Do 350 gr 0.458 bullet @ 2350 fps qualify for African.....

[Ardent]

So if i get a Merkel 500 NE and a 375 Ruger and something happen and i can't use the double the 375 Ruger is up to the task, it's been 3 days now, i am reading and checking all i can, my plan is taking form... When you go in Africa how many rifles do you take... Thank for the infos...JP.

Seems you can disregard my post above, you're getting on the right track. I've only been over twice, once for Cape Buffalo and plains game up to Wildebeest, and once for plains game, but my .375 was the only rifle I've packed either time. .375 is the one rifle to have to hunt the world.

 

[BigUglyMan]

I've only been over twice, once for Cape Buffalo and plains game up to Wildebeest, and once for plains game, but my .375 was the only rifle I've packed either time.

You should sit next to me and read more.

 

[caramel]

Just put a deposit on a CZ 550 416 Rigby so with my Steyr 450M BB and my Rigby i will start a lot of practice offhand and load devellopement for the 416, those 2 rifles gone be my tools for my first african hunt... Thank to you all for your goods advises, i really appreciate... Cheers. JP.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Just put a deposit on a CZ 550 416 Rigby.

Good lad!

 

[Kevan]

Just put a deposit on a CZ 550 416 Rigby

Good plan Caramel.... today was a fine day for CZ sales, I bought a CZ550 FS in 9.3X62 this AM....

 

[Ardent]

A happy ending, I might say.

 

[1899]

Good choice. Make sure to try some heavy loads with Woodleigh's 450gr...

 

[caramel]

The way i understand it, it is safer to have an unscoped rifle for the big 5, i got available in my gun safa a S&B 1.1X4X24 Short Dot, set with quick detachable rings could it be an asset on the 416 Rigby, the Steyr 450M BB is set up with a 3X9X40 Zeiss, i may just change the rings for QD ones... Cheers. JP.

 

[BigUglyMan]

The way i understand it, it is safer to have an unscoped rifle for the big 5, i got available in my gun safa a S&B 1.1X4X24 Short Dot, set with quick detachable rings could it be an asset on the 416 Rigby, the Steyr 450M BB is set up with a 3X9X40 Zeiss, i may just change the rings for QD ones... Cheers. JP.

No, hunting elephant and rhino would be best done with irons, but I doubt that you would find a PH that would let you hunt leopard from a blind with irons.

Take the Rigby and set it up with a low powered variable in QD rings (that you test and know will return to zero) and you're away to the races. Leave the SBB450M for chasing bears and moose.

 

[caramel]

Just back from the range with results from My Steyr 450 Marlin, did reload some 400 gr Swift A-frame, OAL to fit mag and full trottle loads, had a run of 20 over the Oehler... For an average of 2085 fps with a SD of only 5 and 15 ES with 1.5 MOA shooting, after a fast calculation this is a 3850+ energy load, this Steyr rifle look very promissing and this configuration dont punish you much with the recoil... JP.

 

[jjohnwm]

Many guns will kill true big game, but to do it well is a whole 'nother matter... It confuses and irritates me that are people always trying to justify and unsuited rifles for use in Africa because they have a fondness for it or how it was marketed to them.... just ditch the .450, and buy the right gun before you leave.

This made me smile. I met a PH in Africa (not my PH) who was guiding a fellow who had 2 rifles with him: one 7mmRemMag bolt gun and one .45-70 Ruger #1 using super-mega-heavy loads that were apparently rivalling .458WinMag in potency. The PH grimaced at the sight of the latter gun, then said (out of earshot of his client) "Wonderful! Another bloody novelty weapon!"

The client went on to finish his hunt, which involved getting four or five scope bites from the 7Mag! His eyebrow looked like he had been beaten with a tenderizing hammer. His flinch must have been world-class...I don't even know if he ever shot the #1.

Caramel, with the .416 you now have a perfect rifle for your trip. Leave the "novelty weapon" at home. Being in Africa will be novel enough.

 

[Ardent]

Just back from the range with results from My Steyr 450 Marlin, did reload some 400 gr Swift A-frame, OAL to fit mag and full trottle loads, had a run of 20 over the Oehler... For an average of 2085 fps with a SD of only 5 and 15 ES with 1.5 MOA shooting, after a fast calculation this is a 3850+ energy load, this Steyr rifle look very promissing and this configuration dont punish you much with the recoil... JP.

We all have our opinions and you know what they say about them, mine I'm afraid is it's still the wrong rifle for the job. Even more so when you have a .416 Rigby beside it in the locker, in a real Africa rifle.

 

[c-fbmi]

Caramel;

Congrats you have a nice stiff 45-70 bolt action load, not appropriate for the big stuff, sorry. The sectional density of 400 gn 458 bullets just don't do it for dangerous game. Leave that fricking 450 at home and take your .416 Rigby loaded to no more than 2500 fps with 400 gn TSX and take a good light rifle in the '06 to 300 mag class and you will come back a successful and happy African hunter.
You should have been on here with some moa groups with your Rigby, then those of us who have been there and done that would be supportive.

I'm starting to understand why that guy earlier in this post said if he hears about your Steyr 450 one more time he's going to drive there and smash it to pieces.

 

[caramel]

It is sure the 416 is my rifle of choice and i bought it for that purpose, now i am looking to find the best back up rifle, i intend to bring 2 on my trip, could be my 300 mag, my Steyr 450 or my Steyr Scout 376 or one of my 308, guess i am doing backward... JP.

 

[ryan32]

I dont know really , but i think that 350 is kinda a light weight for a 458 bullet regardless of speed

 

[caramel]

If i except my Rigby, the 450 Marlin is the rifle that shoot the heaviest bullet but i will reload some 270 gr TSX for my Scout 376 and see the results... JP.

 

[Ardent]

Sell the two Steyrs and put the money towards the hunt... Getting the money together to go is the real consideration, you own a perfect pair of rifles (.416 & .300).

 

[caramel]

Selling a Steyr rifle is a SIN those are among the best rifles on the market and for the dough, i have been figuring it out for a while... JP.

 

[Boomer]

IMHO, taking two rifles to Africa adds unnecessary cost to the trip. Not only does it add an extra dozen pounds of luggage to the cost of travel, but some countries charge a fee for temporarily importing firearms, last I heard it was $200 per gun, and since then it may have gone up.

Then comes the practical side of hunting with two rifles. While driving around in a Land Cruiser you have the choice of either rifle, which ride cased in front of you, at your finger tips. But while on foot you'll almost certainly have the wrong rifle in your hands when its time to shoot. By contrast a .416 makes a fine do everything rifle for both plains and dangerous game. If has a flat trajectory and hits with authority. Topped with a good quality low power scope, and loaded with a good bullet, that rifle is ready to take any game you encounter with a single expanding bullet load, with the exception of elephants when a solid should be chosen.

 

[caramel]

For those who were on a far away hunting trip, what happen if you have a bad luck with your main rifle and cant have it repaired, the back up rifle seem like a good idea... JP.