Custom Rifle Advice needed
I plan to take my wife on a dangerous game hunt overseas and we are in the process of building her a custom gun on one of my actions. I've pretty well settled on Montana Rifle doing the work. I have two actions to work with: A Ruger 77 and a Parker Hale (Mauser). For the lowered recoil I plan to go with the 9.3X62 since it sounds to be available most places out of country. What does everybody think of the two actions? Any personal experience with the 9.3X62 felt recoil, etc.?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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If I have dangerous game coming at me I want all the knockdown power I can get, and won't use something just because I want reduced recoil.
Unless you are trying to get rid of her.
You should plan on taking your ammo with you, and practicing with that ammo before you go.
If I was going I would probably want a 338 Win Mag for a minimum. Elephant requires something over .40 bore if I remember right.
I assume that with it going to the point you are building rifles, you already have a guide set up for a trip. Call them and ask.0 -
No experience with the 9.3X62 but be sure that it legal to use in the area where you plan to hunt. Most of dangerous game hunts in africa require a minimum of 375H&H. 0 -
One Tanzania outfitter says:
"If you will be hunting dangerous game the minimum
permitted caliber is .375 (9.3 mm)"
That sounds as though a 9.3x62 would be acceptable but I would sure ask somebody where I was actually going before I built a gun.0 -
She just can't handle a 375 and the 9.3X62 is the nearest (she might handle)to the 375+ cartridges that I can find without going wildcat. I checked the recoil table for the 375 H&H and 375 Ruger. They both thump pretty hard. Without going with a muzzle brake, I'm pretty limited. Many African countries make an exception to the 375 rule for the 9.3 since so many European hunters use it there. A 286 gr. @ 2360fps and 3544me is still seems pretty stout at reasonable ranges. Thanks for the input. Good stuff. Think I'll pull back and do a bit more research before committing to the 9.3. 0 -
Find out if the P/G will allow at least one of his 'camp boys' to act as gunbearer. If yes..
Then get her a heavy rifle (dense wood-Fitted to her Exactly), with a recoil attenuating pad, and the felt recoil will be minimal, 'specially if the shot is a frontal charge-shot, whereby the recoil will take a back seat to the danger ahead.
My niece has successfully fired my English .375 H&H, and she's somewhat slight of stature..just so happens the gun fits her!! And the furniture is heavy, dense English walnut.
Remember: the final fit of the rifle cannot be overstressed. Best, Joe
EDIT
If the items above can't be met, I'm afraid you'll have to restrict her to plains game, with one of the rifles she's already comfortable with. A P/G worth his salt, (and who wishes to keep his license), will probably not allow your wife to track armed, if she's got less firepower than mandated by local law. It's a delicate balance of being on a cape track for instance, and a party in the track has a rifle less than allowed. Check on this aspect with the P/G, as I'm not sure.
Anyway, she will still have fun, and the species license for Kudu, 'Beest, Sablebok, etc will be considerably less money, and, if memory serves, easier to obtain. Best, Joe0 -
Lot of good input...and Joe, you made some real good points. Since I'll be dragging my 458 and/or 375. She could carry (or have it carried) a heavy weight 375. I could have a removable brake put on and use it when the guide doesn't throw a conniption. She could also use it on our large North America game with the stock weight removed and brake on. I'll have a talk with the gunsmith concerning adding stock weight, etc. We already plan to build her a fitted stock. Also, I could buy a commercial 375 for a lot less than this custom build and have it fitted or even restocked.
I've read all the stories of how dangerous game was taken with things like the 7X57 but hear nothing about the ones that weren't so lucky and ended up a stained spot.0 -
John,
Another item to look at is a recoil reducing tube of mercury placed in the stock. I addition to the heavey furniture and other items Joe mentioned. I built a Siamese Mauser action into a 45-70, 22" Shillen barrel, Timney trigger, custom stock and Luepold VX2 1-4 scope. We drilled the stock and placed a metal tube in it, filled with mercury. Got it from Brownells, trap shooters use them. That, combined with a good recoil pad and the stock being built for me, work great. I shoot a Barnes SS 400gr at 2,050fps and it's manageable.
W.D.0 -
How about a .375-06 AI? Pacnor makes the barrel and CH4D makes the dies.
Good luck0 -
I think CZ makes a good .375HHMag rifle with express sights. A Mauser-action clone, I belive.
I saw one in a local gun shop immaculate condition for $800. Nicely made, beautiful wood. They can't be that tough to find. In fact, I just did a quick GB Auction side search and there are 3-4 of them on there right now, right in that price range, so unless you are absolutely sure about going the custom rifle route, that is an option.0 -
Just my two cents! How about the Remington 700 at the link below, purchase a Remington 700 LSS stock and install the barreled action in it then install a Remington Supercell Recoil Pad on the stock. This will cut down the recoil by about 60%. The Supercell Recoil Pad absorbs about 50% of the recoil and the LSS stock will reduce it at least 10% more and maybe quite a bit more. At least you won't have to scrap one of your' rifles and spend more to build a Custom Rifle!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=2121345500
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