Hunting Rifle; what to look for?

Question

Hi. I'd like to know what are the basic things, transcending personal taste, that one should look for in a big-bore hunting rifle (for using on African Safari, the Big 5, for example).

I do not know too much so please keep it simple. It seems that a telescopic sight is a must, as is a carefully fitted firearm.

I understand calibre and ammuntion types are personal taste to a certain degree but what are the main players? Also, what rifle brands are always heard of in these circles?

Bolt Action only? Magazine size? Stock type? Following an earlier question I have learned that I like a stock called 'Machlinner (sp)', where the whole barrel is encased in wood- could you have a rifle like this?

Please help a complete novice understand how it works. Thanks!

Answer 1

Try a Winchester 300 mag. Good all round gun with a large knock down power. If you really want to kill something big like an elephant try the .577 T-rex

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQJSZs-euZU

Answer 2

Wow, lots of info from everyone so far. I'll just throw in a few opinions that might apply to someone who's not sure what they're looking for. If there is a large hunting store such as Cabella's or Bass Pro Shops, these would be the places to look first. Not only is there an enormous selection of rifles, the staff should be trained to help you find exactly what you need, even in the case of safaris. This would be the best way to learn about calibre types and brands. Even if they don't have what you're looking for, they'd probably be able to order it or let you know where to find it.
A few things to know and ask about:
Of course a scope is recommended. Many people wouldn't want to get too close to large game! I've always used hollow point ammunition personally due to the increased stopping power. While most high power rifles are bolt action with similar magazine sizes and a simple wooden stock, there are other options available. I recommend going out and trying out a few of the guns (unloaded of course). Pick them up, check out how smooth the bolt slides, see how much effort is needed for the trigger to click, and also see if the gun is a good weight for you. I prefer lever action rifles myself. Certain types of woods and materials can makes rifles heavy and difficult to use. Many rifles also have customization options available, so be sure to ask about that.
Basically, you don't have to spend top dollar to get a great firearm. Finding out the calibres of the rifle you can use to take down your game should be your first step. From there, just try out some rifles hands on just like you would a car. You'll find one that feels right for you, you won't feel ripped off, and hopefully it will be with you for decades to come!

Answer 3

The .375 H&H Magnunm is considered one the best guns for the Dangerous game. From Alaska to Africa more guides have said if they get one gun they want a .375 H&H.

I would recomend a good bolt action, the remington 700 with a synthetic stock and satinless barrel, thats just me.

As Robert Roark once said Use Enough Gun (see his book by same title-on african safari hunting) and many guides will will require the .375 at a minium for some large and dangerous game, some its a 30-06. talk with some guides or get on various boards-alot of good info there.

But make sure the gun fits you and you can shoot it. A .460 Weatherby Magnum is no good if you cant shoot it.

as for that here are some major players. in large calibers, in no particular order.

.375 H&H; .416 Rigby; .458 Lott ;.416 Rem Mag,.458 Winchester; .404 Rigby; .450 Rigby
Most magazines will hold between 1-5 rounds giving total compacity between 2-6

CZ, Remington, winchester, and some others out there all make excellent quallity rifles but how much you want to spend will unfortunately rule out some of the rifles you can buy.

Stock types largely depend on the person. I like a synthetic stock with a thumbhole. But hey a good quality walnut stock with a pistol grip will work to thats an individual thing.

Hoope this helps, and if you have any quaestions feel free to email me. also i apologize for the spelling

Answer 4

A 375 is considered the minimum for the african dangerous game. Of course due to it's "lighter than the others" recoil and availability, it's also the most popular.

Two options: double barrel and bolt action

The benifit of a double barrel would be two shots as fast as you could pull the trigger. With a buffalo or lion charging at 20 yards, you would only have time for 2 shots anyways. And with a bolt, you may not have time for 2.

The benifit of a bolt action is the fact that a double barrel will be empty when the bolt action still has one or two rounds left in it.

I'm sure people will disagree, but accuracy isn't that big of a deal. Inside 50 yards, all guns are going to shoot the same.
At something like 100 yards, if you're shooting at a buffalo, you have target the size of a trashcan lid. Any brand gun will do just fine right out of the box.

Answer 5

"Considering all animals, without a doubt the all around rifle must belong to the .375 H&H." -- Mike LaGrange, Ballistics in Perspective (2d Ed.), PHS Publishing (1990), p. 49.


"This cartridge and rifle was definitely designed for the 'one-rifle' man; it's the only weapon that has ever been definitely designed as an 'all-around' rifle for the man who cannot afford or does not want to be bothered with a number of different weapons, and yet who wants to shoot a wide variety of animals. There is no other rifle on the market with which such a wide variety of different species of big game, from the largest to the smallest, can be killed equally satisfactorily. Its three different weights of bullet are all most deadly on the type of game for which they were intended, and at the ranges at which such animals are normally shoot." -- John "Pondoro" Taylor, African Rifles and Cartridges, Safari Press (1994), Chp. V, "The Medium Bores," p. 131 (emphasis in original).


"There is no other rifle in existence of which so much can be said as it can of the .375 Magnum." -- John "Pondoro" Taylor, African Rifles and Cartridges, Safari Press (1994), Chp. VII, "An All-Around Rifle," p. 204 (referring to a .375 Magnum double rifle made by Holland & Holland).

"I am giving this rifle ['Holland's .375 Magnum'] a chapter to itself because I honestly think that it deserves it, it is so far ahead of any of its contemporaries . . . " -- John "Pondoro" Taylor, Big Game and Big Game Rifles, Safari Press (1993), Chp. VIII.

"There is no other weapon in existence of which so much can be said; and when it is further remembered that the rifle can be obtained as double, single and magazine, so that all tastes are catered for and all types of shooting considered; it must surely be admitted that here is, indeed, a weapon which every man - or woman - wanting a rifle must at least consider."-- John "Pondoro" Taylor, Big Game and Big Game Rifles , Safari Press (1993), p. 98-99.

"I know, from using the rifle myself, that the .375 magnum can safely be taken against any animal anywhere in Africa."-- John "Pondoro" Taylor, Big Game and Big Game Rifles, Safari Press (1993), p. 103.

"Indeed . . . the .375 may not have a place in every safari battery today. But whether in .375 H&H or some other configuration, the .375-bore remains what it was nearly 80 years ago - the single most useful rifle any African hunter could carry." -- Craig Boddington, Safari Rifles , Safari Press (1990), p. 53.

"The actual necessity for a .375 H&H - or any cartridge of similar or greater power - is quite limited in North America. Brown bear, polar bear, the largest of the interior grizzlies, just perhaps bison, and you've said it all. However, unlike the shorter-ranged and much harder-kicking .416s and larger calibers, the .375 H&H is both shootable and versitale."-- Craig Boddington, American Hunting Rifles, Safari Press (1995), p. 142.

For Alaskan Brown Bears, the "[b]est of all, to my mind, remains the 1912-vintage .375 H&H. It has the reach if you need it - but, and this is more important, it has the knockdown power for close-range work."-- Craig Boddington, American Hunting Rifles, Safari Press (1995), p. 366.

"The beauty of the .375 H&H is simple: you can take every animal on earth with the caliber without ever being over- and only rarely undergunned." -- Peter Hathaway Capstick, Safari: The Last Adventure, St. Martin's Press (1984), p. 97.

Answer 6

That would be a Mannlicher style based on the 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifle. You might look at Ruger No. 1 RSI International or Ruger Model 77 RSI International. They come in a Mannlicher style in various calibers from .204 Ruger to the powerful .458 Lott Magnum.

Answer 7

According to the Famous Outdoor Writer & Hunter all you really need is a 30-06 caliber.** That is all he ever used on the Big 5 & he also said that is all anyone needs for that purpose.** When you have a 30-06 you don't need another Rifle.**

Answer 8

Well for the big five there are calibre minimums set by most of the game fields.

These are either 40 calibre or over, or 375 or 9.3 referring to to high powered big game rifles. meaning velocities at least 2000fps and bullets with a sectional density of .300 or greater(long for their calibre for great penetration).Ruling out handguns and most lever guns with their low velocities and stubby bullets(except for very specialised hunts).

So we have the bare minimum the european 9.3 x 62, 9.3 x 64, 9.3 x 66 etc. in bolt action form.

The 375 H&H probably the most wildley used big bore ever made by hundred of different makers. And more powerful calibres using the same size bullets like the 375 untramag, 375 weatherby and 378 weatherby.

And the 40 cals starting generally with things like the 416 remington, 416 weatherby and 404 jeffery.

Anything up from there are generally considered specifically elephant guns. Whilst the others will kill elephants too the bigger guns are commonly held to provide extra punch even for a bad shot.

This inlcudes things like the 458win mag, 458 Lott, 460 weatherby, 470nitro, 500 nitro, 500 A-sqaure up the most powerful and hard kicking guns made to be fired from the shoulder like the 577 nitro express, 600 nitro, 577 Tyrannosaur, 585gehringer, 600 overkill and the 700nitro.

Really anything like the last few mentioned are not necesarry, they are more just to say you like having the biggest!

As to sights, most prefer a telescopic sight these days. For a big bore it has to be tough since the heavy recoil can ruin scopes. Any of the major brands like Leupold can handle it. A fixed power or low power variable with plenty of eye relief is preferred.

However some people prefer the more traditional iron sights for their rifles, particularly for double rifles.

The bolt action versus double rifle argument has raged for a 100 years.Basically the pros of the boltaction are it is more accurate, has higher velocity, greater load variation, greater magazine capacity, and cost ten times less on average.

That said a double rifle provides the fastest back up shot possible. For those who can afford the $5,000-50,000 price tags for good doubles swear by them.

Some still use single shots too. Obviously they must kill with the first shot. Single shots, like bolt actions can handle many different loads and velocities and realistically they are as safe to use since you will always have a game guide with you when you hunt africa and he is armed too.

Bullet selection. For buffalo size and down softpoints are preferred(which expand on impact making a bigger hole) though some like solids for buffalo too(which do not expand but drill much further into the animal).

For elephant and rhino traditionally solids were used to get the most penetration possible, to the brain preferably.

In Africa you take both types of bullets and use them for whatever game presents itself.

The main things about choosing a rifle is what you like personally.

Do you see the rifle as just a tool for the hunt and will pikc the most basic and minimal one to do it.

Or do you like big guns like big cars and want one not many people have?

The biggest concerns are of course the bigger and more powerful a calibre is the more it kicks.

To control the kick or slow it down to survivable levels the rifle is made heavier than other rifles. So the recoil only pushes you rather than kicking you to death.

Most people find they can only handle carrying a 10-12lb rifle all day in hot africa which sort of puts them at a 416-460 calibre maximum.

Some people can handle lugging over 15lbs and monstrous recoil so they use anything up to the 585 gehringer or 700 nitro. Absolute dinosaur killers.

You can only find out your personal preferences by trying them out if you know people who own them or see someone using one at the range who will give you a try.

once again the 9.3 or 375 will kill all the same animals, but if you like a bit of extra insurance and can handle the power, go for something bigger.


Basic ballistics for some common calibre and the big stuff.

30-06 180 grain bullet 2800fps for 3000foot pounds kinetic energy

303 british 180grain bullet at 2600fps for 2400ftlbs

9.3 x62 - 286gn bullet @ 2400fps for 3750ftlbs
9.3 x 64 293gn bullet @ 2500fps for 4200ftlbs
375H&H 300gn @ 2530fps for 4300ftlbs
378 weatherby 300gn@ 2900fps for 6000ftlbs
416 remington 400gn@2450fps for 5000ftlbs
416 weatherby 400gn@2700fps for 6400ftlbs
458win mag 500gn@ 2100fps for 4900ftlbs
458 lott 500gn@ 2400fps for 6000ftlbs
460 weatherby 500gn @ 2600fps for 7200ftlbs
470nitro express 500gn @ 2150fps for 5110ftlbs
500nitro express 600gn @ 2150fps for 6200ftlbs
510 Wells 600gn@ 2500fps for 8300ftlbs
577 Nitro express 750gn@2050 for 7000ftlbs
585 nyati 750gn@ 2500fps for 10,400ftlbs
585 gehringer 750gn@2600fps for 11,000ftlbs
577 TRex 750gn@ 2600fps for 11,000ftlbs
600nitro express 900gn@ 1950fps for 7500ftlbs
600 Overkill 900gn @ 2500fps+ up to almost 12,000!
700nitro express 1000gn@ 2000fps for 8800ftlbs

Where you see 'nitro express' it is generally a double rifle cartrdige, being lower velocity than a similar calibre bolt action cartridge, since it must be run at lower pressures to be safe.


Try reading the posts on this site. Biggest on the net with a lot of african pro hunters.

http://accuratereloading.com

Answer 9

You need a gun that will shoot 10 miles plus so probably a 40mm Vulcan or a 105 howitzer