RE: Income to justify $7,000 rifle?
Many of these $7,000 rifles are dangerous game rifles in .375 H&H and larger and the owners are used to spending $20,000 on a hunt. (and a lot more)
If one can afford the hunt he can afford the finest gun he can buy.....the gun is usually justified as "reliability insurance".
I believe one can own complete reliability for a helluva lot less but then I've never hunting elephants!