Favorite Dangerous Game Round

[Lapua guy]

For griz or even those african big cats and cape buffalo?
I gotta go with the 9.3x62 Mauser. The only caliber under 375 allowed for such use in Africa, and really close in capability.

Not the most powerful, but probably the most functional in my opinion.

 

[300grains]

Agree with you. I have been looking to buy a 9,3x62, but since I already have a nice 375 HH I will waite. Till I outshoot the barrel, then I am going to buy a 9,3 x62 a Tikka T3 SS.

 

[SpencerSS]

What kind of dangerous Game? I put elephant, rhino, and hippo in one group. Buffalo, lion, and leopard in another. Bears and stuff in there own.


There's so many fun cart.s to choose. Not having hunted these animals, but shot some of the big bores, I can say a few things. One, I don't like the *** wuppin the 460 Wby dishes out. Two, effeciency and bullet performance are just as important here as with less-lethal game.

For the heavy weights: 416Rigby, 404Jeffery with heavy solids

Smaller/thinner DGs: 375Ruger, 375Whelen Improved with TSXs, maybe solids on the buffalo.

These are just my thoughts, I am in no way an expert on this subject.

 

[J E Custom]

I'm a believer in the 416s Because they are good for all game mentioned with the right
bullets.

They have a good reputation for the browns and are over .40 cal (Required in some
countries) so they can be used in Africa.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Lapua guy]

I'm a believer in the 416s Because they are good for all game mentioned with the right
bullets.

They have a good reputation for the browns and are over .40 cal (Required in some
countries) so they can be used in Africa.

J E CUSTOM

Only elephants, hippos, and rhinos need over 40 cal.

And this is the bear forum, so that was my focus. Sorry, didn't maker it clear with my op.

 

[HARPERC]

Fantasy answer .500 N.E. .
Reality-physically, that much recoil is beyond my limits these days. So I'd break out my .375 H&H, and load my last stash of Barnes 350 originals for softer stuff, switch to the Barnes 350 TSX for harder targets, and the Barnes 350 grain Banded Solid to brain my elephant.
Although, I might test my limits for the hard stuff, rechamber to .375 Weatherby and try the 385 grain Rhino's.
OOPS. I didn't notice the limitation to bears either. It does make the question much easier for me though-.375 H&H 350 grain Barnes Original.

 

[SBruce]

I don't know if this is a "favorite" per say, but I be thinkin it will do the job if the action is up close and personal.

45-70 or maybe even 450 Marlin in a lever action (Alaskan Guide gun or similar) I call mine the "cowboy assault rifle" For backup, a 460 S&W magnum or 500 S&W magnum revolver.

 

[Lapua guy]

Fantasy answer .500 N.E. .
Reality-physically, that much recoil is beyond my limits these days. So I'd break out my .375 H&H, and load my last stash of Barnes 350 originals for softer stuff, switch to the Barnes 350 TSX for harder targets, and the Barnes 350 grain Banded Solid to brain my elephant.
Although, I might test my limits for the hard stuff, rechamber to .375 Weatherby and try the 385 grain Rhino's.
OOPS. I didn't notice the limitation to bears either. It does make the question much easier for me though-.375 H&H 350 grain Barnes Original.

Not to nitpick, but why would you go with the 375 Wby over the 378 Wby? The 375 Wby was a failure in all proportions compared to the HH and 9.3 in about every comparison I have seen. That was the main reason the 378 was made.

Definitely could be wrong there. I have never shot the 375 Wby, only the 378.

 

[HARPERC]

Lapua Guy
My reasons why .375 weatherby over the H&H, RUM, or .378 Weatherby: 1) Personal limitations, I had to have my neck welded together a few years back, and my recoil tolerance isn't what it used to be. My H&H is pretty well retired, and about the the time I think I'm going to sneak it out friends make sure to borrow it. Some of the less sensitive among them will claim my love of big bores in my youth is the cause of my neck problems today. 2) The preference was one bullet, one situation only. I have shot a lot of 350's in the H&H and 2400-2450 fps is what you get. Barrel lengths 20-26 inches really not much difference. The 385 from what I can find will get to about 2225 fps. My experience with the Weatherby version tells I should get me back in the 2400 fps range. Not much for long range stuff, but enough to give me more confidence about a little expansion at Cape buffalo range. Just a little, and it's knocking on the bottom door of .416 performance. 3) The rifle I would convert is a Mauser with a 20 inch barrel built for close range heavy timber (Washington rain forest, swamps and jungles). I don't think opening this bolt face to Weatherby dimensions is a safe conversion, and the short barrel is not likely to benefit from a lot more powder capacity. 4) I could still fire H&H rounds if desired or necessary.
In reality other loads in the .375 H&H (especially the 350's) will work also. The 385 is something I was evaluating seriously but got stopped short of actually doing. It's an unscratched itch that flares up time to time.
And again It was an off topic answer.

 

[Lapua guy]

Lapua Guy
My reasons why .375 weatherby over the H&H, RUM, or .378 Weatherby: 1) Personal limitations, I had to have my neck welded together a few years back, and my recoil tolerance isn't what it used to be. My H&H is pretty well retired, and about the the time I think I'm going to sneak it out friends make sure to borrow it. Some of the less sensitive among them will claim my love of big bores in my youth is the cause of my neck problems today. 2) The preference was one bullet, one situation only. I have shot a lot of 350's in the H&H and 2400-2450 fps is what you get. Barrel lengths 20-26 inches really not much difference. The 385 from what I can find will get to about 2225 fps. My experience with the Weatherby version tells I should get me back in the 2400 fps range. Not much for long range stuff, but enough to give me more confidence about a little expansion at Cape buffalo range. Just a little, and it's knocking on the bottom door of .416 performance. 3) The rifle I would convert is a Mauser with a 20 inch barrel built for close range heavy timber (Washington rain forest, swamps and jungles). I don't think opening this bolt face to Weatherby dimensions is a safe conversion, and the short barrel is not likely to benefit from a lot more powder capacity. 4) I could still fire H&H rounds if desired or necessary.
In reality other loads in the .375 H&H (especially the 350's) will work also. The 385 is something I was evaluating seriously but got stopped short of actually doing. It's an unscratched itch that flares up time to time.
And again It was an off topic answer.

cool, i understand. In that case, if you ever want to look for another one, check out the 9.3. I think you would like it.

 

[J E Custom]

Only elephants, hippos, and rhinos need over 40 cal.

And this is the bear forum, so that was my focus. Sorry, didn't maker it clear with my op.

No problem.

I would still use the 416 on bear (There is no such thing as over kill with something that
could, and probably would ruin your whole day if he was not hit with enough energy)

I bought my first 416 for a brown bear hunt based on lots of advice and films that showed
bear running hundreds of yards after being hit perfect with smaller calibers.

The 416 drops them in there tracts with the right bullet.

I read your later post and understand your problem with recoil (The 416s have plenty) but can
be tamed with weight and a good muzzle break.

I just watched a film where a guy empty,ed his 375 H&H into a very large brown and was mauled
by the bear. (Fortunately he was carrying a 454 hand gun and was able to save his life).

Someone suggested the 450 marlin and that would be an alternate choice because of the large
diameter bullets and less recoil.

Just an opinion.

J E CUSTOM

 

[SpencerSS]

I would really prefer to use a longbow, but if I gotta choose a bangstick, 358win sounds nice, maybe a 405win in an original 1895. Handgun: a heavy load in my 44mag would work, but I think 475Linbaugh is more apropriate.

 

[SpencerSS]

No problem.

I would still use the 416 on bear (There is no such thing as over kill with something that
could, and probably would ruin your whole day if he was not hit with enough energy)

I bought my first 416 for a brown bear hunt based on lots of advice and films that showed
bear running hundreds of yards after being hit perfect with smaller calibers.

The 416 drops them in there tracts with the right bullet.

I read your later post and understand your problem with recoil (The 416s have plenty) but can
be tamed with weight and a good muzzle break.

I just watched a film where a guy empty,ed his 375 H&H into a very large brown and was mauled
by the bear. (Fortunately he was carrying a 454 hand gun and was able to save his life).

Someone suggested the 450 marlin and that would be an alternate choice because of the large
diameter bullets and less recoil.

Just an opinion.

J E CUSTOM

Big guns don't make up for bad shots.


I look at browns like I look at elephant. Other than perserving a clean skull mount, is there any reason not to poke the grape?

 

[Stormrider]

Mine are the 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, and 45-70. I've been bear hunting with the 375 before I got the others. Never did find the bear, though... Unfortunately haven't been able to go again.