Subject "Stopping rifle"..

[Pondoro]

Cost no object, what would be your choice on Loxodonta Africana..?

Mine would be a .577 NE double rifle of English make with ejectors..

Opinions..?

 

[Amon458]

I too would love a .577 NE double with ejectors or maybe even a double bolt rifle if we arent caring about expenses.

 

[petrusg]

I have a Verney Carron 500NE

 

[spike.t]

my Rigby .470.....there you go again reminding me that i sold it.........

 

[PeteG]

my Rigby .470.....there you go again reminding me that i sold it.........

you deserve a for doing that... and not the good kind!

 

[Hank2211]

Hunted elephant once, used a .375, felt a bit under gunned.

Having said that, I would use a gun I would enjoy shooting, and could practice with. And one that has some history behind it, because you should use such a gun when hunting elephant.

Quite a few would fit the bill, but for me, an original .404 Jeffery.

 

[spike.t]

you deserve a for doing that... and not the good kind!

you are so kind.....

 

[siml]

Mike....Pete thanks for the good laugh.

 

[Red Leg]

Stopping rifle - the .577 is obviously a great choice. I think I would, however, go with a .500 from the same sources (rising bite action if given the choice). The difference in portability between the .500 and .577 is pretty dramatic, and unless a gun bearer comes with the .577' the 500 would be more than good enough.

 

[Ryno Botma]

I would say any rifle able to shoot 500gr over 2150 ftps that you shoot well every time .460 wby is a hell of a good stopper in my books

 

[Ryno Botma]

But if cost is not in mind I wouldn't mind a 416 rigby double bolt action

Have no idee of reliability and handling never even held one in my hands just think it is bad ass

 

[spike.t]

But if cost is not in mind I wouldn't mind a 416 rigby double bolt action

Have no idee of reliability and handling never even held one in my hands just think it is bad ass

@Ryno Botma do you mean the rigby double square bridge bolt action? as there never has been a rigby double bolt action rifle

 

[PeteG]

But if cost is not in mind I wouldn't mind a 416 rigby double bolt action

Have no idee of reliability and handling never even held one in my hands just think it is bad ass

something like this??
http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/9656.htm
but in the proper 416 caliber... RIGBY!!!

 

[spike.t]

something like this??
http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/9656.htm
but in the proper 416 caliber... RIGBY!!!

ok shit stirrer !!!! ahhh i see one of those things. never liked them or the bloke that first designed them . but not going into the whys etc on here.....

 

[CAustin]

458 Lott will stop anything walking or swimming on this planet!

 

[Ryno Botma]

http://www.csmcspecials.com/product_p/9656.htm
but in the proper caliber... RIGBY!!! [/QUOTE]

Yes im not a big fan of all the gold and engraving but the .416 rigby in double bolt would be bad ass

 

[Velo Dog]

An 11 pound .500 NE Westley Richards Drop Lock, with 26" ejector barrels, built to fit me, would be my absolute first choice.

A Holland & Holland Best Grade side lock, also in .500 NE, would be my close 2nd choice.

 

[Nyati]

Heym 88B in .470 NE, PH model would be fine.

 

[Pondoro]

It seems that many of you prefer a .500 as a stopping rifle. I have never used it but it is praised by many seasoned elephant hunters..

My take on the .577 is fueled by the former SA PH Carl Labuschagne (spelling..), who wrote glowingly about it in a 1995 issue of Magnum. He had tried most calibres up to and including the .577. He described a shot taken on a wounded ele bull that ran past him...he floored it with a heart-lung shot. He had other similar experiences as well. That DR in .577 was his last stopper..

Carl thought that the .577 was ideal for PH work on the heavies and for those hunting ele occationally without backup.

 

[Velo Dog]

It seems that many of you prefer a .500 as a stopping rifle. I have never used it but it is praised by many seasoned elephant hunters..

My take on the .577 is fueled by the former SA PH Carl Labuschagne (spelling..), who wrote glowingly about it in a 1995 issue of Magnum. He had tried most calibres up to and including the .577. He described a shot taken on a wounded ele bull that ran past him...he floored it with a heart-lung shot. He had other similar experiences as well. That DR in .577 was his last stopper..

Carl thought that the .577 was ideal for PH work on the heavies and for those hunting ele occationally without backup.

My choice was an 11 pound .500 NE because I feel that at my age (I'm a prune faced old man now) carrying a .577 all day long would take most of the fun away.
If I were still young, the .577 is one I would definitely want to hunt (even hippo and buffalo) elephant with.
Unfortunately, I've never shot a .577 NE (yet!) but, I have fired an 11 pound .500 NE with standard loads of 570 grain bullets and it was stout recoil but not out of my tolerance level.