The spectrum is always interesting and why.

.375 and larger?

I have two .375 custom based on Gibbs .505 cases. Mostly for long range plains, mule deer, antelope. Use 350gr SMK.

.45-70 SIACE double. Really sweet and ligt. Can take anything at a pinch. Loaded with +P at about 2100 fps with 405 gr soft or Punch solids. Latter goes length of a wildebeest. Can take, but not recommended, buff, lion, elephant.

Gibbs .505. Fantastic , also all rounder. Groups 1” at 100 y with TSX. For more open grassland and late afternoon with light gathering scope. Great for impala to buffalo but I ve not hunted elephant.

NE .577. Up close buffalo, with red dot, Dokter, use TSX at about 2100. CEB non con and solids, groups 2” at 100 y. I believe the penetration is better than the .600.

I also take often a 30-378 WBY for plains with TSX. Instant drops.

Buffalo, and elephant:

.416 Taylor: 2380fps, 400gr Jack Carter's original TBBC/TBSH
TBBC for five buffalo, and TBSH and Speer AGS for six ele's

.450 Rigby: 2300fps, 500gr TBSH one ele.

.458WM: 2185fps, 500gr TBSH, and Speer AGS four buffalo; nine ele.

.505Gibbs: 2150fps, 600gr Woodleigh FMJ four ele.

Although I've killed more ele with the .458WM, I believe the .416 Taylor is the best "All-round" African cartridge because it is more suited for DG, and plains game.

Worked for me...

I've only killed 3 buffalo and one elephant.

I use a Winchester Safari Express in .416 Rem Mag.

I usually shoot 400 gr. Swift A-frames or 400 gr Barnes Solids.

Only DG rifle I will probably ever own (or need).

BH63

Haven't been to Africa yet,

CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery 570g TSXs or A-Frames and Barnes Banded Solids

Hope to get there someday

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
two .375 custom based on Gibbs .505 cases. 350gr SMK.

I have used the 350 SMK from a 375RUM but only used them on paper. What sort of results (animal and bullet) do you get?

LR3, what's the 577?

Started out with a scoped 375 and scoped 416 Rigby. Pulled the scope off the Rigby prior to taking my 1st buffalo and it's stayed off ever since.

Hunted Africa with the 375 numerous times as my light rifle, pairing with the 416 and later a 500 NE and later still, a 577 NE double rifle.

Getting into double rifles a bit further, my African battery these days is a removable scoped 9.3x74R double paired with an open sighted 500 NE.

From time to time the light rifle has been swapped out for a 300 H&H Ruger No. 1 or a 340 Wby Mag.


Bullets used have been about 90% TSX or Barnes Banded solids. Switched solids to the CEB and Northfork last time over. Used the CEB Raptors in the 9.3 to take a Zim lion in 2012. Took a buffalo withe the Safari Raptor in 577 NE on the same trip. No complaints about any of the bullets used.

.375 h&h Whitworth until I buy a double.

3 -.375's
3 - .416's
1- .458 Lott
1- 450 NE
1- .470 NE
1- .500 MDM

7-458 Lotts
1-458WM
1-500NE
1-450NE
To gain experience and to hunt Africa.

VC 600NE CEB with 900grain solids on ele. Can’t say there was any problem with adequate penetration.
VC 375 Flanged Magnum with CEB Non Cons on leopard. Complete destruction of heart, lungs, great vessels.

Roy B. The SMK 350 at 2900 to 3300 fps make neat entry holes and usually 4-5 inch exit holes on plains, mulies, and elk although last year on an elk I shot in the shoulder it did not exit but was under the skin. Only bullet I ve retrieved. Being frangible it maybe an issue and it could pencil but I ve not seen that. Very accurate but not normally recommended for hunting but based on others experience of success I tried it and I ve not had a failure. I once saw Craig Boddington used them on buffalo but I d worry about penetration if you hit a rib or shoulder bone.

Biebs, I bought one of Aaron Neilson s two VC NE .577. I believe it once belonged to CCMDoc, and its good to see you posting again Sir. It’s the one with the buffalo engraving if that info is correct. Love it! With a leather pad rubber boot (it was a little short for me) and good fit I can test out 20 rounds at a time off shooting sticks. I ve shot a number of buffalo now with it apart from plains. The 750 TSX have never exited and form a nice petal with sometimes loss of a petal. Solids CEB always have exited except one frontal shot through the chest and into abdomen did not. Never found in gut pile or cavity.

CCMDoc, I ve always been intrigued by the higher velocity VC longer .375. Would you recommend buying barrels for the .577 or a completely new double?

I mtaking the .577 again for two buff next year in Zim and Klasrie, the 30-378 for plains, and the 45-70 for my son on longer hikes along the Klaserie river. For baddies that jump out of the reeds. I ll carry the .577 in a back pack hip holster.

LR3- Thanks for the info on the SMK. Those velocities are more than I have loaded- 2850 being what I have pretty much settled on, and at the distances I'd expect any shots (300-600 yds) the velocity would be significantly less. but I may give it a try on something that if the bullet doesn't perform well, would still put the animal down.

Two .375 H&H’s....that will likely “never” see Africa!

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
Would you recommend buying barrels for the .577 or a completely new double?

So glad that you are making that 577 sing great successes.
I’d go with a new double made to fit. The 375 on a smaller frame is so light and lively you’ll want to use it for everything short of giant game. The double and the round is simply a sweetheart.
Looking forward to reading of your next adventure.

Great thanks so much for the advice CCMDoc!

Ps. If I may ask, what bullet are you using and what speed are you getting. I think I ll call Kebco for some pricing. I would think regulated to 300-350 gr TSX with a small scope? As you know usually solids will also regulate well if done well for a soft but would be interested if you ve found that?

375 H&H CZ550
458 Lott CZ550
470 NE Merkel 140

The 375 and 470 have chased two buffalo on my one trip over. Planning to send the 458 to AHR for an upgrade and maybe chase some tuskless in the next few years.

quote:

Originally posted by LR3:
Ps. If I may ask, what bullet are you using and what speed are you getting. I think I ll call Kebco for some pricing. I would think regulated to 300-350 gr TSX with a small scope? As you know usually solids will also regulate well if done well for a soft but would be interested if you ve found that?

I’ll try to go through my records with load data and chrono results later and get that to you

Winchester 70 in .470 Capstick
Ruger 77 in 458wm


Both guns shooting 500 grain Barnes solids or softs at 2150fps.

A left handed Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H and a left handed Zastava M70 in 458 Win Mag.

I've taken one buffalo with the 375 H&H using the 300 grain TSX and 300 grain banded solids, along with a lot of plains game.

The 458 Win Mag hasn't been to Africa, yet.

Custom AHR 375 H&H with 300 gr Northfork SS and FPS at about 2450 fps(2 weeks out for Coutada 9). My first trip I used a upgraded AHR CZ 550 375 with Northfork SS and Cup Point Solid's and they worked great. Killed everything from Buffalo to Klipsgringer. This time I chose the Flat points so as not to rip up some of the little antelope as bad, the cup point's leave a mark.

AHR modified 375 H&H. Used it on elephant and buffalo on down to duiker.

African armory:
Had my first-ever trip to Africa this spring. Hunted Namibia with the amazingly popular Blaser R8 in 9.6x62
I have waiting in the wings for the next trip; two 470 N.E guns, one a Searcy, the other a Merkel. Also as options, a custom 404 Jeffery, a .425 express, and a pre-64 model 70 in .375
I am a bit of a sucker for the big-bores, so I also use a 577-500#2, and have a greener 10 bore that I am struggling to find enough brass for to use properly. The options are endless, I just need a life!

Sorry, fat fingers! That blaser was a 9.3x62

Currently in the “Africa” rack...

(2) .375 H&H
(2) .378 Weatherby
(2) .416 Rigby
(1) .416 Weatherby
(1) .404 Jeffery
(1) .458 Win Mag
(1) .458 Lott
(1) .460 Weatherby
(1) .470 Capstick
(1) .510-505 Gibbs
(1) .500 A-Square
(1) .550 Magnum

I’ve had more, including a .500 NE, but these are the exceptional shooters I’ve found and kept over the years or had built for me. No boxed ammo for any of them. Each has 100 handloads of what it likes best, solids and expanding.

Bullet weights and speeds are par for the course, pretty much. I don’t feel a need to push anything too hard just to say I did.

404 Jeffery
425 Westley Richards
416 Taylor
2 416 Rigby’s
2 375 H&H
375 Ruger
458 Win
458 Lott
450 Rigby
470 NE
505 Gibbs
585 Hubel Express

1 .375 H&H
1 .416 Rem Mag
1 .416 Rigby
1 .470 NE.

Don't need that many, but can't get rid of any either. Maybe I will get an English .500 NE at some point, but that is more a it would be neat than any need.

Winchester M70 Custom Safari Classic in 416RM
Verny Carron 450NE
And a new to me custom Ruger RSM 416Rigby on its way to me....

Gone are Sako 375H&H
Remington 798 458WM

Cheers,
Mark.

375H&H
400H&H
458 Lott
450NE

My 585 Hubel A-Square has yet to make it over there.

My Africa guns,six trips so far,Tuskless,Buff,various plainsgame,

DR's
470 NE Heym
458 Lott Brno Stopper
500/416 Krieghoff
450-400 Heym
375 H&H Brno

Bolt,
Dakota African 338 Lapua

Lever,
475 Turnbull

Several other guns in my safe,I have a variety of wildcats in Lever actions,next trip over? it will be a Dr & a Lever action.

quote:

So what’s in your Africa big gun rack, why, and rounds?

.375 Wby Brno ZKK 602 w/ Ed Lapour safety shortened to 21" with Leupold 3-9x in Warne detachable rings. Why? Because Chucky Pinkerton shot "my" kongoni in Kenya (1975) with a .375 H&H cartridge he brought along -- Mr. Barnett was supposed to let us all shoot. Settling for a red hartebeest instead in October 2018. Softs are 250-grain TTSX's and solids are 300-grain Barnes monometals. (Could be any of a dozen loads worked up over the years.) Solids are meant for incidental bushbuck.

Africa Battery consists of:

1. H&H 8 Bore Double.
2. AHR .600 Overkill.
3. Heym .577 NE Jumbo Sidelock.
4. Dorleac & Dorleac .500 Jeffrey.
5. Ryan Breeding .505 Gibbs.
6. Ruger M77 RSM .458 Lott.
7. Sauer 202 Hatari in .458 Lott.
8. Heym Express in .404 Jeffrey.
9. Breeding .416 Rigby.
10.Heym 88B Box lock in 450/400.
11.Breeding .375 H&H.
12.Sauer 202 Hatari in .375 H&H.

quote:

Originally posted by CHIPB:
Africa Battery consists of:

1. H&H 8 Bore Double.
2. AHR .600 Overkill.
3. Heym .577 NE Jumbo Sidelock.
4. Dorleac & Dorleac .500 Jeffrey.
5. Ryan Breeding .505 Gibbs.
6. Ruger M77 RSM .458 Lott.
7. Sauer 202 Hatari in .458 Lott.
8. Heym Express in .404 Jeffrey.
9. Breeding .416 Rigby.
10.Heym 88B Box lock in 450/400.
11.Breeding .375 H&H.
12.Sauer 202 Hatari in .375 H&H.

I'd love to see pics of some of those gems.
8 bore
500 Jeffery
505
375
416

Mine are as follows:

- William Evans 470
- Holland & Holland Royal 500/450
- Ruger #1 450/400
- Winchester Left Hand 375 (2)
- Holland & Holland Royal Paradox 12 bore

I figure that about covers it.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

Originally posted by CHIPB:
Africa Battery consists of:

1. H&H 8 Bore Double.
2. AHR .600 Overkill.
3. Heym .577 NE Jumbo Sidelock.
4. Dorleac & Dorleac .500 Jeffrey.
5. Ryan Breeding .505 Gibbs.
6. Ruger M77 RSM .458 Lott.
7. Sauer 202 Hatari in .458 Lott.
8. Heym Express in .404 Jeffrey.
9. Breeding .416 Rigby.
10.Heym 88B Box lock in 450/400.
11.Breeding .375 H&H.
12.Sauer 202 Hatari in .375 H&H.

I'd love to see pics of some of those gems.
8 bore
500 Jeffery
505
375
416

Hello, Boomstick. Let me try to post some photos. I've had trouble using Imgur, but here goes:

Breeding .505, 416, and .375.



Dorleac .500



H&H 8 Bore

quote:

Originally posted by CHIPB:
Africa Battery consists of:

1. H&H 8 Bore Double.
2. AHR .600 Overkill.
3. Heym .577 NE Jumbo Sidelock.
4. Dorleac & Dorleac .500 Jeffrey.
5. Ryan Breeding .505 Gibbs.
6. Ruger M77 RSM .458 Lott. JUNK
7. Sauer 202 Hatari in .458 Lott. JUNK
8. Heym Express in .404 Jeffrey.
9. Breeding .416 Rigby.
10.Heym 88B Box lock in 450/400.
11.Breeding .375 H&H.
12.Sauer 202 Hatari in .375 H&H.

Very nice collection except for the .458 Lotts.
You should have their barrels set back and rechambered to .458 Winchester Magnum.
The collection would then be faultless.

Rip ...

CZ 416 Rigby, 416 Rem, 458 Win, Lott, Watts.

quote:

Originally posted by CHIPB:

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

Originally posted by CHIPB:
Africa Battery consists of:

1. H&H 8 Bore Double.
2. AHR .600 Overkill.
3. Heym .577 NE Jumbo Sidelock.
4. Dorleac & Dorleac .500 Jeffrey.
5. Ryan Breeding .505 Gibbs.
6. Ruger M77 RSM .458 Lott.
7. Sauer 202 Hatari in .458 Lott.
8. Heym Express in .404 Jeffrey.
9. Breeding .416 Rigby.
10.Heym 88B Box lock in 450/400.
11.Breeding .375 H&H.
12.Sauer 202 Hatari in .375 H&H.

I'd love to see pics of some of those gems.
8 bore
500 Jeffery
505
375
416

Hello, Boomstick. Let me try to post some photos. I've had trouble using Imgur, but here goes:

Breeding .505, 416, and .375.



Dorleac .500

Beautiful rifles.