Stopping Rifles, .375 - .450 - .505 Gibbs

Fair points to all. I'd love the .577, but would be looking at 30 grand plus. Would much rather a hell of a Leopard hunt for that with current hardware. Though I've gone beyond the scope of the suggestion of keeping what you're happy with, just musings on the subject of tools or hunting.Ten years ago, I couldn't have imagined work being as good as it is and having the guns and hunts in the pocket, if I'm lucky maybe I'll think the same in another ten and consider .577 doubles. I do however enjoy not being overly attached to material things, it's quite liberating, so I'll likely find one at a good deal, enjoy it, and bid it farewell after some years.

The .470 is enroute, a kind thanks to the owner, ordering a shot clock and will be a bit yet to have the ammo and all ready. Waiting on some .450 Rigby stuff too.
 
If you have to choice between the gun and the hunt, take the hunt every time. However, if you can afford to tie up the money for awhile then cheerfully let the rifle go and get your money back did it really cost anything?
 
E###actly. I'm not sad to see them go when they've served me well. I assemble quite a few rifles, I hesitate to say build as I gave up my lathe due to moves around the north and mostly do stocks and simple customizing, farming out heavier machine processes these days. I used to get so attached to my builds and projects, and one day it dawned on me no matter how nice they were, owning them brought me little happiness, it was the project I enjoy. That extends into hunting, I used to feel I wanted to use one good rifle I knew well for eons, and there are merits to that. In a pragmatic way that just happens such as I have a couple go too's that are always sighted in, always ready. Really though, do I want to be a one tool hunter my whole hunting "career" and limit myself to a few rifles, or even chamberings, or would I rather learn more and have a broader range of experiences?

This carries into me choosing experiences over material things everytime I get the opportunity. Some experiences are indeed bolstered by the right material things, as Boomer points out, and I appreciate a fine rifle as much as anyone. My angle on it is I feel no remorse at enjoying them for a few years and then seeing them meet other happy owners who will enjoy them, and for me, it's a win win as my experience continues. I'll own a .577 one day, and will love it, and will one day wish the new owner well. And the longer it takes to sell, the longer I'll enjoy it, and if it never sells I'm happy too my boys will enjoy it. Just keep it relaxed and not too fixed in notions.
 
I think that your love affair with a 577 will be a short one. The rifle's weight will put you off and will do nothing to take the recoil. It is a throwback to a time when you needed the enormous case to propel a poor excuse for a bullet fast enough to use against an angry elephant. Plus you had some indentured sap to carry the hateful thing around until you were really to use it. Given the nature of bullets today and the lack of gunbearers, the 470 and 500 Nitros are the upper end of both hunter and client rifles, and that's not a bad thing. They have the manageable weight and recoil necessary to ensure good shooting on both the first and subsequent shots while still being quick to the shoulder and easy to wave around. They aren't a poor choice when slipping into the bushes, even when following up leopard. The 577 and 600 are simply outmatched in all areas by their more practical and versatile brethren.
 
Perhaps, but it is its extreme impracticality and gross excess that I find quite fascinating. Plus it has a legitimate history in the heyday, and is connected to a startling number of alcoholics and noteworthy misadventurers. Weight I can handle for likely another couple decades, and I'm intrigued by having an extreme at my disposal. Would love to experiment and see if there is anything to big and heavy as a stopper.
 
I have a book on my shelf written by John Kingley-Heath, one of the most notable of the post-war generation of hunters. He had very good things to say about the .577, but his ultimate verdict on the .577 was, " For me, it was a bit too much gun. It weighed 14 pounds, and I found that often, after spending a couple of hours stalking a good bull carrying good ivory, my arms were like lead from carrying and crawling with it." Kingsley-Heath would have been in his early '20's at that time, and ultimately wound up carrying a double .470 for most of his career. Even J.A. Hunter, no fan of small bores, gave up on the .577 in favour of double .475's and eventually a double .500.
 
Between the two rifles I'm holding, a John Wilkes .500 NE cradled in my left arm, and the Chas. Osborne .577 over my right shoulder, the value I'm holding would purchase a modest house in some rural areas of Manitoba. Too bad I don't have a muzzle on view of the .577, its impressive. The interesting thing is that the .577 is Mark Sullivan's lil back up gun when his Marcel Tyes .600 NE is under the weather. Before we left he offered to sell me the .500 for $40K! I declined.
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This is a most excellent thread and just continues getting better post after post and I Thank all of You for that.
But for some reason my 404 Jeffery seems to be getting smaller with every succeeding post ! LOL !
 
Kevan said:
This is a most excellent thread and just continues getting better post after post and I Thank all of You for that.
But for some reason my 404 Jeffery seems to be getting smaller with every succeeding post ! LOL !
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Couldn't agree more. Ardent, Boomer, some great photos of some fine pieces. All I can do is dream. Thanks for sharing.
 
Get some 338 Lapua brass if you're in a pinch. The internal volume with,let be a little less but it's tough brass and you should be able to load the balls off it without worry.
 
Ardent said:
E###actly. I'm not sad to see them go when they've served me well...
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And here we part company... I am ALWAYS sad to see them go...

They do go... so that others may come... but there is always a lingering regret...
 
Ardent said:
Perhaps, but it is its extreme impracticality and gross excess that I find quite fascinating. Plus it has a legitimate history in the heyday, and is connected to a startling number of alcoholics and noteworthy misadventurers. Weight I can handle for likely another couple decades, and I'm intrigued by having an extreme at my disposal. Would love to experiment and see if there is anything to big and heavy as a stopper.
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I agree with your analogy on the .577 Nitro and can add that if one were to go the single shot route in this chambering, a whole lot of loads become available to the shooter without the limits doubles pose due to regulating the barrels. Huge savings in a gun build for a nice single shot, plus the fun factor in making loads that range from uber pellet gun to buff smasher, all in a lighter to carry package. The doubles are damn ###y, but a nice single is sweet as well. :)

I'm also at that stage of my life where the material stuff matters only so much that I actually use it either as
art or a tool.....and tools win out over art for me, but they must be artful in their own way. Many a gun has
gone from me to others to enjoy, and that's what "durable goods" are designed for. I've downsized my gun
pile to 20 and as age wins out over time I will shrink it again, but my Cooey 39 that I've had the most fun
& adventures with since I was 13 will be with me till I croak.

I'll take the sea, my wife and my dog over anything else. Fair dinkum.

Here's a nice 2 bore that will test one's stamina to the max.;)
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BigUglyMan said:
Get some 338 Lapua brass if you're in a pinch. The internal volume with,let be a little less but it's tough brass and you should be able to load the balls off it without worry.
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Good thinking and thanks, will try and fireform some.

twoshots said:
If you can't find the rigby I have lots of lapua
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Will get a PM to you asap, want to have enough in the hand to at least getting it running.
 
Interesting, for the $20K though I can build my own with some nicer timber if going single, or put it towards the double. Realistically I'd finish my big five next year in Namibia with the money. All this pessism said that is a hell of a rifle! Would be a good test platform on Aussie buff.
 
Ardent said:
Anyone have any .416 Rigby brass they can afford to sell, or know a retailer with stock? I need to form some .450 Rigby ASAP to get this GMA on line.
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I seem to recall seeing some .416 brass in Williams Arms in Port Perry, but it's been a while since I was in there Google should give you contact info.
 
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