One cartridge to hunt dangerous game for the rest of your life and it can't be a 375, what are you going with?

416 Rigby or 458 Lott. The 458 has a better range of bullet availability but I do enjoy the Rigby.
You can never have too much gun IMO

GMA 416 Rigby.

JoninCO said:

Heym Express 416 Rigby.

Reason: I already own it.

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Me too!!!

HWL

If it had to be something I already own then it would be my trusty 30-06. Hemmingway killed a rhino with one, that's good enough for me.

If I had to buy something then probably a .416 rigby of some sort.

Cheers

503

One Day... said:

PS: re. 150 yards reach, not that you would shoot DG past 150 yards (or 100 yards for that matter), but there IS this possibility that the next world-record kudu pops up his head over the next ridge...

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The .458 WM can do much better than that, you just have to use the right bullet from the right platform. If your kudu shows up, chamber a 300 grain round and smack it out to 220 yards with a dead on hold, or use "Texas Elevation" out to 300.

Since I only have two 375 H&H and one 416 Rem Mag, I will go with my Win Mod 70 in 416 Rem Mag. However, I'd love to own a 416 Rigby.

My Rigby Big Game in 416 Rigby. After using this rifle, I sold my 2 rifles in 375 H&H. Nothing against the caliber at all. Just couldn't justify the need for it any longer.

Safe hunting

SFRanger, can we see that Rigby

Altitude sickness said:

SFRanger, can we see that Rigby

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Sure thing.



Safe hunting

450/400 for me. Why not

SFRanger7GP said:

Sure thing.
View attachment 593769
Safe hunting

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Beautiful rifle.

Northern Shooter said:

What would you choose? 9.3 doesn't count either.

A 416? 404? 458? Something bigger?

What and why?

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Since you said its exclusively for dangerous game, and you excluded 9.3 and 375 calibers, I'll answer within your constraints:

470NE. It does everything 500NE does, but with a bit less recoil. It absolutely can handle elephant well and hippo on land. It will pummel buffalo with authority. With a solid, it can be used to pick off small plains game without destroying the hide entirely.

The other benefits of 470NE is the ample supply of ammo in Africa should you run short, the diversity of bullet manufacturers making .474" bullets of all types and features, the simplicity of loading since 99% of all bullets weigh the same 500gr, and the relatively low-cost nature of the dies/shell holders/brass, etc.

The only thing that isn't so great would be the cats. It's dangerously overpowered for leopard and may result in less than an instant kill. It is unlikely to dump much of its energy into a lion either, passing through with 90% of its energy remaining. <-Both scenarios could be very bad for the hunter.

Nonetheless, within your constraints, that is what I would pick.

If I were to ignore the rules of your game, I would say 375HH Flanged, because it can handle all of the DG above on occasion but it also can kill deer and plains game very effectively, allowing it to be a "daily driver" rather than a specialty weapon for African DG that will at best get used once per year for twenty years of a man's life.

rookhawk said:

If I were to ignore the rules of your game, I would say 375HH Flanged, because it can handle all of the DG above on occasion but it also can kill deer and plains game very effectively, allowing it to be a "daily driver" rather than a specialty weapon for African DG that will at best get used once per year for twenty years of a man's life.

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I'm working on that 375 flanged Dakota 10 as you know. I'm very curious to use it for exactly the reasons you state above. It seems like a very practical choice...daily driver as you said. No different really than the 375 H&H, which I love a lot, but perhaps a little more elegant in a trimmer package as the Dakota 10.

Green Chile said:

I'm working on that 375 flanged Dakota 10 as you know. I'm very curious to use it for exactly the reasons you state above. It seems like a very practical choice...daily driver as you said. No different really than the 375 H&H, which I love a lot, but perhaps a little more elegant in a trimmer package as the Dakota 10.

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The advantage of your single shot is that you can regulate for about any bullet. I'd be shooting it all over North America with 235gr and 250gr bullets and I'd be using it in Africa with 300gr bullets on eland/leopard/kudu. Oh, and I'd probably develop the hottest, most on a knives edge, kick-the-snot-out-of-you 350gr load I could muster just for use on elephant and buffalo. (yes, you'll suffer brain damage and nose bleeds over extended use, but ten shots in a lifetime for ten megafauna seems a reasonable compromise)

P.S. - Get it with quarter rib and pop up front night-sight bead so you can do the nasty stuff in the thick jess w/o scope!

500 Jeff

I would have to go with a 416 of some sort. My current is a Blaser R8 in 416 Rem Mag. It can be loaded with anything from 225 to 450 grain bullets, and will work for any DG situation, with quite a bit of PG capability as well.

CZ 550 in 41 Rigby, already in safe. Shoots well and good for anything

One Day... said:

Obviously the .458 Lott. There is no real comparison...

Like Red Leg I would fight hard for the .375 H&H, especially with 350 gr loads...

The .404 / .416 / .425 have always been in the run, but they are a little light for stopper duty, and by the time guys like Claude Kleynhans, Owain Lewis, Theunis Botha, Philip Smythe or Ian Gibson get killed by Buff or Ele, you realize that there is, after all, a possibility that you might need stopping power.

The .458 Win has always been in the run (with modern ammo), but it runs out of reach around 150 yards.

The NE cartridges (except the modern 500/.416 which has the reach) are great, but long in the tooth past 100 yards.

The Lott will do everything to anything between zero and 200 and that is all you need for DG (and most PG) with 500 gr slugs, and you can do amazing things on PG with 300 gr slugs. Not to mention it shoots .458 Win ammo.

Just do not make the rifle too light, and it is a pleasure to shoot, scoped anywhere around 10+ lbs. My R8 PH Selous / Leica Magnus 1-6.3x24 i is a delight to shoot, and clover-leaf accurate too.

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When did you slip a Selous into the stable? Pics please!

458 WIN-MAG

I am a bit torn between my 3 double rifles, 450/400 3 1/4, .470 and 475.. Would probably decide on the .470..it will handle all game and ammo and reload components are ready available..

Bolt rifle either a .404 Jeff. or a .416 Rigby..