Dearth of big bore rifles on the market - did you hunt with yours this year?

1899

1899

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
35   0   0
Location
West
I was looking through my reloading stuff and found some brass, bullets and ammo from rifles I have already sold. Some .375 H&H and .416 RM - yes, I know to a certain crowd these are medium bore, not big bore! :D

I started thinking I may need another one of these and that led me to looking through the EE and on other sites. Not that many of these rifles on the market it seems. I figured there would be quite a few available given the realization that a .223 is all a fellow needs these days, but no. I think only Winchester is still making new rifles in .375 H&H, .416 RM and .458 WM. Not that long ago Sako had their Safari and Kodiak and I can't remember what else even in .500 Jeffery, Ruger made the RSM and No.1 Tropical (remember the .450-400 Nitro Express?), the CZ550 Magnum and Express and a bit further back the Remington Safari.

So, those of you hording the larger rifles - did you hunt with yours this year? Stories and pictures with details would be appreciated!
 
I hunt with various big bores every year, they come and go. I enjoy using big chunks of lead on game, it is very effective but does not cause the devastation that many expect. I was in Africa this year with a .375 WSM, and used a .458 WM Carbine on bears in the spring.
 
At one time I had a Rem 700 in 375 RUM it was a hammer on moose and elk, but was also a little obnoxious to shoot with 300gr bullets even with a brake on it, getting old sucks ;) I also had a 338 RUM in a sendaro which certainly did the trick and it was a hand full also with a 250gr AB and a full charge of RL25, I moved them both out and now the biggest I have is the 300 RUM in a Rem 700 sendaro with a brake, with a full charge of H1000 and a 190 ABLR it does everything I need and more.
 
hoytcanon said:
I hunt with various big bores every year, they come and go. I enjoy using big chunks of lead on game, it is very effective but does not cause the devastation that many expect. I was in Africa this year with a .375 WSM, and used a .458 WM Carbine on bears in the spring.
Click to expand...
This is true. It was quite interesting to see how a .416 flattened a wild boar but caused very little bloodshot meat.

Do you need ammo with matching head stamps (with your rifle) when going to Africa? What country were you in?
 
1899 said:
This is true. It was quite interesting to see how a .416 flattened a wild boar but caused very little bloodshot meat.

Do you need ammo with matching head stamps (with your rifle) when going to Africa? What country were you in?
Click to expand...
I was in Namibia, typically the police that review firearms know very little about them, they did not check headstamps but I figured, I could argue my way through with "WSM" on the rifle and on the ammo... even though the cases were necked up from .300 WSM... I did briefly debate on bringing along a digital caliper, just in case, but decided against it and had no issues.
 
DGY said:
I have a 458 win mag that is at the gun smith right now for some “improvements” hopefully I get it before end of bison season.
Click to expand...

I think the .458 is a great choice. Relatively cheap to shoot and easy on the shoulder with light loads and 45/70 bullets.
 
1899 said:
I think the .458 is a great choice. Relatively cheap to shoot and easy on the shoulder with light loads and 45/70 bullets.
Click to expand...
I agree, I really like the 350gn bullets, the recoil is mild ish and it is plenty for up here! I also have a wack load of 480gn cast bullets that I get going about 1900fps and they are also easy to shoot!
 
Bought a Sako Safari in 375 H&H 30 years ago on a whim and a fantasy about going to Africa someday…life got in the way instead. The rifle shot 270g cast bullets with 17g of Unique only on groundhog ‘safaris’. Never a factory load put through it. Watched my buddy give himself a Weatherby eyebrow with a 458 Win I was thinking of buying. All the blood on my shooting bench …. passed on the deal.

Had several 338 Lapuas and took my TRG 42 to Saskatchewan on a gophers at 1200 yards ‘safari’. Pain and pleasure all riolled into one …just like a relationship with a beautiful woman with attitude. Still love my TRG…. lol …Still have my Sako 375 H&H
 
DGY said:
I agree, I really like the 350gn bullets, the recoil is mild ish and it is plenty for up here! I also have a wack load of 480gn cast bullets that I get going about 1900fps and they are also easy to shoot!
Click to expand...
I have a terrific .458 WM hunting load with the Barnes Original SSP 400... 65.0 grains of H4895 and 215 primers... very pleasant to shoot and puts game down with authority.

20250611_200335.jpg20250208_174450.jpg
 
Last edited:
I hunt with my big bore rifles locally most years, and some years in Africa. Shot a nice bull elk with a .375 H&H Winchester M70 in September, and last July I shot a Cape buffalo in Mozambique with my .450-400 3" Nitro express Merkel 140 AE double rifle. It's African hunting that gave me an interest in larger bore rifles, and still is the continuing inspiration. After taking African "game animals of opportunity" as small as impala with .375 and .416 I don't feel bashful any more using large bore cartridges to shoot smaller critters that don't require such power. There's more carcass damage from a .270 or .30 caliber magnum in my experience.
My current "big bores" are down to one. I've sold off the rest, and currently just have a Sako Kodiak .375 that fits the category. And a few 9.3's that almost qualify, almost.
 
When i have to go out and have a chat with our resident grizzly when he is eyeing up the cows either a 12 guage or my 375 H&H come along for the walk.
So far other than rubber slugs in the butt no lead has had to delivered.
The last moose i got was with the 375.
Have to confess as i get older the 375 recoil gets to be a hand full.
Kinda like my KX 500😂
 
scott.y. said:
When i have to go out and have a chat with our resident grizzly when he is eyeing up the cows either a 12 guage or my 375 H&H come along for the walk.
So far other than rubber slugs in the butt no lead has had to delivered.
The last moose i got was with the 375.
Have to confess as i get older the 375 recoil gets to be a hand full.
Kinda like my KX 500😂
Click to expand...

KX500 and CR500 - ah the glory days. You start your bike while wearing flip-flops, right? :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom