Ruminating on the idea of building/ buying the wife a safari rifle

[Backyardsniper]

I'm going to Zim in a couple months, but I have started looking ahead to my next trip. I will be going to South Africa to hunt with Bos en Dal safaris next June I believe. I am trying very hard to convince the wife to make this "her safari" she has taken to the hunting a little bit, she is quite serious about killing turkeys, but she has not graduated to four legged game yet. I am hoping to get her to warm up to the idea a bit more by getting her a nice mild recoiling rifle that actually fits her, she has a super short LOP, like probably 12.5-13" I had to buy a franchi affinity compact model to find a turkey gun she can shoot comfortably.
I thought about having a custom 30/06 built and have it made with 2 stocks, one for me and one for her. Also thought about a removable block at the back of the stock for adjustment. Maybe a ruger #1?
I'm just kind of looking for ideas. I would love a 275 rigby, but to me I just don't think it has the horsepower for larger plains game. I think 30/06 is probably the way to go, you can load way down and way up as far as power levels.
All ideas, gunsmith recommendations, rifle recommendations and such are welcome. Let me know what you all think. Ideally it would be set up where it could be used by both of us with just a bit of reconfiguring by swapping stocks or removing or adding a spacer. Enough horsepower for Kudu, Eland, all the big plains game but also keeping the recoil as reasonable as possible.

 

[revturbo9967]

300 h&h

 

[Backyardsniper]

300 h&h

Ok, that's not a bad idea at all. I have a truck load of 30/06 brass, but the 300 H&H does give you a bit more horsepower and uses .308 projectiles of which I have plenty. I like that idea quite a bit!

 

[mdwest]

If you’re looking for something compact, consider a 308…

Shorter action and you can get solid performance out of a relatively short barrel using 165gr projectiles…

The 06 brings a little more versatility being able to throw 200+ gr bullets… but ballistically the308 and 06 are virtually the same using up to 180gr…. Which is more than enough for any PG (although I’d be hesitant on eland personally… more than a few have been effectively taken by 308s)…

Shorter action and barrel will balance better with the short stock you’re going to need with a 12.5” lop…

FWIW I have taken everything from impala and springbok to blue wildebeest and zebra on the @bos en dal property with a 308… never a problem..

 

[Backyardsniper]

The 308 is probably a good choice. I agree completely that up to 180 grain bullet you don't really gain anything with the 30/06. The short barrel would be super handy as well. Maybe even a model 7 or something like that. I have a ton of 308 reloading components as well.

 

[shootist~]

Tikka makes a compact 308W, IIRC.

 

[WAB]

Honestly, a 7x57 with 175 gr bullets will out penetrate that .308. If you think you need more horsepower than a 7x57, a .308 is likely not the answer.

 

[Backyardsniper]

I may look at getting Clayton at West Texas Ordinance to build me a switch lug on a short action with a 308 barrel and one of his 7SAW barrels.

 

[Beretta391]

Look at the 280 Remington. The wife has taken hers 6 times to Namibia and South Africa. She shoots the Hornady 139gr gmx at 3000fps. She’s harvested numerous springboks, impala’s, blesboks,blue wildebeests, black wildebeests, oryx’s, wart hogs, golden wildebeests, zebras, kudu, waterbuck and eland. Hits like Thor’s hammer.

 

[Backyardsniper]

280 Remington and 280 AI are both also interesting ideas. I have a rem700 LA hanging around that could be repurposed into something like that.

 

[CM McKenzie]

Not quite as practical as you are likely looking, but my wife is in the same boat. I’m considering having a .318 Westley Richards built for my wife. Or a little more practical; 8x57. Either way I feel it should be special, and better than anything I have for myself.

 

[dchum]

30-06. You already know!!

don’t talk yourself out of it.

 

[Hogpatrol]

All good choices posted but whatever you decide, look at brass and bullet availability. As of late, some have been difficult to find.

 

[Backyardsniper]

There in lies the real issue. I'm kind of trying to balance between the unique and romantic and the practical and utilitarian. Although the old 30/06 kind of checks all those blocks.

 

[ActionBob]

Rigby Highland Stalker in 30-06. They make a Ladies version. You can get a thicker recoil pad fitted for yourself. Just two screws. Or a custom fitted and finished spacer block. I'm sure that Gordy and Sons' gunsmith can set you up.

You want to get her set up to appreciate the finer points, get her a Rigby with a Swarovski scope mounted on it

 

[Backyardsniper]

Rigby Highland Stalker in 30-06. They make a Ladies version. You can get a thicker recoil pad fitted for yourself. Just two screws. Or a custom fitted and finished spacer block. I'm sure that Gordy and Sons' gunsmith can set you up.

You want to get her set up to appreciate the finer points, get her a Rigby with a Swarovski scope mounted on it

Those are expensive, but I very much would not mind owning a rigby and that not a bad idea. I have a double rifle and a nice enough 416 Rigby so I'm covered for DG stuff. I might have to splurge on a really nice PG rifle. It would be useful across the board from whitetail hunting at home all the way to PG in Africa. Probably not a bad place to drop some cash if you are going to get a pricey rifle.

 

[Inline6]

Weatherby makes a woman's rifle in 308. My wife has ones in 6.5CM, she really likes it.

Custom is nice, with custom comes a lot of other things that need to be figured out.

Or do what @ActionBob suggested.

 

[ActionBob]

Those are expensive, but I very much would not mind owning a rigby and that not a bad idea. I have a double rifle and a nice enough 416 Rigby so I'm covered for DG stuff. I might have to splurge on a really nice PG rifle. It would be useful across the board from whitetail hunting at home all the way to PG in Africa. Probably not a bad place to drop some cash if you are going to get a pricey rifle.

Did you buy her a real diamond ring that has soul.... Or one of these new soulless lab created diamonds? Mounted in a plastic stock....LOL

Get HER a Rigby

 

[CM McKenzie]

Did you buy her a real diamond ring that has soul.... Or one of these new soulless lab created diamonds? Mounted in a plastic stock....LOL

Get HER a Rigby

I’m with @ActionBob. I was going to use the wedding ring analogy too. It’s settled; Rigby it is.

 

[Backyardsniper]

Ha ha. I'm gonna make sure she is interested in doing some killing before I drop $12,000 on her a rifle. I would love to buy her a rigby, but I can buy her a really nice rifle and a pretty decent PG hunt for what that rifle costs.