What is an adequate back-up rifle for a Professional Hunter..?

Pondoro

Pondoro

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For backing up on DG I mean..

I do not think a .375H&H is adequate on DG, at least not when elephant is in the equation..

Opinions..?
 
I would say any of the firearms chucking at least a 500gr round, this IMO should be regarded as the minimum.

My best always

Edited, I agree with the statements below with regards to recoil managing, if a guide is super efficient with his 404 or 416 stick to it...
Very true guys!
 
Last edited:
i say its the biggest calibre that that PH can shoot accurately! Rather have a small hole in the correct place than a big one in the wrong place. But if you fire a bad backup shot your chances of turning the animal is way better with a 500gr compared to a 300gr. Then secondly you need to pick a rifle with enough penetration for what you are going to be using it to backup on.
I personally backup with a .450 N.E
 
Anything that throws a 500gr bullet at around 2150 fps like Jaco says. But if a PH can shoot well a 404 or 416 would do very well too. My recoil limit is the 458 Lott,can't take more thump than it delivers so no use for me stepping up a calibre.
 
We have 375H&H, 416 Rigby's and 458WM, I would feel perfectly safe using any of them as back up. Know your shot placement and shooting skills, and more importantly have the balls to wait for correct shot. :A Outta:
 
I am not a PH. However, with the unwritten rule that the client should have the rifle he shoots best with him I am of the expectation it applies universally to PHs as well.
 
Pondoro, I interpret " backing up" as being different from "charge stopping", but not sure if you do. In my view a back up shot generally doesn't mean the beast in question is coming towards you intent on mischief.

I would think anything from .375 up would be fine for backing up, but I'd want my PH to have something bigger to stop a charge.
 
Depends on what he's backing you up on. The requirement for a Leopard can be vastly different then for a Elephant. I would say for the big stuff anything over 40 cal that they shoot well. For cats anything that works be it a Shotgun or a rifle.
 
Hank2211 said:
Pondoro, I interpret " backing up" as being different from "charge stopping", but not sure if you do. In my view a back up shot generally doesn't mean the beast in question is coming towards you intent on mischief.

I would think anything from .375 up would be fine for backing up, but I'd want my PH to have something bigger to stop a charge.
Click to expand...

When I say backing up I mean also being able to stop a charge..

But then backing up on ie leopard is not the same as backing up on elephant as stated here..
 
Spooksar, what load would you use in the shotgun for cats?
 
TMS said:
Spooksar, what load would you use in the shotgun for cats?
Click to expand...

normaly buckshot and the distance should be NOT over six meter,or ?
Only my opinion for leo,but what are you doing when the cat is running away on 15m,or you see the tom on that distance ?
You need a bullet
I think some PHs prefer here rifles and no shotgun.

My PH last year ,was always carrying his .375
Sometimes it happend,that clients don't want to go with him in the bush for elephant hunting.
They feared,that he could't stop the Jumbos while charging.
But he always said to me: .500 is for cowards ;)

Here a pic from him,I brought it in AH already.
But its a great picture.
Sorry that I do it again :whistle:
Foxi
60 pounder.jpg
 
and here an other one from him
retuschiert.jpg
,hunted in June /also Zimbabwe.
And also back up with .375 H+H
Hope you enjoy
Foxi
 
Buck shot and only in close
 
Foxi...very nice elephant...(y)
 
I have used, 375H&H, 458WM, 458Lott and now I use a 416 Rigby at the moment. They are all good.
I only shoot a 416 now because I wanted it and I could afford buying it at the price I did.

But for a guy who uses his back up gun a lot I would rather go for the 375H&H due to the availability and cost of ammo.

There is nothing small to a 300gr bullet from the muzzle of a 375H&H
 
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