Does it matter to you?

[matt85]

I require my PH to carry a larger caliber gun than me.

 

[KTMpilot]

In South Africa where mostly PH’s work as independent contractors to outfitters, the rifles they work with and carry, and that are rented to clients, are owned by the PH and not the outfitter. In fact, a PH is normally not employable and won’t be used by an outfitter unless he comes with his own fully equipped truck, and a “battery” of rifles, normally a 30 cal/7mm, a 375 H&H, and then something starting with a 4 or a 5 if they are buffalo or DG qualified (it is possible in South Africa to be DG licenced as a PH only for buffalo).

All of that said, the percentage of PH’s in my country who can afford to own a double is very very low. So in South Africa if a client wants to limit his DG hunt only to a PH carrying a double, that is his right, but would be seriously limiting and denying himself very many excellent and safe hunting opportunities for really no good reason.

Also, we do not much use the term “stopper rifle” where I PH (I am a current licenced buffalo PH). We loosely call the rifle carried by the PH guiding a buffalo hunt a “backup rifle”, of which the majority are bolt action 375’s, a large percentage bolt action 416 or 458’s, and the minority double rifles.
.

 

[grand veneur]

If I had to do backup professionally, for commercial reasons I would cultivate the image of the protective PH and deliver the expected show. I would appear with an appropriate outfit and rifle, preferably a big bore DR, just as the client imagines a PH with his rifle. After all, it is about business and advertising is also part of it.

 

[IvW]

500 Jeff 3+1 except leopard, there I switch to my 24 inch Brno sxs shotgun or 9.3x74R/12ga combination. 12ga only with Brenneke slugs, original.....

 

[coreydb]

Before I hunted my Cape, I asked my PH a a lot of questions regarding his back up procedures. I used my .375 H&H to down mine in four rounds while my PH held his .404 Jeffrey at the ready. I won't use a double rifle hunting DG, but not for dislike; because both shoulders are held in place by velcro....figuratively, due to military disability. I need a muzzle brake to soften the kickback.

 

[Bandera]

I never thought to question my PH about his choice of caliber.
I knew that he is an experienced PH, but the fact that he was carrying a 375 H&H was never a concern.

 

[Red Leg]

My leopard and three of my four buffalo were with PH's with whom I was hunting for the first time. So that is not a consideration for me. The fourth was a repeat performance with one of the first three. One was armed with a .416, one with a .458, and one with a .375. I could have cared less. They all three had far more experience with the game we were hunting than I, and none was there to try to imitate Stewart Granger.

In my experience, true stopping rifles (chambering begins with a 5) are pretty rare among even DG professionals. Jamy Traut does typically carry his .500 K-gun. One of the most experienced elephant hunting PH's I know, who is from the Don Heath school of professional hunting, carries a .375 and loves the 300 gr Hydro when he can get them. In his view, an inbound tusker needs to be brained - period. From his perspective, he can do that most quickly and accurately with his .375 - something he has proven to his satisfaction several times.

 

[Wiley64]

On my only dg hunt. My ph carried a double and had to use it to stop a mountain Reedbok of all things. I was very impressed with his shooting ability!

 

[318AE]

When hunting a Dagga Boy, elephant, or hippo, your PH should be carrying a proper stopping rifle—either a double in a true stopping calibre (.450 NE and up) or a bolt gun in an adequate calibre.

The question is: would you prefer one over the other, or do you not particularly care?

Let’s keep this discussion specific to Dagga Boy and elephant—no cats, please.

I’ve been fortunate enough to hunt with some very experienced, highly regarded PHs, some of which had 375s. On a hunt 25 years ago, I had a 416 and the PH a 375. It got me thinking.

My answer to your question is similar to others here. I want the PH to use the rifle they have the most confidence in etc.

Every PH I’ve talked to about this has always been focused on the utter reliability of the rifle (always bang, never click), not the caliber.

 

[SStomcat]

That‘s completely up to the PH. It‘s not the business of a hobbie hunter to think about that! Good grief, what a question! When you are at a hospital for a surgery, do you discuss with the surgeon the tools he gonna uses? You are a just a visiting hunter… I have received my first PH permit many years ago.

Yes, I will ensure that he is at the cutting edge of medical science in terms of equipment and processes.

 

[SStomcat]

500 Jeff 3+1 except leopard, there I switch to my 24 inch Brno sxs shotgun or 9.3x74R/12ga combination. 12ga only with Brenneke slugs, original.....

Can you elaborate on the use of slugs on leopard? I have seen many PH use them especially against a wounded animal.

 

[KevinBrow]

For Dagga Boy and elephant, most hunters lean toward a double in a true stopping calibre for reliability, but a well-chambered bolt gun works fine too-personal preference and familiarity usually decide.