Future One-Rifle PG-DG Setup

[Russ16]

To me a one gun battery is a one gun battery. Not a multi barrel set. It is one gun in one setup that you use for everything.

I would go with a 375 unless I planned to hunt multiple elephant then I would go 458 win mag. If I was going to shoot a buffalo every year and plains game and an elephant every 4-5 years the 375 is enough. If I’m going to shoot an elephant every year then the 458.

I know the 375 isn’t a stopping gun but if you want that in my mind you get a double and sacrifice plains game capability. We aren’t the PH our role and responsibility is slightly different.

 

[BJH65]

I don’t presume to answer for the general but I did much research into the catastrophic bolt failure with the R93 because I was interested in buying one. It never happened with the R8. Blaser’s official stance regarding the catastrophic bolt failure with the R93 attributed it to user error involving improper handloads.

Regardless, as the general stated, the R93 was redesigned into the R8 to address any concerns, real or perceived. Time and many thousands of rounds through the R8’s indicate Blaser has thoroughly mitigated this.

You may be a traditional Mauser 98 type of guy like myself, but I cannot deny the practicality of the R8 and the high grade wood stocked ones are indeed handsome rifles.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Why ?

The .375 Weatherby has a velocity gain of around 200 fps over the great .375 H&H. While that’s not always needed it’s nice to have that flatter trajectory available to the handloader. In addition the case capacity of the .375 Wby takes the .375” caliber above 5,000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy for dangerous game. And of course the Weatherby chamber accepts .375 H&H. All of these factors make the .375 Weatherby a good selection for a one rifle DG-PG Safari with manageable recoil.

 

[SStomcat]

I know the 375 isn’t a stopping gun but if you want that in my mind you get a double and sacrifice plains game capability. We aren’t the PH our role and responsibility is slightly different.

As I said I own a double. I intend to pass on the torch maybe 10 years from now a switch to a one gun army. Hence my question

 

[mark-hunter]

375 hh.
Proven for everything from steenbok to buffalo.
Any other for smaller game is overkill.

Easy recoil.

 

[uplander01]

Nothing you can’t do well with a 375, especially if you’re a hand loader. I’m facing the same question but in about 5 years. A 375 can be built moderately light for ease to carry, recoil will still be manageable, light bullets for longer range plains game, 300-350gr for heavy stuff. A well placed shot with a 350 grain soft or solid will kill an elephant or buff dead as a hammer as good as anything else. I have 2-375’s in my current battery, I feel as if I will have at least one of them for the rest of my life. Would do anything different on either one.

 

[Hammergun]

I used a 416 RM for my all rounder. I took two scopes, a 1-4 and a 2-7. I of course used the lower power for Buffalo but in a pinch could've used the 2-7. Warne detachable mounts allowed me to switch the scopes and both held zero just fine. I took plains game out to 250 yards with this setup. No fancy reticle, I had memorized the trajectories and had practiced for two years at ranges to 300 yards. I set the plains game scope for two inches high at 100 yds and just used holdover past 150 yds. If it matters the rifle was a Winchester M70 Safari Express and 400 grain Swift A-frames for everything.

 

[Russ16]

As I said I own a double. I intend to pass on the torch maybe 10 years from now a switch to a one gun army. Hence my question

Right I’m answering the question about a one gun solution. If there is a desire for stopping power it would be a double and sacrifice the plains game capability. I don’t think that’s the right solution as I said in the rest of my post.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Personally, I choose to leave the "stopping" business to my PH, should it come to that ... and so far it has not. If I do my job with 404 (or 375 H&H) it shouldn't. I am actually quite good at accurately placing running shots but presumably a PH would be more experienced. Sorry, no one will ever convince me a great big double rifle is the best weapon for hunting dangerous game ("hunting" being not the same as "stopping."). And definitely not the best for plains game. Obviously.

 

[AZDAVE]

the 416 Rigby for elephant and countries that the 9.3 isn't legal for DG and the 9.3 for countries that it is legal

 

[ftrovato]

This is about my future hunting rifle. As many of you know, and for those who don't, my current lineup is:

470 NE double, 9.3x62, 338 Win Mag, 30-06,270 Win --- All scoped

Looking ahead, say 10 years down the road, I "may" not have quite the same vision or strength to comfortably hunt dangerous game with my double rifle. So I'm thinking ahead and considering a one rifle solution for both PG and DG.

My preference would be a bolt-action, scoped, but with iron sights as well.Now, I'm looking for your thoughts not on the brand, but on the caliber.

If you were putting together this one-rifle PG/DG battery, which one would you choose and please articulate why..

• 404 Jeffery
• 416 Rigby
• 375 H&H
• Just stick to the 9.3 where and use it for DG where legal.
• Or something else entirely?

Cheers!

I've taken many African animals with the 416 Rigby from Several of the Tiny Ten through Buffalo.

I never felt like I was at a disadvantage with that rifle in my hands. Even on several occasions when elephant decided to get way too close for comfort!

Last, I suspect ammo is more readily available than the 404 regardless of where you are when you find you need it.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

"Last, I suspect ammo is more readily available [for 416 Rigby] than the 404 regardless of where you find you need it."

Maybe true ... for now. But the OP is talking ten years down the road. By then it would not surprise me at all if 404 popularity surpasses 416. It's already made huge inroads in just the past few years. 404 Jeffery has everything going for it: adequate punch for dangerous game, much less recoil than 416 Rigby, a classic cartridge (in fact it's more "classic" than 416 Rigby or 375 H&H), and it can be built on more compact standard action (= cheaper to build, lighter weight, and quicker to cycle than either 416 or 375 built on magnum actions). That's a lot of pluses. It's about time this cartridge was rediscovered.

 

[Bonk]

375H&H.

There's a saying that goes "don't build the church for Easter".

375 H&H is the perfect all around cartridge for anything except stopping a DG charge. It's not anemic in that role but bigger would clearly be better.

.40+ cal cartridges are a bit much on anything smaller than large PG and the smaller .40 cal cartridges aren't particularly good stoppers either. Most experienced hunters would prefer at least 458Win or bigger for a stopping a charge but if you opt for something in that range the overall utility plummets.

So, don't choose a cartridge for the exception. Choose a cartridge that's useful almost all the time. Don't build the church for Easter.

 

[ftrovato]

"Last, I suspect ammo is more readily available [for 416 Rigby] than the 404 regardless of where you find you need it."

Maybe true ... for now. But the OP is talking ten years down the road. By then it would not surprise me at all if 404 popularity surpasses 416. It's already made huge inroads in just the past few years. 404 Jeffery has everything going for it: adequate punch for dangerous game, much less recoil than 416 Rigby, a classic cartridge (in fact it's more "classic" than 416 Rigby or 375 H&H), and it can be built on more compact standard action (= cheaper to build, lighter weight, and quicker to cycle than either 416 or 375 built on magnum actions). That's a lot of pluses. It's about time this cartridge was rediscovered.

Sounds like I need a 404 Jeffrey too. ;-)

 

[SStomcat]

I've taken many African animals with the 416 Rigby from Several of the Tiny Ten through Buffalo.

I never felt like I was at a disadvantage with that rifle in my hands. Even on several occasions when elephant decided to get way too close for comfort!

Last, I suspect ammo is more readily available than the 404 regardless of where you are when you find you need it.

Yes, agree, I beleive you have experience with 404 Jeff. How would you compare recoil wise. I beleive for a well balanced gun it is less, but is it significantly less?

 

[SStomcat]

I used a 416 RM for my all rounder. I took two scopes, a 1-4 and a 2-7. I of course used the lower power for Buffalo but in a pinch could've used the 2-7. Warne detachable mounts allowed me to switch the scopes and both held zero just fine. I took plains game out to 250 yards with this setup. No fancy reticle, I had memorized the trajectories and had practiced for two years at ranges to 300 yards. I set the plains game scope for two inches high at 100 yds and just used holdover past 150 yds. If it matters the rifle was a Winchester M70 Safari Express and 400 grain Swift A-frames for everything.

Practice pays, mastering holdover techniques takes a lot specially when you factor in the several factors wind speed, altitude et. al.

 

[SStomcat]

I used a 416 RM for my all rounder. I took two scopes, a 1-4 and a 2-7. I of course used the lower power for Buffalo but in a pinch could've used the 2-7. Warne detachable mounts allowed me to switch the scopes and both held zero just fine. I took plains game out to 250 yards with this setup. No fancy reticle, I had memorized the trajectories and had practiced for two years at ranges to 300 yards. I set the plains game scope for two inches high at 100 yds and just used holdover past 150 yds. If it matters the rifle was a Winchester M70 Safari Express and 400 grain Swift A-frames for everything.

Ballistically equivalent,cheaper ammo, standard action =shorter length of pull, what is there for you not to like

 

[Hammergun]

Practice pays, mastering holdover techniques takes a lot specially when you factor in the several factors wind speed, altitude et. al.

I will say I'm a closer is better kind of guy but sometimes you can't get closer. I really had no intention of shooting at 300 yds but having practiced at that range gave me confidence at shorter ranges. The PH asked how far I could shoot the 416 and I told him I was good to 250 off sticks. 300 from a firm rest but that would only be for a fleeing and wounded animal. As it turned out all the plains game was over 100 so the practice paid off. I will say I also dry fired hundreds of times and it is good practice.

 

[Betterinthebush]

As much as I love all my .375H&H’s, and I’ve have taken 95% of all my African animals with them, I got to give my .416 Rigby the nod for the one rifle only African gig.

There is great comfort in toting that extra caliber and FPE.. just in case. Plus I shoot both equally well. So there’s that to consider

 

[SStomcat]

Yes, agree, I beleive you have experience with 404 Jeff. How would you compare recoil wise. I beleive for a well balanced gun it is less, but is it significantly less?

Ahh..just read your previous post, of wanting a 404.