Reasons for owning a dangerous game rifle in North America

I'm not going through 19 pages to see if anybody told the O.P. that a 375 H&H simply kills North American game deader than a .270 Win Mag...
 
Longwalker said:
Ha! I read that to my wife. She laughed out loud. Because my .375 did lead me to Africa. But the really funny thing? I didn't bring it. I used my .375 H&H near home to shoot a couple elk, and a moose, and a bear, then my eye wandered to other .375's, and I had to try them. And also had to have a classic 9.3x62, and a 9.3x74R double rifle, and then a real dangerous game double rifle in .450-400 3" Nitro Express. And so when I went to Namibia last October I shot my game with a 9.3x62 and the .450-400, so now I have to go back to Africa in order to use the .375 as is only proper... it's a disease. Glad I'm not cured.
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I’m glad you mentioned that; as the .375 does have more than one trick and your observations will serve as a caution to others. While most will drag you to the Dark Continent; others have been known to push. Some owners really only needed a nudge in the first place. ;)

More disconcerting is that your’s chose to recruit accomplices and form a sinister cabal to force your behavior. There’s not much you can do after that happens. :(
 
Not many people are aware of the dangerous game here on our own continent! The Richardson's ground squirrel or (gopher) is not to be taken lightly!
These dangerous and underestimated critters have very little fear of humans and demand the use of proper firepower to dispatch them.
Our prefered caliber of choice is the 500/416 nitro express loaded with hard cast bullets. The flat meplat on the cast bullet ensures proper expansion on these hard to kill rodents. Seen here next to a gopher skull. Note the sharp pointed teeth.
image000004 by brad, on Flickr
In small areas of Alberta these creatures can be hunted and if causion is observed can be quite sporting. Preserving meat is not advised as recovery and meat preservation is tricky.
image000005 by brad, on Flickr
image000001_01 by brad, on Flickr
Stay on your toes as hard chargers are the norm. Here you can see a large male being launched back over the fence from whence he came.
image000000 by brad, on Flickr
A partner is advised as some pastures can be plentiful and the chance to shoot 2 at once can be quite the experience.
image000006 by brad , on Flickr
For those of you that are trophy hunters do not fret. After long hard hunting some impressive tuskers can be found. This trophy male was taken a few years back. To preserve the hide for taxidermy it is advised to shoot under the animal killing him with shock rather than the bullet itself.
image000003 by brad , on Flickr
 
Iam planning a gofer hunt for the spring, glad I have several hundred Hornady 500 solids on my shelf I can load for my .458.
 
Yotarunner said:
For those of you that are trophy hunters do not fret. After long hard hunting some impressive tuskers can be found. This trophy male was taken a few years back. To preserve the hide for taxidermy it is advised to shoot under the animal killing him with shock rather than the bullet itself.
image000003 by brad , on Flickr
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Haven’t seen a ten gram’er bull since the days Winchester made push feeds. :cheers:
 
I would see regularly see the Sabre Tooth Taxidea Taxus out in the savanna of eastern Alberta back in the day. Not so much anymore for some reason.

I will looking again this year for my trophy. Wish me luck; I'll be taking the Lott with me; shooting deep hollow point 510 grain'ers.

When one bears its' teeth at you, it is a special thrill......

Great pics by the way.
 
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It's fun i will do another marmott hunt this summer, i ordered 4 boxes of 300 gr 375 H&H.

PS: if you miss but are close you will KO the marmott.:)
 
I have no reason to own a dangerous game rifle. I lived and hunted among grizzlies for years, most of the time I had a 30-06 slung over my shoulder. I bumped onto them about 6 or 7 times, gave them their space, changed my course of direction.....nuff said.
 
Why own one? Because a 450-400NE 3" with a 320gr cast bullet will cut saplings like nothing I've ever seen before. I was shooting thru a thread the needle hole, didn't make it, but took out about 10-15 saplings. Couldn't stop laughing after I did that. You could probably drive a 210gr pistol bullet fast enough to turn to dust after leaving the barrel also, or use it on a gopher, trouble is, with the muzzle lift, can't watch the red mist thru the scope.
 
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