Double delay

[Kevin Peacocke]

well, since you are asking for opinions, here's one.

first, having read some responses, i think red leg has a viable argument for a 375 flanged (other than acquiring brass) it is completely capable of killing DG.

I have an o/u 450-400. i love the gun (very accurate for a double). i have shot blue wildebeest and moose at 200 yards and beyond (my double is scoped) and the 450-400 is more than capable for such shots. so trajectory concerns are not really worth considering unless you are shooting much further.

there is no question that the 375 is lighter than the 450-400 given the figures you showed, so.... are you going to do more PG hunting or DG hunting with said rifle? both guns shoot to a fairly similar ft/lbs of energy so the 375 should actually recoil more. the question is, do you want more thump from the 400 gr bullet or a flatter shooting rifle (slightly) with a 300 gr bullet?

I guarantee that up to 200 yards (with both scoped) there are not enough differences to matter for trajectory. do you want to carry the extra 2 pounds? do you want more available ammo and brass? the problem with the 375 is... you lose some of that calibers versatility with a double, since it is unlikely that your double will shoot 250 gr and 300 gr bullets to the same point of impact. i used solids, softs and percussion point (north fork softs made for cats or light skinned animals) and all 400 gr. shot to same POI. my rifle regulated to 400 gr bullets at 2100 fps (hornady bullets regulate to the same POI in my gun)

so, all this said, if I was picking one, my contact with DG would have some influence, but, i feel completely confident of my rifle out to 250 yards. my 400 gr bullet is only going about 1650 fps at 200 yards, but, it shot thru a moose and a blue wildebeest at that range!

ultimately it is your decision. a more trim rifle, or a slightly heavier with a touch more punch. either way, you are going to buy a fine rifle. i suggest you get it set up for a 1-6 scope no matter which rifle you buy.

there it is, my 2 cents!

More like 2 dollard dirtwalker. Do you also have a 375? What make is your O/U 450/400?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

My vote is for the bigger caliber, .450/400. The only reason I ordered a Heym 9.3x74R instead of a .450/400 a few months ago was because I already had a .450 NE and a .500 NE and wanted a scoped double for PG and cats.

Tanks, did you consider a reflex dot instead of the scope? Good out to 100 metres I am assured. I can either put a scope on the 375 double and it virtually replaces my Ruger 375 for everything, or keep the 450/400 double for close in buff specially, but fit a QD reflex site just in case.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

You already have a .375 H&H and it will have more velocity than a .375 flanged. Based on your comments this is almost once in a lifetime purchase for an expensive double rifle. I'd go for the better tool for buffalo and that is imo the 450/400. Why compromise? Take the @Von Gruff knife instead of the Swiss Army

You are right, this is a once off, which is why I am bothering all my AH friends for their valuable input, much appreciated.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Its just my opinion.

You are correct about the 375FL falling slightly shy of the legal minimum energy in Zimbabwe and well short in Namibia. They only look at calibre in Zim though, which is why the 9.3's are frequently used on buff.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

One question not yet mentioned: do any of your hunting partners use one or the other caliber? It is always nice to be able to share ammo if needed. (Especially this year!)

My buddy also has a 375H&H Ruger No1, so we are covered on that one. Most of the gun shops here stock it too. As far as I am aware my 375FL VC is the only 375FL in the country, but easy to import brass and load.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

My buddy also has a 375H&H Ruger No1, so we are covered on that one. Most of the gun shops here stock it too. As far as I am aware my 375FL VC is the only 375FL in the country, but easy to import brass and load.

In case some are wondering, the VC is well on its way to being fixed, but it is moving on, I am well over it. VC have been very helpful after all, lets not mark them down, it was an honest mistake and kak happens.

 

[Ike85123]

You are correct about the 375FL falling slightly shy of the legal minimum energy in Zimbabwe and well short in Namibia. They only look at calibre in Zim though, which is why the 9.3's are frequently used on buff.

Thank you sir.
Im just here to talk and enjoy. And im not a gunsmith nor own a gunstore. Im just a man that enjoys nature and the outdoors.
My opinion might be outrageous on some things and simply incorrect on others. But as with life, I will learn til I die. And if someone knows I'm incorrect, than please let me know and teach me the truth. I have no disrespect for someone that has more knowledge and is willing to share it. I will sit and read and soak it up like a sponge !

 

[Ray B]

If I intended on using a rifle for plains game I'd opt for a single barrel rifle sighted to be accurate to 300 yards. for dangerous game I'd choose a double rifle of suitably heavy cartridge, accuracy beyond 100 yards not being an issue. Since you have the single barrel plains game covered, I'd go with the double more suited to DG, which in this case would be the 450/400. But then thee is the problem of the two rifles- just consider it a question of taking your two sisters out to dinner.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Its just my opinion.

They say that opinions are like...well you know...see above...

You are correct about the 375FL falling slightly shy of the legal minimum energy in Zimbabwe and well short in Namibia.

I'm not a particular fan of either caliber, but I think with the .375 H&H in the #1 you would enjoy the .450/.400 in your new double. They say it has authority and manners. Sounds like a fine and enjoyable combination.

 

[Velo Dog]

.450 /.400

 

[spike.t]

It's a double so get barrels in both calibres.....

And the 450/400 is 9.9lbs so not going to boot much...

 

[Ike85123]

.375 Flanged Magnum – 9.5 x 75 mm R

.375 Flanged Magnum – 9.5 x 75 mm R Synonyms: .375 Flanged Magnum Nitro Express H&H, .375 H&H Flanged Magnum, .375 Hol...

rileman1.blogspot.com

Interesting article.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

.375 Flanged Magnum – 9.5 x 75 mm R

.375 Flanged Magnum – 9.5 x 75 mm R Synonyms: .375 Flanged Magnum Nitro Express H&H, .375 H&H Flanged Magnum, .375 Hol...

rileman1.blogspot.com

Interesting article.

Good article, thank you Ike.

 

[fourfive8]

I'm not a double guy so I have no well founded opinion on that aspect of the discussion nor which caliber may best suit your needs in the double platform. However I did see some reference in this thread to the possibility of adding a reflex sight to whichever rifle is chosen. In the context of multi-purpose, PG and DG use out to 100 yards or maybe more, I would really do some homework on any reflex sight if that choice is in play. I messed around with one mounted on a DG rifle a few years ago and even though it was an upper end model, it had quite a lot of parallax. It had enough to be worrisome and the amount surprised me at the time... I had never tinkered with a reflex on a rifle before that. I can't remember the brand.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I'm not a double guy so I have no well founded opinion on that aspect of the discussion nor which caliber may best suit your needs in the double platform. However I did see some reference in this thread to the possibility of adding a reflex sight to whichever rifle is chosen. In the context of multi-purpose, PG and DG use out to 100 yards or maybe more, I would really do some homework on any reflex sight if that choice is in play. I messed around with one mounted on a DG rifle a few years ago and even though it was an upper end model, it had quite a lot of parallax. It had enough to be worrisome and the amount surprised me at the time... I had never tinkered with a reflex on a rifle before that. I can't remember the brand.

Thanks 458, I think I have seen a reference to that in other posts. One presumes there must be an optimum or minimum eye relief to make that go away? I should think the further down the barrels the site is placed the better. I am not sure what brand I would fit, I fancy a Kahles.

 

[degoins]

450/400

 

[Deleted member 53080]

This is a purely academic question, not meant to ruffle feathers: Does the standard factory load for the 450-400 meet the energy requirement for Zimbabwe or Namibia? Or like the 9.3x62 does it need to be hand loaded to meet it? I know both cartridges have been used with great success for forever so no beef there. Sorry for diverting the thread

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

This is a purely academic question, not meant to ruffle feathers: Does the standard factory load for the 450-400 meet the energy requirement for Zimbabwe or Namibia? Or like the 9.3x62 does it need to be hand loaded to meet it? I know both cartridges have been used with great success for forever so no beef there. Sorry for diverting the thread

Good question. The 450/400 with 400 grains at 2150 fps generates 5566 joules. The minimum for Namibia is 5400j and for Zimbabwe 5300j, so it qualifies for both. The 375 H&H at 5872j is well clear, but the Flanged at 5202j is a tad short.

 

[Deleted member 53080]

Good question. The 450/400 with 400 grains at 2150 fps generates 5566 joules. The minimum for Namibia is 5400j and for Zimbabwe 5300j, so it qualifies for both. The 375 H&H at 5872j is well clear, but the Flanged at 5202j is a tad short.

Gotcha. I had just seen where the factory Hornady loading gives 2050 fps out of a 24” barrel for 3732 foot pounds and it got me thinking about it.

 

[IvW]

It's a double so get barrels in both calibres.....

And the 450/400 is 9.9lbs so not going to boot much...

Great suggestion....
A double with barrels in 450/400 NE, 9.3x74R(ammo availibilty is a lot better than 375 FM) and a set of shotgun barrels would be the ultimate do it all rifle for Africa....