Pairing with a 30-06: 375 or 416 Ruger?

[frhunter13]

Have you found the 416 feeds ok? It sounds like some guns need polishing for the feed rails, whereas others are perfect out of the box.

Mine has no feed issues. No issues in fact. It is one of the later ones though, with two cross pins and extra lug under receiver.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I’ve been pairing a .30-06 and a .375 (Holland & Holland Magnum) for most of my African safaris for the last 48 years. I can’t say I’ve been disappointed.

 

[frhunter13]

3006 and 458 Lott and a borrowed 375HH have brought me two rooms of horns. However if I go again I may just bring my 375-338 Chatfield Taylor Model X Mauser. It covers the entire range, so I simply bring three sets of ammo. 3006 to 375 HH ballistics - one rifle. It’s easier to down load well than the HH. 250g 0.42BC at 2650 or 300g at 2525 hard and soft. My 375 HH is a push feed, so I’m a little bit leery of it in a crunch anyway. Not planning to shoot on my back however. If bringing two rifles it would be my 35 Whelen and 416 Ruger. Two rifles are a hassle to keep track of, although those two would certainly cover the field very well.

 

[John458Lott]

I just came back from Africa where I brought 2 guns a 30-06 and a 404 Jeffery. Shot 2 Buffalo and a Roan with the Jeffery and it was wonderful. The 400gr Woodleigh Softs were devastating at a mere 2140fps significantly more so than a 375 H&H 300gr @2550fps. It just packs more wallop. The 30-06 with 170gr Sako Blade ammo @2600fps was a tackdriver and devastating for plains game and so pleasant to shoot. The plains game was all around 200m and the Roan 70m and the Buffalo all less than 50m.

On my first Safari 3 years ago I only brought 1 gun and it was the 375 H&H shooting 300gr Woodleigh PP's. It just did everything and did it very well

If I were bringing a 375 probably wouldn't bother with a 30-06. Airlines are pretty tight on weight allowances these days so a big advantage in just bringing one gun.

So buy both a 375 & 416 but to pair with a 30-06 definitely the 416.