Game Department Rifles

[dhughes66]

I have read where several of the East African countries issued 404 Jeffrey rifles to their game department people to deal with problem animals back in the day. I am curious what game departments issue now besides the AK-47 or left over Enfield 303s? Winchester is the only company left that I am aware of that makes a dangerous game caliber rifle in a "budget" price point since CZ doesn't make the 550 anymore.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Ruger offers the .416 Ruger and .375 Ruger in two fairly priced packages; The African Model and Guide Gun.

 

[BryceM]

Our gov ranger in the Caprivi carried a synthetic stock CZ 550 in .416 Rigby.

 

[dhughes66]

I am assuming most have older CZ 550s just wonder what they will replace them with one day or if they need a new rifle now what they will use.

 

[Safari Dave]

Based on what I've seen for myself and heard from others about east African game departments they get issued AK-47's (7.62x39) or FN FAL's (7.62x51).


Hardly DG rifles, but they will do the job, if they pump enough rounds into an animal.

I'm not sure anything could survive a hail of full-auto fire, if kept on target.

 

[analog_peninsula]

The problem is that killing an animal isn’t the same thing as stopping it. Sometimes seconds count.

 

[Safari Dave]

Not to be argumentative, but 10 rounds per second of high-powered centerfire rifle ammo will stop most anything.

 

[Rare Breed]

In my discussions with them they are not there to protect us from any animals our PH is responsible for that they are there to protect us from any “social disturbance” which is why they have the AKs

 

[John Telford]

Down South in Zim,Bots and SA most of the game scouts carry semi auto in .308 (7.62 nato) or .223 as they are usually doing anti poaching work. Problem animal control is another story here they usually use .458 or .375 hh.
Section rangers and trials guides in KNP buy their own rifles.
I’ve seen a good few .450 Rigby and .458 Lotts there. One guy even had a .400/450 double.

 

[PCC600]

In my discussions with them they are not there to protect us from any animals our PH is responsible for that they are there to protect us from any “social disturbance” which is why they have the AKs

My thoughts entirely . Anti personnel weapons .

 

[PCC600]

I found this excerpt from the Westley Richards ledger in 1956 . Their Game Ranger rifles fitted with what looks like extended boxes ( it is hard to read the writing) were all 404J for an order for The Crown . I can only assume they were for colonial use . On the preceding page there are orders for 425 and 375 Game Ranger rifles but it doesn’t record if they were for personal or colonial use . My rifle is #43267 a best quality ( with no feeder lips !).

 

[Longwalker]

I wonder why Zastava M70 .375 and .458 rifles don't get more attention on this site as low budget dangerous game rifles? They seem to be a reasonable choice. Commercial M98 actions, in a fairly traditional sporter configuration. Not sure about their market presence anywhere else, but they are quite commonly available in Canada.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I have read where several of the East African countries issued 404 Jeffrey rifles to their game department people to deal with problem animals back in the day. I am curious what game departments issue now besides the AK-47 or left over Enfield 303s? Winchester is the only company left that I am aware of that makes a dangerous game caliber rifle in a "budget" price point since CZ doesn't make the 550 anymore.

Winchester Model 70s in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum.

In the recent past, Zastava M70 rifles chambered in the same calibers were used by game departments in Africa (particularly Zimbabwe).

CZ 550s chambered in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Lott were also used by game departments. Even though these are no longer in production, game departments still have a few of them that are going strong.

 

[HankBuck]

The problem is that killing an animal isn’t the same thing as stopping it. Sometimes seconds count.

@analog_peninsula it seems Poachers do very well using AK47s and any other piece of crap rifle they can scrape up.

 

[dhughes66]

Winchester Model 70s in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum.

In the recent past, Zastava M70 rifles chambered in the same calibers were used by game departments in Africa (particularly Zimbabwe).

CZ 550s chambered in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and .458 Lott were also used by game departments. Even though these are no longer in production, game departments still have a few of them that are going strong.

Ah yes I forgot about those. Kinda hard to find them in the states. We see more of the old Interarms Whitworth Express rifles in 375 or 458. My understanding is the Zastava is a similar budget Mauser based action.

 

[analog_peninsula]

@analog_peninsula it seems Poachers do very well using AK47s and any other piece of crap rifle they can scrape up.

Yep, you can get away with a lot if you don’t worry about wounded animals escaping or mind if others have to clean up your mess. It all depends on why a rifle is being carried. Anti-personnel, subsistence hunting, self-defense against dangerous game, or simply to keep clueless visiting hunters from getting themselves killed. An m60 and a belt of ammo will kill any animal in the world from 200 yards, but a 458 WinMag is a better bet at five yards when you have to turn before you can shoot.

 

[Hunt anything]

We took a couple of guided night drives in Kruger this past August, the government drivers or guides had cased .458 Win mags.
I felt they were just for show because if a lion or elephant decided to join us in the open aired bus there was no way in hell they could’ve gotten the rifles out of the cases to do any good.

 

[steve white]

I have read where several of the East African countries issued 404 Jeffrey rifles to their game department people to deal with problem animals back in the day. I am curious what game departments issue now besides the AK-47 or left over Enfield 303s? Winchester is the only company left that I am aware of that makes a dangerous game caliber rifle in a "budget" price point since CZ doesn't make the 550 anymore.

Wonder what happened to all those old Jeffreys? They could be rebarreled and still reek of Africa.

 

[dhughes66]

I have wondered the same thing. From my reading online (lots of it on this website) many of those were Parker & Hale rifles. Do not see many of them.

 

[steve white]

I have a serious question: Given that Game Dept. Scouts carry semi/full auto rifles for protection, why cannot African PHs carry at least semi auto rifles like the Browning BAR converted to 458 Win Mag? They are not hunters, they are backup too. That would give a lot more margin in a sticky situation.