What rifle do you totally trust on dangerous game and what rifle do you mistrust on Dangerous game

[Doug Hamilton]

I favor Mauser 98 those actions in a caliber that is more than adequate for any game I might shoot. Mine is a Whitworth Express Mark X in .458 WM. I have used this rifle to.take two cape buffalo. I do not believe there is any animal that I could take with it. Of course I have spent quite a bit of time working up hand loads and making sure everything works correctly. Over the years I had the trigger replaced with a him net and the safety replaced with a Model 70 style, the stick was glass bedded and had it Magnaported. Then the action was smoothed. You could probably buy one for about $1200, but I wouldn't sell mine for twice that.

That's Timney trigger. I hate auto correct!

 

[Franco]

I'm in the double rifle camp; my Heym 89B 450/400. Perhaps someday it will be my Heym 89B 500NE, but I haven't shot it enough to feel comfortable - so maybe that answers the second part of the question.

 

[Tanks]

I always wondered why if the double rifle is such a magical DGR, did it never catch on as a military weapon?

Now, you are being funny. Rate of fire and range are the important factors in a military weapon. Not to mention standard and fast production of the firearm.

 

[dgr416]

Its what ever you shoot the best and you can totally Trust that is your DGR .I skipped 375 because they kinda overlap with 338 win mag in power .I skipped the 458 becuse it just kicks too hard in a light rifle and lacks longer range .The 416 rem mag fit the bill perfect for me and i can shoot the heck out of it .I can use long rang bullets and shoot 350 yards with it .I do totally like kevelar stocks over wood and stainless over blued .I like 22 inch barrels and iron sites just incase a scope is destroyed .I hope the 416 rem mag keeps going because its an awesone cartridge .I dont have an extended magazine on mine but would be nice .I like glow sites for iron sites too .I am getting to the stage that i about need a muzzlebreak with my torn rotator cuff to shoot alot .The 416 ruger rifles are a good buy just add a good kevelar stock i dont like the safety though .

 

[chashardy]

This is really kind of a curious question. I completely trust my Chapuis 375 H&H double and my Rigby 416 Big Game. I would never go into the field with any rifle, any caliber that I did not completely trust. That's why you practice with them on the bench. If you aren't absolutely sure about any weapon, don't use it.

 

[SStomcat]

Isn't this more of a personal preference question? Mr X can be very comfortable with a gun that can be a nuisance to Mr Y. Or someone can be very comfortable with more than one type of gun for DG...

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Isn't this more of a personal preference question? Mr X can be very comfortable with a gun that can be a nuisance to Mr Y. Or someone can be very comfortable with more than one type of gun for DG...

You are probably right, but I think that may have been the point. I am a CRF bolt guy myself and would not even consider a lever or single shot for dangerous game, although I like both of those actions for less hazardous game. Others don't want to give up their lever or single shot for any reason, though it sounds crazy to me. That leave the double rifle. I love sxs shotguns and think a double rifle would suit me fine. I just can't justify the cost considering how much I like the bolt gun. Getting a lot of information on who likes which type of weapon and why could be valuable information to the OP.

 

[SStomcat]

You are probably right, but I think that may have been the point. I am a CRF bolt guy myself and would not even consider a lever or single shot for dangerous game, although I like both of those actions for less hazardous game. Others don't want to give up their lever or single shot for any reason, though it sounds crazy to me. That leave the double rifle. I love sxs shotguns and think a double rifle would suit me fine. I just can't justify the cost considering how much I like the bolt gun. Getting a lot of information on who likes which type of weapon and why could be valuable information to the OP.

Agreed.

 

[Safari Dave]

I learned very good lessons in Alaska with rifles and watched others really mess up and almost lose their lives .My top Alaska DGR was a Weatherby Accumark in 338-378 .I put that rifle through so many test i wonder why Weatherby is not considered more often .I found a custom 416 rem mag weatherby that looks totally promising also .I love how smooth their bolts work and compared to todays worse ever bolting guns they are the perfect DGRs to me .I hardly ever see Weatherby rifles talked about but saw alot of them in the field .The Ruger 77 stainless was way more popular in Alaska but they are not as smooth as weatherbys .I would like for the mark V to be able to open the bolt without taking off the safety thats the only thing i dont like on my favorite DGR .
I would not trust a savage or marlin lever gun as a DGR i have seen both jam like crazy and be totally useable .I had my sav 260 rem totally jam on a big buck .I bought a savage 458 that was 6.75 pounds didnt even fire it .

Weatherby rifles have never let me down, either.

With that being said, my CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .416 Rigby would probably get the nod as the most reliable rifle I own, even though it is hardly as smooth as any of my Weatherby's.


I wish I could say it was my Heym Model 88B, but it "doubled" on me once when I pulled the rear trigger first. It was repaired (at no cost to me), and it hasn't happened since, but it would have been nice if it never happened in the first place.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Now, you are being funny. Rate of fire and range are the important factors in a military weapon. Not to mention standard and fast production of the firearm.

Military muskets were not designed for accuracy. A double musket would be no less accurate than a single barrel one. Might require more time to fully load a double musket but the soldier could always simply load one barrel if time only allowed it. Quality control for military muskets was never a big item of importance. Certainly would have cost more to manufacture double muskets but would it have been worth it? Perhaps. A flint shatters or only flash in the pan and shooter still has a second barrel he can fire.

 

[1972RedNeck]

I would never trust a Savage on any hunt. I hope I never see a 375 Ruger in Savage as a rental rifie. I just expect a Savage to let me down.

Why? I have a Savage 116 SE in 375 just because it was cheap. But its CRF and goes bang every time. And in typical cheap Savage fashion, it shoots bug holes at 100 yards with several different loads.

Do they have a weakness or flaw that I need to be aware of?

 

[375Fox]

Why? I have a Savage 116 SE in 375 just because it was cheap. But its CRF and goes bang every time. And in typical cheap Savage fashion, it shoots bug holes at 100 yards with several different loads.

Do they have a weakness or flaw that I need to be aware of?

I’ve used savage rifles twice once as a rental and once a borrowed rifle. They jammed reloading both times. I simply don’t like the design, look, or consider them reliable. Not saying it can’t be a reliable rifle for you if you learn the rifle, but I’d prefer to never shoot one again.

 

[Flbt]

I don’t think you can throw my rifles in the realm of dangerous game.
Hogs and black bear maybe be some what dangerous.
But trust in the rifle might also be where. You are at

Here I have never had problems with the ss marlin guide gun a ruger 77
And believe it or not a Rossi 92.
I trust them because I have used them and put a lot of rounds through them.

if I had to buy a rifle to go after large game I would first look at a ruger 77
And then probably at other Mauser type action.

 

[CoElkHunter]

5+1

Same as my CZ Lott.

 

[Houston Bill]

I totally trust my Heym 450/400 and my 470NE double rifles f large dangerous game situations and for lion I used ny 375 RUM and had total confidence in that rifle as well.

 

[Warren Knudsen]

My brno zkk602 in 416 Rigby. Always with out fail

 

[Franco]

Isn't this more of a personal preference question? Mr X can be very comfortable with a gun that can be a nuisance to Mr Y. Or someone can be very comfortable with more than one type of gun for DG...

Do you mean in relation to certain types and also brands of rifles? Regardless of caliber, I suppose. This question is not easy to answer objectively. There will certainly be as many different answers as there are people answering.

The question, "What rifle do YOU totally trust on dangerous game and what rifle do YOU mistrust on dangerous game?", does not ask, "WHY?"

The subjective answer would be based on bias, opinion, feeling, etc., unique to the individual, and there is no wrong answer. It is difficult to argue against one's feelings.

The objective answer would cite facts, and perhaps the personal experiences which influenced the bias and formed those opinions and feelings.

I would ask the following:

How long did it take you to arrive at your answer? Did an event come instantly to mind which influenced your answer, or is your answer based on "What if" scenarios you've played out?

For me the answer was easy, I have an image etched forever in my mind of an elephant head emerging from thick trees less than 30 feet away. I don't have to close my eyes to recall the sights of my Heym 450/400 and the bull's forehead lining up as he closed the distance. I shoot with both eyes open, and all I saw was grey. In the split second it took to pull the trigger and the elephant to drop I formed a bond with that rifle.

 

[Franco]

You are probably right, but I think that may have been the point. I am a CRF bolt guy myself and would not even consider a lever or single shot for dangerous game, although I like both of those actions for less hazardous game. Others don't want to give up their lever or single shot for any reason, though it sounds crazy to me. That leave the double rifle. I love sxs shotguns and think a double rifle would suit me fine. I just can't justify the cost considering how much I like the bolt gun. Getting a lot of information on who likes which type of weapon and why could be valuable information to the OP.

Doug,

Can you picture Uncle Lino, and Uncle Etz armed with double rifles?

You are welcome to try out my doubles anytime.

 

[CoElkHunter]

My brno zkk602 in 416 Rigby. Always with out fail
View attachment 724956

Beautiful rifle!

 

[Franco]

Beautiful rifle!

I'll second that.