Purchased first Dangerous game rifle!

[Red Leg]

If installed correctly, a G&H side mount will handle the recoil of an anti-tank gun. I have one on a custom .375 and a .318 WR AE. They are far more durable than normal rings and mounts held by tiny top mounted screws. Installed correctly, the mounting screws on the side should not be visible, but I think you will be fine with how this one was done.

I would not trust that old Weaver on a rifle of that chambering.

Shoot it quite a bit and be honest with yourself with respect to recoil. The seller does not give us its weight, but it looks rather light. A .458 can be a difficult and unnecessary transition for a deer hunter. I actually prefer a .375 for buffalo rather than drag around a 40 something. So, spend the time to master it.

 

[Aiden204]

@Aiden204 - You may want to double check the scope rings/mounts and make sure they have a repeatable zero. I was thinking that it was most likely originally chambered for the 8x57MAUSER (aka 7.92x57MAUSER or 8mm MAUSER) and the added recoil of the 458WM could be a stress to the cantilever scope mount design. Just a thought.

Congratulations on the new rifle.

If installed correctly, a G&H side mount will handle the recoil of an anti-tank gun. I have one on a custom .375 and a .318 WR AE. They are far more durable than normal rings and mounts held by tiny top mounted screws. Installed correctly, the mounting screws on the side should not be visible, but I think you will be fine with how this one was done.

I would not trust that old Weaver on a rifle of that chambering.

Shoot it quite a bit and be honest with yourself with respect to recoil. The seller does not give us its weight, but it looks rather light. A .458 can be a difficult and unnecessary transition for a deer hunter. I actually prefer a .375 for buffalo rather than drag around a 40 something. So, spend the time to master it.

I have a leupold lpvo ordered to switch. I think the old mount is nifty so Ill try to keep it. I have a custom built 338 win mag that on paper recoils that same as this assuming its between 8-9 lbs. I do not foresee it being a problem but well see. Im a sucker for feeling like I got my moneys worth out of ammo recoil wise lol

 

[Michael70]

Excellent choice! You got the right cartridge as opposed to a .375 which is marginal no matter what the majority will tell you. The .458 WM gets you into the real world of big bore buffalo killers/stoppers. Now choose the right bullets. Happy hunting!

I wholeheartedly agree, the 375H&H is marginal. Will definitely get the job done but if things are less than perfect you will be glad that you have a true big bore to finish the job.

I know many will say that you are backed up by the PH who will carrying a big bore (most probably) but I hunt free range buff in the NT without backup and the security of a proper big bore in your own hands is preferred.

I have hunted several buffs with the 375H&H using 350gr Woodleigh's and although I am still here to write of my experiences have seen and experienced enough to know that more is more.

Good luck with the hunt

 

[Michael70]

Gentlemen - Shot placement is the key deciding factor of success. .375 H&H will drop any buff given the hunter puts the bullet where it belongs. Love the 40 calibers but it'd difficult to argue against the "Queen" of Africa.

Shot placement on an undisturbed animal under 100 metres is easy enough, here the 375H&H will do the job, so will some other calibres but I digress.

Add movement, thick tropical jungle, the animals on high alert or full of adrelenine.....yeah, I will choose a proper big bore.

 

[Aiden204]

I wholeheartedly agree, the 375H&H is marginal. Will definitely get the job done but if things are less than perfect you will be glad that you have a true big bore to finish the job.

I know many will say that you are backed up by the PH who will carrying a big bore (most probably) but I hunt free range buff in the NT without backup and the security of a proper big bore in your own hands is preferred.

I have hunted several buffs with the 375H&H using 350gr Woodleigh's and although I am still here to write of my experiences have seen and experienced enough to know that more is more.

Good luck with the hunt

I just figure if i can handle it why not? I know a lot of people have been warned about going up to .458 on this forum. However at 65ish lbs of recoil I have no worries. I recently built a .338 Win Mag for a fun little project. Its been cut down slightly, fluted and thrown in an ultralight chassis. Without scope it weighs less than 6 pounds. That puts it somewhere in the low 60 pounds of recoil as well & I love it. I dont foresee the .458 being a problem, and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun in a beautiful package

 

[Brian]

I just figure if i can handle it why not? I know a lot of people have been warned about going up to .458 on this forum. However at 65ish lbs of recoil I have no worries. I recently built a .338 Win Mag for a fun little project. Its been cut down slightly, fluted and thrown in an ultralight chassis. Without scope it weighs less than 6 pounds. That puts it somewhere in the low 60 pounds of recoil as well & I love it. I dont foresee the .458 being a problem, and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun in a beautiful package

I know that you can make friends with that 458WM. It is very satisfying to shoot. I went up from 375 to 500 and then a 577 NE which I am using on 6 cape buffalos in April. One thing about a true big bore, you don't have to run them at wide open throttle to make them work. Back them off at least 100fps and let that big bullet do it's thing . That has been my experience and I have killed a few cape buffalo. It just has to be a premium bullet. You will be pleased! Brian

 

[Brian]

I know that you can make friends with that 458WM. It is very satisfying to shoot. I went up from 375 to 500 and then a 577 NE which I am using on 6 cape buffalos in April. One thing about a true big bore, you don't have to run them at wide open throttle to make them work. Back them off at least 100fps and let that big bullet do it's thing . That has been my experience and I have killed a few cape buffalo. It just has to be a premium bullet. You will be pleased! Brian

Here you go:
CEB Bullets for cape buffalo with 458WM
420 grain Safari Raptor 2,250 fps - 2,350 fps.
450 grain Safari Solid, 2,200 fps - 2,300 fps.
People who have been bitten by the "velocity bug" run these two bullets much faster.
I shoot a 410 grain Raptor bullet at just1,820 fps in my 50-110 Winchester for cape buffalo. Usually they just take several staggering steps and go down for the count. Brian

 

[Brian]

One shot with my .375 and lights out.

Are you saying that you can kill a cape buffalo instantly with a 375 if you shoot him in the brain?
Do you realize that you can do the same with 308?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If installed correctly, a G&H side mount will handle the recoil of an anti-tank gun. I have one on a custom .375 and a .318 WR AE. They are far more durable than normal rings and mounts held by tiny top mounted screws. Installed correctly, the mounting screws on the side should not be visible, but I think you will be fine with how this one was done.

I would not trust that old Weaver on a rifle of that chambering.

Shoot it quite a bit and be honest with yourself with respect to recoil. The seller does not give us its weight, but it looks rather light. A .458 can be a difficult and unnecessary transition for a deer hunter. I actually prefer a .375 for buffalo rather than drag around a 40 something. So, spend the time to master it.

Nothing against old Weaver scopes. My K3 held up fine through fifty years of very hard use. It once survived riding down a mountain on a horse flipping end over end. The Springfield's stock broke in two but the scope came through okay except a dent in the tube. However, I don't think it would be the best choice for a 458 Win. Mine didn't have enough scope relief for much tamer 404 Jeffery. First shot left me bleeding like a stuck pig.

 

[grand veneur]

I just figure if i can handle it why not? I know a lot of people have been warned about going up to .458 on this forum. However at 65ish lbs of recoil I have no worries. I recently built a .338 Win Mag for a fun little project. Its been cut down slightly, fluted and thrown in an ultralight chassis. Without scope it weighs less than 6 pounds. That puts it somewhere in the low 60 pounds of recoil as well & I love it. I dont foresee the .458 being a problem, and it looks like a hell of a lot of fun in a beautiful package

It will definitely work, I switched from a rifle caliber 9,3x64 to a rifle caliber 460 Weatherby Magnum without any problem. It's all a question of willpower. Don't listen to the small caliber faction who try to demonstrate that you don't need such cartridges. A lot of them forget they all need a backup. With the same shot placement there is a huge difference between the working of a smaller caliber cartridge and that of a big bore cartridge.

 

[EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA]

Congratulations on your purchase!

 

[BoarHog375]

Im headed to South Africa with my Dad, he has a 375 Ruger. Id shot it lots and it fits me quite well but even our hot handloads (which recently unfortunately broke the stock right behind the action) didnt really feel like what I imagined a “Big Bore Elephant Gun” should feel like. Im hoping this .458 gives me that experience.

Did the stock break on the new production ruger 375 or is it one of the older ones?

 

[Aiden204]

Lovely piece. Congrats on the find. Get a box of Barnes 500g TSX for the first two shots. My PH considers them to be the most devastating DG bullet currently available. A-Frames 2nd. Use those for the first two shots (if two are required). Load the last two with 500g Woodleigh Hydros (talk to your PH 1st). With this combo, you are ready for anything. Practice a lot and get used to cycling that action with authority.

Which SA province will you be hunting? I am going back this summer to hunt Buffalo as well and and looking forward to it.

Did the stock break on the new production ruger 375 or is it one of the older ones?

Its from probably 2010ish I think

 

[ftrovato]

Hello, I have recently booked my first trip for Cape Buffalo this coming August! I also just purchased my first rifle to use exclusively for Dangerous game.

I saw this custom .458 Win Mag on a mauser action. I was drawn to it after looking for something in the 40 calibre range. Can anyone tell me if I got a fair deal? It would seem so given everything Ive read online. Regardless im quite happy and excited to get well acquainted with the 458 win mag

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1086705513

Fantastic. May you make many memories with it!

The best advice I can give you is always wear shooting/safety glasses. Then there are no worries about scope creeping....or developing an associated flinch.

 

[BoarHog375]

Its from probably 2010ish I think

Yea i think they had lots of problems with those breaking due to recoil. They may have fixed the issue with new ones

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats on the new addition!

 

[Brian]

Did the stock break on the new production ruger 375 or is it one of the older ones?

I should have thought to ask questions. I just assumed that it broke being shot in a lead sled. Brian

 

[Aiden204]

I should have thought to ask questions. I just assumed that it broke being shot in a lead sled. Brian

Haha no it broke while we were slinging some 270 grainers a bit fast while standing. No sense in a lead sled for a 375