A good article on big game rifles

[njc110381]

The current bullets available for dangerous game are head and shoulders better than the cup and core bullets from last century. In soft nosed format you have the excellent Swift AFrame, the Trophy bonded bearclaw, the Cutting Edge Safari Raptor, the North Fork, Peregrine and the Barnes TSX. Solid bullet design has come on leaps and bounds from the round nosed solids to the cup nosed and flat nosed solids like the Cutting Edge Safari solids that penetrate far deeper and straighter than round nosed bullets. One test compared a slightly heavier monolithic round nosed bullet with a slightly lighter flat nosed bullet fired at the same velocity and the flat nosed bullet penetrated one metre deeper than the round nose into wet newspaper!

I suppose that new knowledge has come from research with equipment that can monitor wound channels more accurately? It's good to know, but a .458 hole will always be better than a .375 hole as long as the shooter can place the bullet with the same accuracy.

I wonder what the results would be between PH's and hunters with extensive use of big bores under their belts? I've shot hundreds of rounds through my .416 now and if I'm honest with myself as well as everyone else, I could pick up a .375 and shoot it better, no question. I think too many hunters go on dangerous game hunts before they are properly prepared. I'm getting better and intend to use a scoped .416, but I'm not ready yet.

 

[Selous]

I suppose that new knowledge has come from research with equipment that can monitor wound channels more accurately? It's good to know, but a .458 hole will always be better than a .375 hole as long as the shooter can place the bullet with the same accuracy.

I wonder what the results would be between PH's and hunters with extensive use of big bores under their belts? I've shot hundreds of rounds through my .416 now and if I'm honest with myself as well as everyone else, I could pick up a .375 and shoot it better, no question. I think too many hunters go on dangerous game hunts before they are properly prepared. I'm getting better and intend to use a scoped .416, but I'm not ready yet.

I think you are absolutely right about the .458 beating a .375 assuming identical shot placement. It is a game of accuracy and then penetration being far more important than foot pounds. With the sheer size of some African game, particularly Cape Buffalo and the pachyderms, no rifle will knock the animals over with certainty.

 

[alberta boy]

Enjoyed both articles but enjoyed the second more. There is so much discussion about calibres but in my mind Placement and Bullet Type are more important.

The second article indicates that the 9.3 and .375 were scoped leading to better placement. He also touches on the bullet design and manufacturers but I understand that there has been something of a revolution in these dangerous game bullets.

(There was a photo of a hunter with buffalo and his Ruger No 1 single shot. I like those rifles but not sure I would one for dangerous game.)

I've always liked Ruger No 1 and No 3 rifles , or any other single shot for that matter , but if I was after dangerous game , I'd prefer a good bolt action or double to protect my tender self .

AB

 

[quailybirds]

I've always liked Ruger No 1 and No 3 rifles , or any other single shot for that matter , but if I was after dangerous game , I'd prefer a good bolt action or double to protect my tender self .

AB

Agreed. When a buffalo charges, you wish you had 5 down low instead of 3 or 4....much less 0 down!