375 H&H or 416 RIgby

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I am so excited about my upcoming April 2021 Cape Buffalo hunt. Just curious what everyone thinks about hunting Cape Buffalo with 416 Rigby with 400 Grain bullets or a 375 H&H with 300 grain bullets. I completely trust my PH who says 375 is enough. It’s just I have both guns and curious of your thoughts. Given I live in US, I was thinking 375 for CB and 416 for one day elephant where I cannot ship back to US for latter but could make replicas.
 
A good quality 300 or bigger bullet in a 375 is adequate, but a 416 is just another level up, IMO. A Barnes, Swift A-frame, Federal TBBC, North Fork, etc will do the job. I’ve only had the opportunity to take one and it was with a 300 Barnes TSX...actually 2 rounds, but it never got more than maybe 5-10 yards and was done.
JMO, but if you’re only hunting CB, use the 416, but if you are taking other game as well, my preference would be the 375 H&H. It is all I have taken on my last three trips.
Oh I envy you! You’re going to have a grand time!
 
The 375 H and H is a very versatile cartridge and no doubt is well capable of taking a Cape buffalo, other DG, and will also make easy work of any plains game.

I recently went though the same dilemma. What i ended up with is a Ruger Safari in 416 Rigby and an MRC 404 Jeffery. There’s just something about a 400 bore rifle that I find attractive.
 
Either will work just fine. Pick one, select a high end bullet and practice. Then when you think you are shooting very good, then practice some more.
 
The largest caliber (at or above 375) that you can ACCURATELY shoot will be fine.

If you are doing a mixed bag PG/DG hunt the 375 will work fine with 300 grain softs.
Taking some solids along for any of the smaller antelope is a good plan as well.

If doing a dedicated DG hunt for Cape Buffalo, and you don't already have a .40+...
It is a perfect reason to add another rifle to the battery.

Either way you go, please select a premium expanding bullet for Cape Buffalo.
Swift A-Frame, Barnes TSX, Norma Oryx...stay with the trusted brands.
 
Either is fine but the 416 Rigby just hit a little harder whichever you take premium bullets will do the job for you.
Have fun and all the best in getting the trophy you have dreamed about..
Care-full it addicting
 
My buffalo hunts also encompass a wide range of PG. Additionally, I hate travelling with multiple guns unless absolutely necessary on today's typically short 7 - 14 day hunts (after all, we don't do it in North America, Europe or Asia. :E Shrug: In my experience, one is one and two is one too many) :Finger: The .375 is not just a good compromise, it is to my mind, the best solution for such a multi-species hunt. I own a .470, 500-416, and .404. On a mixed bag hunt, I take one of the .375's and a quality 300 gr bullet. I do it because I believe it is the optimal choice for such a hunt.
 
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I would hunt buffalo with your .416 Rigby and bring a .300/.338 Mag to hunt plains game with after you have taken your buffalo, you can also shoot plains game with your .416 Rigby. I travel with a Pelican 1750 case and with just a little more effort I can bring two rifles , which I prefer to do on most hunts.
 
Either with premium bullets will work very well. Take the one you shoot the best and practice alot.

I am a big bore guy and would take the 416 especially if elephant is part of the equation.

This and I would pile on about bullet selection. It is the bullet and only the bullet that kills the animal, it does ALL the heavy lifting. Until the North Fork's become available again, my preference would be the Swift A-Frame.
 
For me if this was a one and done dangerous game hunt I would go with the .375. If it is for multiple dangerous game hunts then I would go with the 416.

I personally would like a 404 Jeffery, don't ask me why, it's just because.
 
What else are you going to shoot with the 416? It was built to take down buffalo and elephant. Or take them both. Doesn't hurt to have a backup gun. Either way enjoy!
 
have done buffalo with both ,but now will take my 416 in next years buffalo hunt
 
I've used both on buffalo. The .416 is a noticeable step up both in terms of thumping power and recoil. To me, the choice depend son how comfortable you are with the .416. If you are, then go for it - a .375 is certainly enough, but where else will you get a chance to use a .416?!

As many have said, as, if not more important, is the choice of bullet. I'm a fan of Barnes, TBBC or A-Frame. None has ever let me down on buffalo.
 
I would say take what you can shoot best with. Dont forget in this game its all about where you put that bullet. No point taking a shot that just pisses off a buff. And as many have said practice you only get one shot or maybe two once you have stalked in.
 
375 H&H (1) I hate recoil (2) Been killing game since 1912 (3) ammo is easily found. That said, I would look at the Norma African PH ammo, that's a 350G Woodleigh bullet for the Buffalo.
 
The 375 is adequate no doubt. If AND ONLY IF you can shoot the 416 as well, it will of course hit harder and give you more margin on buffalo, assuming it isn't too heavy to carry, the optics are up to the task, all else being equal, etc, etc. Very few people are heard to complain at the end of a successful hunt that they wish they had put a smaller hole in the buffalos chest. But as a client, I will never shoot enough buffalo that the greater impact of a 416 vs a 375 has any statistically significant chance of making a difference in outcome. I'll be lucky to shoot 10 buffalo in my lifetime and for as rarely as things go wrong and as modest the improved performance of the bigger round is, it almost assuredly won't make a difference for me. No doubt a PH will have enough chances for things to go wrong and a 458 Lott or a 470 or whatnot has enough increased performance on buffalo that it is a better choice for him.

As far as what to choose if plains game are involved, I am going to disagree with the vast majority who say XX rifle for dangerous game and YY (smaller) rifle for plains game, and I know my opinion is well outside the mainstream. Based on personal experience, I don't see what advantage a smaller rifle offers. I shoot my 404 every bit as well as my 30-06 (which may say more to my lack of ability with the 30-06 than my ability with the 404!) and while the 30-06 is and always will be adequate for plains game, the 404 hits harder and drops animals faster. If you shoot the 416 as accurately as you shoot the 375, the 375 isn't going to do a better job on smaller animals, it is just something else to carry. Either is more than you need but there is no more dead than dead. If it were just a plains game hunt, you might want to bring a lighter rifle that is easier to carry all day, but no amount of weight savings on the plains game rifle is worth traveling with 2 rifles for me. I agree 100% with Red Leg that one gun is enough to carry.

I'll also disagree regarding the 416 being preferable for elephant: as the client, you will be taking a single aimed brain shot on a specific single animal. It matters not at all whether you use a 375 solid or a 416 solid, it only matters whether you place the shot properly. If things go sideways, a big stopping rifle would be welcome but such a rifle is only going to hinder you in doing your job as the client. Remember much of what is written about elephant hunting is written by ivory hunters or game department cullers. Those are very different situations than that faced by the client on a modern elephant hunt.

All of that said, if I had started with my 375HH R8, I doubt I would ever look to buy another rifle. My 30-06 is a little easier to carry. My 404 custom GMA arguably hits harder and inarguably has more classic beauty. The 375 R8 is easy enough to carry and hits hard enough. If I didn't have a lot of memories tied up in my other rifles, I'd be well-served to simplify my life and just use my R8 for everything.
 

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