I have decided I want to simply my life and sell a bunch of rifles, (among them two .375's and a .458) and replace them with a Blaser R8 Success, with three barrels.

The first two barrels (6.5x55 & .338 win mag) have already been ordered and cover everything but the African safaris.

Now here is where my indescision sets in; I have used a .375 H&H for a lot of my hunting, including everyday deer and pigs, as well as safaris and other hunts abroad. I like it very much. However, the .338 win mag I feel will replace it just fine for normal big game.

In the African countries the most common legal minimum allowed is .375 cal or energy equivalent thereof, which means I need a safari barrel.

The calibers available in the R8 are .375 H&H - .416 rem mag - .458 win mag & .458 Lott. (not interested in .505)

Now, I still own a .375 u/o double with a scope, and a .500/465 double, so I don't "need" another big bore, I just want one to use as a scoped rifle.

So a .375 would do fine, but I feel like it is too close to the .338 and some part of me thinks I should put some gap between the rifles I own. The .416 is kind neither here nor there for me. I owned one, and gave it to a friend. Scoped, it's nice to shoot , but not as nice as the .375, and doesn't carry the authority of the .458's.

I traded my .458 Lott for the .458 win (the Lott was a CZ, the win mag is a Belgian Mauser) I currently own and will sell/trade in, but I do like the .458, however as scoped rifles I feel they are a bit much.

So I'm feeling like it should either be the .458 Lott, or the .375 H&H, but I can't make up m mind...

The 416 Rem.

It's a natural choice to pair up with a 338.

Plus you want it scoped, and don't want the recoil to be matched with a 458.

You're right; the 375 is too close to the 338.

The 416 Rem.

I know I am a broken record but this is TRUE:

With G S Custom, North Fork or CEB bullets at 410
grains, a .458 bullet at 2200 FPS will have plenty
of penetration on any African D.G. The science behind
these new bullets is detailed in michael458's book
length thread. That said, I vote for a .458 Win. Mag.
as your caliber choice; it's recoil will be like a 416
Caliber using 400-410 grain weight bullet.

I don't care what other rifles I have, I can't live without my 375 H&H.

I'd go with a .416 Rem. Mag. Personal prejudice yes, but I can make a case for it.

First, as you said, the .375 is a bit too close to the .338, another calibre I love. The .416 is a significant step up.

Second, the .416 Remington is a reliable cartridge and recoil is very manageable -- I base that on a lot of experience. It's my go-to favorite. Of course, that's the chambering of my favorite rifle that I use for everything. It has worked for everything from elephant to duiker across the pond to whitetail deer to turkey over here. A good quality 400 grain bullet (Swift A Frame, Nosler, TBBC, or Solids by Woodleigh, Nosler, Hornaday, etc.) won't do you wrong.

It's accurate and sighted in dead on at 100 yards, it's 6 inches low at 200 and about 21 inches low at 300.

My "can't live without" rifle is a .416.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
I'd go with a .416 Rem. Mag. Personal prejudice yes, but I can make a case for it.

First, as you said, the .375 is a bit too close to the .338, another calibre I love. The .416 is a significant step up.

Second, the .416 Remington is a reliable cartridge and recoil is very manageable -- I base that on a lot of experience. It's my go-to favorite. Of course, that's the chambering of my favorite rifle that I use for everything. It has worked for everything from elephant to duiker across the pond to whitetail deer to turkey over here. A good quality 400 grain bullet (Swift A Frame, Nosler, TBBC, or Solids by Woodleigh, Nosler, Hornaday, etc.) won't do you wrong.

It's accurate and sighted in dead on at 100 yards, it's 6 inches low at 200 and about 21 inches low at 300.

My "can't live without" rifle is a .416.

+1 except mine is a 416 B&M

Another vote for the .416 Rem barrel. I have one and also have the .458 Lott barrel. The .416 will do anything that you want it to.!

First off let me congratulate you on your very good decision to go with a Blaser R8!!

While I personally don't like the .416 anything, in your case with the other two barrels a done deal, would have to agree with others here, go with the .416.

My three barrels are .270 Win, 30-06 and 9.3 X 62. I won't hunt Elephant and have taken 4 Buff now with the 9.3 x 62 so these work for me. It's a lot easier as you know to stick with either ALL standard cartridges or ALL magnum cartridges in an R8 as it eliminates additional changes to the set up.

Good luck with your final choice.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
R8 Blaser

Well, I suppose that I would recommend the 458Lott, given the choices.

The 416Rem is a great second choice, but it is limited in overall energy compared to the Lott.

the 338WM is a great all-around cartridge for everything except legal minimum DG in most African countries.

Since you have the big bore double, I would go with the 416 for the R8. Also just for discussion, I would pick for my R8 a 308, 300Win Mag, 375 H&H, and 416.

I don't have an R8, but I do have the R93. I have barrels in 22 lr, 223, 308, 300Win, and 375 H&H. Above 375 I go to a 405 Win, or to a 400 or a 450 No2 Double.

I also have a 28ga barrel for the R93 as well. I have found it most useful.

No Doubt 416 Rem.

338WM and 375H&H are really not that far apart.

I've got the R8 in a numbe of configurations including 338, 375,416,&500j.

Hands down the 416 is the way to go. It's become my plains game african rifle and DG back up all in one!!!!

Nick

quote:

338WM and 375H&H are really not that far apart.

Yes, they are like the 270 and 30-06, only they are a rung higher up..

If it wasn't to late to switch the order, I think the 6.5, .375, and 458 Lott would be the ultimate combo for anything anywhere. That being said, I would probably have to go with the consensus on the .416 with your current setup.

416!

Given all the nice rifles you own I would say that this is a good problem to have.

Express, I did pretty much what you described a couple years ago. I have a Savanna Brown R8 Pro with the steel receiver and Kick-ease, with barrels in 458 Lott, 375 H&H, 300 Win Mag, and 243 Match. Later, to lighten up the rifle when using calibers below 375, I bought a regular-weight Savanna Pro with the alloy receiver and no Kick-Stop. I just used that rifle in Alaska for Moose. Both of mine have safari barrel channels, so I use Safari, Semi-Weight, and Match barrels in them, although you could just as easily use a less-expensive regular contour barrel. With the fitted die-cut travel case, it's been on a number of hunts already.

I vote for the popular 416 rem. mag.

I just use my 500 Jeffery for everything, the elk don't run far.

I would go the 416Rem. The 458win is not a flat shooting cartridge and if you need a longer shot the 416 will do the trick. The lott would but at the cost of recoil.

Trade out the .338 for a .375, and go with the .458 WIN.

I'd go with the .458 Lott as you can also shoot .458WM cartridges with it.

quote:

Originally posted by D R Hunter:
I know I am a broken record but this is TRUE:

With G S Custom, North Fork or CEB bullets at 410
grains, a .458 bullet at 2200 FPS will have plenty
of penetration on any African D.G. The science behind
these new bullets is detailed in michael458's book
length thread. That said, I vote for a .458 Win. Mag.
as your caliber choice; it's recoil will be like a 416
Caliber using 400-410 grain weight bullet.

This is sound advice and I couldn't agree more

quote:

I have decided I want to simply my life and sell a bunch of rifles, and replace them with a Blaser R8

Prayers sent....

quote:

Prayers sent....

Jorge, no prayers needed. With a new R8 on the way, it is apparent that God has already spoken to him :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

Prayers sent....

Jorge, no prayers needed. With a new R8 on the way, it is apparent that God has already spoken to him :-)

Jon, You must hare read the mis-translation of the old testament - the original said God shoots a Mauser , not a Blaser.

Phil you need to read Genesis..."Man shalt not spew his seed upon the ground". He was referring to non-Blaser shooters. In modern times, they're referred to as "Wankers" :-)

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Phil you need to read Genesis..."Man shalt not spew his seed upon the ground". He was referring to non-Blaser shooters. In modern times, they're referred to as "Wankers" :-)

As long as the wankers back you up and do the deed for you :-)

Mike

quote:

As long as the wankers back you up and do the deed for you :-)

As this...from the Grand Rajah of Wankers!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

As long as the wankers back you up and do the deed for you :-)

As this...from the Grand Rajah of Wankers!!!!!

Grand Wanker Rajah with a $699 ruger and $400 leopold (thanks to ar member).

Just doing my wanker bit to make sure Biebs and his $10k blaser closed the deal on the moose. Was it the hunt number 4 Biebs that the cast forged $699 mauser copy discontinued ruger closed

Mike

Yes, you killed a lot of Black Spruce with that rifle :-)

quote:

Originally posted by tanks:
I'd go with the .458 Lott as you can also shoot .458WM cartridges with it.

+1