I need a companion rifle for the 500J

[Creigh]

I am currently awaiting delivery of a 500 Jeffrey. My plan is to do a proper African hunt in a few years. I hunt for meat but I decided to do a full real deal African hunt somewhere north of me, perhaps Zimbabwe or Tanzania. As you can imagine accumulating resources can be challenging, but I've given myself three years to get there. Rifle builds can take a while and getting a permit here can take anything up to 7 months. However, I have another issue. I cannot go on this hunt with only a 500 Jeffrey.

I need a rifle that will compliment what I already have, or will have, but I have a few self imposed limitations.

It has to be a classic cartridge, but not so obscure that I don't have access to ammunition or even hand loading parts.
It has to have the ability to shoot longer distances.
It will be used to bring down large African PG.
Both rifles must be made by the same builder with the same stock design (classic English). Fitted to me.
Both rifles must of course be left-handed.

After long chats with friends I've narrowed it down to a few options:

300 H&H
338 Win Mag
333 Jeffery (pushing the obscure envelope)

What I don't want:

300 WM. I can buy numerous of these off the shelf right now. Very few LH around.
Anything above 338, performance-wise. I have a 375 H&H and a 404J. I'm purposefully trying to get something that fits the set and meets the performance requirements on African PG.
300 PRC. Too new. The numbers match the 338 WM though.

I'm open to any suggestion, regardless caliber.

Thanks

 

[Altitude sickness]

.300 H&H

 

[Luvthunt]

I would use the 375 . You have it already.

 

[Creigh]

I would use the 375 . You have it already.

I'd need to load a lighter grain to feel comfortable shooting over 300m. Always an option but not a preference.

 

[dhughes66]

I'd vote for the 300 H&H. Seems the most classic without being as obscure as the 333 Jeffery.

 

[VertigoBE]

I am currently awaiting delivery of a 500 Jeffrey. My plan is to do a proper African hunt in a few years. I hunt for meat but I decided to do a full real deal African hunt somewhere north of me, perhaps Zimbabwe or Tanzania. As you can imagine accumulating resources can be challenging, but I've given myself three years to get there. Rifle builds can take a while and getting a permit here can take anything up to 7 months. However, I have another issue. I cannot go on this hunt with only a 500 Jeffrey.

I need a rifle that will compliment what I already have, or will have, but I have a few self imposed limitations.

It has to be a classic cartridge, but not so obscure that I don't have access to ammunition or even hand loading parts.
It has to have the ability to shoot longer distances.
It will be used to bring down large African PG.
Both rifles must be made by the same builder with the same stock design (classic English). Fitted to me.
Both rifles must of course be left-handed.

After long chats with friends I've narrowed it down to a few options:

300 H&H
338 Win Mag
333 Jeffery (pushing the obscure envelope)

What I don't want:

300 WM. I can buy numerous of these off the shelf right now. Very few LH around.
Anything above 338, performance-wise. I have a 375 H&H and a 404J. I'm purposefully trying to get something that fits the set and meets the performance requirements on African PG.
300 PRC. Too new. The numbers match the 338 WM though.

I'm open to any suggestion, regardless caliber.

Thanks

at first I would have said .375H&H, as it can also double as a back-up on dangerous game. It would allow you to keep your new .500Jeff either with irons only, or just a red dot, and keep the .375 with a straight tube scope for those low-light conditions with buff in the shadows.

But since you already have a .375H&H, I would concur with the .300H&H suggestion from @Altitude sickness. Classy, timeless and performance.

 

[Creigh]

at first I would have said .375H&H, as it can also double as a back-up on dangerous game. It would allow you to keep your new .500Jeff either with irons only, or just a red dot, and keep the .375 with a straight tube scope for those low-light conditions with buff in the shadows.

But since you already have a .375H&H, I would concur with the .300H&H suggestion from @Altitude sickness. Classy, timeless and performance.

I'm surprised folks like the 300 H&H. I didn't emphasize performance but obviously it does need to.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I guess 30-06 can work beyond 300. Presumably it is already in your collection? I flattened first kudu at 330 yards with my 165 gr Partition hand load out of borrowed 30-06 (new scope on my rifle pooped). Missed the first shot 2' low but we caught up to him again and I adjusted. Also flattened blue wildebeest and black wildebeest with one shot, each at a little over 100 yards. And first impala at 280 yards. Considering the cartridge was essentially developed in 1900 (perfected six years later), it cannot be denied as classic. Certainly more classic than 338 WM.

Personally, I prefer cat and mouse stalking for close shots. But my old Springfield 03A3 has reached out there on occasion.