Talk me out of a Rigby Big Game 404J

[PARA45]

Congratulations my friend, well done and I hope you never regret getting the 404J. I hope one day to be in your neck of the woods to see those beauties. Again, congratulations!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks my good friend! I had previously owned two 404 Js one great and regret selling one that was a problem until I got it fixed. You know my heart lies with Rigby so it was only natural I finally got my desired 494J in a Rigby to compliment my others. I plan on my 27 and 28 hunts are to use the 404 on buff and my 450 DR on my elephants

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Thats funny. But 36 years old isnt a newborn
You are correct about the females are more impactful for population control.

At 2 years old an African bull elephant will be around 5’ tall at the shoulders, cows around 4’.
At 35 years old said bull elephant should be about 9-10’ tall at the shoulders. Binga bulls are smaller so we’ll call it 8’ at the shoulders for the sake of argument. Ears on a 35yo bull will be larger than the torso of even the largest adult male (these clearly aren’t). There are lots of clues as to the bulls height in that photo. While not a “newborn” that bull is 100% an adolescent. Conservation Force can only get “certificates” based off the paperwork they’re given by the PH & Outfitter. Conservation Force isn’t who determines age. Guess it’s not just on Cape Buffalo that Outfitters and PH’s exaggerate age on. I’d love to see it (but we won’t,) some of the extremely experienced Elephant Hunter’s, as well as PH’s on here comment as to the estimated age of this Trophy Bull. I can tell you based on texts and a couple messages I’ve received a good number agree.

@Rare Breed the hunting of any CITES Appendix animal should be for conservation purposes. Additionally, that’s quite literally the African Hunting model. As you point out AH is a great resource that allows us to disagree. I hope your next 3 years of planned hunts enlightens you to a different way of thinking. Elephant Hunting is one of the most unique hunting opportunities and experiences we can have that’s constantly under threat from the outside. They’re truly magnificent creatures.

 

[Rare Breed]

I completely agree on your last point. You seem to discount the experience of the hunt which is everything to me not the end result. I have never hunted harder for any of my big 5 and got him on the last day last hour. He will always be an incredible hunt to me with great satisfaction of an animal well earned

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I completely agree on your last point. You seem to discount the experience of the hunt which is everything to me not the end result. I have never hunted harder for any of my big 5 and got him on the last day last hour. He will always be an incredible hunt to me with great satisfaction of an animal well earned

I went home from my first elephant hunt without a bull. The experience of the hunt was still the same, it was still incredible even without shooting one, it’s part of what drove me to keep elephant hunting, and one of the reasons it’s become my favorite African animal to pursue. Shooting a bull like that, just to shoot something; even in the last hour of the last day wouldn’t make the hunt for me, it’d likely ruin it especially knowing what I know now and have experience. I commend the PH on that hunt for not letting me shoot one of the countless smaller bulls we saw and encountered.

 

[RIGBY]

I had a random rigby question. Does/did rigby make threaded barreled HS rifles? Or would that be someones aftermarket modification?

Is there a particular rifle you’re interested in? The reason I ask is I can connect you with the head of that rifle department and you can discuss the options directly with them. Please send me your WhatsApp or email by direct message and I can connect you.