Big/dangerous game rifle

[MASTERLAB]

Desert tech SRS

You can get 338 lapua

For bigger the hti will run 375-50bmg

[ElvenSoul]

Scope Minox 1-8

Rifle Winchester and CZ are tough to call. However I have a Zastava I practicaly stole at a gun show. It has a fairly big crack in the stock. I have only shot it a couple of times. Will not take it out hunting till I fix the stock.

[ddestruel]

one you need to differentiate between big game vs dangerous game as laws and regs will limit you and set the benchmark for this there outside of the usa.

North america

my sako .338 win ultra mag is nice but i don’t use it much. Even though I picked it up for $700. elk, mule deer, black bear and grizzly have all been slain with my .300 win mag remington 700. would i buy a sake or mark V in the .300 win mag or other. yup but thats for n america. a kodiak or a griz specifically the slightly larger caliber i wouldn’t mind having

Africa: instead of giving my opinion when we went small game it was a .30-06 and a .300 win mag for the larger plains game. Peep sight on the 30-06 they provided and scoped hunting with their .300 win mag

http://www.africanhuntingsafaris.net/guns-used-for-big-game-hunting.html

The Best Gun To Use:

The best gun/rifle to use on safari is one you are familiar with, and use regularly. When planning your big game hunting trip, be sure to know the minimum caliber required of guns used for big game hunting.


But with lion, buffalo or elephant its a different game all together. guys here don’t realize how fast, or large a wild cat is. as well the larger species they don’t stop and their bones/hide can absorb a lot with adrenaline. they can overcome some amazing hits from smaller calibers. i think this website hits it on the head.

http://www.africanskyhunting.co.za/riflehunting.html

“if it is dangerous game that you are after, the .375 caliber is the minimum prescribed by law in most African countries.”

much like north america pick the weapon for the job.... it isn’t an on size fits all. some guys over gun themselves for certain situations others under gun and count on skill and luck.... but others tailor. I’m sure as heck not going out after grizzly, hunting with a .308 nor will i plug a CA black tail or bontebok with a .338 lapua.

My n American two rifles are my .300 win mag and my .270 win. I play around with my .284 win but it's a hobby gun not one of the regulars. Africa my partner shoots his 416 rigby. I on the other hand passed on buying a larger caliber and dealing with importing I let my outfitter set me up and those were the two above

[1911ShooterPhil]

.45-70 GOVT is nothing to sneer at...

The Marlin 45/70 1895 Guide lever action is sort of back up short range quick multiple shots gun, which is what a guide might prefer to carry for emergency back up. A bolt action for long range is what the hunter might choose instead.

I own two .45-70 GOVT rifles that comprise of my hunting battery: an EMF/Pedersoli Kodiak Mk. IV double rifle (http://www.emf-company.com/store/pc/...Rifle-c140.htm) & an EMF/Pedersoli 1886/71 lever action rifle (http://www.emf-company.com/store/pc/...rsoli-c449.htm). I have used those rifles on Western boar and Eastern boar in several states (CA, NC, SC, TN, KY, & GA). Using most loads; from a 405-grain soft tip to a 420-grain super hard cast lead bullet; I have found the .45-70 GOVT to be a very versatile cartridge for my intended uses.

Like Darto said, many Alaskan professional hunters love the .45-70 GOVT shot out of a lever action rifle. If you take a trip to the EMF company office in Santa Ana, you'll find a mounted African cape buffalo trophy on the wall taken by Boyd A. Davis, CEO/President of EMF (known as "General U.S. Grant," SASS #2) on the wall in the foyer, taken with a Pedersoli Mk. IV double rifle in .45-70 GOVT.

Does that mean a .45-70 GOVT is good enough for dangerous game? Well...maybe in the right hands. Sir Frederick Selous took countless elephants with his prized .256 Mannlicher (6.5x54mm) bolt-action rifle, which was the equivalent to a .30-06 Springfield. Do I recommend you to try the same? Probably not.

What I'm saying is use the right amount of gun that you are comfortable shooting well. I won't go above a .458 Winchester because I cannot quickly & reliably hit something with anything much more powerful than that cartridge. That's why I stick to "hopped up" (read: 1650 FPS+) .45-70 GOVT loads from Buffalo Bore and Garrett Cartridges (http://www.garrettcartridges.com/4570reviews.html) and just call it a day.

The whole idea of "dangerous game" hunting is greatly fascinating to me. I am reminded of Lord John Roxton from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World:

Give me the great waste lands and the wide spaces, with a gun in my fist and somethin' to look for that's worth findin'. I've tried war and steeplechasin' and aeroplanes, but this huntin' of beasts that look like a lobster-supper dream is a brand-new sensation.

Thanatos2203, I wish you the best of luck in choosing your dangerous game rifle, sir. Happy hunting! Cheers! --1911ShooterPhil

[Cypriss32]

Some of the responses I read on here make me laugh. Frank FJold, hits it spot on.
Who ever said DTA is dreaming you clearly never owned a desert tech rifle of been hunting. I have a savage 375 ruger guide gun, it looks OKAY. I wish I waited and bought a ruger 375 ruger guide gun. It's a nice rifle, perfect hunting rifle. I also have a win m70 and ruger #1 in 375 H&H. I don't like ruger and the m70 is a very nice rifle. I might chop it down too 22" and put it in a manners 100% carbin stock.

[M1NM]

1) the only QDs I'd trust to take this kind of punishment would be the ones made by GDI.

Ruger chose the Warne QDs for their Bodington series of No1 rifles.

[Thanatos2203]

Regarding caliber choice I am pretty set on the .375 H&H or Ruger. They have more than enough take down without the sharpness of recoil associated with the high speed .30 loads. Also means less meat damage on lesser game, I've certainly seen the overkill that a .338 can do to a softer target and it doesn't appeal to me. .45-70 is what I would want to stop a charge or make a close quarters hit. For general hunting purposes where a shot might be made out as far as 200-250 yards, I don't think this cartridge delivers. Sticking it in a lever gun you have to then worry about gears and other fine mechanics which is not something I am thrilled about. Murphy's law applies to virtually everything I own, on top of that I run my equipment hard. That plus a penchant for bolt actions is going to keep me away from the lever gun. One is certainly on my long list, just not for this application.

I think I've gotten it down to either the Ruger Guide Gun or still the Sako Kodiak.

The biggest thing going for the Ruger is the price and ruggedness. In my mind its not as "special" as the Sako, but $900 is a huge difference, especially for something that is going to get used and abused. Its got all the features I was looking for, and its on a Mauser style action which I am already familiar with and like. I can throw the Warne Maxima rings on there without having to worry about bases or the Optilock system and put the overalls saved money towards better optics.

The Sako has a special allure to it that may only be in my head, but makes me not want to "settle" for the Ruger. Whether is is $900 better may be subjective but both will kill critters equally well. I don't have a problem with the optics mounting options, but they are not as simple and straight forward as the Ruger would be. Fit and finish as well as accuracy are surely going to be hands down better with the Sako.

I guess right now the edge is going towards the Ruger.

[ElvenSoul]

Do this call Gun Shops abd Outfitters over there. Bet they will have the .375H&H in stock.

[mlazarus5388]

I got the Ruger in 375 Ruger and find it has been very accurate, and handy. Reloading for it is easy, components are easy to come by and there is a wide variety of bullets. Commercial ammo is available from a variety of sources and some of the factory offerings are excellent.

This is four rounds at 100 yards using a thick duplex 1.75 X 6 Leupold. The gun and the round perform. Every animal I shot with it has dropped and stayed down.

[Thanatos2203]

Do this call Gun Shops abd Outfitters over there. Bet they will have the .375H&H in stock.

This is my plan since I know the Bass Pro carries both company's products. Including tonight I've worked 72 hours in the past six days and just haven't had the time or the energy. Such is life.

I got the Ruger in 375 Ruger and find it has been very accurate, and handy. Reloading for it is easy, components are easy to come by and there is a wide variety of bullets. Commercial ammo is available from a variety of sources and some of the factory offerings are excellent.

This is four rounds at 100 yards using a thick duplex 1.75 X 6 Leupold. The gun and the round perform. Every animal I shot with it has dropped and stayed down.

Thank you for posting up your groups. How do you like that Leupold? I've been looking at the 1.5-4x but the 6x seems like it would be a bit more versatile.

[Fjold]

Thank you for posting up your groups. How do you like that Leupold? I've been looking at the 1.5-4x but the 6x seems like it would be a bit more versatile.

Because the 375 H&H and Ruger are capable of taking game past 300 yards I like a little more magnification. I use a Leupold VX III in 2.5 - 8X on my 375 H&H and a Leupold 1.5-6X on my 458 Win Mag.

I've shot a zebra at 301 yards (lasered) off shooting sticks with the 375 H&H and being able to use the 8X magnification made it easy.

The good thing about QD mounts is that for any reason your scope fails in the middle of a stalk, it takes less than 10 seconds to get the scope off and on target with the iron sights. No fumbling with getting a screwdriver out of your pack, etc. If you're ever in the thick stuff with a pissed off buff, bear or elephant it's not the time to go digging for tools to get your scope off.

[mlazarus5388]

I like the 1.75-6 quite a bit. I was concerned about eye relief which is why I went with the lower power. I have several 2-8 power on some rifles and I am pleased with them. The longest shot I took with the ruger 375 was just over 325 yards in dawn light. The thick duplex was visible but more magnification might have been nice.

[Thanatos2203]

The CZ 550 full stocked carbine in 9.3X62 is quite the compact, reliable little package. Comes close to the 375 H & H in bullet weight and FPS. I have a CZ 550 rifle (416 Rigby) and as much as I like it the thing is quite a long rifle, same would be said for the same rifle in 375 H & H.

Do you or anyone here have experience with the 9.3x62? I would be interested in hearing about it as well.

[MrTokarev]

Do you or anyone here have experience with the 9.3x62? I would be interested in hearing about it as well.

Some of the countries that prohibit anything smaller than .375 for dangerous game make specific exception for 9.3x62mm (which is .366). It is supposed to be a very effective, flat shooting cartridge though it does give up some power to the .375H&H. It is well suited to any North American big game.

I have been considering a big bore rifle as I would like to hunt cape buffalo and large plains game in Africa someday (any other big 5 seem somewhat lofty in cost to me). My research indicates that a winchester model 70 in 375H&H may be the best option. Modern FN winchesters are finished to a higher standard from the factory than CZ rifles (not that they are bad, just that they benefit more from gunsmith tuning). 375 is not so massive and specialized for dangerous game that I couldn't get good use out of it here in NA. I have reservations about the 375ruger only because the rifles are so light. I think the hawkeye african is about 7lbs while the winchester safari rifle is over 9lbs. Recoil from a 375 is supposed to be quite manageable but the more you lighten the rifle, the more you will feel it. I want to be able to comfortably shoot the gun often enough to become proficient with it. Manageable recoil will aid in this.

I have not hunted dg or otherwise in Africa so this is simply my thoughts based on my own search for a similar rifle to the op. Might give you something to think about though. I would definitely consider the advice of the posters who have been there and actually hunted dangerous game.

[Thorax]

http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/vanguard.html?caliber=40

As for me, I'd look for a 416 mag, a wby 378 mag, or just drag along my 470NE.

Scopes are fine on the plains, but you get into brush you're better off with open sights.