Next Safari Rifle

All,
Looking for some insight and opinion. I am returning to Africa next year for my second Buffalo/PG hunt as well as Australia for WaterBuffalo. I have a O/U 9.3X74r I used on my first safari and am looking to upgrade to something bigger .375 +. I have been looking at BRNO ZK602(.375)/Sako Brown Bear/Kodiak(.375) and CZ 550 Safari or Express in .375-.404-416 range. Primary use will be Africa & Australia and big bears. My main concerns are reliability and strength. Barrel length and cosmetics are secondary. I would appreciate pros and cons on these models. Kind regards, Mike

I don't know to much about the Sako, but your other choices are wonderful. The .375 or .404 are nice! Anything in the .416 and up is a lot of power and the gun better fit you like a glove...especially with hot loads.
But you probably should move up to something more since you own the 9.3x74. 458 Win.,416 Rem., 416 Rigby are pretty easy to find.

I just handled (drooled) on the Wincheter Model 70 safari express today, albeit it was the cabelas anniversary addition-fancy wood. Super smooth, will be ordering one soon-trigger is nice, only wish would be more than 3 cartridge capacity...advantage CZ.

I have an older model SAKO AV 375 H&H, Love it, but I HAVE NOT TAKEN NOT TO AFRICA yet!!!

So I cannot comment on how it feels and performs in Africa!

On another forum someone made the analogy that closing the SAKO action is like closing the drivers door on a Mercedes... solid, firm, and you know your into something before you start the engine...

375 H&H's over 100 years old, still considered to be the best all around Africa cartridge by many, still getting th e job done.

Howver, I've heard alot of good things about the 416 family too.

Sako s are great guns, I have owned several.

The .375HH will do the job and it s recoil is very manageable. Bigger is better, however, you will pay for it with increased recoil which might be uncomfortable, so I suggest you try them before.