Dangerous game rifle

[psharon97]

As far as dangerous game in North America, I would take a good lever action. Personally I like the 444 marlin. But thats just me

[Hammer]

.

While I enjoy and use all the 44 caliber guns...

For dangerous game with a 444...

Make sure that you have a tough deep-penetrating rifle bullet for that and not an expanding hollowpoint which may be designed for smaller game used in a lower velocity 44.

Otherwise you might get a large surface wound but no vitals.



I have tested my 500 A-Square with 570-grain Woodleigh softs which are designed for the lower velocity 500 Nitro Express.

From the Nitro Express these bullets expand and penetrate nicely.

From the A-Square these same bullets become a flattened pancake and create so much confetti and surface excitement but would never reach the heart or mechanical structure.


.

[tammons]

For me a big bore lever action would have to be a 45-70 loaded hot or a 450 Marlin. I had a 444ss and it will surely down anything in NA, but for Buff and brown bear I would rather have a 45-70. Bigger Bullet, more variety of bullets etc.

I almost bought one of these about 3 months ago for a woods rifle.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/60901

[irondog54]

I know this is a Savage forum, but I am still kicking myself for not buying the Rem 798 in 458 Mag from CDNN when they had them for $499 about a year or so ago.



Thomae....
I bought this gun....IT IS THE REMINGTON 798!! It has a wood stock, fold down hooded iron sights. and fits regular scope bases. It shoots like a dream with 470 gr hardened lead solids! You won't be dissapointed!

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/60277

[thomae]

I know this is a Savage forum, but I am still kicking myself for not buying the Rem 798 in 458 Mag from CDNN when they had them for $499 about a year or so ago.



Thomae....
I bought this gun....IT IS THE REMINGTON 798!! It has a wood stock, fold down hooded iron sights. and fits regular scope bases. It shoots like a dream with 470 gr hardened lead solids! You won't be dissapointed!

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/60277


Congratulations! According to the catalog, it is currently only available with the synthetic stock, and no iron sights, but I'd still take it. ;D Glad to hear that you are enjoying yours. (FWIW: I do have the Remington Model 5 (Zastavia Z5) in 22LR and it is a tack driver. I did some easy trigger mods and it is a sweet shooter.)

[Cavtrooper94]

I contacted savage about making me a 375 H&H and they said they wouldn't make it. Even though it says on their website that its an option. I would like to have a walnut stocked 375 H&H for Africa and possibly a 416 Synthetic for Alaskan Browns.

[tammons]

You will probably have to put one together although there is a guy here that will let his 375 H+H go. DBM I think.
It is blued I think, but I want a stainless rifle so I passed.

You could start off with a RUM action and build around that.

[psharon97]

I contacted savage about making me a 375 H&H and they said they wouldn't make it. Even though it says on their website that its an option. I would like to have a walnut stocked 375 H&H for Africa and possibly a 416 Synthetic for Alaskan Browns.



Is there a particular reason why they would not build it?

[Cavtrooper94]

Didn't say. I had to contact them via internet because i'm in Afghanistan and can't call. I was looking at the e.r. shaw custom rifles built on savage actions. They offer a 375 H&H chambering.

[Tracer]

I am pro model 70 winchester when it comes to my hunting rifles! All other target rifles and varmint/predator rifles are Savage model 12's. I do have a Remington rifle or two that just stays in the family, one being a .35-Whelen from back in the 1950's.

My latest DGR gun is a 550-Magnum caliber on a CZ-550 magnum action, it came off a CZ-416 Rigby. The .55 caliber rifle will shoot a 700 grain bullet at 2400fps or the 800 grain bullet at 2250fps. It will weigh in at 11-lbs and be Mag Na Ported, along with 2 "mercury" recoil reducers in the stock. It will hold 3 down and one in the chamber. The case is a blown out to max 460 Weatherby. It will have an energy reading of 7500-lbs of energy at the muzzle at 2200fps. The Taylor K.O. scale gives it a 120!

[tammons]

The .55 caliber rifle will shoot a 700 grain bullet at 2400fps or the 800 grain bullet at 2250fps.


Ouch

[Hatari]

I personally hunted with guide as required by law. So I always used as small a gun as I could, and felt assured that my guide wouldn't risk losing his license. I shot my grizzly in Yukon which won my guide a silver buckle, at about 100 yards, with 270win. The bruin didn't get up at first shot, but he was shaking his head trying to get up so I put in another per my guide's preadvice. My guide later said that he was surprised that I shot because he thought it wasn't necessary. I shot a brown Alaskan sow that squared 8'3", at about 180 yards with 30-06 improved. I believe it was 165 gr. bullet. The sow was a very beautiful blond. Then I shot a Russian bear that squared almost 9' with 300winmag, same with Canadian NT polar bear. I never found bears hard to put down, brown or white, and feel that 300 win mag would be entire adequate even for big 10 footers.
Now, my very huge leopard died promptly from a baited tree by one shot from 7mm rm. I shot two lions at Loliondo, Tanzania, on two seperate hunts. The first one with 375H&H, and he got up roaring. The lion ran a big circle, over open grass field, before, I finished him off running. The second lion was much bigger than the first, and well maned, but not as beautifully maned as the first. At that time I had already shot several big antelope with 270 that I asked my PH to let me use it. Like the first lion, this one was with his brother, and I shot him sitting. The shot was easy like shooting a sitting duck, but again this lion roared and limped off to sit down again about 7-8 yards from where he was first shot shot. He died instantly after second shot. If I had to do it again, my minimum caliber for lion would be 7mm RM with 160gr Nosler PT. I found lion tougher to kill than bears, but most African animals are that way from my experience.
And for buffs, they have been the hardest to put down. I shot two in Tanzania, and one in Zambia. I Killed one average bull with tw0 shots and another very big bull with three. These were stalked on foot. The big bull took much stalking, but suddenly he he walked over qurious to see what I was doing. Prior to that, I shot another big buff in Zambia not quite as big as the big one in Tanzania. This one was shamelessly chased by Toyota, but took two shots anyway. I never killed buff with just one shot despite having read a lot about one shot buff kills. I was using 375 H&H 300gr Dead tough and Bear Claws plus solids. If I were to hunt buffs aqgain, I'd opt for 416Rm. Infact, That is what I immediately added to my battery.

[handirifle]

Man, some of you guys really get around! Amazing, you are very fortunate. After reading these posts, I would be like one poster (sorry don't remember the name) that would have serious issues pulling the trigger on these shoulder cannons. I am not skinny, but at a trim 5'7" and 170lbs, my 45-70 Marlin guide gun, and moderate loads, I do not want to spend a lot of trigger time with it.

Some of the calibers mentioned are almost beyond comprehension.

[Hatari]

Man, some of you guys really get around! Amazing, you are very fortunate. After reading these posts, I would be like one poster (sorry don't remember the name) that would have serious issues pulling the trigger on these shoulder cannons. I am not skinny, but at a trim 5'7" and 170lbs, my 45-70 Marlin guide gun, and moderate loads, I do not want to spend a lot of trigger time with it.

Some of the calibers mentioned are almost beyond comprehension.

I hunted when guided hunts were probably at its cheapest, 1983-1995. I'm 5'7" also, but less at 150lbs. For 300 win mag and above, I wore Past recoil pad, and muzzle brake when possible (.375 H&H).

[kevin_stevens]

To resurrect this thread, I just returned from Africa on a plains game hunt, and promptly bought an Alaskan Guide in .375 H&H to take buffalo hunting next year. I think the DGR specs are kind of moot these days when you have to have a PH with a big stick standing next to you anyway; but I still wanted stainless, .375 H&H rather than Ruger, and the open sights fitted. If I'd been willing to go with .375 Ruger I'd have bought a Ruger Alaskan, and if I wanted to spend the money I'd have gotten a Sako Kodiak, with the nice lines and 4 round mag. I still might get a Kodiak if I decide I like shooting the .375 enough to use it for other game.

KeS

[Grit #1]

I will stick with my Mauser 98 in .458 Win mag, 25.5" barrel, Lyman ghost peep sight, standard two stage military trigger, fixed floor plate. Same point of impact at 25 yards and 200 yards. It has served me well on all game from plains to Cape. There is no room for compromise.
Best regards,
Grit

[skypilot]

Never felt under gunned with the .375 H&H.