IronCowboy
AH veteran
Sorry if this gets kicked around a lot - I tried the search function and didn't come up with much... I posted a while back about
I'm no stranger to big bore rifles, but I'm looking to build a new one soon (starting in spring, I suppose), I've owned a couple 375H&H's, a 416Rig, 458WM, and a 458Lott in the past.
I asked a similar question a while back about rifle choice - controlled round feed vs. push feed. After a bit of introspection, I'm pretty well settled on the CRF (http://www.africahunting.com/thread...hoice-s-looking-for-experienced-advice.14295/)
First: I hear quite a bit - including in my first thread - that it's recommended to take a PG cartridge rifle and a DG cartridge rifle, OR to take two DGR's, one as back up for the other. Leaning towards the former, I'm planning a matched pair of customized Ruger Guide Guns, one in 416Rug or 458WM and the other in 338WM or 300WM. I may haul a 3rd rifle, my first deer rifle, a M77MkII .30-06, just for the nostalgia of it.
ANY ADVICE on whether it's relevant to carry two rifles or just one? Should the two both be DGR's, or a PG and a DG?
Second: At this point, as a lifetime Ruger Revolver fanatic and considering my first hunting rifle was a M77 30-06, I decided to go with Ruger rifles. I have a shop that will cut me a deal on two Ruger Guide Guns. I'm thinking about different cartridge options.
Here's the plan:
DGR: Ruger Guide Gun in 416 Ruger, or a 300WM and rebarrel to 458WM - Leaning towards 416 Ruger
PGR:Ruger Guide Gun in 338WM or 375 Ruger - Leaning towards 338WM
HERE'S MY BIGGER SET OF QUESTIONS:
Any reason the Ruger Guide Gun standard length won't be a reasonable DGR?
Is it better to go with a pair of DGR's instead of 1 PGR and 1 DGR?
If two DGR's are better, should I match cartridges, or use two different? (like 416Rug & 458WM vs. 2 of 1?)
Opinions on the 416Ruger? Staying power so I can find components on the NEXT safari 20yrs from now?
DGR: (same question, sorry), 458WM or 416 Ruger? I'm leaning towards 416Ruger.
PGR: 300WM, 338WM, or 375 Ruger? I'm leaning towards 338WM.
I'm leaning towards MATCHED Ruger Guide Guns in 338WM and 416 Ruger - Opinions on this set up?
A lot of overlap in those questions, but I'm trying to make sure my thoughts on my 'matched rifles' make sense. Would a 338WM and a 458WM really be better than a 416Ruger? Would a 300WM make a better PGR than the 338? Is it worth mixing the 375Ruger into this equation at all? That's what I'm hoping to be able to answer with these questions. I suppose if the 416Rug falls away, I'll only have a few hundred bucks rebarreling later to 458WM.
The nice part about building on a standard length action and the Guide Gun platform (bolt face and mag boxes) is that I can strap a 300WM or 7mm RM barrel on when I get home and use it for whitetail hunting rather than having a DGR rotting in the back of my safe.
Lil' help?
I'm no stranger to big bore rifles, but I'm looking to build a new one soon (starting in spring, I suppose), I've owned a couple 375H&H's, a 416Rig, 458WM, and a 458Lott in the past.
I asked a similar question a while back about rifle choice - controlled round feed vs. push feed. After a bit of introspection, I'm pretty well settled on the CRF (http://www.africahunting.com/thread...hoice-s-looking-for-experienced-advice.14295/)
First: I hear quite a bit - including in my first thread - that it's recommended to take a PG cartridge rifle and a DG cartridge rifle, OR to take two DGR's, one as back up for the other. Leaning towards the former, I'm planning a matched pair of customized Ruger Guide Guns, one in 416Rug or 458WM and the other in 338WM or 300WM. I may haul a 3rd rifle, my first deer rifle, a M77MkII .30-06, just for the nostalgia of it.
ANY ADVICE on whether it's relevant to carry two rifles or just one? Should the two both be DGR's, or a PG and a DG?
Second: At this point, as a lifetime Ruger Revolver fanatic and considering my first hunting rifle was a M77 30-06, I decided to go with Ruger rifles. I have a shop that will cut me a deal on two Ruger Guide Guns. I'm thinking about different cartridge options.
Here's the plan:
DGR: Ruger Guide Gun in 416 Ruger, or a 300WM and rebarrel to 458WM - Leaning towards 416 Ruger
PGR:Ruger Guide Gun in 338WM or 375 Ruger - Leaning towards 338WM
HERE'S MY BIGGER SET OF QUESTIONS:
Any reason the Ruger Guide Gun standard length won't be a reasonable DGR?
Is it better to go with a pair of DGR's instead of 1 PGR and 1 DGR?
If two DGR's are better, should I match cartridges, or use two different? (like 416Rug & 458WM vs. 2 of 1?)
Opinions on the 416Ruger? Staying power so I can find components on the NEXT safari 20yrs from now?
DGR: (same question, sorry), 458WM or 416 Ruger? I'm leaning towards 416Ruger.
PGR: 300WM, 338WM, or 375 Ruger? I'm leaning towards 338WM.
I'm leaning towards MATCHED Ruger Guide Guns in 338WM and 416 Ruger - Opinions on this set up?
A lot of overlap in those questions, but I'm trying to make sure my thoughts on my 'matched rifles' make sense. Would a 338WM and a 458WM really be better than a 416Ruger? Would a 300WM make a better PGR than the 338? Is it worth mixing the 375Ruger into this equation at all? That's what I'm hoping to be able to answer with these questions. I suppose if the 416Rug falls away, I'll only have a few hundred bucks rebarreling later to 458WM.
The nice part about building on a standard length action and the Guide Gun platform (bolt face and mag boxes) is that I can strap a 300WM or 7mm RM barrel on when I get home and use it for whitetail hunting rather than having a DGR rotting in the back of my safe.
Lil' help?