Displacement or placement?

[Slugs Away]

Why bigger than a .375?

Just curious ....

 

[thriller]

Because it's badass

 

[Slugs Away]

Because it's badass

Sounds good to me.

 

[stug]

Get hold of a copy of Taylor's African Rifles and cartridges, he puts forward his reason for it. He came up with the Taylor Knockout factor.

 

[Slugs Away]

Get hold of a copy of Taylor's African Rifles and cartridges, he puts forward his reason for it. He came up with the Taylor Knockout factor.

I use the TKF, but it's sujective for many.

 

[vinnymbogo]

I can't knock the 375, I have one in a Ruger #1, but when you see what a bigger caliber does firsthand, you'll want one...I guarantee it!

 

[BRICKBURN]

PING!

Is what seems to be the logic.
Truly, it is to be able to buy more guns.

 

[siml]

I really don't see the need for a bigger caliber, except when it comes to backing up on elephant.

 

[CAustin]

Bigger is sometimes better. The 375 will do most anything you want it to do in the world with good shot placement, the same of which can be said for many calibers . I have a 45-70, then 416 Ruger, then 458 Lott with corresponding bullet weights of 325, 400 and 500 grains respectively!
The speeds at the muzzle are 1800, 2300 and 2300 feet per second more or less. The 375 is what 280 grain moving at 2600 feet per second? So which of the four do you want to use on a Cape buffalo or elephant if you had the choice? Buzz Charlton, elephant hunter, recommends 416 and up for elephant and is very pleased with the 458 Lott saying, " that even with poor shot placement to the head, a 458 Lott will almost always knock a bull down for a follow up shot or kill a cow elephant from the concussion ".
The 375 will not do that. Not saying it will not kill because it will.....just that the margin of error is smaller. For an all around hunting rifle I don't think you would be wrong to buy a 375, just become very good with it.....practice . To your point it becomes a true matter of placement.
I like what Brickburn said.......it's stopping power with the larger rounds.
On my elephant hunt there were four rifles backing me up. I used the 416, PH #1 was using a 500 NE, PH #2 a 470 NE, Apprentice PH 375, and my son was using the 458 Lott. Now if I do say so myself that was a lot of STOPPING power in case I messed up the shot.

 

[matt85]

I shoot big guns because

1. I enjoy a level of recoil, if the gun doesn't give me a good shove then I will get bored fast.
2. ive seen first hand how effective large bores can be on all game.
3. larger bullet at lower velocity can be just as deadly as a small bullet at high velocity but wont do as much meat damage.
4. any thing worth killing is worth overkilling.
5. there is nothing a small/medium bore will kill that a big bore cannot.
6. bigger holes lead to bigger blood trails should the animal not expire immediately.
7. im compensating for other parts of my body.

-matt

 

[Petrus Geldenhuys]

Look the .375 is a great calibre for the client! it can knock down any animal you want it to, but as a backup i want to carry the biggest calibre i can shoot accurately. Shot placement is everything! so the .375 in my opinion is the way to go for the client

 

[Bruce]

Would definitely NOT like to experience what I experienced last year in Zimbabwe with the charging cow elephants with only a 375 in my hand!! I used my 458 WM and the PH used his 458 Lott...after 4 x frontal shots ( granted these were ALL way too low for the brain shot!!! ) but that cow did NOT go down... regardless of what Buzz Charlton says... still trying to figure this out until today???? It did stop the charge( at 10m from us) and she turned to go, so I gave her 2 x in the hip/ spine area which put her down... I get the shakes every now and again and wonder if it is not still reflux from that morning??

 

[Jimbob]

Both. Carry the most powerful rifle you can shoot accurately and comfortably from many positions. If that's a 375 use it but try the 416's as well, if they're fine, try the 458's etc.
If you can shoot a 500 nitro with the accuracy you need why carry a 375?
Realistically weight or trajectory are the only reasons.
With dangerous game i don't think the latter is a consideration.

 

[CAustin]

Bruce did you guys even hit her in the head! WOW! Seen multiple cows in video knocked down but shot was no where near the brain.
Just goes to show that you should have had the 700 Nitro Express with atomic shells loaded to incinerate that beast! Heck the 155 mm field cannon would have stopped her in her tracks for sure..............

Placement example folks!!!

 

[siml]

@Bruce , you guys can count yourselves very lucky, that the cow turned, a cow at that distance will usually give her life than turn. Hunters often shoot low on charging elephants, better to go higher. I wouldn't have a problem with only a 375 in my hands, nothing a 375 can't do.

 

[Slugs Away]

I say hunt with whatever you're comfortable with. For me it would the 375 handh or a 458 win mag, only because of ammo availability and the retail price of the rifle (Ruger or zastava).

 

[BRICKBURN]

Some fella once said: "100 grains in the right place is worth more than 1000 grains in the wrong place."

 

[Slugs Away]

Right.
I'm sure hitting buff in the toe with a 500 NE, will not make him crumble into a thousand pieces.

 

[matt85]

Right.
I'm sure hitting buff in the toe with a 500 NE, will not make him crumble into a thousand pieces.

but a hit to the lungs with a 500 will likely bring him down faster then a hit to the lungs with a 375.

its true a larger caliber wont make up for poor shooting BUT that doesnt make the larger caliber pointless or less effective. in the end its physical damage that kills most animals and the bigger the bullet the more physical damage you can do. in a perfect world every shot would hit the heart or brain but in reality it often doesnt work out that way. the lungs are the largest fatal target you will get on any animal and bigger holes fill them up with blood faster.

if you choose to use smaller calibers thats fine as long as they are legal. ive read plenty of Bell to know that small guns can kill large game just fine. but never look down on their big bore counterparts because they are the true kings of dangerous game hunting. if the 375 was all that was ever needed for DG then more PHs would use it as a back up cartridge.

-matt

 

[Slugs Away]

Who is looking down on big bore catridges?