BourbonTrail
AH veteran
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2021
- Messages
- 109
- Reaction score
- 190
- Hunted
- USA
@Paul Miller - my first bolt action was an M77 (Not safari though) in 270 win, I only traded it because it got me my M1903.
Weatherby Vangaurd is a Howa action , functional and affordable procured under Weatherby who put the reputation on the line .I have, and because of that I have considered a weatherby vanguard in 375 H&H ...new they are only $1100. However I have done a fair amount of simple machining/gunsmithing.
Have you read some of the issues surrounding factory CZs? Might not be such a good buy if it requires a lot of time spent at gunsmith to be functional. I have never owned a CZ but it concerns me if an entire gun smithing business was set up to work on them.
That’s not any news to me, my feelings aren’t hurt. However, I made that post because if you’re buying a rifle on a tight budget and you know you will have to put money in to get it to reliable working order, it should be a big consideration.I hate to break it to you but I have seen rifles from all manufacturers give problems at the Zimbabwe PH shooting tests. Original mausers, through Winchesters, CZ, Whitworth etc. Mauser based actions often need work to make them feed correctly. Also if you watch youtube hunting videos, you will see a lot of jams on reload on dangerous game. Most PH's will get a gun that works and stick with it.
Ironically, the least problems I have seen are with push feed actions in well practiced hands. Simpler action-no timing needed as long as you dont double stroke it. And I think the excitement of dangerous game (or an exam) is what causes the problem. The only trustworthy action is one that you have used under pressure again and again (and fixed any problems.
I just bought that book and am slowly working through it. It is a really good resource for buffalo hunting. I found two very similar sources of free information. He made two very good episodes on “the big game hunting podcast” as well, one was on African hunting bullets and the other was on African hunting rifles, both extremely informative.Suggestion, before you commit to one rifle for DG, find a copy of Africas Most Dangerous by Kevin Robertson and give it a read. There is a wealth of good information in it. Depending upon your budget get the best rifle that you can shoot comfortably that fits you well.
I’m disappointed that the CZ 550 production ended, but there is one left in the Rigby at my local(ish) gun dealer.
By your name I assume you live in KY near the BT. So do I. If you're close you're welcome to come by my place and shoot a couple of 375H&H rifles if that will help you make up your mind. I also have a 375 Ruger. PM if you're interested.I do like the 375 H&H from a practicality perspective, and I like the idea of taking it elk hunting.
I was just wondering if it was enough of a step up from my weatherby in terms of recoil to see any gain any big caliber experience.