Dangerous Game Rifle

[Tere_Hanges]

Too bad your not in Texas this is a nice Sako for $800. Maybe you can contact him to see about shipping.

https://texasguntrader.com/category/.../Sako-375.html

Dang. Isnt that a $2000 gun? Buy it and ship it in, still come out way ahead.

[sigstroker]

Wait until Frank or Doug reply as they both hunt Africa.
I don't know the rules but they have caliber restrictions on some animals or countries so you don't want to buy the wrong gun and ruin your hunt before it happens.

I sort of assumed .375 H&H was appropriate, since he's been looking into Africa. I doubt he's going after Dumbo.

[condor]

Another possibility is an Inter Arms/Whitworth in 375H&H. They're built on an FN mauser commercial action in England. Very nice rifles. They generally sell used in the $650 range in nice condition. I own 3 of them. 4 if I see another... :-)

[LynnJr]

I sort of assumed .375 H&H was appropriate, since he's been looking into Africa. I doubt he's going after Dumbo.

Sig
I looked into shooting Dumbo and you need to be inside the country for 22 days before you would be allowed to pull the trigger. On something like Africa it is best to hear from someone who has been there so you don't screw up.
A friend of mine went and when the plane lands they walk down the aisle and spray the passengers.
Strange place.

[edgerly779]

TRy big game rifle. Lots of people injured and killed by Moose as well. Dangerous game sounds like a Frank Buck novella. FYI I think fjold is an old africa hand

[pennstater]

I don't pretend to know squat about DG hunting, but, that Sako would be worth a look. As mentioned earlier, also wait to make sure it is indeed enough gun for all areas. Sako do look nice, tho.

[Dakie]

I ended up contacting the seller of the Sako to see if he'll ship, haven't heard back yet. Went on Armslist and Gunbroker, upsetting to see that some sellers won't ship to CA due to politics

[duckman1]

I have the Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H, it's a great gun I purchased it used from a close friend.

[Phalanx20mm]

I liked shooting my Winchester Model 70 Super Express in .375 H&H.

[sigstroker]

Sig
I looked into shooting Dumbo and you need to be inside the country for 22 days before you would be allowed to pull the trigger. On something like Africa it is best to hear from someone who has been there so you don't screw up.
A friend of mine went and when the plane lands they walk down the aisle and spray the passengers.
Strange place.

If it turns out he DOES want to go after Dumbo, the Model 70 in .458 Win Mag is still under $1200. The .458 isn't a world beater, but the ammo is fairly common in Africa from what I've heard.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/90597/Firearms/Rifles/Winchester/Win+Guns+535204144+M70+Safari+Express+Bolt+458+WinMag+24+3%2B

[Mesa Defense]

I got my .460 Weatherby Mag Mark 5 for $1200 years ago. Love it. With Handloads, it does a lot. Would by another in a heartbeat.

[Fjold]

If I only had one DG rifle it would be the 375 H&H. That and the 416 Remington are probably most well rounded chamberings for a one gun hunt. The 375 has the advantage of being easier to get used to the recoil of and most big bore shooters learn on their 375s to build their recoil tolerance. If you become a good shot with it, you can take any animal in the world. Using the 300 and 350 grain solids the 375 H&H has taken a lot of elephants. Until they get a lot of experience and make a lot of money, very many younger African Professional Hunters are carrying 375 H&H and 458 Win Mag rifles.

A couple of good, commonly found rifles to start with in 375 H&H are:
Winchester Model 70
Mauser (Interarms Mark X, Zastava)
Montana Rifle Co.
Sako
Browning
The Weatherby's are also good but I don't like them chambered in the Weatherby cartridges. The ammunition is hard to find, very expensive and their habit of long throating their barrels to reduce peak pressures is sometimes detrimental to accuracy. The old 375 Weatherby was a great cartridge because it would shoot the 375 H&H cartridge (it's basically a 375 H&H Ackley Improved)

Don't discount the Rugers in 375 Ruger, I see more and more in Africa every year.

[splithoof]

I got my .460 Weatherby Mag Mark 5 for $1200 years ago. Love it. With Handloads, it does a lot. Would by another in a heartbeat.

That is one very powerful rifle. Certainly enough gun for Jumbo, rhino, hippopotamus, etc. I've got an old H&H double in .416, and firing it reminds me a slight bit of your Mk5, but the .460 will do more, so I'm told.

[splithoof]

Frank, you might answer this: How easy (or what is involved) is it to re-chamber the .458 to the Lott?....is it simply a matter of using a proper reamer, or does the increased length necessitate a longer action?
I know that with the Lott one can fire the .458, but what is the actual, practical field difference?

[Sir Toast]

My 2 cents, 300 Win Mag with a good hunting bullet or a 7mm Rem Mag or 8mm Rem Mag will take down just about anything with a single shot.

My first thought was 300 Win Mag in something like a Browning BAR.

Also, if you're really concerned about close quarters, look at a Magnum Research BFR pistol in 45-70. It has more energy than a 30-06 at point blank range out to more than 100 yards.

What about a lever action in 45-70? Sheet. Chris Pratt (sp) used it to bring down huge dinosaurs.