1)Spare me about push feed Vs Control round feed. I wouldn't use a CRF for the first 20 years of hunting as I saw too many of them fuck up including double feeding. Push feed is the preferred option for hunting the most dangerous animal going. Agree on the recovery time between shots. Conversely it can be said at the end of a long day lugging the rifle the lighter weight rifle is faster into action. Yes I know that a properly tuned CRF is recognized as the best system for DG along with a Double Rifle, just pointing out they are not the holy grail most believe them to be.
2) Those Rugers with the short barrel in 416 and 375 balance and handle very well and from what I have seen do not seem to take longer than any other big bore to get back into action. Mind you I have not seen this tested side by side.
I wasn't talking solely about weather either. There is some bloody thick bush in Alaska and a bear from 30mts gives between 2 and 3 seconds to get the shot on. However a bear can (and they have been) killed with a 9X19. Would not be my choice.
1. I personally do not know a DG PH who uses or recommends a push feed action for a DG rifle. All use either, mauser, mauser type(CZ, ZKK Brno) or double rifles.
The biggest problem with push feed actions is the extraction and ejection(especially with unfired rounds) rather than the actual feeding.
If a CRF action double feeds there are some serious issues with that rifle. This is near impossible with a CRF action. The shell is kept flush with the bolt face by the big extractor claw(full length) until the front of the empty case(case mouth) clears the front of the action at which time the case is ejected. The bolt face can only pick up the next round from the magazine once the empty case has left the bolt face. To double stack it could only be due to a broken extractor or some other serious issue with the action(probably some poor workmanship).
2. Full power loads in a 20 inch barreled 416 are going to be unpleasant to shoot(muzzle blast, increased recoil). With short barrel they need to be lighter than normal in order to try and balance them. For me a proper fitting and balanced 24 inch barreled DG rifle is the best way to go.
30 meters is a long way off to stop a charge. As an example, if you were conducting a foot safari as a DG guide and an elephant charges you, you would be in serious trouble from the authorities if you shot that elephant at 30 meters. You have to first determine that it is in fact a full blown charge and not a mock charge. The norm would be about 10 yards, once you have determined that the charge is going to be pushed through and you have no other option but to shoot the elephant to protect yourself as well as the rest of the group.
A well trained and experienced PH would be able to get off 3 shots with a proper fitting bolt gun from that distance and at least 2 from a double.
If the charging animal is a wounded one you would obviously try to stop the charge as soon as possible and distance is not considered.
If you cannot stop whatever it is that is intent on getting hold of you from 30 meters away you should probably not be a PH guiding on DG safaris.
Whatever rifle, caliber or action type is chosen, it has to be thoroughly tested and used to ensure 100% reliability each and every time, especially when used by a Guide or PH. All action types, including doubles, can be problematic, however a proper CRF action will prove to be the most reliable bolt action to use.