Future One-Rifle PG-DG Setup

[SStomcat]

404J is your ticket. It's popularity is growing in leaps and bounds. For good reason. Lots of potential punch with manageable recoil. Once companies like Barnes and Hornady catch on and start offering lighter weight bullets like 300 or 350 gr, I expect 404's popularity as a plains game shooter will also improve. Currently some custom bullet makers do offer lighter bullets (e.g. Cutting Edge and Hammer) but loading data is skimpy. That should also improve. Keep in mind Jeffery originally offered ammo in 400 and 300 gr but discontinued 300 gr because too many hunters were trying to make those old technology bullets and powders work on big dangerous game animals when 300 gr ammo was designed for "light skinned" African game. Modern tech copper 404 bullets in 300 gr should kill buffalo well enough. "Standard" 400 gr ammo with modern bullets is adequate for elephant.

Good thoughts!

 

[SStomcat]

Never understood the one rifle concept... Sounds boring. But i do believe in having multi-use rifles to double as backup should something happen to my dedicated DG rifle.

416 RM is my choice multi-use cartridge. A Winchester M70 with an illuminated 1-6 optic is my choice rifle. I load the cartridge with a 300gr TSX at 2700fps for general purpose use.

Wil you or would you also use the 1-6 X optic for long range PG shots? say > 250 yards

 

[SStomcat]

I have contemplated the same thing. If I were to take 1 rifle for PG and a Buff - what would it be and I have decided it would be my .375. But I have just the opposite thought pattern. With having invested in a Dakota 76 African in .416 Rigby, a Heym Martini in .404 Jeffery, the new MRC Tsavo in .375, and a Rigby Highland Stalker in .275 Rigby - I want to take them all! I have decided my next Africa trip I will use the 416 Rigby on my buff, and the Rigby HS for plains game. The next rip will be my .404 Jeff for a croc. and the Tsavo 375 for PG. I got to get them all in!

Variety and choices is the name of the game. I hear you.

 

[SStomcat]

.416 RM I realize the .375 is widely available but I agree with the extra horsepower the .416 gives you. You can load 300, 350 or 400 grain and 400 grain solids.

That a good choice, almost equal in performace to the older cousin Rigby in a shorter, slimmer and standard action cartridge

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Wil you or would you also use the 1-6 X optic for long range PG shots? say > 250 yards

Sure. My plains game rifle wears 3-9x but it typically sits on 4.5 or 5x when stalking and shooting. 9x is good for spotting 100 yard paper targets and scoping animals. Then I turn it down for hunting. Binoculars are better for sizing up animals but I'm usually too lazy to dig them out of the holster. My left eye is a mess so binocs usually aren't a significant improvement over my scope.

I have optional iron sights and QD rings on both my plains game 30-06 and 404 DGR. On low power the front sight ramp and bead are visible (even the barrel is visible on 1x). But it doesn't bother me. Both rifles have low mounted scopes for quick acquisition. I credit low mount optics for many well placed quick running shots over the years, including buffalo.

 

[coreydb]

Since I'm at that "advanced stage" where everything hurts or has been surgically corrected/repaired, recommend the 404J or the 416 RM; NOT the 416 Rigby. The RM is a smaller round thus allowing it to fit in a long action receiver with equal performance of the 416 Rigby and reduced recoil. With hand loads, the aging body can handle anything from the lightest loads for PG to the DG without shattering the dentures. It sucks being in the polygrip group, but at least still hunting.

 

[odonata]

Option 1: Max Power Needed
In this scenario, I would choose a large-bore rifle that I think I would be able to shoot well in 10 years that was appropriate for the largest or most dangerous animal I was going to hunt. For anything smaller than that, my selection would potentially be overkill. But if I was absolutely committed to a single-rifle solution, then I would let safety dictate the cartridge chosen. I'm nostalgic so I would pick a 404J. Because I shoot left-handed, finding a LH 404J can sometimes be an expensive challenge so building my own 416 Taylor from a readily-available LH 300 Win Mag might be a more practical idea.

Option 2: The Goldilocks Solution
For versatility & balance, I would choose the 375 H&H as a proven all-around classic that's "just right". Not too powerful for most plains game. Powerful enough for dangerous game with a good PH backing me up. I think if I put a 1-8x on my LH Winchester Safari Express, I could cover a lot of situations with that setup.

Option 3: Focus on the main problem
The main hurdle trying to be cleared here is the strength required to handle a 470 NE double as it gets more challenging while getting older. Since the 9.3x62, 338 Win Mag, 30-06 & 270 Win are all excellent options for PG hunting, just downsize the 470 NE double to a more manageable 404J or 450/400 double and continue hunting the way you do now.

 

[Hedge774]

I have contemplated the same thing. If I were to take 1 rifle for PG and a Buff - what would it be and I have decided it would be my .375. But I have just the opposite thought pattern. With having invested in a Dakota 76 African in .416 Rigby, a Heym Martini in .404 Jeffery, the new MRC Tsavo in .375, and a Rigby Highland Stalker in .275 Rigby - I want to take them all! I have decided my next Africa trip I will use the 416 Rigby on my buff, and the Rigby HS for plains game. The next rip will be my .404 Jeff for a croc. and the Tsavo 375 for PG. I got to get them all in!

I wonder how many of us here haven't contemplated (happily!) for hours about this same conundrum!

 

[JES Adventures]

375 H&H, I’ve shot everything from Dik Dik to Elephant with perfect success.

 

[Jack Stevens]

For a one rifle Safari, .375H&H just makes the most sense. Unless elephant is on your score card.

That was going to be my recommendation, but OP needs to better define what critters are on his DG menu.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Elephant is on the menu so..

Just saw this, ……. so, I’d go with a .404 Jeff.