I have a nice assortment of firearms at this point that covers just about any conceivable need save one. I don't really any type of Africa-safari rifle in a major caliber. The biggest caliber I own is a Marlin Guide Gun in 450 Marlin and I suspect that can handle anything on this hemisphere. What I want is a gun in a caliber that can literally kill an elephant or the largest land creatures. The problem is that with such a monstrous caliber is recoil to match and as I've mentioned in previous posts, my build is tall and thin and not very conducive to absorbing punishing recoil. So, is there any rifle out there that fits those criteria or is the Guide Gun good enough? Thanks.
BIG Caliber Rifle
- Thread starter GI Joe
- Start date
MadScientist
New member
Barrett .50bmg repeaters have very low recoil (roughly equivalent to a 12 guage) and will kill any land animal I'm thinking. If you were concerned, maybe you could dress it up (the rifle that is) so it didn't look un-PC. I think they're pretty myself.
My sister's reserve unit has a guy that can fire the 10 shot repeater from the shoulder. If you're GI Joe, you definitely should be able to.
My sister's reserve unit has a guy that can fire the 10 shot repeater from the shoulder. If you're GI Joe, you definitely should be able to.
Mad Scientist, I don't think GI Joe had a 20-lb sniper rifle in mind.
GI Joe, you would be surprised by how pleasant it is to shoot and carry a well-balanced hunting rifle chambered for a large "African" cartridge.
I too am a rather slim-built guy, own several rifles (try 50+!) and have wanted to dabble with large calibers: the "bug" bit me after reading John "Pondoro" Taylor's African Rifles and Cartridges.
My first experience was a Ruger #1 in .416Rigby. The fact that I absolutely loved it is evidenced by my handle here on TFL. However, I soon found out that killing Texas whitetails with it was a bit "much", and that rifle is now sitting pretty much unutilized in my closet.
But my infection for large "African" rounds remained. So, I equipped myself with a .375H&H, and I noticed that the recoil, trajectory and meat damage it inflicts is not that different from a run-of-the-mill 300 Win or 7 Mag. What's different is how very dead it kills and how much it penetrates.
With a factory 270-grain load, you can duplicate exactly the trajectory of a 180-grainer from a 30-06. With handloads you can beat that. But what energy it imparts to the game when it hits! Try and see if you don't believe me!
Now, let's go back to recoil. If your 375 weighs around 9lbs "fully dressed", you will not suffer from gun-headache or a sore shoulder. I'll stake my reputation on this right now, here on TFL! The .375 H&H is an old cartridge, a far cry from the modern Weatherbys or (worse) the Rem Ultra Mags. It was intended for low pressures, and it does not use that much powder.
Let me tell you two stories. One involves a .375, the other a 30-06.
In the first instance, I was sighting in one of my .375H&H for a Montana hunt (whitetail, mulie and perhaps elk); I fired around 35 rounds from the bench and never even started flinching. I did not use a syssy bag or any other "cushioning", yet I did not develop any type of bruise. The inherent accuracy of the 375 soon satisfied me that the rifle was zeroed. On the field, I killed three nice animals without ever noticing the recoil. The meat from one of them (a nice, juicy doe) is still in my freezer, as prime and blood-free as I have ever seen. And, as food for thought, consider that in the case of this doe we never saw the entry-hole until we totally dissected the carcass!
In the second instance, I had to sight in a batch of .30-06 rifles for a group hunt. They were lighter rifles, weighing only about 7lbs. The day after, a pale hue of purple was distinctly showing on my right shoulder. A day later, a California pig fell to my 30-06. The 165-grainer had taken out both lungs, the top of the heart, and a rib. While breaking the rib, the shot created secondary fragments that literally shattered the meat all around. My backstraps were necessarily shorter and the meat was kind of bloody - I ended up chucking it.
Moral: the more I shoot and hunt, the more I love the .375H&H and am convinced that it is one of the best candidates for best all-around North American caliber.
Life takes me all around the country, and game can be very diverse - from a distant pronghorn to a close moose (and every possible variation on the deer theme in between). If a .375H&H is in my hands, I feel confident - ALWAYS. Period.
Am I alone or crazy in thinking that? Than so is one of the most respected hunters and writers of our time, one gentleman by the name of Craig Boddington. I rest my case.
GI Joe, you would be surprised by how pleasant it is to shoot and carry a well-balanced hunting rifle chambered for a large "African" cartridge.
I too am a rather slim-built guy, own several rifles (try 50+!) and have wanted to dabble with large calibers: the "bug" bit me after reading John "Pondoro" Taylor's African Rifles and Cartridges.
My first experience was a Ruger #1 in .416Rigby. The fact that I absolutely loved it is evidenced by my handle here on TFL. However, I soon found out that killing Texas whitetails with it was a bit "much", and that rifle is now sitting pretty much unutilized in my closet.
But my infection for large "African" rounds remained. So, I equipped myself with a .375H&H, and I noticed that the recoil, trajectory and meat damage it inflicts is not that different from a run-of-the-mill 300 Win or 7 Mag. What's different is how very dead it kills and how much it penetrates.
With a factory 270-grain load, you can duplicate exactly the trajectory of a 180-grainer from a 30-06. With handloads you can beat that. But what energy it imparts to the game when it hits! Try and see if you don't believe me!
Now, let's go back to recoil. If your 375 weighs around 9lbs "fully dressed", you will not suffer from gun-headache or a sore shoulder. I'll stake my reputation on this right now, here on TFL! The .375 H&H is an old cartridge, a far cry from the modern Weatherbys or (worse) the Rem Ultra Mags. It was intended for low pressures, and it does not use that much powder.
Let me tell you two stories. One involves a .375, the other a 30-06.
In the first instance, I was sighting in one of my .375H&H for a Montana hunt (whitetail, mulie and perhaps elk); I fired around 35 rounds from the bench and never even started flinching. I did not use a syssy bag or any other "cushioning", yet I did not develop any type of bruise. The inherent accuracy of the 375 soon satisfied me that the rifle was zeroed. On the field, I killed three nice animals without ever noticing the recoil. The meat from one of them (a nice, juicy doe) is still in my freezer, as prime and blood-free as I have ever seen. And, as food for thought, consider that in the case of this doe we never saw the entry-hole until we totally dissected the carcass!
In the second instance, I had to sight in a batch of .30-06 rifles for a group hunt. They were lighter rifles, weighing only about 7lbs. The day after, a pale hue of purple was distinctly showing on my right shoulder. A day later, a California pig fell to my 30-06. The 165-grainer had taken out both lungs, the top of the heart, and a rib. While breaking the rib, the shot created secondary fragments that literally shattered the meat all around. My backstraps were necessarily shorter and the meat was kind of bloody - I ended up chucking it.
Moral: the more I shoot and hunt, the more I love the .375H&H and am convinced that it is one of the best candidates for best all-around North American caliber.
Life takes me all around the country, and game can be very diverse - from a distant pronghorn to a close moose (and every possible variation on the deer theme in between). If a .375H&H is in my hands, I feel confident - ALWAYS. Period.
Am I alone or crazy in thinking that? Than so is one of the most respected hunters and writers of our time, one gentleman by the name of Craig Boddington. I rest my case.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
According to several posters here who have hunted in Africa with the Big Thumpers, the type of recoil is different. They say it's more of a hard push or shove than a "Whap!" on the shoulder. For all the much-greater-than-'06 recoil, it's apparently not all that hard on you.
I imagine they'll chime in...
, art
I imagine they'll chime in...
, artDoc Hudson
New member
.416Rigby,
What in Sam hill do you mean saying a .416 Rigby is too much for a skinny Southern whitetail? Have any of themn sued you for using too much gun?
If I had a .416 Rigby, I hunt with it. Rabbits if nothing else was available.
I agree that the .375 H&H is as near an all-around cartridge as has ever been designed and the .416 Rigby is a close runner-up. But that is just one old gun crank's opinion.
Doc Hudson
What in Sam hill do you mean saying a .416 Rigby is too much for a skinny Southern whitetail? Have any of themn sued you for using too much gun?
If I had a .416 Rigby, I hunt with it. Rabbits if nothing else was available.
I agree that the .375 H&H is as near an all-around cartridge as has ever been designed and the .416 Rigby is a close runner-up. But that is just one old gun crank's opinion.
Doc Hudson
Hi guys...
I like the Pondoro Taylor book, also.
I have had three big'uns: 2 375s and 1 458 WM, all Model 70s. Do not mislead yourself that they don't kick. They give you a good boot, however I agree it is not as sharp and severe a kick as from a Weatherby magnum.
The 375 kicks, IIRC, about 3 times as hard as a 30'06; a 458 kicks 4 times as hard.
I fired a whole lot of 375 H&H Magnum, not as much 458. When recoil gets into the 458 bracket, the recoil is pretty dang rough, especially off the bench.
That said, get yourself a big'un and enjoy. Just don't be surprised that it kicks, coz it do!
I like the Pondoro Taylor book, also.
I have had three big'uns: 2 375s and 1 458 WM, all Model 70s. Do not mislead yourself that they don't kick. They give you a good boot, however I agree it is not as sharp and severe a kick as from a Weatherby magnum.
The 375 kicks, IIRC, about 3 times as hard as a 30'06; a 458 kicks 4 times as hard.
I fired a whole lot of 375 H&H Magnum, not as much 458. When recoil gets into the 458 bracket, the recoil is pretty dang rough, especially off the bench.
That said, get yourself a big'un and enjoy. Just don't be surprised that it kicks, coz it do!