I have been searching for a bigbore rifle and got it down to a few choices. I love this process of "sifting" through the good and bad criteria and then choosing a new toy or tool.
Firstly I have to say that I am not a PH, but love the idea of a big bore rifle and would like to use it for its intended purpose, to get something big. If I could have it my way I would also like to use it in general too.
I would appreciate your input / discussions on the following.
I have been looking at the following:
375 Ruger African / Alaskan
416 Ruger Alaskan
375 H&H various rifles
416 Rigby CZ
416 Rem Winchester
458 Zastava
Initially I was taking cost too seriously, but relaxed a little as I realized that this is a rifle I would like to be proud of, but still not too expensive thus going for "cheapy" I may regret later. I set my limit to R20 000 / $2750. One criteri is that it had to be a controlled feed action (personnal choice).
I like the Ruger cal and rifles although my first choice would be the Alaskan, but I can not find any (VLT Arms is waiting.......) VLT does have a 375 Ruger African in stock which I liked very much, and at around R12000 / $1700 the price is just right. I quite like the synthetic stock idea and compactness of the Alaskan
The 375 H&H is such a good cal and the Rifles I saw were very nice but were either out of my price range or did not have controlled feed.
The 458 I saw was a Zastava but I was not too impressed with the stock (bit rough) and to spend more money to get it as I want it would not be my first choice, but at
R10500 / $1500............
Then I had a look at a CZ550 Lux in 416 Rigby for R16500 / $2300. This was a really nice rifle and like it really a lot. The only issue is the cost of ammo at R2000 / $285 for twenty it is a bit rough for me.... I do re-load does it get much cheaper?
Then I saw an add for a Winchester Safari Express in 416 Remington........ for R16500 / $2300. From what I have read this is a nice rifle. How does it stack up to the CZ? Cost of ammo?
What do you all think? Should I wait an check the Alaskan out? Should I consider the CZ above the Winchester? any ideas?
Choices choices
Firstly I have to say that I am not a PH, but love the idea of a big bore rifle and would like to use it for its intended purpose, to get something big. If I could have it my way I would also like to use it in general too.
I would appreciate your input / discussions on the following.
I have been looking at the following:
375 Ruger African / Alaskan
416 Ruger Alaskan
375 H&H various rifles
416 Rigby CZ
416 Rem Winchester
458 Zastava
Initially I was taking cost too seriously, but relaxed a little as I realized that this is a rifle I would like to be proud of, but still not too expensive thus going for "cheapy" I may regret later. I set my limit to R20 000 / $2750. One criteri is that it had to be a controlled feed action (personnal choice).
I like the Ruger cal and rifles although my first choice would be the Alaskan, but I can not find any (VLT Arms is waiting.......) VLT does have a 375 Ruger African in stock which I liked very much, and at around R12000 / $1700 the price is just right. I quite like the synthetic stock idea and compactness of the Alaskan
The 375 H&H is such a good cal and the Rifles I saw were very nice but were either out of my price range or did not have controlled feed.
The 458 I saw was a Zastava but I was not too impressed with the stock (bit rough) and to spend more money to get it as I want it would not be my first choice, but at
R10500 / $1500............
Then I had a look at a CZ550 Lux in 416 Rigby for R16500 / $2300. This was a really nice rifle and like it really a lot. The only issue is the cost of ammo at R2000 / $285 for twenty it is a bit rough for me.... I do re-load does it get much cheaper?
Then I saw an add for a Winchester Safari Express in 416 Remington........ for R16500 / $2300. From what I have read this is a nice rifle. How does it stack up to the CZ? Cost of ammo?
What do you all think? Should I wait an check the Alaskan out? Should I consider the CZ above the Winchester? any ideas?
Choices choices