New guy, new rifle?

[Sturmgeschutz]

I'm a very inexperienced hunter, but at some point I would like to go on an African hunt (I'm thinking in about the 15 year timeframe). I have been looking around on the net quite a bit, and I am thinking of picking up a rifle that would be suitable for African dangerous game. I plan on doing quite a bit of hunting with it in the States and Canada before I head across the water to do the big hunt, so I am interested in getting a robust rifle.

As for manufacturer, I have heard good things about the CZ-550 series. I have decided that whatever rifle I get, it will have a mauser-style giant claw extractor. I have looked around, and the CZ rifles, and Charles Daly rifles have caught my eye.

The biggest problem I am having is on deciding the caliber. I see quite a bit of rift between the .416 crowd and the .458 crowd. Basically, the biggest question I have, is which of the 3 big cartridges should I go for? 416 Rigby/458WMag/458Lott...

Basically I was wanting some constructive criticism of a guy that is planning on buying a CZ550 in 458 WMag.

I know I'll get asked, but I don't know what my target game will be. Going on an African hunt is way out there for me right now, but I would like to get accustomed to hunting with a big-bore, hard hitting rifle, and use it for a while so that I am very comfortable with it by the time I get the opportunity to go on an African hunt. I have read around and seen that these 3 cartridges seem to be the failsafe cartridges for pretty much any game in Africa, and that is why I am considering them.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[PhilLozano]

Dear Mr. Sturmgeschutz,

I advise my clients to bring a 338 Win. Mag. as their working rifle and a 416 Rem. Mag./Rigby/Weatherby. Any of the 3 will do the job on any of the big nasties without a problem and are quite a bit more effective than the 375 H&H.

I think the 416's are more versitile than the 458's. My choice would be the 416 Remmy.

If you have time, have a look at my web site and see what the 416's can do. The majority of the dangerous game there was taken with one of the 416's.

www.go-on-safari.com

Best,
Phil

[pomoxis]

Have you considered the good old .375 H&H. With a 210 grain Barnes X bullet traveling at 2900 feet per second it puts the point of impact at about 1.5 inches high and 7 inches low with a 200 yard zero. That should reach out and touch a mule deer or elk without too much of a problem. Crank it up to a 270 grain and any bear or moose in North America will be taken care of in short order.

It will handle most african game. Some will say it is an under preformer for elephants, but if you can afford an elephant hunt you can afford to buy another rifle.

My advice is to plan to get to africa sooner than later. A freind of mine just was diagnosed with cancer. Looking at Chemo at 45 will put your prioritieis in order.