I know I'll never go to Africa...

Try an uncompensated .460 Weatherby Magnum.

My CZ .458 Lott is a nice thumper.

All these are desirable cartridge and serious big game rifles, but this year (centennial), there is just so much going for the 375 H&H. It's a classic for a reason. It's not the only one, but it's just so cool

lowerunit411

it was a local club shoot here in Indiana tho we did draw shooters from quite a few States with it. Sadly the range has closed and I haven't really found a place to start holding it again. I generally donated prizes as the entry fee was rather low...$3.00 and a bottle of wine. Quite often I made plaques one year I gave away $100 for first, of course that was in Zimbabwe dollars...might get you a small coffee at the airport.

You also had to adhere to the dress code...jacket and tie were required...

451 Detonics.....sounds like a hoot!! we need more activities like that

What about a Tikka T3 in 9.3x62 (they come in lefthand)? The 9.3x62 is pretty common and has taken alot of Plains Game in Africa over the years, it's also not to big to use most of the time for deer ect and will take about everything else in North America.

A double rifle in .416 Rigby is on my bucket list.

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The .416 is a great cartridge. But it is most famous as a bolt-action (rimless) cartridge--that's what Rigby built: rifles with Mauser actions.

For a double, I'd go .470 myself--but it's your dream.

By the way, the .416 Rigby had its centennial last year, too.

My CZ .458 Lott is a nice thumper.

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Quite a rifle, indeed.

I have a 7 mag I don't much use anymore. Thought I'd get to hunt elk at the time, wanted to be ready. Hell, back then I needed an application, and excuse, to spend money on a rifle. That's not the case anymore. I kept the gun, even though it collects dust. I may book a Nilgai hunt some day and will need a big gun. Anyway, it's fun to own a BELTED MAGNUM, if nothing else. I can always pull the barrel and install a .338 if I think I want more, it being a Savage. All I'd need is a go/no go headspace gauge and that barrel wrench thing.

Now, if I was going to get an african caliber, I'd think along the lines of .700 nitro express. Of course, the ammo and brass are a might high. But, hell, I'd probably never shoot it after experiencing that first shot.

As much as I'd like to have a 375 H&H..I already have one of these super thumpers I'll never use....a Win M70 in 458 Win Mag.

Even though I have no use for it whatsoever...I'll never sell it...bought it years ago when I was about 17 as an impulse buy at a gun show...its like new, seller said he fired it 5 times and decided it wasn't for him (wonder why?)

I might have shot it 50 times in the 21 years I've owned it...maybe.

9.3 X 62 doesn't meet my definition of "stupidly powerful".

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True, I think "Adequately powerful" would be a more fitting descriptor, and that's certainly not as sexy...

Not to mention the fact that as far as I can tell Beretta is still stubbornly refusing to import the Tikka in many of the chamberings the factory offers... including 9.3.

It sounds like you're largely in the market for a big boom and a sore shoulder, in that case I don't think you could go wrong with one of the new Win 70's in .375 or 458. Also, you might still be able to find some of the safari style magnum mausers that have come in to the country under various names (most recent was the Remington 798 I think).

If you're really going for "stupidly powerful" as opposed to "powerful yet shoot-able", you might as well skip right over the .375's and up the ante.

Elkins45 said:

..but for some reason I just can't explain I'm feeling the urge to buy a stupidly powerful rifle just to have it. I won't compromise my newfound principle of only buying left handed rifles, so my options are a bit limited.

I would just go all out with a 458 but I don't think anybody makes one in LH, at least that's not crazy expensive. I'm thinking Ruger lefty in 375 Ruger because i csn pick one up from Bud's for $800. Any others I should consider?

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I got my hands on this lefty Remington 700 custom in .458 Win Mag from a right-handed shooting guy who bought it purely because it was so danged nice. French walnut, ebony endcap and some of the nicest checking I've ever seen. The gun had only a handful of rounds through it. I paid him $1300 for it, but he gunsmith I took it to to get it floated said that he would've chraged me substanitally more. The gunsmith's apprentice, who was actually specializing in checkering, took some pics of it to see if he could learn how to do it.





If you want a decent price on a .458, I would look for something "used." Chances are extremely good that whoever shot it didn't shoot it much, possibly just once.

Ironically, I went to Africa, but this gun stayed home. I was going for plains game and took a 7mm-08. It worked just fine for everything up to and including kudu/gemsbok all the way down to steenbok. I would have to be going for a hippo or an elephant to ever consider this .458 Win Mag. With 500 gr. bullets, it'll knock your filling loose!

Dude, I wouldn't go to Africa if you GAVE me $5000! What the hell would I ever do with a dead rhino anyway?

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I would!

The game that's shot is usually given to local tribes. One hunts there for the experience and the trophy, but like the Harley guys all say, if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

Go CZ ,they are offered in left handed models, if you want some thing simple look on the used market for a Ruger No-1. I have a No-1 that started life as a 45-70, has been rechambered to 450 nitro, and when loaded up to that level it will stomp ya pretty good

Walkalong said:

That's a beautiful rifle Six-Gun.

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Thanks a lot, walkalong. I really got a serious deal on it. Very lucky.

A friend who works at the local gun shop recently bought a .416 Rigby, I think it's a Mod. 70.

He made up some mild loads with, I think, Trail Boss, and the rifle feels about like a 20-gauge on your shoulder. Wasn't overly loud, either. And, of course, you can load it hot (and punishing) as well.

So if you reload, you can go to the range without nursing a bruised shoulder until next Sunday.

We've got a Ruger Magnum 77 in 416 Rigby sitting in the shop, complete with $400 aluminum case (tested by African baggage handlers by tossing it across the tarmac) and two boxes and a little of Federal Premium and a couple more boxes of brass. Needs a home badly. Has taken brown bear, cape buffalo, and some big African antelope.

Unfortunately, a righty.

Elkins45 said:

9.3 X 62 doesn't meet my definition of "stupidly powerful". It's basically just a 30-06 with delusions of grandeur. I'm really only considering 375 or greater--I might hunt deer with it using cast bullets and reduced loads.

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While the 9.3x62 isn't as powerful as the 375H&H it's not far behind at all and the 9.3x62 is alot more powerful then the 30-06. The 9.3x62 pushes a 250 grain bullet as fast as a 375H&H pushes a 270 grain bullet or a 9.3x62 pushes a 286 grain bullet as fast as a 375H&H pushes a 300 grain bullet. The 9.3x62 only uses around 15 grains of powder less than the 375H&H but the 9.3x62 is more efficient. Another thing the 9.3 has over the 375H&H is that the 9.3x62 can be had in a long action where the 375H&H needs a mag action so all things being equal the 9.3x62 will be cheaper and lighter and will hold more in the mag. The 9.3 is also easier to reload, doesnt head space off a belt like the 375 but there are more .375 bullets to choose from then the 9.3. Believe me the 9.3x62 knows what it is and has no "Delusions of Grandeur"

I'd bet money that whoever owned that used rifle previously thought that "it wouldn't shoot" because they put that craptastic scope on itand it shifted zero after every shot. That .458 I bought had some ancient Weaver on it and couldn't keep 6" groups at 100 yards. I shot the same loads with a Leuopld VX-3 and it was already down to under 2" groups. A litte loadwork and it continued to improve. I'f the rifling looks good, I'd jump on that gun if they meet your price and put a Leupold or Nikon that's up to the recoil on it.

Can't imagine the kick of some of these calibers- largest I have fired is .300 WSM...