what type of gun would you use for big game hunting?

Question

lets say your going to Africa and you incounter elephants, Lions, Buffalo, Hippo. What type of Rifle, Shotgun do you use? what caliber do you use?
Thank you Please give good answers

Answer 1

375H&H, .416, .458Win are all good calibers for your big five animals however, they are all second rate to the .458Lott mag. A 375H&H wont stop a charging elephant but it is the best lion round out there in my opinion. While the 460 Weatherby mag challenges some of the Nitro Express rounds, if you ever shoot the gun you will not want to again. Its way over kill and even Weatherby himself said this ! Some people on this site will tell you a 30.06, I dont suggest you try that either !

If your really looking for the best all around African caliber its the 458 Lott. Nearly every guide you will ever see on the plains will carry this caliber and theres a reason. There are double rifles out there for you or even bolt action in the Nitro rounds. The Lott will come in Double, Bolt and Single action rifles. Most guide's will not allow you to hunt with a semi auto rifle in Africa, nor will they allow you to hunt the big five with shotguns, even if you use slugs, they just dont get the job done and someone will end up killed !

Answer 2

The minimum rifle caliber in African for big/dangerous game is the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum. I'd use nothing smaller than a .458 Winchester Magnum though and possibly a .470 or .500 Nitro Express double-rifle.

Best.

H

Answer 3

In Africa..A double Rifle in 375 H&H caliber or a 600 Nitro rifle ..Hopefully with at least 1 person backing me up with another maybe 458 Winchester Magnum caliber rifle as "insurance".......

Answer 4

For elephant I think a 40 cal is the minium. 458 winis a good cal.416. A good bolt action rifle .Would be the best. Some . people us a double barrel. But unless you win the lottery . A good double is out of the question

Answer 5

If I was going to Africa to hunt big game I'd take a 10 Gage side by side shotgun with slug barrels. I know that it's a popular gun to use and the ammo is available. I would also take a 50cal rifle, not because it's any better than the other large bore rifles but if I'm going to spend that much money for a big game rifle I want something that incorporates all the newest technology. I would also take a 70lb compound bow, there are so many species of gazelle and antelope there I wouldn't want to miss the chance to take a good one.

Answer 6

If I won a lottery and could afford the trophy fees for the Big Five, I'd want a double in a rather unusual caliber: 450/400 3". I've wanted one for decades. Perhaps now that the cartridge is being loaded again and Ruger single-shots are being chambered in it, it'll gain a new popularity.

Answer 7

For the Big stuff, the Marlin .444 is a good one, along with the 45-70, and the .458 Winchester Mag.

Answer 8

Smallest would be a 375 H&H Mag this is at the bottom end of the spectrum and this is the smallest caliber allowed for many of the animals you mentioned.

What would I take. 416 Rigby or 460 weatherby or a 600 nitro express. The 600 Nitro express would caost a bunch-o-money. they are not cheap.

Answer 9

a 458 winchester magnum is a good choice, bullet selection is critical as a solid bullet non expanding bullet is good for elephants which are usually shot in the head and there brain is a very small target, lions a deep penetrating expandable bullet is the choice, buffalo deep penetrating bone crushing tough bullets, a 45.70 loaded with garrett ammo hardcast bullets would be a good choice also, A-Square loads factory ammo with monolithic solids, and their dead tough lion load, which according to them i havent tried it myself but the loads are supposed to hit the same point of aim with the different bullets allowing the shooter to hunt hunt different species of game with the same scope zero and the appropriate bullet for that game. practicing prior to the hunt is critical as missing and poor shooting can lead to your injury or death, african calibers are big and have very heavy recoil compared to average deer rifle.

Answer 10

A heavy-caliber rifle. There are probably more .458 Winchester Magnum rifles there than any other.