Cheapest/most common dangerous game cartridge over .40 caliber?

[Andy]

Those buggers have claws, teeth and horns, and want to turn you into a red smear.

Who would hunt dangerous game and be concerned about the most economical round? Canadian Tire has it on sale! We're going to Africa!

In fact, who would hunt dangerous game and not handload?

 

[brybenn]

Pricewise the 416 ruger is a good deal if you find the ammo. 405 winchester has taken a lot of african game. Its small in bigbore world but hornady is making 416 rigby ammo. If I were to take the 458wm I'd load some 500grain barnes solids to about 2250fps. Will kill anything before it and won't have to worry avout heat. A look at garrett cartridges for the 45-70 mite make you think you already have the gun

 

[foxytrapper]

.458 win brass seems hard to find, but WSS was happy to sell me loaded ammo at 171$ a box.

 

[grit]

A 416 ruger, lightweight compact,accurate,moderate recoil and a 350gr x bullet or swift @2550 fps, or a 400 gr @ 2375fps
brass is inexpensive.

 

[farshot]

The cheapest and most versatile would be the 458 Lott or 450 Ackley or similar.

Plenty of horsepower and common bullets for the .458.

You can make all the brass you want from .375 or .416 Rem. You can load it up or down. You can leave room in the case or cram it full.

Nice medium load with a 480 gr Hornady (soft or solid) in a 450 Ackley / Lott gives about 2300 ft/s. No big pressures, no cramming of powder.

And you can shoot .458 Win if you wish.

or shoot cast bullets - lots of possibilities.

Lotts are common now - seen them for not more than $1100 or so on EE or sometimes a little more new - best bang for the buck.

but -- I still prefer the 416 Rigby - but that's me.

 

[Moose Masher]

If you can afford to pay for a hunt in Africa then you obviously have lots of money and you shouldn't be concerned about ammo costs.

...if you can afford to go on an African hunt, then ammo costs are insignificant.

Not necessarily.

In order to hunt Africa you have to first get to Africa and a determined fellow with modest income can realize that goal by saving dilligently.

However, you don't need a gun that costs $10 or more per shot, and not everyone wants one.

Those costs can add up in a hurry if you want to practice a fair bit and become very familiar with the rifle before you go, plus feed the thing for a lifetime once you get home.

$.02

 

[220Swifty]

And where did the OP actually say he was headed to africa? I picked up a 458 Win mag, not because I was going to Africa, but because I was dreaming about it.

Not always about need guys, or actual planning for possible scenarios. Some of us just buy guns because they interest us.

 

[Dogleg]

There are a whole lot more elephant guns sold than elephant hunts. However, even for those that are never going to take on thick skinned game a discussion of practicallities and suitability for purpose is part of the fun. So is makeing little discoveries like .375s don't kick, some calibers will make a big guy pop a wheelie, and that a .458 sounds more like a shotgun than a rifle.

If someone happens to pick up something useful, more power to them. Besides, the price of a new rifle buys a lot of dreaming.

 

[Neo]

Your choices in factory rifles are more limited, the CZ comes quickly to mind.

It only comes to mind long enough to remember that the Ruger 77 Magnum is a vastly nicer rifle

 

[Demonical]

.416 Remington Magnum

 

[Neo]

As soon as I'm miserable, I'll be happy.

Now I get it, finally!!!! You never smile because you're happy.

 

[Dogleg]

It only comes to mind long enough to remember that the Ruger 77 Magnum is a vastly nicer rifle

And heavy enough for 3 rifles. At least the .416s I looked at were. I think some of the later ones were a bit lighter, but by then the ship had sailled. I thought the OP was looking for cheaper rifles though?

Now I get it, finally!!!! You never smile because you're happy.

Na, it's just a matter of timeing. If the cameraman was quicker he would get me jumping around playing air guitar on my rifle.

 

[philthygeezer]

The cheapest and most versatile would be the 458 Lott or 450 Ackley or similar.

Plenty of horsepower and common bullets for the .458.

You can make all the brass you want from .375 or .416 Rem. You can load it up or down. You can leave room in the case or cram it full.

Nice medium load with a 480 gr Hornady (soft or solid) in a 450 Ackley / Lott gives about 2300 ft/s. No big pressures, no cramming of powder.

And you can shoot .458 Win if you wish.

or shoot cast bullets - lots of possibilities.

Lotts are common now - seen them for not more than $1100 or so on EE or sometimes a little more new - best bang for the buck.

but -- I still prefer the 416 Rigby - but that's me.

I'm actually really keen on the .458 Lott as I think it may be one of the best. I'm surprised the factory loadings are more common than I suspected.

In order to hunt Africa you have to first get to Africa and a determined fellow with modest income can realize that goal by saving dilligently.

However, you don't need a gun that costs $10 or more per shot, and not everyone wants one.

Those costs can add up in a hurry if you want to practice a fair bit and become very familiar with the rifle before you go, plus feed the thing for a lifetime once you get home. The rifle might only cost 15 boxes of ammo even if it is two grand!

$.02

Worth a lot more than $0.02

Not always about need guys, or actual planning for possible scenarios. Some of us just buy guns because they interest us.

Yep!

If someone happens to pick up something useful, more power to them. Besides, the price of a new rifle buys a lot of dreaming.

This too. Plus the experience of shooting and becoming proficient with one.

And heavy enough for 3 rifles. At least the .416s I looked at were. I think some of the later ones were a bit lighter, but by then the ship had sailled. I thought the OP was looking for cheaper rifles though?

Heavy is good. 10-12 pounds would be nice to have in a .458 Lott.

IMO the price of the ammo is far more important than the price of the gun. Get a good gun that you like to shoot and pay more if it makes the shooting good. But buy a rifle you can afford to feed. The rifle might only cost 15 boxes of ammo even if it is two grand!

 

[Dogleg]

IMO the price of the ammo is far more important than the price of the gun. Get a good gun that you like to shoot and pay more if it makes the shooting good. But buy a rifle you can afford to feed. The rifle might only cost 15 boxes of ammo even if it is two grand!
__________________

If ever you needed a reason to handload, the big guns are it. Ignoreing brass prices, my .416 Rigby costs about $200 a box for Federal factory loads tax in. Handloads with premium bullets like A-Frames are about $45 a box, practice ammo can take about $10 off that. Cast bullet loads could be put together for $4 and are just as good for learning reactive shooting as anything else. Probably better, truth to be told.

1000 practice rounds leading up to a safari isn't excessive. You can decide whether you want that to cost $10,000, $2250 or $200. If you choose to hunt with factory ammo, those few bucks won't matter.

 

[BigUglyMan]

458 Win Mag is the cheapest way into the "Big Bore" world. You can pick up a used M70 under $1000 (and maybe a new one for not much more) and go from there. The 416 Rem needs a longer action than the 458 WM. The 416 Rigby needs a whole different kettle of fish and same with the 505 Gibbs. Regardless what some people will advocate, the 45-70 never was, and never will be, a "big bore" in the classic sense of the word. Yes it has a big hole in the barrel, but that does not a dangerous game rifle make. But as a first step into that world I would say the 458 WM is the only way to go. The old time problems are dead and buried so don't let 50 year old boogeymen scare you off. I have a Ruger #1H in 458 WM and I'd not hesitate to use it for hunting. But my first choice would be my 416 Rigby or 470 NE. I wish I could justify a 505 Gibbs to myself but I just can't get there.

 

[mike shickele]

The cheapest and most common out of your list would be the 458win mag; which is a very good cartridge that has unfortunately recieved some bad press as of lately............I believe to sell rifles in 458 lott. Out of that list I would pick the 416 Rigby though..........that's the sweetheart of the bunch.
Mike

 

[nrut]

BUM,
In the M70 both the .458 and the .416 Remington use the same action length...
Internals are the only thing different to accommodate the longer .375 or .416 case..

Sounds like the OP wants a .458 and if that is the case that cal. would be the cheapest route to go as there are more used ones out there compared to the .416 calibers..

 

[Dogleg]

You can pick up a used M70 under $1000 (and maybe a new one for not much more)

$1169 for mine new at WSS Sports, but they were honoring the price when I ordered it. I went in with the idea of makeing a Lott out of it if I can't the speed, but will get going on reloading it as a .458 when it warms up. I'm going to try the 450 A-Frames first, and see if I can impress some Ozzy buffalo with them in July.

 

[Boomer]

I think there are several issues faced by the individual who's shopping for an African dangerous game rifle. With todays reduced luggage restrictions, the option of taking two rifles is less convenient, and some countries charge a hefty fee for each rifle you import. Thus the importance of choosing a versatile rifle for Africa cannot be overstated, as it it unlikely that you will shoot only one species of game.

Big bore rifles have a tendency to be more expensive than their standard counterparts, and have a tendency to be heavier as well. Weight isn't necessarily a detriment to a big bore, as balance is more important then weight for quick handling and the weight does help to moderate recoil; but the cost of a big bore rifle and ammunition can be intimidating. There are exceptions of course, such as the Ruger #1, the Ruger African, the CZ-550 Magnum, or a quality used rifle that could be found for a similar price. Otherwise the price could be enough to make the consideration of custom rifle a bit more attractive than an off the rack gun. The most important considerations are that you like the rifle and that it fits you. No large capacity cartridge is cheap to shoot, but handloading makes it slightly less painful, particularly with practice ammo where you can use inexpensive bullets. Handloading also allows you to build your hunting loads to exactly meet the needs of your particular adventure, utilizing the premium bullets that might not be available in factory options.

With respect to cartridge choice, it is important to define the roll of your rifle. While its fun to contemplate a short range stopping rifle, the African client doesn't normally need one. What he does need is a rifle that meets or exceeds the legal minimum requirement for dangerous game, which is most likely a 9.3X62 or a .375, yet has a flat enough trajectory to take plains game out to 300 yards. This suggests a cartridge with a muzzle velocity of at least 2400 fps, but in this age of "faster is better," even 2400 is viewed as a velocity that produces a rainbow trajectory. With this in mind either a .375 or a .416 are obvious choices, producing more than enough terminal performance, yet either cartridge can stretch their legs to the limits of your marksmanship abilities.

If you have your heart set on a true heavy, then the .460 G&A (sort of a .458/375 Ultra) a .460 Weatherby, a .500 Jeffery, or a .510 Wells are obvious choices. While these options will produce the flat trajectory suitable for hunting plains game and all terminal performance anyone could ask for in a hand carried firearm, the down side is recoil. I would not choose a general purpose hunting rifle I was unable to shoot from all shooting positions, including prone. I can hold 3 rounds prone with a .416 or a .458, and 5 with a .375, but thats about my limit. The prospect of firing a .50 caliber rifle with a 600 gr bullet at 2400 in a 12 pound rifle from prone is not something I would consider lightly, but you could work up to it . . . I suppose; just as you could work your way up to going 5 rounds with Mike Tyson.

 

[jjohnwm]

Cheapest? Gotta be the .458 Win Mag.

Best? Hard to say...best for what? "Africa" isn't enough of an answer. There are actually several species of critter there, and they're not all the same size.

Seriously, if you have a .375, then any of the .416's just don't seem like that much of a jump, IMHO. If I had no personal history with, and preference for, the .375H&H (which I do) then examining the ballistics would probably lead me to the .416 Ruger as an all-around sort-of-big-bore, that maintains good utility for the smaller African stuff. But with a .375 in your battery, it seems like going to .458 caliber is a logical step. And you'll have a true big-bore!

And, no, Africa is not just for the wealthy. I'm a working man who's been there, and will go back. One of the things that makes this possible is not wasting money. Sure, if funds were unlimited, I'd have a high-grade double rifle in a Nitro Express chambering, but that cost would go a long way towards another hunt, so a .458 WinMag will do the job for a fraction of the cost. Lots of practice is essential, so lower ammunition costs (whether factory or reloads) is important, at least to me.

The ideal choice would be the Lott, but there seem to be many more good used rifles out there in the WinMag. The early problems associated with the shorter cartridge seem to have been ironed out, and I think that the Lott vs. WinMag argument is much like the .338WinMag vs. .340Wby discussion, i.e. not worth worrying about.

JMHO, which is worth what you paid for it and comes with a money-back guarantee.

John