African Rifle: Lefty going in next few years

[Boomer]

But dangerous game hunting, which is the primary purpose of these rifles, is close range stuff. So you get closer, or practice some long range shooting, just to learn the trjectory.

Also, there's lots of spitzer bullets available that might carry a bit better long range then you think. Swift A Frame, any of the Barnes TSX, the Nosler Partitions. I bet they'd work not too bad out to 300 yards.

But me personally, I wouldn't want to shoot a Cape Buffalo at 300 yards anyway. I want to see the 'reds' of his eyes...

The thing is that you will probably have the opportunity to shoot more than just buffalo on an African safari. While the big bores really shine on very big and/or dangerous game, you will have the opportunity to shoot half a dozen small to medium sized plains game animals for every big or dangerous animal you take. While the range in East African hunting condition is typically short to medium, the occasional long shot does occur, and if such an opportunity occurs on one of the smaller species of game, the iron sighted heavy adds an unnecessary degree of difficulty to the problem.

Todays travel costs, weight restrictions, and the entry restrictions to various countries adds to the complexity of taking more than a single rifle to Africa. One solution is to take a variety of loads for a single rifle, but many rifles print left or right with a heavier bullet than they do with a lighter. Thus if you can shoot all your game with a single rifle, firing a single load, you have the advantage over the fellow who sights in with a light bullet with a 200 yard zero and hopes his heavy bullet load will be used close enough to mitigate any windage problem.

The charm of the .375s and .416s is that they can kill any game on the planet with a well placed premium expanding bullet, they don't tear up small species of game, and the recoil does not preclude the efficient use of a scope when the shot is demanding. One of the large volume .458s would fill the niche if it was loaded to fling a 500 gr bullet at 2400 fps, provided the hunter is up the recoil challenge.

While stopping a charge on dangerous game is always a possibility, the likelihood of a charge is small, as most PHs don't encourage them, and should a charge occur, it is the PH's job to protect his client. The way the majority of clients shoot under almost ideal conditions (many enthusiastic hunters are apparently unenthusiastic marksmen) they would not be capable of stopping the charge, or even know how to go about doing so. If the PH fails to stop the charge, the best place for the typical client is up in the tree beside the tracker. But whether the client is an outstanding shot or not, he is there in the role of the hunter, so his rifle does not need to be a stopping rifle, even though it may be called upon to do just that.

 

[eaglesnester]

I own a CZ550 in 375H&H and it is a true DG rifle. It has mauser style controlled round feeding, a 4 round box magazine with a positive locking drop floor plate, a 2 way safety, and a set trigger. When you push the trigger forward with the rifle cocked and a round up the pipe it turns the trigger into a 1lb let off. I was out shooting this rifle this week, I was using 270gr Hornady SP interlock bullets and 74.3gr of Reloader 15. I was shooting with a pair of homemade shooting sticks that are 26inces long in sitting position and locked in using a military style shooting sling. I was making hits on a steel gong at 450 yards. Good enough, as your shots with this rifle in Africa will probably be made at 80 yards or less. I am getting minute of angle accuracy at 100 yards as well. You might want to consider a CZ550 in a 416rigby. A little more punch better for buff I think, more of a safety margin for you. Yes a 375 H&H will kill one but if shot badly they can be very very hard to put down and take shot after shot. I live and hunt in northern interior B.C. Canada and carry a 375H&H for grizz. I looked at the Weatherby 375 mag and the Weatherby 378 mag. They only hold 2 rounds in the magazine box and no controlled round feeding and a big price tag, for me the decision to go with the CZ550 was an easy one.

 

[JasonS]

I own a CZ550 in 375H&H and it is a true DG rifle. It has mauser style controlled round feeding, a 4 round box magazine with a positive locking drop floor plate, a 2 way safety, and a set trigger. When you push the trigger forward with the rifle cocked and a round up the pipe it turns the trigger into a 1lb let off. I was out shooting this rifle this week, I was using 270gr Hornady SP interlock bullets and 74.3gr of Reloader 15. I was shooting with a pair of homemade shooting sticks that are 26inces long in sitting position and locked in using a military style shooting sling. I was making hits on a steel gong at 450 yards. Good enough, as your shots with this rifle in Africa will probably be made at 80 yards or less. I am getting minute of angle accuracy at 100 yards as well. You might want to consider a CZ550 in a 416rigby. A little more punch better for buff I think, more of a safety margin for you. Yes a 375 H&H will kill one but if shot badly they can be very very hard to put down and take shot after shot. I live and hunt in northern interior B.C. Canada and carry a 375H&H for grizz. I looked at the Weatherby 375 mag and the Weatherby 378 mag. They only hold 2 rounds in the magazine box and no controlled round feeding and a big price tag, for me the decision to go with the CZ550 was an easy one.

And the fact they make that rifle in lefthand is making it my first choice now. CZ doesn't make anything bigger than 375 in LH. Oh well, I'm wanting the rifle chambered in the KING OF THE 375's so the H&H it will be.

For the price new I can get a custom stock made in fancier walnut. I've always liked the look of English or Turkish walnut. I've been an artist my entire life and have got the engraving bug now. I'm buying the Lindsay palm engraving system and will be practicing the craft. Hopefully my skills will develop based on my artistic abilities within a year of hard practice. Then I can use my own CZ550 as my first complete rifle engraving showpiece. I'm hoping to pickup some work and make it a buisness that I can do for many years to come. Now that my back problems are acting up it will be the perfect job for an artist, formerly heavy duty mech, armed guard, Aux Constable, programmer, long-haired no good teenager and a few other things.

 

[X-fan]

But dangerous game hunting, which is the primary purpose of these rifles, is close range stuff. So you get closer, or practice some long range shooting, just to learn the trjectory.

Also, there's lots of spitzer bullets available that might carry a bit better long range then you think. Swift A Frame, any of the Barnes TSX, the Nosler Partitions. I bet they'd work not too bad out to 300 yards.

But me personally, I wouldn't want to shoot a Cape Buffalo at 300 yards anyway. I want to see the 'reds' of his eyes...

In the right hands what you say is true....Just not my hands.

The problem for me is 500 grains at 2400-2500fps is more than I think I can consistently be precise with. I am fairly comfortable with a rifle in the 70 to perhaps 80ftlbs of recoil, but the idea of practicing a great deal with a rifle having 100ftlbs or more is more recoil....Well it makes my eyes water just thinking about it.
While preparing for a big grizzly hunt in the last three weeks alone I shot 600 rounds of 416rem......That just would not happen with a fast 458.

What I don't like about the Lott/Ackley (500 grains at 2200-2300fps) is the bullet is right at 1800fps at 200 yards.
For me the potential for marginal bullet performance at at mere 200 yards has more potential downside than the .458 bore has upside.

Where it comes to game selection while I want a buff I also want a few animals like zebra, Kudu, and a few other animals known for tricky shot placement that make the big 458s a bit unrealistic (for me).

Hey, don't get me wrong!...If you are so smitten go for it!
Its all about living the dream and if the big 458 is a part of yours then you should do that thing.