Just joined the Africa medium and large bore club

Thanks to outdoorbum I was able to add a Remington 798 in .375 H&H and an Interarms Mark X in .458 Win Mag to my assortment of firearms for African game today.

Great scores Ridge Runner!

My bolt action sporting rifle accumulation (hard to describe it as a collection) is heavily skewed to Interarms Mark X / Whitworth / Zastava rifles myself. I don't have any big bore rifles, but I recently picked up .338-06 and a 9.3X62mm, both with 22" barrels to start my medium bore experience.

Otherwise I have a .243 Win and a .270 Win Whitworth, both with 20" barrel and full (Mannlicher style) stocks, a .25-06 and .30-06 both with 24" barrels, and a .264 Win Mag with 26" barrel & muzzle brake.

Hopefully Zastava USA will widen what they'll import beyond the short list of caliber and rifle styles they've posted on their web site as time goes on. Right now they aren't even offering parts. I let thrm know that having a catalog showing all sorts of options they aren't offering makes about as much sense as a car dealership having a catalog with models and options they won't supply to a customer but the responses from Zastava USA indicated they have a difficult time comprehending such an analogy. If that continues, I think Zastava USA will fold pretty quickly.

Welcome to the big boys club - of which I'm NOT a member.
Having only a 375H&H gets me to the medium boys club only, and I'm OK with that.
Congrats on the rifles and let us know how they shoot.

Congrats on the additions! I'll have to check out the site your referring to, have not heard of that one.

Always nice to add to the collection.

cpr0312 said:

Congrats on the additions! I'll have to check out the site your referring to, have not heard of that one.

Click to expand...

I have read so many AH members posts on this sight about big bores.

By Africa standards: Some saying anything less than a .458 is a medium bore and anything below a .375 is considered a small bore.

With DG on my list for 2020, I need to step up my arsenal to join AH member groups of mmedium and large bore shooters.

Starting with the wimphe's: .375 H&H and .458 Win Mag. At 62, I may still have some growing go do do get go the .500+ class. As "YET", ele isn't on my DG list until its legal to import ivory into the USA: why have "plastic" , I want the real stuff attached to my shoulder/head mount. Like what I saw on the wall, in the photo of @TROPHY SHIPPERS home page.

I purchased the rifles yesterday. I''ll be heading to the range in a few minutes do check them out and to get some chrono stats do start reloading work.

When I get home I''ll post photos of targets, info on ammo used, and results of shooting a .458 for the first time.

CAustin said:

Always nice to add to the collection.

Click to expand...

+1

cpr0312 said:

Congrats on the additions! I'll have to check out the site your referring to, have not heard of that one.

Click to expand...

https://zastavaarmsusa.com/product/sporting-rifle-lk-m70/

There's also a guy on Gunbroker, Greene Sporting Arms, who perpetually has brand new right hand Zastava bolt action rifles in 6.5X55mm and 9.3X62mm calibers a ailable, and numerous left hand rifles in a variety of calibers. Evidently he's a southpaw as he always has a broad selection of left hand rifles to choose from, including things like a double set trigger left hand action only currently listed.

Collector's Firearms in Houston has a few such used rifles currently in inventory, such as this 7X57mm rifle.

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/mauser-mark-x-sporter-7x57mm-r24508/

Just in from the shooting range.

I have to say that after all I've seen, heard, and read about heavy recoil on these 2 rifles: HUH....the .458 Win Mag was first up....was going go start with my 30-06 and work up.....screw it....lets just jump into the deep end and get it over with....BOOM....okay there was recoil....comparatively to shooting a 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch mag waterfowl load. Try again.....Try it again.....okay felt that one, didn't get the rifle seated into my should just right, still 3 1/2 inch 12 ga.

Bullets hit the target 2 inches left hit low do high....shooter problem ( I have trouble using eyeglasses and getting good sight alignment with iron sights. Easy fix with a good scope.

Next up is the .375 H&H. Need do lengthen the trigger pull with spacers or a thick "wimpy pad".
First shot into the quarter size black dot I marked on the target, next 4 rounds joined the .458 holes left side. Iron sights, eyeglasses....know the problem and the fix. My 30-06 has a wee bit more recoil.

Now for the chronograph results: For those interested:

.458 Win Mag:

Hornady factory loads, 500 gr, DGX Performance

Shot. MV
1. 2189
2. 2190
3. 2077
4. 2085
5. 2140
6. 2047

.375 H&H

Federal Premium Safari, 300 gr, Trophy Bond

Shot. MV
1. 2489
2. 2490
3. 2140
4. 2177
5. 2547
6. 2515

When I can get reloading components I'll pass along my results, if anyone is interested. Both for .375 H&H and .458 Win Mag

OK, now I know I'm not the only one who thinks an 06 kicks harder than a 375HH. I took my 06 out the other day and it let me know when one went off even with a Past Recoil pad. Maybe because my load was a half grain below max and the gun is about 3 or 4 pounds lighter.