Dangerous Game Rifle

[NATEWA]

Any thoughts on the .338 Win Mag?

Big game hunting is not an inexpensive hobby.

Ammo is expensive
travel is expensive
hunting license / tags are expensive
Taxidermy and flying mounts home


the only thing you wont lose money on is the rifle.....

I would search for used rifles as many big game guns have fired less than 40 rounds....

My friend has a kimber for sale.

[Cypriss32]

I have a really nice custom 375 H&H on a interarms Action. If I did it again, I would do a Kimber 375 H&H.

[sigstroker]

Over 2 grand, tho.

[Dakie]

Yeah, a little out of my price range, though I do realize that I'm talking about a dangerous game rifle here. The three I'm looking at are

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/current-production/x-bolt-stainless-stalker-open-sights.html

https://ruger.com/products/guideGun/models.html

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/3648

[Dogbite]

For the USA - The 375 H&H is hard to beat. Ammo available everywhere. With proper barrel porting and a thin butt pad, it will shoot similar to a 30-06 with a 180 grain projectile. Very easy to tame.
The 375 H&H can take anything that is currently living on land BUT I would prefer a larger caliber if I were seriously considering going to Africa.
I have never been to Africa. My friend hunts Big / Dangerous game with a bow - SORRY - not me. I'm a pssy and I gave up hunting several years ago.

[Fjold]

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?

On a normal magnum sized rifle, the Lott will require you to lengthen the stroke of the bolt. Depending on what gun you are working on, this involves machining the bolt stop and/or the rear of the action. Many actions will also require the front of the action at the feed ramp lengthened but this weakens the lower locking lug recess in the action. You will also have to lengthen the magazine box and change the spring and follower. Many guns will need the feed rails adjusted to allow the longer cartridge to load and the ejection port will have to be machined longer to eject loaded rounds.

Remember that the Mauser actions (and their clones) were designed for the mid length 8mm Mauser round and not for magnum cartridges so it takes a lot more work by a very experienced smith to make a Lott fit in those.

The Montana Rifle Company long action (over sized Model 70 type action) requires very little work to fit the Lott and their PH action is actually a bit bigger than the Lott requires.

[sigstroker]

Yeah, a little out of my price range, though I do realize that I'm talking about a dangerous game rifle here. The three I'm looking at are

https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/current-production/x-bolt-stainless-stalker-open-sights.html

https://ruger.com/products/guideGun/models.html

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...oducts_id/3648

Two push feeds and an investment cast receiver?

[FishnHunt]

I bought a sauer 100 in 9.3x62. it is a proven big game killer. hand load 250gr accubond has ballistic drop of 180 grain out of 06.
The hawkeye in 375 would be something I'd look at well.
I dont know where I read it, but i thought it said that 375 ruger is becoming popular or proving it self in africa.

[cbr9290318]

Only $250,000...

https://youtu.be/EsTKFnThh6Q

[Shumba]

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 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.

This is good advice. Agree that the 375 & 416 Rugers would be great rifles for Africa.


My advice would be to keep a good look our for a used rifle in the caliber you really want. A lot of rifles in these larger calibers don't get shot very much and can be in really good condition.


If you go new, you should really save up and increase your budget to $2,000. If you really want to hunt Africa/Alaska, an extra $1,000 invested in the right rifle is nothing compared to the expense of hunting in those places.


My suggestion would be the Sako or Ruger at a sub $2,000 price point.

https://www.eurooptic.com/sako-85-kodiak-375-hh-mag-jrs1w37.aspx

https://www.ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/models.html

If you practice more and shoot better with a 375, it will serve you well in Africa. Much better than getting a larger caliber that you don't shoot as much or are less proficient with.

I took a 375H&H and a .458 Win Mag on my first safari. Every time we tracked buffalo, I would carry the .458 Win Mag. On the 4th day we came across tracks and got out of the truck with my 375 and ended up coming across a nice old 41" bull. Put him down with a few well placed shots of the 375 H&H no problem. Shot quite a few other animals from small (grysbok, warthog, klipspringer, etc.) to larger (cape buffalo, kudu, waterbuck, etc.) and the 375H&H performed perfectly. I was shooting 300 grain Swift Aframes. For the buffalo, my first shot was a soft (A-Frame) followed up by Barnes solids, all at 2,500 FPS.


To me, so much of the fun of hunting is the time leading up to the trip. Shooting different rifles, loads, and getting your equipment in order.


Calguns is great, but you may want to check out the forums at www.accuraterealoding.com for a lot of info on hunting Africa.


Good luck and have fun!

[enchantor]

Ruger No. 1 in 375h&h

[FishnHunt]

as much I like Ruger #1, that might be the worst suggestion yet. Good luck trying to reload in a hairy situation.

[bombadillo]

What range are you going to be shooting?

[bubbapug1]

I have a 375 sako. It's not as nice looking as my weatherbys but it's certainly more accurate.

375 HH is what u want. All outfitters will have it in stock in Africa. Imagine looking for 338? Not gonna happen.

[TMB 1]

as much I like Ruger #1, that might be the worst suggestion yet. Good luck trying to reload in a hairy situation.

Why? It has direct control feeding. Just need to practice at doing it quickly same as anything else.