Best Sasquatch rifle- Baikal 45-70 dbl vs CZ550 .375H&H vs. CZ 550 .416 Rigby?

Not being able to afford a Heym Professional Hunter double rifle in .470 Nitro Express, the $20,000 price tag on a working gun being daunting, I have been forced to consider other options. Other options for what you may ask? Well other options for a rifle of sufficient caliber and type to be considered fit to take a Sasquatch of course. Utility for other tasks, and the ability to deal with any rogue elephants loose here in the American Southeast would be nice to have as well.

I have mostly settled on the choice of one of the three rifles listed above. Any of them can be had for around 1/20th the cost of a Heym. All three feature express sights and offer a follow up shot or shots. Primarily sold to those hunting the famous "big five", they also turn up in bear country, amongst those who hated the film "Dumbo", and in the cabinet of anyone who fears the future of genetically engineered dinosaurs.

The Baikal seems to be the least expensive of the three. It is a relatively inexpensive double rifle. The advantage of a double rifle is the rapid follow up shot. While the venerable .45-70 is not generally thought of as a big game chambering, the good folks at Garrett offer loads that they claim will surpass a .458 Winchester Magnum in penetration and stopping power. These specialty rounds are expensive, however presumably the Baikal can also handle more common and less expensive .45-70 fodder. A somewhat unusual means of registering the point of impact makes these rifles inexpensive, but possibly relatively inaccurate. I also wonder about Baikals quality control.

On the CZ550s there is a choice between a European style stock and an American style. I admit to being unsure which will offer better handling. Based on looks, the European style stock seems more eye catching. I do not wish to pay the premium for a kevlar stock, so in either case I would opt for wood.

The models in .375 H&H Magnum seem almost versatile. While I will likely retain the iron sights, they can take a scope if desired. The Mauser type action ought be reliable enough and the magazine offers follow up shots.

A classic case has been made over the years for the .375 H&H being a possible choice for a "just one rifle" option capable of taking all game in North America. Ammuntion is available starting at around $40 a box.

But...the .416 Rigby takes the power factor up a notch, or would seem to. Ammunition cost goes back up to $100 a box, but the result is a bigger and heavier bullet. The .416 Rigby seems to have a decent track record for dropping even the largest game such as elephants. General utility would seem to be less, though I suppose a guy could load some "mild" .416 rounds for deer. Still, while the extra "oomph" attracts me, the higher cost of ammunition and lack of secondary uses gives me pause.I wonder, could it use 41 magnum rounds with a chamber adapter?

As of this writing all three are in stock and availible for order from a well known gunshop with a large online presence.

Which do you, gentle reader, suppose to be the best choice? Said rifle will never visit Africa. It will be used as a walking around and handy to have rifle. I do need it to be a rifle capable of stopping the largest and most dangerous of furry creatures. Since a Sasquatch is an unproven target, one may wish to substitute Kodiak grizzly in their imagination.

375
Classic
Not sure about stick design. I have the same feelings as you do there

I'd go with the .375. Big enough for anything you're likely to find on this continent, and a trajectory like a .30-06.

If you don't load your own, ammo will be less expensive than the .416. If you do, you can tailor your loads for whatever you need to shoot.

I've never owned one. However, a friend of mine had a Rem. 700 in that caliber, and I loaded all his ammo, and I got to shoot it a bunch. If I ever move back to Alaska, I'll be getting one. I think it's one of the best cartridges of all time.

I have a Baikal 12 gauge double, and it's a decent enough gun. I'd rate CZ a couple notches higher, though.

Now, if you're just looking to impress your friends, you might want to go with the double .45-70, although any one of those have the ability to impress!

No, no, no, you got it all wrong! You want to TRAP Sasquatch! I understand that winter is the best time to try, too! There is a well known Sasquatch hunter from our area that has written about the best way to go about it. First, you have to find a frozen high mountain lake. The ice has to be thick enough so it would hold an animal weighing around 1000 pounds. Next, go to the middle of the lake and cut a 40 inch diameter hole in the ice. Then, take a can of sweet baby peas and carefully place them around the cut. Then hide and wait. It wont take long....and when Sasquatch goes out to take a pea, you kick him in the ice hole!

I think this would do the job.



You're right, the European stock is pretty. But I've only shot two 375s. This'un of mine, and a Weatherby of a friend's. Mine kicks more than his did. Maybe that prettier stock shape is the reason.

Is photobucket hosed again? That's a movie, but when I click on it it goes to a jpeg.

I would recommend any of those cartridges. However of three, 375 H&H has the proven record for being THE gun for everything. I own 1 375 currently and have loaded for it for years. The 3 or 4 round capacity has a definite advantage of a 2 shot double. 45-70 is a fine North American round, but factory ammo is a little anemic, and any double will be regulated to factory ammo. I fear you will never get the sights to be correct for a suitable round. 416 Rigby is everything the 375 is, but much more so! This includes; Recoil, ammo cost, and difficulty reloading and component acquisition. My best friend had a Wentworth Express in the mid 80's. It was made on a Magnum Mauser CZ action. The iron express sights were regulated for 270 grain factory ammo at 100, 200, &300 meters. The 300 meter sight was about 16" left and the was no way to adjust it. 300 grain RN ammo was very close to the sights at 100 and 200 meters. With a low powered scope 1-4 or 2-8 at the largest, you will have rapid second shot placement. Sierra and Hornady both make 300 grain SPBT projectiles. At 300 factory velocity BT's are 14" flatter and almost 1000 ft. lbs. more energy than factory RN's @ 200 meters. These are my choice for any thin skinned big game; bear, moose, Sasquatch, tiger, or whatever. The sights should be real close to 300 meters as factory 270 grain ammo, from my experience. Should you have a non-warranty problem, there are 1000's of qualified gunsmiths world wide for Mauser style actions, not so on any double; let alone a Russian made one. I'm on my 3rd 375 H&H rifle, upgrading over the years. I believe this is a rifle all balanced collections must have. I own 4 different 45-70 rifles and am very fond of the round, but it is not a 375! These are of course my observations, you can draw your own conclusions & buy what you desire. Have fun, Ivan

It will take some searching (which is half the fun) but years ago there were a couple GOOD gunsmiths converting Siamese Mausers into 45-70 bolt actions. These could be loaded up into the 458 range for serious work or factory type loads used for plinking. Otherwise I'd go with the 375 bolt gun and I doubt the Bakail will keep regulated.

375 H&H is the best all around choice, and will work with authority on ANY big game animal in North America. Mine was a CZ, and it was a nice rifle. European hump back stock handled the recoil well.

Never owned a 416 anything, but shot some ones once. A definite step up in recoil over a .375, and at least as much as a .458 win, in my opinion.

The 45/70 double.... I own one of the Remington Russian imports. They are actually nice rifles, and mine will place both barrels on target with maybe an inch or so spread between barrels at 50 yards. They are not a gun you would want to use for hunting at any distance though, hence the .375 recommendation. By the way, you can NOT use hot loads in the 45/70 SxS. They are limited to standard pressure loads, and printed as so right on the barrels. The Hornady 325 grain jacketed load at 2050 fps is the max factory load that meets these pressure limits. A good 375H&H load will push a 300 grain bullet to 2400 / 2500 fps, with better SD and BC. You might get a 350 - 400 grain hard cast up to 1800 fps or so, and stay in the proper pressure range with the 45/70, but that is a far cry from a full power .458 magnum load.

Larry

What about a 450 Marlin?

Ruger 10/22 loaded with Squatch .22lr HPs.

I own a 550 in .416 Rigby, American stock. It's not as bad a thumper as one might suspect. It's not featherweight and will get heavy on long days afield, believe it, but if I'm seeking a 'squatch I want some stopping power!

Anything in the lower 48 can be stopped with a good 30-06 load. Might be marginal on P.O.'d grizzly and moose. A 45-70 lever, a 348 (my pick) would all do as well and wouldn't be as tough on your shoulder.

I had the Remington (Baikal)-heavy gun.

Heck, my wife's 7x57 Mountain Rifle suffice (Mrs. Jack O'Connor took 17 head of African plains game with 19 shots)

years ago in a gun rag I read a story about a smith converting a 20ga BSS to a double barrel .30-30. I'd love to have one of those.

Why do you want to shoot a Sasquatch? They might be friendly.

Well, I spent part of the day reading about the .375 Ruger and the rifles chambered for it. There is a stainless and synthetic short barrel gun (nominally 20") from Savage that can be had for a very attractive price. Ruger has a similar but more expensive offering. I hesitate on the Savage owing to my concern that the Accutrigger might not be a good thing on a dangerous game rifle and the low capacity (2 plus 1) seems less than ideal.

It would seem that the 375 Ruger has some support, whereas the 416
Ruger is very rare.

The niche guns from Ruger themselves seem to feature muzzle brakes. That ought reduce recoil, but I wondered the degree to which they acted as loudeners...

I also was not sure whether or not the Savage was a "push feed" design.

So I hemmed and hawed. Then I made an offer on a used Cz550 in 416 Rigby. I shall see whether that is accepted.

I had the impression that the European style stocks reduced perceived recoil. Though the one I made an offer on has the American style Kevlar stock.

.416 Rigby ammunition is actually easier to find online than one might think. Easier than .22 long rifle.

The CZ in question has a 23" bbl if I recall correctly.

I had not meant to ignore the Marlin Guide Guns. I have owned lever action rifles in 44 Mag, 30-30 and 375 Winchester. I even have a basic reloading set up for .45-70. BUT....while a lever gun is generally said to be faster handling than a bolt action, I find myself comfortable with bolt guns from having greater familiarity.

I previously had a Ruger No 1 in .458 Remington mag. I got it from a shop in Alaska online some yearsago. It did not cost much and I never did much with it, trading it eventually. When I lived in Virginia it served as my emergency elephant gun. Since I never had to deal with an elephant, I suppose it did its job via deterrence.

If I do not get the big CZ, I will like as not order the Savage in .375 Ruger. However...I could not help but notice that CZ offers a rifle in 505 Gibbs. Unfortunately... a box of ammunition for such costs as much as an entry level 30-06.

The 458 Lott is said to better the old .458 Win mag, but a bolt gun so chambered oddly lacks the appeal to me of the other choices, even the somewhat ugly Savage.


I had not been aware that the Baikals were limited in what they could handle. I suppose I fell into the trap of thinking anything Russian ought be tank like and durable.

I trust my remington 700 in 338win mag to stop anything in north America that breathes. It's good for thin skinned game in Africa too.
Why shoot a squatch? There's a lot of states that have laws protecting it now. Remember the DNA shows its half human and half ape. I believe they weren't interbred with humans apes I think our creators mixed the DNA up.

I like doubles and one of these days a double rifle will be mine. I find the idea of a .45-70 appealing. I'm already setup to load the that old standard. On the other hand a double rifle should be chambered in something Continental. I doubt I'll ever make it to Africa to chase truly dangerous games so something like a .470 NE is over kill.

I think a lighter double rifle chambered in .375 H&H Flanged or 9.3x74R would be just right. It would make a great brush rifle for elk, bear and moose along with old big foot.

Oh another possible caliber for a double rifle, how about .405 Winchester??

Is this a case of "the fingers are typing while the brain is thinking about lunch", or is this a round I've never heard of?

>I previously had a Ruger No 1 in .458 Remington mag. I got it from a shop in Alaska online some yearsago. It did not cost much and I never did much with it, trading it eventually. When I lived in Virginia it served as my emergency elephant gun. Since I never had to deal with an elephant, I suppose it did its job via deterrence.<

458 Winchester Magnum I know - but REMINGTON?

Dueeast said:

Why do you want to shoot a Sasquatch? They might be friendly.

Click to expand...

A guy up in I think Wash state says he shot 2, one apparently a juvenile. He was on A deer hunt with a scoped center fire rifle. I don't think I would shoot one. I will use my dog rule. If your dog is biting me on the leg, I will shoot it. If he's just standing there growling, I just growl back. But yes we do need to catch one.