Best big bore calibre?

[Jo.rademeyer]

My friend let me fire his 500 Jeffery built by Sabi Rifles. Very nice rifle and calibre. Good ammo cost around R200 if i can remember correctly.


My dream big bore would be a Purdey double in 500 NE.

[tigershark]

Thanx for the post and pics Jo.Any quality double rifle makes the juices flow!Would be nice to see some more Big Bore action photy's on here.

[Rudib]

I use a 450 Rigby for backup, 550gr Rhino bullets. I had a 416 Rigby and a 458 Lott, but the 450 is my favorite.

The 458 Lott is a good budget big bore IMO. You can build it on a standard length action and it feeds very well.

[Dries101]

Honestly the guy shooting the caliber means much more than the caliber itself. Anything 10 mm (since the question was big bores and not medium bore etc) larger achieving 2000fps or more will do the job on anything. As a rule of thumb the larger you go the worse the s.d gets but you gain momentum, diameter and recoil. I like the middle ground 404 jeff with, 450 gr. 416 with 430 gr 458 cal with 550 gr. doing 2100-2250. There are a few options that cover those bases

[GameFarmer]

I have a 416 Rigby. It has a lot of history. For a very good reason. Search it. You are going to be busy for a while.

Three calibers that I truly desire to make my collection complete: 450 Rigby, 404 Jeffrey and 375 H&H.

[dritz]

hard choice between the .416 Rigby and the .404. I have the .375, .416 Rigby and .458. My .404 is still a few months away from being finished.
if I could only have one, I think it would be the .404.

[Gert Odendaal]

hard choice between the .416 Rigby and the .404. I have the .375, .416 Rigby and .458. My .404 is still a few months away from being finished.
if I could only have one, I think it would be the .404.

Dritz

I concur, big game hunting is all about shot placement...you will not be able to have pin point shot placement shooting a "heavy recoil rifle"...the 404 Jeffery has the lowest pressure in the chamber with a 400 gn bullet going at 2100 -2300+.the ultimate killing speed..very low recoil, excellent penetration...no flinching, the odds are 99% to have a successful shot....this caliber proofed itself many years ago in countries like Tanzania, Rhodesia ,Kenya ect...it definitely is the rifle that killed the most dangerous game in Africa... they were issued to all Game departments in Africa...and it is the first Dangerous game magnum caliber ever....the history alone is evident enough of its excellence....few hunters really know the 404 Jeffery...very few even shoot the 404 Jeffery....that maybe is the reason why they shoot calibers like .416 Rigby , 450 Rigby and other heavy calibers .....they just do not know better....

[Rudib]

Depends if your shooting the first shot or the last........

If you are following up on DG shot placement is not as easy as what you think. They don't always come at you like on a paper shoot with little wheels at 1 mile an hour.

I agree shot placement is critical, but nothing makes up for size and energy.

The 450 Rigby does the job

[Gert Odendaal]

Depends if your shooting the first shot or the last........

If you are following up on DG shot placement is not as easy as what you think. They don't always come at you like on a paper shoot with little wheels at 1 mile an hour.

I agree shot placement is critical, but nothing makes up for size and energy.

The 450 Rigby does the job

Rudip
I see your point...but then again I do not have the frame to shoot those hard hitting .450 Rigby caliber...so I will stay with my venerable 404 Jeffery... After all is said and done a dangerous game animal can only be shot dead not more dead...and the 404 Jeffery will kill them very dead....without removing all the plaque from my front teeth.. Now I only need to get a buffalo to shoot dead with my 404 Jeffery....

[Rudib]