Big Game Stuff

[madang55]

Starting with the 375H&H (I would really love to have one) and the 404 Jeffery.
2 very different rifles or similar? Advantage of the 404 is bullet weights available.
Recoils differences? I have shot the 375 ONCE. I don't remember it to be too nasty. Especially if you only fire the odd shot when yr hunting.
I have not shot the 404 Jeffery. What am I expecting with this puppy?
And yes, its NT Buffalo we're looking at.
Can someone confirm its all guided hunting up there and that there are minimum legal calibre laws.

[Blr243]

Only fired 375 hh once off the bench. Very surprised. Seemed like 3006 recoil but i strongly suspect they were mild handloads

[animalpest]

It really depends on you. If you can't shoot full power loads out of the 404 then the 375 is for you. It's where you plant them that's important.

The 404 is better than the 375 as it's a bigger, heavier bullet. But I have a 375 H&H because it's enough, I can shoot 1" groups with everything I load up and it's a lot more than what I used when shooting buff professionally.

The .375 is not a 30/06 and not even close. Recoil is much heavier, although not as sharp as fast stepping magnums. For some the 30/06 is the upper limit of recoil, for others its the 375.

[Peterwho]

Some big questions there. I own a 404 and a 9.3x62 and have shot a 375H&H. Recoil has lots of factors, including weight of gun, weight and age of shooter, standing, sitting, weight of projectile and how hot is the load. Felt recoil is, imo, very much a personal thing. The 9.3 with 286 gr projectiles I shoot off the bench 20 at a time without issues. Ten at a time is enough for the 404, on a couple of levels including cost. Finding shells, dies and mag primers and factory ammo for the 404 has been a real challenge.

Way more experienced people than will have views that you don’t need either this big for buffalo. I’ve not shot one yet but if I was on foot I would stay with bigger calibers. AFAIK there is no minimum calibre for hunters but guides require 338 or larger.

See if you find an old video The Great Australian Buffalo Hunt where they just use 308s.

Not all guided hunts but you need to know lots including people, places and regs if you were thinking unguided.

I plan to be in the Cape July/august this year and NT next year.

Best wishes

Peter

[Die Judicii]

I would stick with 375 H+H Mag,,,,,, because I have one,,,,,, and also for the following reasonings,,

The ammo itself would more than likely be readily available over and above the 404 Jeff
Time proven successful all around the world and specially so here in Aus.
Easy on the shoulder especially if you've got a good rifle and with a good stock.
375 H+H is perfectly acceptable for Buff.

If you don't know your way around in NT or WA,, I'd strongly recommend you go "guided" anyway,,, for your safety,, and success.
If you know landowner/s they may help out as in pointing you in the right direction and or guide you.

If you know some tribal elders personally,, in the right areas I'd go that option.

Remember that most station owners or managers generally hate people from down south just arriving and hoping to get access,, and with good reason.
Going down that path you'd have a snowflakes chance in hell of getting access.

[mchughcb]

Just get a 458 won mag and be happy.

[bigrich]

I hand load for a 9.3x62 and took that on a guided hunt in the territory. 250 Barnes tsx took out buff no problem with proper shot placement. I also had some 270 Speer which flattened big pigs and used 285 lapua mega projectiles on wild horses. These worked extremely well on the horses due to more resistance for expansion. They tended to pencil through on pigs unless you got the front shoulder.9.3x62 was designed as a “do all” for German settlers in Africa, and it definitely worked for me up north . The caliber that all the guides recommended was 338 win mag as it was useful for long shots as well as up close. Mind you, they were impressed with the performance of my 9.3. A few fellas at my local range that have spent time up north use 9.3x62’s and reckon 285 woodleigh or partitions are the go. One load, use it on everything

[SCJ429]

I have a 375 H&H, a 450/400 3 inch Jeffery and a 416 Rigby. My go to plinker is the Rigby, most capable and hardest hitting. It has a reputation for punching through things that other cases cannot.
The Jeffery is a great looking case and is very capable. Similar performance to the 404.
The 375 is the easiest to shoot, will knock over anything in Australia but is a lot more common. If you are recoil sensitive then this case will suit you best.
If you like a bit of recoil, try the 505 Gibbs. She will blow your ear muffs off.

[Oldbloke]

Suggest before you buy a 375H&H. Check the price of ammo. You might get a nasty surprise.

[madang55]

So a 375 it is. Watching the sales lists, there's a couple of reasonable 2nd hand ones there, BUT....why put up a crappy photo when a picture tells a thousand words. Then say more photos available...wha???? take some GOOD photos, check them for clarity and put as many as you can up. If the rifle is new then not so warranted, but a used firearm, me in VIC and the gun interstate, give me everything.

[Peterwho]

And still ask lots of questions. It seems to me disclosure in many cases is lacking. Other than the guns I inherited from my Dad, all are second hand. Some venders are great, others less so. My worse experience was with a QLD dealer, where a Carl Gustav HVA 270 couldn't be made to shoot accurately. Long story short, a bent barrel diagnosis from a gunsmith and a very expensive lesson.

If I was in your place, and needing a gun of that significance I would only buy from someone who actually knew the rifle. And, from other experiences I would choose/add my own scope rather take scope deals unless very compelling

[SCJ429]

Good advice there Peter, i have bought many rifles from blokes I know at the range. I got to see and shoot them. See if there is a big game comp near you and guys there often have some bang sticks they want to move on. Big bore rifles don't sell quickly and have seldom had the barrel shot out.

[Oldbloke]

If you can't touch it, don't buy it.

[madang55]

Have spoken at length to a prospect. Relatively confident. Have to trust people sometimes. BIG QUESTION IS..........WA gun laws..you would think WA would be happy to send a firearm out of state, BUT Wait!!! there's more.......shipping costs are atrocious. I can fly to Perth and back cheaper than the quoted freight charges. BUT I can't bring it with me....anyone know how to do it legally and at a normal cost??
And I do have a Big Game local. Might talk to a mate.

[Oldbloke]

Be patient. Get one local that you can pick up.

[animalpest]

Have spoken at length to a prospect. Relatively confident. Have to trust people sometimes. BIG QUESTION IS..........WA gun laws..you would think WA would be happy to send a firearm out of state, BUT Wait!!! there's more.......shipping costs are atrocious. I can fly to Perth and back cheaper than the quoted freight charges. BUT I can't bring it with me....anyone know how to do it legally and at a normal cost??
And I do have a Big Game local. Might talk to a mate.

Why cant you bring it with you?

[bladeracer]

Have spoken at length to a prospect. Relatively confident. Have to trust people sometimes. BIG QUESTION IS..........WA gun laws..you would think WA would be happy to send a firearm out of state, BUT Wait!!! there's more.......shipping costs are atrocious. I can fly to Perth and back cheaper than the quoted freight charges. BUT I can't bring it with me....anyone know how to do it legally and at a normal cost??
And I do have a Big Game local. Might talk to a mate.

Why cant you bring it with you?

I believe it has to go directly from WA dealer register to an interstate dealer register via a commercial carrier?

[madang55]

Yup, dealer only and seems TOLL are the only company. "safe hand"... hand to hand. $350 round figures
AND....random question.....do we still free float big bore rifle barrels?

[madang55]

I reckon attempting to take it out of the state any other way will get you a signed organ donor card, your own.

[animalpest]

Yup, dealer only and seems TOLL are the only company. "safe hand"... hand to hand. $350 round figures
AND....random question.....do we still free float big bore rifle barrels?

Not unless it shoots terribly. After all, your not trying to head shoot rabbits at 200yds with a.375. My bog standard Reminton 375 will shoot 1 MOA all day with a 6x scope with every load even with the flexible plastic stock. Shooting buff, I have never bothered worrying about that sort of accuracy, just clean cold barrel first shot.

[bigpete]

Suggest before you buy a 375H&H. Check the price of ammo. You might get a nasty surprise.

I found 375hh to be more expensive than factory 458wm, but I reloaded for the 458wm anyway. Personally I'd go 458wm

[bigpete]

Yup, dealer only and seems TOLL are the only company. "safe hand"... hand to hand. $350 round figures
AND....random question.....do we still free float big bore rifle barrels?

Not unless it shoots terribly. After all, your not trying to head shoot rabbits at 200yds with a.375. My bog standard Reminton 375 will shoot 1 MOA all day with a 6x scope with every load even with the flexible plastic stock. Shooting buff, I have never bothered worrying about that sort of accuracy, just clean cold barrel first shot.

Is that one of the sps models ?

[animalpest]

Yeah bigpete

[bigpete]

Yeah bigpete

Was it pretty good ? I had an sps 223 once I regret selling,was a good rifle

[animalpest]

Yeah bigpete

Was it pretty good ? I had an sps 223 once I regret selling,was a good rifle

It shoots terrific. Accurate and reliable. The stock isn't that great for recoil though. But hey, shooting full loads off the bench is never going to be gentle.

I load everything from 250gr Sierra, 270gr Woodleigh, 270gr and 300gr Barnes and 300gr Woodleigh and it shoots them all very well.

[bigpete]

Yeah bigpete

Was it pretty good ? I had an sps 223 once I regret selling,was a good rifle

It shoots terrific. Accurate and reliable. The stock isn't that great for recoil though. But hey, shooting full loads off the bench is never going to be gentle.

I load everything from 250gr Sierra, 270gr Woodleigh, 270gr and 300gr Barnes and 300gr Woodleigh and it shoots them all very well.

Good to hear. Theyre a 3 round magazine aren't they ?

[animalpest]

Correct

[madang55]

I have it in my hands. Took it apart, very clean underneath, the barrel, no evidence of any residue, action beautiful. Balanced, lapped Hilver mounts. I've put a rail on it so I can used QD's, and I'm going to run a red dot to start with. What I did find was the straight set trigger is just a tad long for my half missing trigger finger, and the set trigger is way too touchy for me so I will swap our to a curved non set when I get the chance. Very simple mechanism though. I gave the barrel a slight rub and applied some of that Blue in a tube. Might do that a couple more times to give it a good depth. Has the original sights, with hood up the front. I've got to put a swivel back on the barrel, but what nice piece. Gonna be fun. Got to take a couple of photos yet, damn thing's too big for the space I've got in the garage. It was on SSAA gun sales. His photos might still be there.

[madang55]

So, took the 602 to the range. 1-4 Bushnell, nice clear glass. The straight set trigger has got to go. Way, way to touchy for a DG. And, the mongrel thing is positioned too far forward for my 1/2 trigger finger to reach properly. So a curved non-set trigger is on the way. My middle finger copped a beating with every shot. battered and bruised. Need to do some checkering to provide some grip and all should be well. Does it shoot? 270gr Interlocks, real good. Should be better and more consistent when I get the trigger issue sorted.

[Express404]

I have owned 3x CZ 550 and there is an adjustment to stops the set trigger from being used. As you say, definitely not needed on a big game hunt rifle. A set trigger is just dangerous when fast or running through bush. The Woodlieghs and Barnes X are great on Buffalo etc. The old 270 Hornady sprire point makes it a great Sambar rifle. I load, sight in, hunt. No bench resting or grouping of 375s for me. And most importantly a scope with 3.5 to 4" of eye relief.