as the external ballistics of the 500 accrel and jeffe can be indistinguishable, (heh, by design) and i've hunted a bit with both ... well, yeah, ,they do the job!

Apologize Jeffosso missed your third choice of .500. Agree great caliber!

quote:

Originally posted by Gustavo:
.458 Win, will do anything, anywhere

100%

A .416 Rem. Mag will do it all. I've taken a duiker and an elephant with mine on consecutive days, which shows its versatility. Great buffalo rifle and in a pinch, it's taken all manner of plains game, including Grant's, impala, kongoni, etc. Not to mention any number of whitetails in South Texas and a turkey. If limited to one rifle, that would be it.

375 H&H
450-400 3 inch

416 Rem Mag or any of the 416's for that matter.

Cheers,
Mark.

375 Ruger 2700 with the 300 gn partition or 3000 fps with the 260 partition or accubond...would be hard to beat

quote:

Originally posted by Mike375:
Jim,<br /><br />I am classing 375 bore size as big bore..in line with this forum.<br /><br />Actually I think the 375 RUM is a better choice than the H&H and for a couple of reasons. Firstly if you get a "270 Win or 300 Magnum" type feeling come over you then the 375 RUM will do the 3000 f/s from 270 grains and down. Secondly, it will duplicate the 375 H&H ballistics in cruise mode and with all sorts of powders and loads.<br /><br />Mike<br /> <br /> <small>[ 03-20-2003, 00:18: Message edited by: Mike375 ]</small>

I have to agree. For the sake of convenience here in SA and slightly easier action choices I say 375 Weatherby Magnum. I'd use 270gr through 350gr.

If a different bore diameter for a 2nd choice I guess 9.3x64, but that would assume not much big game.

If big game were a frequent hunt then the .460 Weatherby, the original, or the rip off .450 Rigby Rimless. A 350 or 400gr bullet will work fine for longer shooting.

I never had any problem taking enything from coyotes to cape buffalo with a 375 H&H with 300 gr soft or solid at ranges out to 300 yds or a little longer!

I could live with a good double rifle chambered for 375 FL Mag with the same bullets.

Would I rather have a larger caliber for the big boys? Yes but, I think the only place that is necessary is for elephant.

....................................................................

Mike375, I have used a .375 cal. for all of my hunting since the early 1980's. I used an H&H until March of 1990. Since then, my only hunting rifle has been a .375 AI. If I were to choose a different route, I'd go with a .338 Win. Mag. memtb

I would also go with the 416 Remington. With a 2nd of 458 Winchester. #3 would be a 400 Whelan.
If starting from ground zero I would just go with the 400 Whelan. The other honourable mention is the 416 Taylor.
With today's modern optics and a reasonably accurate rifle . Even a 500 gr bullet from the 458 is fine for at least 300 y/m. With the 416 Rem with a 1-6×24 Vortex Razor HD ll . The range could be pushed out toward 500 with the 350 gr TTSXBT. Which puts it up into the intermediate range. Granted heavy and dangerous game doesn't get shot at other than close to point blank range. But the longer range capabilities are nice for meat hunting.

However, since a good friend just got a 416 Taylor finishing reamer , and I've got guages and Lee still has some 416 Taylor dies . A Taylor is probably my next large medium bore.
Nice thing about the Taylor is it's very easy to down load to 4k ft lb . even with an 18" barrel.