What 416 Rifle Should I Take To Africa???

[meigsbucks]

I took a .416 Ruger with 400 gr Barnes and a .375 H&H with 300 gr Swifts to Zim in 2013. I took a buffalo and seven PG animals with the .416. All one shot kills, including the buff. Took two impala and a bushbuck with the .375. You'll like the shorter Ruger. If ammo becomes an issue over there, there is always .375 H&H available.

 

[johnnyblues]

I took the buffalo in my avatar with my Ruger 375 guide rifle. Love the gun. Better question is your choice of ammo. I used Swift A frames in 300 gr. Devastation results. Shot placement is a must! Either one will kill him dead.

 

[TOBY458]

 

[TOBY458]

View attachment 220246

I think I made the right choice! Winchester 70 and handloaded 400 grain Hornady bullets. Now if the Swifts will do this well.....

 

[Ridgewalker]

Even if the Swift’s are twice the size they’ll get the job done!

 

[Daga Boy]

Either will do. I personally prefer the .416 Remington and I think you will find it easier to get hold of that ammo for the Remington here (if needed) as the 416 Ruger isn't a common item over here at this time.
I would add that I cant understand why you would bring both a .416 and a .375 on a buffalo hunt, unless its simply just in case one develops a problem - which can happen.
You should however bring a spare scope if possible as things do sometimes go wrong with optics. The best solution is QD set up so that you can just take the one scope off and put the other on if the need arises.
You can potentially also make your rifle more flexible by having one low power scope for the big stuff and another higher power scope for plains game. I know a few people who do that, but it doesn't make much sense unless you also take separate plans game loads - say 300gr monometals. You would obviously also need to re-sight the rifle for the changed application unless you happen to be incredibly lucky.

 

[Dr Ray]

Buy a Sako / I just love them.

 

[Hutch01]

Haulin rifles is PIA. I'd just take the ONE .375 and call it good.

 

[Daga Boy]

Beware of Sako's in heavy calibres. All Sako's are beautiful and they shoot really well, but European stock design is not great for heavy recoilers. A straight comb stock with a decent amount of width (ala Ruger) is what you want for big bangers. CZ's are very popular over here. (I have 3 of them in various calibres). They also belt in standard form but you can fix that by adjusting the angle of the butt/recoil pad so as to get less rotation. Alternatively one can use an aftermarket stock. The Armtech stock, which is a straight comb "coil check" type stock works well. I think it was basically copied off a MacMillan but don't know for sure.

 

[TOBY458]

Either will do. I personally prefer the .416 Remington and I think you will find it easier to get hold of that ammo for the Remington here (if needed) as the 416 Ruger isn't a common item over here at this time.
I would add that I cant understand why you would bring both a .416 and a .375 on a buffalo hunt, unless its simply just in case one develops a problem - which can happen.
You should however bring a spare scope if possible as things do sometimes go wrong with optics. The best solution is QD set up so that you can just take the one scope off and put the other on if the need arises.
You can potentially also make your rifle more flexible by having one low power scope for the big stuff and another higher power scope for plains game. I know a few people who do that, but it doesn't make much sense unless you also take separate plans game loads - say 300gr monometals. You would obviously also need to re-sight the rifle for the changed application unless you happen to be incredibly lucky.

I'm taking two rifles, and a spare scope. Going to use the 416 for Buffalo and maybe Eland. The 375 for other plains game. I know I could just take the 375 for everything, but I want to get some use out of both guns.

 

[Daga Boy]

Have fun. .416 is fantastic on buffalo .
Which country?

 

[Alexandro Faria]

Leave both at home and get a rigby Maybe not a .416... .450 Rigby?? I know I'm not being helpful, but I guess I didn't comment to be so

 

[Moosemind]

Doesn't the 416 Remington have an issue with pressure in the African heat?

 

[TOBY458]

Have fun. .416 is fantastic on buffalo .
Which country?

South Africa. Looking forward to seeing how the 416 Performs!

 

[TOBY458]

Doesn't the 416 Remington have an issue with pressure in the African heat?

Not these days. The powder we have today is very temperature insensitive. Plus the Remington runs about the same pressure as the 375 H&H. Never heard of the ole H&H having a problem. I doubt very seriously the 416 Rem ever had any real problems to begin with. Craig Boddington says that he's never actually talked to anyone who had a problem with pressure and the 416 RM, so alot of it was probably just rumors.

 

[TOBY458]

Leave both at home and get a rigby Maybe not a .416... .450 Rigby?? I know I'm not being helpful, but I guess I didn't comment to be so

I'm already kind of locked in to the 416 Rem and 375 H&H for this hunt, but a Sako Brown Bear in 450 OR 416 Rigby is on my radar....

 

[Bruce]

On looks..the coloful stock looks real sexy.
For shooting my choice would be the REM mag.
For interest sake. How does your remember msg feed? I have heard from many PH's that they don't like the REM mag in 416 as it tends to jam during rapid feeding??? I have never heard of his from any such owner and thus interested.

 

[BenKK]

Beware of Sako's in heavy calibres. All Sako's are beautiful and they shoot really well, but European stock design is not great for heavy recoilers. A straight comb stock with a decent amount of width (ala Ruger) is what you want for big bangers. CZ's are very popular over here. (I have 3 of them in various calibres). They also belt in standard form but you can fix that by adjusting the angle of the butt/recoil pad so as to get less rotation. Alternatively one can use an aftermarket stock. The Armtech stock, which is a straight comb "coil check" type stock works well. I think it was basically copied off a MacMillan but don't know for sure.

There are quite a few Sako rifles with stocks appropriate for heavy recoil as you have described. I had a Kodiak in .375H&H and now have a Brown Bear in .500 Jeffery, and both are a pleasure to shoot.

 

[TOBY458]

On looks..the coloful stock looks real sexy.
For shooting my choice would be the REM mag.
For interest sake. How does your remember msg feed? I have heard from many PH's that they don't like the REM mag in 416 as it tends to jam during rapid feeding??? I have never heard of his from any such owner and thus interested.

My 416 RM feeds as smoothly as any rifle I ever owned.

 

[Bruce]

My 416 RM feeds as smoothly as any rifle I ever owned.

Cheers...glad to hear that.