Big Game/Safari Rifles - Let's see them...

[SmithNut]

Having lived in Alaska and hunted Africa a couple times, I've realized that Big Game/Safari rifles have a special space in my safe. My second trip to Africa (Tanzania) was for Cape Buffalo and between the three hunters we took a total of five.

Looking at those boxcars on hooves (Cape Buffalo) makes a believer of you.

All our game on that trip, and most of the plains game we took on our first trip were taken (in my case) by a .375 H&H Winchester M70.

While I never hunted Grizzly or Brown bears in Alaska, if I would have, it would be with at least a .375 H&H chambered rifle.

Here's a some of my .Winchester 375 H&H M70's along with a .458 Lott M70.

This rifle went to Africa on both my hunts - Winchester .375 H&H, M70 w/controlled round feed (one of the later production models). I call it my "Lucky" rifle.

This Stainless M70, also in .375 H&H was purchased from the Winchester Custom Shop during the 2001 Safari Club show. It has a nice piece of Walnut for a stock. I've never fired it, one day..... maybe.

This Stainless M70 was put together for the "if I go to Alaska on a bear hunt" objective. Cut the barrel down to 20 inches for better maneuverability. It's a great shooter, if you can stand to shoot it for more than a few rounds at a time....

This M70 if also from the Winchester Custom Shop. Put my order in for it while at the SCI show in 2001, it showed up a few months later. This is chambered in .458 Lott, and it's a hoot to shoot. Love the wood - fancy Walnut - and the overall looks of the beast....

Broke a rib a few months on my right/shooting side, so it's going to be some time before I step up to the plate and pull the trigger on one of these again, but someday...

Would love to see your big boomers - and any stories that go along with them....

.............SmithNut

 

[Erocksmash]

Here's my big girl chambered in .45-70gov, I hope to take a Deer some day with it, Florida deer are like dogs so ill take her somewhere up north...

She's been to the smokies once just as a tag along, but nothing further.

I dream of a road trip to Alaska and she will deffinatly be along for the ride...

She a riot to shoot !

 

[SmithNut]

Here's my big girl chambered in .45-70gov, I hope to take a Deer some day with it, Florida deer are like dogs so ill take her somewhere up north...

She's been to the smokies once just as a tag along, but nothing further.

I dream of a road trip to Alaska and she will deffinatly be along for the ride...

She a riot to shoot !

Those Marlins are very Cool!!!!

My daughter has one just like it and loves it, her's has a Leupold Scout scope - good for long eye relief. We had an outing last summer up in the hills in Eastern WA, and shot it a bunch, some of the current ammo is pretty "stout".

 

[hittman77]

German made Weatherby MK-V Deluxe.
340 Weatherby Magnum.
Redfield 2x - 7x optics.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have had a Ruger No.1 and a Tropical Hunter Weatherby Mark V, both in 375 H&H and both gone now. The No.1 would shoot 1" at 50 yards offhand with 300 gr round nose. The Weatherby shot 3/4" at 100 with Remington 270 gr semi spitzer. I started loading 300 gr spitzers (Hornady & Sierra) at 200 yards (not for Africa use) There was almost a 1000 lbs. of energy over 300 gr RB, the important thing was it was 14" flatter shooting!

The only Dangerous Game rifle I have left is a Westly Richards underlever double 450 3 1/4" NE. 26" barrels and weighs about 9.5 lbs. 480 grain soft points and 480 grain steel jacketed FMJ's both about 2100-2150fps. Very Big Medicine!

I also have a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70, an early model with factory porting. My ammo for plinking is 300 grain and Trail Boss at about 1200fps, My serious ammo is 400 gr RNFP/GC at 2150fps.

Ivan

 

[bengal fan]

Paul Jaeger custom 375 H&H

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[weatherby]

Well who doesn't dream of a double rifle.
I still have this one in 500 BPE .
It was made in 1878 by Stephen Grant for the Duke of Leeds.

 

[M29since14]

I have a few mediums (.375 and .416), and one Model 70 .458. The Model 70 .458 is a very handy rifle, but it will give me a slight headache in about five shots. It’s light. Nice to carry. Not so much fun to shoot, IMO. It’s going on its second stock, having cracked its first one at the wrist, in about 35-40 rounds. Winchester fixed it right up without charge or complaint, which I really appreciate. I spent a little extra money having the new stock professionally re-bedded. So far, it is holding up.

A .416 will probably be my choice if I take two rifles. I have a Model 70 and a Weatherby Mark V DGR, both .416 RMs. I like them both. It will be a hard choice, probably slightly favoring the DGR. Though it is not cool to say so, I like the Mark V action.

I also have a very nice Kimber 89 BGR in .375, which is really a beautiful rifle to look at, and it shoots very well, too. Then there is the .378 Weatherby. The .378 doesn’t give me a headache like the .458 will, but I tell everyone who wants to shoot it to stay out of its way. If I were to take only one rifle to Africa, it might be the .378, for sentimental reasons. With the range of suitable bullets running anywhere from 260- to 350-grains, it is the most versatile, IMO, and shoots surprisingly well with reduced power handloads using the lighter bullets. With heavier bullets, particularly the 350 TSX-FB, it’s just a matter of how well you can grit your teeth and hang on.

They’re all fun rifles (except the .458) - and I’ve got way too many of them.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I had a CZ 550 European in .416 Rigby but after I tore my rotator cuff in martial arts I sold it forthwith. I knew that was never going to be permitted up against my shoulder again.

The rifles I can still shoulder I kept and still use.

This Winchester M94, so-called "Big Bore" in .375 Winchester, is probably inadequate for Cape buffalo but it should do nicely on smaller plains game. I have not yet hunted with it and I've had it a very long time.

This was an 8mm Yugoslavian Mauser that I had sporterized into a .35 Whelen. The barrel is either a Shilen or a Douglas, I forget which since it's been decades, the wood was a lovely chunk of walnut and after my 2018 fire I had the whole shebang cleaned up, new this and that, new scope, etc. I KNOW this would be excellent on plains game but it's not legal for Cape buffalo because it's not 9mm. But it is DEFINITELY death on feral hogs.

I need to get a picture of my Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 - it's hell on hogs, too!

Is it legal for Cape buffalo? Dunno............

 

[Absalom]

Well okay, since others are slipping down from the “real” big bores …

My .45-70, which last eviscerated a coyote …

I have dreamed of a Nitro Express double all my life, but there just never were enough rogue elephants or man-eaters in my neighborhood to justify the expense ….

 

[Llance]

Back in "89" I worked with a fella who had a Model 70, 458 Win Mag and I got to shoot it. He shot 4 rounds out the muzzle and claimed it beat him up, so he decided to sell it. I fired two mags worth and it shot to point of aim. I didn't think it kicked so hard. I couldn't afford to buy it then or I would have it in my stable now. The only heavy caliber I own is a Marlin model 95 in .45/70. I like the gun and the caliber. Wish i had that 458 now.

 

[monsai52]

Here's a No.1 Tropical in 375H&H I picked up not long ago. I'm adding a NEGC Ghost Ring sight to it as soon as it arrives. The one on the left is a .223 1-V

Best regards,

 

[Rudi]

Beautiful rifles all! On my only Alaska hunt, for caribou, I had a Ruger M77 in 300 Win Mag. Did a great job. There were big brown bears in the area, but did not have any unexpected encounters. They sure are big.

 

[Drm50]

I sold my big boomer. I had a Sako 375 H&H I bought new in 60s. I’ve been selling off my long guns and have to need for 375H&H anymore but miss it for some reason. I just sold my 1895 JM Marlin but didn’t consider 45/70 big game gun.
The Sako was extremely accurate. It would do less than 1.5” at 100yds. with handloads. I think you would have called it northern version, it had long barrel. I only had 3x on it for Bear & Moose.

 

[Fishinfool]

For me, a CZ 375 H&H, and a .458 win model 70. Liked both, but no real need for either, though I did load both down for deer hunting and plinking.

Always wanted a big bore SxS double, but could never justify the price for the real deal, so........

A Russian made, Remington imported 11.6x53r double rifle. Dead on at 50 yards, iron or scope, balances good, and hits hard with the Hornady 325 grain FTX at 2050 fps. Not a 1st quality British gun, but actually well made and a very decent gun. Did use it to take a "Bull" whitetail up in Maine once. Always gets attention at the range.

Larry

 

[Valmet]

Regrettably, I don’t own anymore. I used to be a big-bore guy and had a Model 70 in .375 H&H and a few Weatherby’s but have cut them loose. Easily the hardest kicking IMO was the .378 Wby Mag. These days my “biggest bore” is a .35 Remington but as far as energy goes it’s a .308 Norma Magnum.

 

[CptCurl]

Greener 10b Ball Gun

In the boomer category, here is my latest acquisition. It's a Greener 10 bore ball gun. This gun is exquisite. It's not for everybody, but I'm a confessed double addict.

Finally, here I am hamming it up in front of my phone and firing my first two shots from this gun:

Greener 10b Ball Gun - First Two Shots by Me. - YouTube

Curly

 

[lestert357]

Curly, beautiful gun and interesting video!

 

[Erocksmash]

Thats a very informative video, I love watching stuff like that, Thank you Sir...

 

[M29since14]

Cptcurl, when you said exquisite, you weren’t kidding! Really beautiful, massive old double - and thanks for the video. Nice presentation.