Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am thinking hard about getting an additional dangerous game custom bolt-action magazine rifle in addition to an already existing .375 H&H. I haven't made up my mind on the most appropriate caliber, but it should be over .400" bore. Besides performance of game and tolerable recoil, one important criteria for caliber selection is availability of ammunition and components now and in the future.
I have heard from various sources that it's almost impossible to bring rifles and "wildcat" ammunition through certain African nation's Customs if the headstamps of the doesn't match the caliber designation of the rifle. Is this a correct? If yes, that would be a problem if I'd bring a rifle in cal. .458 Lott and handloaded cartridges made from .375 H&H brass. Of course, .458 Lott rifles can be used with .458 Win. Mag. ammo, too, but if some eager Customs Officer looks closely that might result in major trouble, too.
For the Gentlemen and Ladies who have already hunted in Africa, do you know which ammunition for dangerous game is routinely in stock at local African gun shops (I understand that retail sale of ammo isn't possible in all African countries)? I think that might become an important consideration if the African hunter's luggage doesn't arrive timely (or, even worser, at all) at its designation.
Judging form various field reports I think I am not comfortable with the performance of the .458 Win. Mag. and .416 Rem. Mag., but still there's a plethora of fine big bore DG calibers for bolt-action magazine rifles existing (.416 Rigby, .404 Jeffery, .425 Express, .450 Dakota, .450 Rigby, .450 Ackley Mag., .460 Short A-Square, .470 Capstick, .495 A-Square, .500 A-Square, .505 Gibbs, .500 Jeffery). Often, they fall under the same objections mentioned above. If I don't make a sensible choice now, I fear being stuck with a rifle that's difficult to obtain ammunition/reloading components for later.
Thank you for your kind comments.
I am thinking hard about getting an additional dangerous game custom bolt-action magazine rifle in addition to an already existing .375 H&H. I haven't made up my mind on the most appropriate caliber, but it should be over .400" bore. Besides performance of game and tolerable recoil, one important criteria for caliber selection is availability of ammunition and components now and in the future.
I have heard from various sources that it's almost impossible to bring rifles and "wildcat" ammunition through certain African nation's Customs if the headstamps of the doesn't match the caliber designation of the rifle. Is this a correct? If yes, that would be a problem if I'd bring a rifle in cal. .458 Lott and handloaded cartridges made from .375 H&H brass. Of course, .458 Lott rifles can be used with .458 Win. Mag. ammo, too, but if some eager Customs Officer looks closely that might result in major trouble, too.
For the Gentlemen and Ladies who have already hunted in Africa, do you know which ammunition for dangerous game is routinely in stock at local African gun shops (I understand that retail sale of ammo isn't possible in all African countries)? I think that might become an important consideration if the African hunter's luggage doesn't arrive timely (or, even worser, at all) at its designation.
Judging form various field reports I think I am not comfortable with the performance of the .458 Win. Mag. and .416 Rem. Mag., but still there's a plethora of fine big bore DG calibers for bolt-action magazine rifles existing (.416 Rigby, .404 Jeffery, .425 Express, .450 Dakota, .450 Rigby, .450 Ackley Mag., .460 Short A-Square, .470 Capstick, .495 A-Square, .500 A-Square, .505 Gibbs, .500 Jeffery). Often, they fall under the same objections mentioned above. If I don't make a sensible choice now, I fear being stuck with a rifle that's difficult to obtain ammunition/reloading components for later.
Thank you for your kind comments.