Looking for big bore rifle.

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chetrogers

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I have not bought a rifle in a while and to tell the truth i really am looking forward to my next purchase.I am hoping anyone here can help.I am looking to buy a big bore rifle and am not sure what one to get. I want something that could "take down an Elephant type rifle"I know shot placement is critical but that is just an example of what i want.I dont know if a 375 h&h mag is big enough.I really just want to fill up my collection and i am missing something big.I dont want something that i will shoot every other weekend so cost of ammo is really not an issue but yet i want a big kick that will have me saying "O Yeah"but I'm not going to be shooting rounds out like my AK.And i dont want to fall down to the ground after shooting it :).But im a big big guy .Thanks for any suggestions.And if possible under $1000.
 
Well, the cheapest solution is the Marlin .45-70, in either the Guide Gun or Cowboy format (the former has an 18½" barrel, the latter a heavier 26" octagonal barrel and full-length magazine).

For more conventional rifles, there's the CZ 550 American Safari Magnum range:


50.jpg



These are available in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, .458 Win. Mag. and .458 Lott. See here for more information.

I don't recommend the Winchester, Remington or Ruger safari-caliber rifles in comparison to the CZ, but others will disagree with me on this... Take a look at their Web sites and see what you think.
 
The CZ line of bolt action rifles would seem to meet your desire. :) For practicality, .375 H&H is a very usable round, but .458 Win Mag is a true close range monster stomper.
 
Browning produces rifles in 375 H&H that are within your target price range. I had an A-Bolt Stalker in stainless with a BOSS muzzle brake in .375 that was fun to plink with. I think I gave $760 or so for it a few years back. Although elephant has been taken with smaller calibers, I think that .375 is currently the smallest caliber most nations will permit you to hunt elephant with. Maybe somebody more knowledgeable about African hunts can provide better info.

Winchester produces a safari rifle in .375 H&H and (I think without looking) maybe .416 Remington - not sure. If you shop around, you may find one for around $1,000.

I reload so the .375 was easily affordable. 416 Remington ammo can be lived with as well. When you make the jump to .416 Rigby and some of the more esoteric cartridges, the cost for ammo (or ammo components) becomes a real issue for regular shooting. Fortunately for ones budget, the recoil on those big calibers helps keep most folks from plinking with them too often.
 
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If you're not troubled by single shots, you might want to check the Ruger #1-H Tropical. If you're just looking for one for the collection and general grins, quick follow-up shots might not be an issue.

I just got one on the cheap in .416 Rigby and I've grown to like it a lot. Classic styling, better than average wood and a high giggle factor when the hammer drops.

Murphster makes a good point - I paid around 120.00 for a box of 20 but it's turning out to be a half year's supply - not too pricey when viewed through that somewhat strained rationalization. I'd bet I can remember every one, too.
 
45-70. Lots of offerings.
Lots of available commercial loads.
Infinitely reloadable.

I love my Marlin 1895, I picked the 22" barrel (Preacherman forgot that one)
ALso have a NEF, want a Sharps so bad I can taste it.

If you are lookint at dangerous game hunting....look at the bolt guns.

Happy SHooting.

Smoke
 
Thanks for all the responses.I'm curious if anyone knows if there is a picture anywhere that you know of these cartridges next to each other.I'm curious to see physically how much bigger one is over the other.Thanks guys.
 
A .375 H&H is enough gun to hunt anything that walks the earth today.

Some people say - and it's hard to argue - that real "stopping" cartridges have to start with at least a "4" (.416, .458, .460) and produce at least 5000 ft. lbs of muzzle energy.
 
If you're looking for a good, hard punch in the shoulder, the absolute cheapest way to do this with a rifle is to get a H&R (NEF?) Handi Rifle in .45-70. The light weight of the rifle will make even weaker loadings feel like more, and the PMC 350 grain loading- about $1.00 a round- will probably be the most fun you want to have with it.

I have fired the CZ in .458, and while noticeable, it hurts no more than a really stout 12 GA load.

John
 
Picked up a cz550 in .375 hh. What a hoot to shoot! I weigh about 180, and with some recoil padding, I could shoot it all day. Ammo is just affordable, and the versatillity in long range loads is legendary.
 
"Looking for a Big Bore Rifle"

In support of the recomendation for the .450 Marlin (not that there is anything wrong with the others) I happen to own a Marlin 1895M this is the guide gun chambered in .450 Marlin. I purchased it on a wim, and it now gets more action than any of my other rifles. It weighs just a little more than 7Lbs. and is easy to carry in the mountains, all day long, and with a 17" barrel it handles very well when hunting in the dark timber. Over the past two years I have harvested two above average sized bull elk, granted they were both inside of 100 yds, but they both fell where they were shot. If recoil is not your bag, I recomend a different cartridge or a heavier gun.

Bump ;)
 
Preacherman may not like these...

But I do, and bought one in .45-70. I've already assembled some buffalo loads for it.

22L.gif


Mmmm, buffalo burgers! ;)

The Ruger #1 is also offered in .405 Winchester and .458 Lott this year.
 
chet,

You may wish to actually fire some max load 12 GA 3" rounds before you make that decision. Max loads from the fairly light modern 12 GA shotguns HURT.

Ultra-lightweight H&R/NEF shotguns HURT MORE. Go ahead and stuff a Buffalo Bore .45-70 round in a Handi Rifle. I'll buy the rifle from you when I have the money, because honestly, I think that'll be more fun than you want to have. Like I said, the PMC 350 grain will probably be as warm as you want- possibly more.

John
 
You want yer teeth rattled, you can do it REALLY cheap. Just get yourself one of those Mossberg 12 Ga Turkey guns with a synthetic stock, buy some 00 buckshot hunting loads, then shoot the sucker off the bench while using the turkey choke.. Newton's 3rd Law mandates an a$$ kickin'.
 
I used the shotgun example loosly just so people know i wanted something more then the average shotgun shells everyone uses..I didnt meen for it to sound like the bigger shells would kick ya :).
 
Oh, but, they will kick ya. And hard.

I run 405gr jacketed soft points out of my .45-70 Ruger #1S, clocked at 2000+ fps. They rattle your cage, especially when firing them from the bench, I can stand at most 10 rounds before I quit for the day. And I'm 200#, 6'0". :D
 
That page was interesting .Thank you.Any idea where you would put the .45-70 using the system they used to rate felt recoil.
 
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