Rational choice for a Dangerous Game Rifle

Hi Oddione, this is the same deal as you asked me about the alsakan, the p-14 is a standard length and you can't use it for a magnum length like the H&H it is just to short.

PS I don't think that is Ardent in pictures in the link you posted as that guy lives in northren California. I could be wrong though but my dogs tell me that has never happened before LOL.

He's definitely in one of the pictures.

So tell us Ardent, have I stumbled upon your hunting partner's thread by googling .375H&H conversions? Or are you a ninja/ghost who mysteriously appears in other people's safari hunting pics :p
 
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The p14 is probably the rifle I've shot the most and I am most familiar with. I am comfortable taking shots at 600m shooting prone with target iron sights. At 900m I can still hit the target but my groups really suck. At 300m It's a breeze. My p14s have been rechambered in .308 with long, 26" bull barrels. If I could have one in .375H&H it would be beyond perfect with the lee enfield in close second.[/QUOTE]

My brother built a really nice 404 Jeffery for my 60th b/day on a mint BSA P14 Enfield.
Since it was a gift to me, I have no idea of cost... probably lots.
The P14 / M 1917 Enfield actions will work well for several big bore rounds including the H&H, but as other posters have stated you may be farther ahead to go with a new purchase.
I would seriously consider that CZ550 in 416 Rigby if I were in your position.
Actually, if Its still there in a couple weeks I might just scoop it up. :)
 
He's definitely in one of the pictures.

So tell us Ardent, have I stumbled upon your hunting partner's thread by googling .375H&H conversions? Or are you a ninja/ghost who mysteriously appears in other people's safari hunting pics :p

Not I, I'm floating around in a good few pics from overseas but that's not one of em. :)

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All nearly useless for his proposed purposes, not to be harsh. .300's are too small, .308 Norma too small again and far to rare to source overseas if the ammo doesn't arrive anyhow, and .450 Marlin too anemic, and again too rare and odd.
 
I have the perfect DGR; it's a ZKK-602, rechambered from .375H&H to .416RemMag. I had the barrel shortened to 23" (from the factory 25"), barrel band installed, glass bedded into a McMillan stock and mounted with a Leopold Vari-X III 1.5-6X scope.

It is one sweet ass rifle...

If I were buying a new DGR, it would be either a Winchester M-70, or CZ-550 CRF in anything from .375H&H on up to .458Lott.
 
...A friend of mine now lives in Mozambique and has developed connections for Cape Buffalo hunting. He has invited me over but he owns no firearms and I'd have to buy one here, bring it there, then bring it back.

So basically I need a rifle which is adequate to take down this type of dangerous game. I'm not too worried about a follow up shot as the guide will also have a rifle, but I sure wouldn't mind it....

Lots of good council here. I'll throw in my experience with big bores. I shoot a CZ550 Magnum in 416 Rigby. I have had this a few years now and have found it to be a well made and accurate rifle.

For the price, around $1000 IIRC, tough to beat the value of the CZ. Mine holds 4 down which is nice in a DGR. And the iron sights are pretty good on the CZ.

I think I am relatively recoil tolerant and I found the Rigby took a little getting used to - it's not brutal - just takes some....conditioning.

Now that I'm on it I can pretty much hit what I want. I've only killed bears with it so far - Cape Buffalo in the future. I've never seen anything take a bear down like the Rigby.

Although I don't own a Ruger bolt in the Rigby I did look one over and thought it was a darn fine rifle although it was pushing 2k.
 
how about a 9.3x74R? They say these are capable of cape buffalo.. and production ammo available so they say.

Why all the oddball suggestions in this thread? :redface: 9.3x74R is just swell as a cartridge, but it's not a .375 H&H, is more expensive, and good dangerous game guns chambering it start at about $7,000-9,000 (entry level doubles). Plus, you'll have a hard time finding ammunition.

Canadiangunnutz Members: Overcomplicating everything we can since 2004.
 
cape buff

I'll throw my 2 cents in now I'm back in the real world again. If you are looking, as stated, for a good crossover caliber to use in Can as well as shoot Cape buff with, there is but one choice and that would be the .375 H+H or Ruger with a 270 or 300 gn TSX. It is legal everywhere in Africa which most of the other advised calibers are not and it is a fine caliber here at home for everything from whitetails to big bears. You can take advice from all the computer experts or from guys like myself and Ardent and Dogleg who have actually been there and done it. The 416's and 458's are absolutely suited to Buff but have limited to no use back here and you should easily be able to find a good used one or even new within your budget. After that it's familiarity and shot placement that will bring success far more than caliber choice.
 
Why all the oddball suggestions in this thread? :redface: 9.3x74R is just swell as a cartridge, but it's not a .375 H&H, is more expensive, and good dangerous game guns chambering it start at about $7,000-9,000 (entry level doubles). Plus, you'll have a hard time finding ammunition.

Canadiangunnutz Members: Overcomplicating everything we can since 2004.

I just realized I'm one of the few who has been a member since 2004.. so are you but look at our post counts. I guess I'm more of a lurker.
 
I'll throw my 2 cents in now I'm back in the real world again. If you are looking, as stated, for a good crossover caliber to use in Can as well as shoot Cape buff with, there is but one choice and that would be the .375 H+H or Ruger with a 270 or 300 gn TSX. It is legal everywhere in Africa which most of the other advised calibers are not and it is a fine caliber here at home for everything from whitetails to big bears. You can take advice from all the computer experts or from guys like myself and Ardent and Dogleg who have actually been there and done it. The 416's and 458's are absolutely suited to Buff but have limited to no use back here and you should easily be able to find a good used one or even new within your budget. After that it's familiarity and shot placement that will bring success far more than caliber choice.

You won't get better advice than Doug's, this post should be the end of this thread really.
 
I've settled on a CZ550/BRNO 602/Winchester 70/RugerRSM

Caliber will be either .375H&H/.416/.458 with a heavy preference towards a .375H&H. I've opted against the .375ruger. Though .375H&H is my preference, I will not pass on a good .458 if the price is very attractive.

Thank you all for the advice and I shall post pics and a range report as soon as I purchase my rifle.

Best,
Oddione
 
Thank you all for the advice and I shall post pics and a range report as soon as I purchase my rifle.

Best,
Oddione[/QUOTE]

Please do.... looking forward to it... :)
 
You won't get better advice than Doug's, this post should be the end of this thread really.

Thats just because he hints that you are a real expert. LOL

I agree for a double duty Africa/Canada gun its hard to beat a 375. I would also look at 416's though as they are very good at shooting flat and hitting hard. I used a 416 for years here on deer moose and elk. It's the best way to practice with you gun.
 
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=713368

This should do the job, I have one the same, great gun.

That's beyond perfect for what this guy wants, and spot on his price- that's a damn fair price on that rifle too. If he misses it he really doesn't want to go to Africa that badly. ;)

toebako, not so much, but I suppose it doesn't hurt. ;)

A .375 is the world's rifle, if you can use and own only one, it's "it" and the fellow wanted the "rational choice". I like .416's a good deal, but they are a lot less versatile than the .375 to a guy that lives in Canada and hunts Africa once in his lifetime, if for nothing else just in bullet selection. The .375 can shoot within an inch as flat as a 140gr .270 Winchester to 300 yards or more at 235gr, or can move 350grs at 2,450fps. You also get boat tail spitzers that push the .500's BC wise allowing supersonic bullets past 1,000 yards. It also offers cheaper and more commonly available brass and ammunition.

Without getting technical like I did, c-fbmi pointed out that they're all good, but for a rational choice, there's little debate. He's also new to "real rifles" and a little less recoil's not going to hurt given he's professed he doesn't want to shoot it much. I absolutely agree with the point you didn't have to say but I'm sure mean, that if a .375's good on Buffalo, a .416's better- but the .375 is good enough. Especially for a guy on a once off trip, and with the other factors considered in.
 
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