2nd safari rifle

[Soundguy]

excelent post , thanks!

It's a little contrarian, but I don't see a whole lot to choose between the Rigby and a 375. Maximum point blank differences will be negligible: 20ish yards probably. If you're wanting to more or less duplicate what you have, a 375 is a superb round, and the 338 is very effective, but still on the heavier end. ( Not that anything is wrong with that).

For me, since it's more of a classic, I'd pair it with a 300 H&H if you like heavy rifles, or, my personal choice, a 7x57mm Mauser, which was sold as as the .275 Rigby, for brand congruence.

I'm big, and not particularly recoil sensitive, but shooting with a PACT timer doesn't lie. I'm faster with lighter recoiling rounds and weapons, whether rifles or handguns, and have as good or better accuracy. A 7x57 makes for a trim, handy, quick little death ray of a deer rifle, and has been used many times to kill elephant. There many more impressive cartridges, but I am drawn to the flair of older cartridges, and a good shot will kill anything with a good shot. The lighter recoil, easier to carry rifle and other factors make me more likely to perform that shot under pressure than a more tiring to carry, rougher recoiling, and slightly scary rifle. I'm not anybody else, and my limitations aren't necessarily yours.

I like commonality and consistency, so I would be awfully tempted to just hunt with the 416 for everything, but have been told by acquaintances who hunted Africa recently that the hunt is getting more specific, like American hunting, rather than how licenses for animals were filled as one came across them, and never knew if a shot may be at a tiny Thompson' Gazelle or an elephant.

 

[Soundguy]

I haven't been there and only wishful thinking says I ever will be ,but if your 416 is large enough for the biggest game you have license for then you don't need another large rifle competitor for that end of your safari. Take a good mid game cartridge rifle for your second backup rifle. 7x57 , 30-06 , 7mm Rem mag etc. If you have one of those you have carried for years it will serve you well if something charges out of the long grass.

i've huntd with my remington bolt 30-06 for years.. um.. 20 ys plus a few months.. love that gun.. deadly accurate with it... so says the hogs i stalk anyway..

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

So, exactly what do you have in Cetral Florida that a .416 Rigby won't handle?

OK, if you just have to get a .338, then you ought to get this: Barrett :thumbsup:

this would be a safari hunt / dangerous game.. not florida deer the size of dogs, and 150# ferral hogs..

as far as handling.. i'm not sure there's anything on the continent that something like those rifles won't put down.


soundguy

 

[Toyboy]

Depends on the country your going to. Some specify that a .375 H&H is minimum caliber. That's what you have to find out before you make any decisions.

 

[vtsnowedin]

i've huntd with my remington bolt 30-06 for years.. um.. 20 ys plus a few months.. love that gun.. deadly accurate with it... so says the hogs i stalk anyway..

soundguy

It has been said that a man with a 30-06 need not walk away from any thing.
Japs, Nazis, lions elephants, and buffs appear to agree.

 

[EarPlug]

Here is a great Package deal


Blaser R8 Ultimate Safari Package

Blaser R8 Safari Package
R8 Professional stock with Steel Receiver with choice of savanna or green color
Selous style safari barrel in choice of caliber: 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H
Selous style semi weight barrel in 300 Win. Mag
Blaser Illumination control bolt housing
Extra JE bolt head if .500 Jeffery selected
Choice of Blaser saddle mount or rail mount
Black neoprene sling
Custom Pelican Travel Case
SKU Blaser-R8-Ultimate-Package
Caliber:Choice of 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H; Selous style semi weight barrel in 300 Win. Mag
Weight:8 lbs 1 oz with Semi Weight barrel 9 lbs 13 oz with Safari barrel
Rifle Overall Length:41.25"
Action:Blaser illumination control bolt housing; extra JE bolt head if .500 Jeffery selected
Trigger:Blaser R8 with 1.9 pound pull standard
Safety:Blaser R8
Rifle Barrel Length:Selous style safari barrels 23.75" for 500 Jeffery, 458 Lott, 416 Rem, 375 H&H; 25.75" for .300 Win. Mag
Rifle Barrel Twist:300 Win: 1 in 11" 375 H&H: 1 in 12" 416 Rem: 1 in 14"
Rifle Stock:R8 PRofessional stock in savannah or green with steel receiver
Scope Mount:Choice of Blaser saddle mount or rail mount

 

[284 International]

i've huntd with my remington bolt 30-06 for years.. um.. 20 ys plus a few months.. love that gun.. deadly accurate with it... so says the hogs i stalk anyway..

soundguy

Not that I have any problem spending your money on a new toy, but that '06 is what I would take. Familiar, accurate and deadly seems like a nice combination to me.

The ability to put a bullet in the desired place at the desired time counts for almost everything, and the other minutiae don't really matter, except to the degree they enable the shooter to do that task more efficiently. It's not particularly glamorous to say that though. Nor is it as fun as trying out new toys!

I think having a smaller battery of rifles is better, too, for a safari. Fewer bags to deal with TSA etc over, fewer weapons to confirm zero with, and a simplified manual of arms (though that isn't as big a deal with bolt action hunting rifles as handguns). The choice is plains game rifle or dangerous game rifle. The next question naturally follows, for me: is one rifle versatile enough? I think, if the outfitter concurs, that a 416 would be flexible enough for it all, and be capable of handling duiker to rhino without pausing to recall if a soft point or a solid is chambered at the time, and so on.

 

[RobertN]

An old friend had a lever action 218 Bee; it was fun to shoot!

375H&H... Plenty of loads/bullets available for different game. And, for more pizzaz, ream the chamber for Ackley Improved and do a little handloading.

Unlike what is seen in most calibers, many .375 H&H rifles also achieve nearly the same point of impact over a wide range of bullet weights at all commonly used distances, further simplifying a professional hunter's choice in selecting different grain bullets based upon the game hunted, without requiring significant scope or sight adjustments, which further serves to popularize the .375 H&H Magnum among professional hunters (PHs)

.375 H&H Ackley Improved

The .375 H&H Ackley Improved was a cartridge designed by P.O. Ackley in an effort improve on the performance and case life of the .375 H&H Magnum. The improved case follows the formulaic Ackley design of a body of little taper and steep shoulder of 40ｰ. The cartridge was found to be capable of 2,830 ft/s (860 m/s) with a 270 gr (17 g) bullet. A .375 H&H Magnum cartridge can be chambered and fired safely in a Ackley Improved chamber

i think the .338 lapua or 375 types are going to be the minimum for african game.. that pretty much kills any of the sub calibers .2/3 mentioned..

hadn't thought about the .375. had been also looking at 458 lott. since I'm into hard to find ammo with that .416rigby. almost picked up a 2nd one the other day.. but it was a single shot.. not my first choice.

on a related note.. i saw a nice .218bee in a gunshop the other day...

 

[EddieWalker]

Why two big guns? What about a smaller, long range rifle? There are only a few animals that you need the big stuff for, most of your plains game is is deer rifle stuff. When I went, my shots where from 20 to well over 200 yards.

Eddie

 

[RobertN]

Another thought... What about something like 375JDJ in a Contender? Maybe not for dangerous game. But for all else, it is a very accurate, hard hitting round... A few years back, I had opportunity to try one; hit prairie dogs at 200 yards... Pistol from a bench grouped 2" or smaller at 200 yards. It also too elk on multiple occasions(inlaws pistol).