Wonder if there are Woodleighs in that caliber around still? Less than 160 but the Lapua Megas look good too.
I use monos
I have some for my 6.5x54, it was the standard weight for them (160 gr). Speer used to make some too if memory serves. - dan
Wonder if there are Woodleighs in that caliber around still? Less than 160 but the Lapua Megas look good too.
I use monos
I've taken a half-dozen animals with the 416 Rigby. Five with the 375 Ruger. One with the 9.3x62. One with the 45-70. Big isn't too bad to deal with, but generally "big" comes hand in hand with "heavy" which is less and less attractive as the years go by.
I've owned and hunted with 5 rifles in 458Win over the years along with numerous 45-70's. Now that I be an old fook, I use short, light rifles in 45 ACP, 45 Colt & 450 Bushmaster.
The 45 caliber has always been my favorite.![]()
Let's hear some accounts of those rifles and those hunts.
Most I’ve hunted and don’t mind shooting is stickhunter’s generously long term loaned .505 Gibbs. Hunted dozens of head of game however with .375 H&H, so I suppose that’s the actual answer. Not a comfort consideration, but rather a performance one.
These days I prefer chamberings that leave the muzzle at 2400-3000fps, it took me twenty years to figure out what they did in 1884 when Paul Vieille introduced Poudre B. Currently I stock and shoot .257 Roberts, .308 Winchester, and .375 H&H, with other range only fringe flings.
Yep, I bought a load of Superior Ammunition for it (also some .450 Rigby at the same time), but mostly handloads. Expect to pay $300 a box as of late, with components not far behind on cost.
All for what is honestly less real world effectiveness on everything on this continent than a .300, .338, or .375. But it sure was fun, I’ll never argue against that aspect of them.
Side note, all the big bores that chrono’d (sub-2400fps) slow were quite gentlemanly and not scary to shoot. Those that chrono’d fast like my .450 Rigby with the Superior loads, were some of the few rifles I’ve felt trepidation before pulling the trigger.
And unfortunately, that’s also the ballistic cutoff for modern terminal performance. So they went they way of the dinosaurs they’re made to hunt in my cabinet.