The Future Dangerous Game Guns and Ammo Thread

[Northern Shooter]

There have been several threads now regarding the continual decline of this niche industry with rifle and ammo manufacturers discontinuing their Dangerous Game offerings, this thread however will be focused on the opposite.

Post any new releases here whether they be confirmed or just rumors, everyone needs some hope.

1. Montana Rifle Company (MRC) - Had a new CRF rifle on display at the shows this year which is available in 375HH with intentions to add 458 Lott and a 416 offerings. Sounds like it will be priced similar to the CZ550.

2. Sako - Several reps have now hinted at a a magnum XL action being offered in their latest Sako 90 rifle. 375HH is already offered so I assume we will see 416 RemMag, 458 Lott, 500 Jeffery? Potential here for Sako to start producing their big bore ammo line again.

3. Winchester Model 70 - I overheard a Winchester Rep hint at an additional DG caliber being offered to the current Safari Express lineup, whether it replaces one of the existing offerings or not is yet to be determined.

4. Norma seems to be revamping their big bore brass and loaded ammunition as it's starting to show up at retailers. Buy it while it lasts.

What else?

 

[Beck]

I have heard similar rumors about Sako, and I am certainly anxious to see what they come up with. I would imagine .416 Rigby, .450 Rigby, and .500 Jeffery - Similar to their 85 Brown Bear Line.

Oh, and don't forget Ruger - They are still making the .416 Ruger

Maybe if we kidnap a CZ exec we can force them to start producing the 550 again? Has anyone heard anything out of those guys?

 

[Tug]

5 The bullets perform better than ever, with more variety than ever.

 

[coreydb]

I got the same at the SCI Convention in January. It will be very interesting to see what emerges because as you say, this is such a niche market. The .375H&Hs are very common for the big caliber, but the .416s and up appear to be the breaking point for DG appeal appeal; if one strictly goes by manufacturer offerings

 

[Northern Shooter]

I got the same at the SCI Convention in January. It will be very interesting to see what emerges because as you say, this is such a niche market. The .375H&Hs are very common for the big caliber, but the .416s and up appear to be the breaking point for DG appeal appeal; if one strictly goes by manufacturer offerings

Thinking in the most practical sense, I could see companies adding the least "exotic" of the DG cartridges.

This would likely result in 416 Ruger/Rem Mag instead of 416 Rigby, 458WM/458 Lott instead of 450 Rigby

Not sure if Sako would opt for another 0.510 cal as anything beyond the 0.458 class is the point of diminishing returns in terms of sales volume.

 

[BeeMaa]

The Blaser R8 continues to be one of the most reliable and accurate DG rifles up to 500J. And many times it’s less expensive than a comparable CRF.

C’mon, you knew this was coming.

 

[mark-hunter]

What else?

You forgot the modern safari champion. Blaser R8.

Heym express, bolt action

DWM Mauser 98

Then, Zastava m70 - maybe. They still offer in catalogues rifles M70 in 375 and 458, but I havent seen them new in local shops for some time. Maybe they stopped production. Zastava USA is heavily advertising only semiautomatics AK47 type rifles....

 

[coreydb]

Thinking in the most practical sense, I could see companies adding the least "exotic" of the DG cartridges.

This would likely result in 416 Ruger/Rem Mag instead of 416 Rigby, 458WM/458 Lott instead of 450 Rigby

Not sure if Sako would opt for another 0.510 cal as anything beyond the 0.458 class is the point of diminishing returns in terms of sales volume.

Yup

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Sellier & Bellot starting producing a 300Gr lead cored soft point factory loads in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum.

But how long it stays in production is anybody's guess, because on 27/2/25... the European Union declared that all lead shotgun shells & rifle ammunition are to be banned in European Union member states within less than three years time. Great Britain too.

 

[mark-hunter]

But how long it stays in production is anybody's guess, because on 27/2/25... the European Union declared that all lead shotgun shells & rifle ammunition are to be banned in European Union member states within less than three years. Great Britain too.

It will be interesting to see if major factories will continue production of lead ammo for safari hunters?
But in any case, Sellier&Bellot has premium exergy bullet, and there are other variants of monolithic bullets with other factories, that just need to be produced in appropriate calibers, and weight.

Exergy: (yet to be proven on African safari)

 

[Flbt]

I have heard similar rumors about Sako, and I am certainly anxious to see what they come up with. I would imagine .416 Rigby, .450 Rigby, and .500 Jeffery - Similar to their 85 Brown Bear Line.

Oh, and don't forget Ruger - They are still making the .416 Ruger

Maybe if we kidnap a CZ exec we can force them to start producing the 550 again? Has anyone heard anything out of those guys?

I don’t know for sure .
But have heard they keep some of the colt higher ups
And brought them into cz upper management.
If so I have a bad feeling for cz.
I was hoping cz would make colt better but it seems the opposite has happened

 

[Hunter-Habib]

It will be interesting to see if major factories will continue production of lead ammo for safari hunters?
But in any case, Sellier&Bellot has premium exergy bullet, and there are other variants of monolithic bullets with other factories, that just need to be produced in appropriate calibers, and weight.

Exergy: (yet to be proven on African safari)

View attachment 671197

Mark, I have used these in 7x57mm Mauser on red stag in Denmark. They actually perform really well.

I don't think making a trial run of these in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum would hurt...

 

[BJH65]

AH members Mark Ouellette and Altitude Sickness visited Montana Rifle Company a couple months ago and posted about it. I see several new Montana Rifle Co Safari Elite rifles for sale through JD Outfitters one chambered in 460 Weatherby and 2 chambered in 375 Ruger. Seem to be very nice looking Safari rifles with a little engraving and gold fill embellishing. Glad to see them offering traditional looking Safari rifles in DG cartridges.

 

[spike.t]

The Blaser R8 continues to be one of the most reliable and accurate DG rifles up to 500J. And many times it’s less expensive than a comparable CRF.

C’mon, you knew this was coming.

.....and you knew that was coming.....

 

[mark-hunter]

And many times it’s less expensive than a comparable CRF.

Of course it is.
Because Holland and Holland, Rigby, Westley Richards and the likes produce CRF exclusively, besides their double rifles.
So, it will remain like this for some time now.
Blaser will in time become more often choice then CRF, for sure.

 

[Doug3006]

AH members Mark Ouellette and Altitude Sickness visited Montana Rifle Company a couple months ago and posted about it. I see several new Montana Rifle Co Safari Elite rifles for sale through JD Outfitters one chambered in 460 Weatherby and 2 chambered in 375 Ruger. Seem to be very nice looking Safari rifles with a little engraving and gold fill embellishing. Glad to see them offering traditional looking Safari rifles in DG cartridges.


View attachment 671209

Hi BJH65! I believe the guns offered by JD Outfitters are new, old stock guns that we’re manufactured by the old MRC. Good guns I believe, but not currently being built by the new owners.