Bullet selection for Dangerous 7

[Justin D.]

I'm looking at starting to complete my Dangerous 7 quest. My question is, (keep in mind I'll be reloading), what specific bullets themselves along with grains are preferred and why for each species. I'll be using my .375 H&H for everything but my elephant. For my elephant I have a .458 Win Mag. I also have a .300 Win Mag as well if that would be recommended for any of the species. If so, same question applies. Thanks for any and all help. Bonus points if you have a favorite loading recipe you wouldn't mind sharing for each recommendation.

1. Elephant (.458 Win Mag)
2. Cape Buffalo (.375 H&H)
3. Lion (.375 H&H)
4. Leopard (.375 H&H)
5. Rhino (Dart hunt)
6. Hippo (.375 H&H)
7. Croc (.375 H&H)

 

[mark-hunter]

Following!

 

[Betterinthebush]

All factory ammo. Everything I list is either what I’m going with or what I used.

1) .416 Rigby 400gr. Barnes Banded Solid
2) .470 NE 500gr. Woodleigh Hydro-Soft and Solid
3) .416 Rigby 400gr. Nosler Partition
4) .375 H&H 300gr. Speer TBBC
5) (*)
6) .470 NE 500gr. Woodleigh Soft
7) .338 WM 225gr. Barnes TSX

 

[michael458]

1. Elephant (.458 Win Mag) Cutting Edge Safari 450 Solid
2. Cape Buffalo (.458 Win Mag) Cutting Edge 420 Raptor Followed by CEB Safari 450 Solid
3. Lion (.458 Win Mag) 250 Socom Raptor Or 420 Raptor
4. Leopard (300 Win) 100 FB Raptor
5. Rhino (Dart hunt)
6. Hippo (.458 Win Mag) CEB Safari 450 Solid
7. Croc (.458 Win Mag) 250 Socom Raptor or 420 Raptor

 

[uplander01]

I’d get yourself a load of Woodleigh 350gr softs and solids and never look back, use it for everything. If I was faced with the same hunting quest right now for all of those animals, I would either do the same with a 375 or I would choose a 404 or 416 out of the stable and use 400gr Barnes, Woodleigh, or north fork bullets.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

What I have done or fixing to do soon
1. Elephant 458 Lott 500gr Swift Breakaway solid (this trip)
2. Buffalo 458 lott 500gr Swift Aframe
3. Lion actually Lioness. 458 lott 500 Aframe
4. Leopard(hopefully) 300 win mag 200 partition
5 rhino dart.
6. Hippo 375hh 300gr Aframe
7 croc 375 HH 300 Aframe

 

[Fatback]

I shot my elephant with a 400 grain Barnes Flat Nosed Solid out of a 416 Rem

Shot my hippo with same bullet/grain as my elephant. It was just out of a 404Jeffery instead of a 416 Rem.

I have shot 3 buffalo with AFrames. 300 grain/375H&H, 450 grain/458 Win and 400 grain/416 Rem

Leopard 300 Win Mag/180 grain partitions.

I plan on using 260grain Accubonds out of my 375 H&H for lion in April of 2027.

Don’t have anything planned from rhino or croc at the moment. If/when I do, for a rhino, I would use the 400 grain Barnes flat nosed solid out of my 416 Rem. As far as croc goes, I would defer to my PH if/when the time comes.

 

[375Fox]

You’re likely going to use the same bullet for more than one animal. You don’t want to be mixing bullets on a hunt with different performance on game and different points of impact. Hippo and croc are usually taken together. Buffalo and leopard are often taken together I’d choose a bullet best suited for the hunt more so than an individual animal unless you are bringing a dedicated rifle such as a 300 mag for leopard.

 

[AZDAVE]

1. Elephant 400 gr CEB solid 500/416 double
2. Buffalo 500gr Swift Aframe 450NE double
3. Lion 286gr Aframe 9.3x74double
4. Leopard 165gr ballistic tip 300WSM bolt gun
5. Hippo 400 gr Northfork CPS 450/400 double

6. Rhino still working green hunt details with PH for a future hunt
7. Croc Haven't decided if I will hunt or or not


Hunting buff again next year with a 375 H&H double.

 

[Acopperdawg]

I shot my elephant with a 400 grain Barnes Flat Nosed Solid out of a 416 Rem

Shot my hippo with same bullet/grain as my elephant. It was just out of a 404Jeffery instead of a 416 Rem.

I have shot 3 buffalo with AFrames. 300 grain/375H&H, 450 grain/458 Win and 400 grain/416 Rem

Leopard 300 Win Mag/180 grain partitions.

I plan on using 260grain Accubonds out of my 375 H&H for lion in April of 2027.

Don’t have anything planned from rhino or croc at the moment. If/when I do, for a rhino, I would use the 400 grain Barnes flat nosed solid out of my 416 Rem. As far as croc goes, I would defer to my PH if/when the time comes.

Sounds like you prefer the 416 over the 458? what made you decide on taking your ele with the 416?

 

[Fatback]

@Acopperdawg, it just came down to my 416 being more comfortable to shoot in practice. My 458 Win was a little on the lite side and the 416 is a lot easier to feed than the 404Jeffery so I sold those two and just focus on practicing as much as possible with the 416 Rem.