I posted this question on the African Big Game forum and got some great advise. What I need to know now is how to get one. It would appear that I would be best suited with a 416 caliber, based upon the responses I have gotten thus far.

I have shot a 358 Norma magnum once, can anyone give me a comparison between a 416 and the 358 Norma? What 416 cartridge & rifle combination would be best? Should I go custom, and if so with who, or should I get a factory rifle?

I should say that I am not too aweful fond of recoil.

Thanks,
RM

The 416 will have signifigantly more effect on your shoulder then a 358 Norma, not quite double the recoil, but signifigantly more.

The least exspensive route is a CZ 550 416 Rigby, though ammunition is exspensive. That said, you have to handload to make shooting any 416 economical, and there really isn't much difference in price between the various rounds.

This isn't meant as an insult, but it sounds like you don't know enough about a big bore to be specing out a custom. Get a factory 416, shoot it, and find out what you do and don't like about it, then you'll know what type of custom you want.

Try a few calibers like the 416, 375 and see which one you are the most comfortable with..If both kick too much then try a 9.3x62 or 338.....

If you hunt with my companies, they, to the man would prefer you show up with the rifle that you can shoot accurately than with one that kicks the snot out of you and your afraid of it...Shoot the largest caliber that you can shoot well.....

The 358 norma can be a bear. If it was light and didnt fit you. The 375 HH is the threshold, so to speak. I find the 416 rem to be easy enough to master, and the 416 rigby, loaded up, to be brutal. I can NOT accuratly shoot a 577 from "all" positions, though i can use it for "minute of buffalo"... and my little 500 stills scares the crap out of me.. I figure it's my threshold

my advice? buy a CZ550 in 375 hh, load it up and down, and try it out. You are out ~700, including dies and brass, and you can get your 600 back if you hate it.

jeffe
also recoil shy

Jeffe,

How are the trolls gonna find stuff to disagree with you about if you insist on giving such good advice?

Good Hunting,

Good advice here. Recoil as perceived by the shooter will vary signifcantly between different rifles, even the same caliber, due to stock design. Find a way to shoot one of the CZ 416 Rigby rifles.

If you know yourself to be recoil shy though, you may be better off getting something lighter like a 9.3x62 or 375 that you can shoot well.

Todd

RogueMoon Try and find someone with a 416 Remington or 416 Rigby who reloads, and have him load some 400gr. bullets at 2125fps to 2175fps. Shoot them off hand at 25 yards. Shoot a 375, also off hand at 25 yards, and see what you think about the recoil. Then you can make your decision. Which ever caliber you get you must learn to reload so you can load some reduced recoil loads for practice. this way you can acclimate your self to more recoil a little at a time. I recommend that you do not shoot a big bore off the bench untill you have worked up to full power loads and shot a hundred or two [over a couple of months] off hand. I did this with my wife and she took second place in Rusty's double rifle shoot. She has no problem with the recoil of the 450/400 in a 9 1/4lb. rifle. If these "trial" rifles have scopes make sure they do not hit you in the head. Many people do not mount the scope far enough foward on heavy kickers.

Ditto on the CZ550 in 375.

They are plenty heavy for a 375, and can be a baseline for whether it is too much or not enough gun. Shooting them alot also increases your psychological tolerance for recoil.

Good luck.

Will

Grab a cz in .375 and load some speer 235 gr bullets with the starting load to begin with and go and blast some rabbits. Beleive me you will love this rifle, then load some 270 gr bullets and blast a few more rabbits, finally you will have worked your way up to the 300 gr loads and will be practiced up for your major hunt

As usual I agree with PC. Get the CZ 550 in 375, if you hate it you can still sell it for almost what you paid for it and recoil is by no means punishing. I have CZ safari mags in both 375 H&H and 416 Rigby. I'd personally prefer the added power of the Rigby, but the 375 will still do the job.
Good luck
Andy

RogueMoon,

The .358 Norma Mag is enough to hunt in EU or in North America, you can compare it to .375 H&H regarding velocity and bullet weight used. Working pressure is high 10000 cup more than .416 Rem and 2000 PSI more than .375 H&H.

In the US nearly only custom rifles are availble in .358 norma Mag.

For me the .416 rem is more versatile and easy to find in the US.

:
I posted this question on the African Big Game forum and got some great advise. What I need to know now is how to get one. It would appear that I would be best suited with a 416 caliber, based upon the responses I have gotten thus far.

I have shot a 358 Norma magnum once, can anyone give me a comparison between a 416 and the 358 Norma? What 416 cartridge & rifle combination would be best? Should I go custom, and if so with who, or should I get a factory rifle?

I should say that I am not too aweful fond of recoil.

Thanks,
RM[/QUOTE]