No Mercy, this post will probably only be of interest to a handful but may interest you. I talked to the safari guide down at our local range/big bore shop/shooting center (takes clients to Tanzania every year). He indicated he would be willing to sell me whatever I want (he had the full selection); however he recommended against either the 416 Rigby or 416 Rem Mag, indicating they were worthy calibers but there were better alternatives. In his view point the 416 is a "filler" caliber between 375 and 458 and not a particularly good one.

He pointed out that 416 bullet selection is rather limited and that 400 gr is pretty much the standard. He also pointed out a 458mag (with a "30-06" like range of bullet options) shooting 400 grain bullets will do everything a 416 shooting 400 gr bullets will do (velocity, energy, AND trajectory) with way LESS RECOIL because there is no shoulder on the case and its on the low end of the bullet weights for that caliber. He said, check the ballistic chart and you'll see it's true, I was on my heels at this point - kinda like taking a sip from a fire hose. He finished up with this. "Let me take you to Tanzania and lets go hunt some hippo or lets go hunt some cape buffalo or elephant = I'll take the 458 and you take either 416 and we'll see which is better. His point was that the 416 with 400s versus the 458 loaded up with 500s aren't even in the same league.

Then he switched over to the North American continent, "Now for big bears a 458 can be a problem (too much penetation on a "soft" hide critter and not too thick a meat mass) go with no bigger than the 400 grain soft point bullet, they're great fun on bears, just flaten's them and it is easy to shoot. Then he switched back to Africa again, "Now the 458 gives 5000 ft pounds of energy, if you need more just get a 458 Lott it will give you 6000 ft pounds of energy. I must have look puzzled so he explained, its esentially a 375HH necked out to 458 (long action required) - and it will shoot BOTH 458 Win Mag (5000 lbs) AND 458 Lott (6000 lbs) cartidges, kind of like a 3 inch 12 gauge shooting both 2 3/4 inch and 3 inch shells.

With my "416 dream" possibly in tatters and wanting to make a "smart" decission, I bought a new reloading book (with 416 and 458 data) and grabbed Federals and Winchesters Ammo literature and went home. As far as I can tell ballistically every thing he has said is true. I know for a fact he's been going to Africa 10 plus years and the fact he has it all in inventory and is willing to sell me what ever I want adds legitimacy to what he says. Am I missing anything here? Any pro-416 considerations?

As a side note, he cautioned me against the CZ because of the stock design. "You are a pretty long guy." "With these biggest bores fitting the gun to you is essential." "The way the CZ stock 'turns down' at the butt means that when we insert plates to lengthen the stock for you, this curve downward will become even more exaggerated thus ruining the fit and the "lineage" and it will kick you way harder than necessary because of it.

Wish I was giving out first hand experience, but big bore players are fewer in number and advice more scarce. Any comments are welcome. Never thought I might own a 458 of any sort but so far it sounds very versatile and I guess it would certainly anchor the upper end of my rack and the cost is about the same.

EKM

Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!

Edited by - ELKampMaster on 01/01/2003 15:36:57