Elephant caliber

[Tibavati]

A correctly placed frontal or side head/brain shot with a high quality solid ( Barnes, Woodleigh, etc) out of your 375 will cleanly kill the elephant. Pick the 300 or 350 gr bullet that gives you the best precision. If you still want the 458 but have not bought one, the go with the 458 Lott. Look at a pre-owned CZ 550 Safari. CZ quit making these in 2020. I borrowed my PH's in the Outback and killed two fine buff. Well made before 2020. As for elephant, I have killed two, both with Heym Express bolt rifle in 500NE. Look at Ammoseek.com for ammo.

 

[Fulvio]

I'm starting to put my mind towards wanting to complete my Big 5. With that in mind, I'm trying to decide on a caliber for an elephant. I currently have a Winchester M70 in .375 H&H for everything else. I originally was going to go with a .458 Win Mag but from what I've been reading/researching, there's mixed reviews on the Win Mag for elephant. So then I've been looking at the .458 Lott. I don't have the $15-75k+ for a double rifle (my plan is a non-trophy elephant and a green rhino hunt) and I want something that I can still buy commercial ammo for. Therefore, my two choices of the Win Mag and the Lott.

For those of you with actual elephant experience, is the Win Mag enough juice or do I need the Lott? Especially if SHTF and a charge occurs.

The 458 Win Mag is enough provided you stay within 50 yards/meters though the 416 Rigby/Rem calibers are very fashionable/effective.

 

[Nomaz]

A correctly placed frontal or side head/brain shot with a high quality solid ( Barnes, Woodleigh, etc) out of your 375 will cleanly kill the elephant. Pick the 300 or 350 gr bullet that gives you the best precision. If you still want the 458 but have not bought one, the go with the 458 Lott. Look at a pre-owned CZ 550 Safari. CZ quit making these in 2020. I borrowed my PH's in the Outback and killed two fine buff. Well made before 2020. As for elephant, I have killed two, both with Heym Express bolt rifle in 500NE. Look at Ammoseek.com for ammo.

Honestly though, for elephant I’d trust whatever rifle you handle best under pressure more than just chasing bigger caliber numbers.

 

[coreydb]

The 375 H&H is all you need. It's a great DG round that also includes elephants. Of course, if you want another rifle just to have another rifle.......

 

[MTNYALA]

Back in the good old days of hunting elephant in the highland rain forests of Ethiopia, after trial and some near fatal error,
we chambered every .458 WM in the company on out to .458 Lott.

 

[farmer_john]

I askes the same question a while ago
Consensus was for ele and hippo
" if your hunting pacyderms it needs to start with a .4"
So i got 1 gun and its a 404 its gonna be what i put my memoriess in

 

[Tibavati]

My PH carries a 458 Lott. I would try to find a pre-owned CZ 550 safari in the Lott. Try to find the CZ that was built about 20-30 years ago. I carry a Heym Express Rifle (bolt gun) in 500NE.

 

[Hornyman]

I'm a lefty and looking to create my first DG rifle, one that can handle Elephant in the near future.

Finding an affordable lefty is near impossible.

Can someone please critique my thought process.

Ruger .375 in lefty -> rebarreled to Ruger .416. All for under 5k.

Honest feedback please...preferably from those that have actually killed elephants.

* since posting this I found some good threads on this website regarding the re barrel (they werent coming up in my search function but found them through google). If anyone has had experience with Ruger .416 on elephant Id love to hear the results.

 

[sgt_zim]

North Fork and Barnes both make 350 gr solids in 375. At 2300-ish fps, they'll both hit like a freight train. Personally would opt for the NF is it's a flat nose solid. But that's just me.

No need to rebarrel unless you just REALLY, REALLY want to.

If my missus ever decides she wants to go after ele, that's what I'll load up for her Ruger #1H. We're both lefties, I lucked up and found an MRC Alaskan in LH 404 Jeff.

 

[R eight]

Honestly though, for elephant I’d trust whatever rifle you handle best under pressure more than just chasing bigger caliber numbers.

+ 1

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

.375 H&H with a premium solid and a rifle that you shoot accurately should get it done. I would recommend chronograph to confirm velocity.

Beyond that, .416 Rigby, 458 Lott, 450 Rigby, 450 Dakota. Quality 400 - 500 Grain Solids seem to be very effective when the shot placement and velocity is consistent…

 

[skydiver386]

I'm a lefty and looking to create my first DG rifle, one that can handle Elephant in the near future.

Finding an affordable lefty is near impossible.

Can someone please critique my thought process.

Ruger .375 in lefty -> rebarreled to Ruger .416. All for under 5k.

Honest feedback please...preferably from those that have actually killed elephants.

* since posting this I found some good threads on this website regarding the re barrel (they werent coming up in my search function but found them through google). If anyone has had experience with Ruger .416 on elephant Id love to hear the results.

CZ made the 550 Safari Magnum in left hand versions. Most are 375 H&H and 458Win, but occasionally you will find a 458 Lott. They haven't been produced since 2019, but pop up on the used market occasionally. Left hand versions of these rifles usually go for a lot less than the right hand versions.

 

[R eight]

I'm a lefty and looking to create my first DG rifle, one that can handle Elephant in the near future.

Finding an affordable lefty is near impossible.

Can someone please critique my thought process.

Ruger .375 in lefty -> rebarreled to Ruger .416. All for under 5k.

Honest feedback please...preferably from those that have actually killed elephants.

* since posting this I found some good threads on this website regarding the re barrel (they werent coming up in my search function but found them through google). If anyone has had experience with Ruger .416 on elephant Id love to hear the results.

Blaser R8