3 Dangerous Game Safaris, 2 rifles only, wich calibers?

Hi all, I need advice on what 2 rifles would be the best bet for 3 dangerous game safaris I am planing to do in the next 4 years, I am not sure what to buy to be efective for the 3 trips, first trip for Buffalo and plains game Mozambique, Second trip for leopard / Sable in Zimbabwe and tird trip for Elephant in Zimbabwe,
I want a double in 470 or 500, and a bolt action in 375, but I am not sure this would be and ideal combo for leopard / sable, the other option in my mind is a 416 bolt action for big gun and a 338 win mag bolt action for small gun, but again I am not sure this would be the best combo for elephant, If you had the only option of buying two guns for this 3 trips what would you get???, I know it may sound wierd to want to buy only two and that is it, instead of buying some for a trip and then sell them and get diferent ones for the other trip and so on, but In Mexico the rules for owning and selling firarms makes it really dificult to do so, my real option is to buy and keep and not sell. Any advice will be greatly apreciated,

I just returned from Moz and Zim hunting buffalo, sable, and other plainsgame. My battery was a 470 double and a 375 H&H. I would hunt anything anywhere with that combination.

My first trip to Africa was for two buffalo and plainsgame. That hunt I used a 416 Rem and 338 Win with very good results also.

If I could choose only two rifles it would be the 470 double and 375 H&H. It will work fine for the game you have listed.

Hi David,
i think with an 416 bolt action rifle your on the right way. With an rifle in good shape and function and the most importend a lot of practice you will do a great job. I think that you don't need a second gun, but if you need it, the 338 would be a nice choice.

Best Regards
africanhunt

I'm by no means an expert, but if it was me, I would get a 470 double and a 375 bolt. Just my $0.02.

nd

I've taken 26 big 5 with 17 taken in 12 months. My recommendation would be 458 Lott for buff and above. You can shoot normal 458 win mag ammo on the buff. I do not recommend the 338, had 2, rather the 300 win mag is better. A 470/338 combo doesn't help longer range shots on big five if needed. Ammo type critical regardless.

David,

The choicest rifles for the safari you intend taking in the years to come should be the 375 H&H Mag. in the bolt action & the 470 in the double , you would conquer it all & bag some fine dangerous game heads .... armed with both these calibers I am sure you would be a very happy dangerous game hunter in Africa .............

Happy Hunting !!!!!!!!!!!

Monish

Hi David
I am hunting and guiding 17 years full time in Africa. I have seen many calibers doing very good, but at the end of the day it is a good bullet and the placement of the bullet. I have seen many buffalo go down with one single shot out of a 375, i still do have a impala running that was shot with a 500. I shoot a 375 H&H and a 470 Double two great calibers they can do most you need to do. I also did use a 416 Rigby for some years but felt it was not as good as the 470 in stopping a buffalo. Just my experience over 17 years.

Not much to add, but the .375 .470 combo seems a near ideal battery. The .375 is particularly versatile. This past summer I took a buffalo at a 100m, waterbuck at 225m, and an eland at a few feet. In between were miles of walking and another half dozen head of plains game. It can sort out the vitals of a trophy buff from the tangle of a herd and the brush, or knock a Hartman stallion off the next ridge. The .470 will, of course, be ideal for that close poke at a tusker or following up that buff.

What bullet do you use for your 375 as an all around bullet. I have a 375 Ruger and am looking for such a bullet...I like Swift A-frames or TSX and good solids??

Silver Tip

Very informative answers and Very apreciated , I fell the tendency is going towards, 470 / 375 , any preference on make an model for this battery?

Originally Posted by davidarizpe

Very informative answers and Very apreciated , I fell the tendency is going towards, 470 / 375 , any preference on make an model for this battery?

I think that that is the "classic" combination and will serve you anywhere in the world.

I will chime in with the rest and vote for the .375 and .470 combo. Regardless of what gun is in your hand you will be legally suited for DG. As for the type of weapon. Depending on your budget for a .470 double I personally like the Krieghoff. Seriously consider the Sabatti that is now being offered by Cabelas. I was hunting buff in Zim this past September with a client that had just bought one in the .500 cal. For $5500.00. This is a superb piece of equipment for the money.
In regards to the .375 I would consider the Winchester model 70. A friend of mine has bought a couple of CZ's and likes them very much but I have had no personal experience with them.

IMO you have already figured out the battery problem with the 470NE double rifle, and the 375H&H bolt rifle.

This combination is perfect for the three safaris you want to book! All are in country where dangerous game lives, and there is an old saying that is as true today as it was when it was first said by Pondoro Taylor. Qt~ “ when hunting in elephant country hunt with an elephant rifle” Meaning that your light rifle needs be capable of taking the largest thing you are likely to encounter. There is no better combination than a .450 cal or larger double rifle in combination with a good 375H&H bolt rifle.

The double should be a side by side, with two triggers, and a non-automatic safety and your 470NE is a good choice. One word of caution here the Krieghoff combi-cocking system if fine as long as the rifle fits you, and you get in a lot of practice with the rifle before going to Africa with it. Many think the Blaser S-2 double rifle’s combi-cocking system is the same as the K-gun but it is not, and IMO should be avoided for use with dangerous game. The Blaser automatically de-cocks the rifle when it is opened for any reason, and must be re-cocked manually before it can be fired after re-loading one of both barrels. This is not a good feature when being confronted by an angry Cape buffalo, or Elephant. The K-gun OTH once made ready to fire, automatically re-cocks both barrel when broken open to re-charge one of both barrels, and the rifle is ready to fire as soon as it is closed by a simple pulling of one or both triggers. The Blasers are cheap to buy, but the savings may well cost you a lot more than you save!

On the bolt rifle the action need to be a CRF action, fitted with quality irons sights, and the scope should be at least Luepold quality, and mounted in quality quick detach rings and bases, the return to zero every time the scope is removed, and remounted. for Leopard, or lion on bait the scope should gather as much light as possible, and have a lighted retical. A good one for this is the Trijicon 3-9X40MM It needs no batteries, and give you the choice of amber, red, or green aiming point with the standard crosshair being best . The amber seems to be the choice of most who use them.

For bullets in the 470NE this depends on if you will be using factory ammo, or hand-loads. Hornady factory ammo is good and the bullets are OK as well. With handloads I would look real hard to North Fork CPS, and FPS mono-metal bullets, that design is safe in double rifles as long as the barrels are the proper bore dimensions. If you want a good soft point the A-frame is OK.
For the 375 H&H the A-frames, Nosler partitions, or the North Fork soft point , and you need to settle on “ON ONE BULLET, and LOAD” for all shooting with that rifle. IMO having several different weight bullets is not the best idea anyone ever had. A good soft, and solid that prints to the same POI is the key here.

Both rifles should be legal to finish the safari incase one fails to arrive, or breaks leaving you with one rifle to do it all. The .30 cals and the 338 will not be legal for all the big boys you want to collect. The 375 H&H IS!

…………………………….Good luck, Safari is the graduation for the hunter, so enjoy every minute of it from the practice range to the long flight home, because it all counts in your memory bank!

Originally Posted by Mike70560

I just returned from Moz and Zim hunting buffalo, sable, and other plainsgame. My battery was a 470 double and a 375 H&H. I would hunt anything anywhere with that combination.

Originally Posted by DUGABOY1

IMO you have already figured out the battery problem with the 470NE double rifle, and the 375H&H bolt rifle. . . .This combination is perfect for the three safaris you want to book!

I believe Mike and Dugaboy nailed it for you. I would definitely take my 470NE double and 375 H&H bolt rifle.

The answer is simple, the two that your shoot the best, so long as one is at least a 375 H&H. Simply, it doesn't matter what the caliber is if you can't shoot it accurately. All of the trophies that you are interested in have been taken with a 375 H&H. Also, in most, if not all African countries, that is the minimum allowable caliber for dangerous game, consequently one of your rifles must be at least this caliber. If you can shoot a larger caliber well than pick the largest caliber that you can shoot well as one. If it is a double than choose a scoped bolt gun for the leopard as you will need the light gathering capability of a scope. If you aren't comfortable with a 416 or 470 but want something larger than the 375, you could try a 404 Jeffery.

I just bougth the 375, winchester model 70, will let you know about the double. You are a great bunch of people, your help is very apreciated.

Originally Posted by Kiwi505

I think that that is the "classic" combination and will serve you anywhere in the world.

. I would personally recommend the Kimber Talkeetna 375H&H. It is a very dependable rifle with excellent trigger - no creep and very crisp letoff. I have mine topped with a Z6 Swarovski 2-12x40 and was very successful on a recent safari in Zimbabwe for plains game and buffalo. You can't go wrong with this combo. Good luck!

i have hunted each of these same three trips with a .375 Win Model 70 and a .470 Merkel double. On the .375 put on a great scope with detachable rings and keep your iron sights also. The .470 is a specialist but you will love it your hands around elephant, ecspecially the ones you are not hunting!! You can have someone carry your .375 along with you just for a chance opportunity. enjoy.

Congratulations David , for procuring the Emperor of all calibers in a very superior make .............. May you take great trophy heads with it ..............

Monish