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LEFTY Dangerous Game Options...

sparksinner
If anyone out there has some experience with the limited "factory" choices in the really big caliber bolt actions for lefties, please share.

Here's what I'm interested in:
1. Calibers ranging from .416 Rigby to .458 Lott
2. Roughly 10 pound weight without scope
3. Synthetic stock and stainless action/barrel (unlikely I'm sure)
4. Reasonable value, the $5,000 Lazz 10.57 Meteor is too much.

Ruger's new .458 Lott rifle looks like a good choice, but I doubt they'll offer it in lefty. Another option, the Sauer 202 has a lefty .416 Rem, but has other problems,like a very light weight and high polish blue barrel. Maybe a semi-custom job to add weight by swapping for a heavier synthetic stock and re-finishing to a less glossy blue (or going stainless) would be reasonable?

Would "all custom" be the only way to really get what I want? Probably the .416 Remington is the front runner, I like the idea of about 5,000 ft/lbs. I read about custom projects in the gun mags all the time, but never with anything this big. Is there a source that would allow me to order the desired elements and put them together?

Any opinions, directions, references are welcome. Thanks in advance.
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • greeker375
    What do you plan on using it for? or is it just for collecting?
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  • sparksinner
    This would be the biggest rifle I'll ever shoot, should I ever get the chance at a hunt in Africa. This is meant as a tool, not for a collection. As a lefty I want all my bolt-action rifles to be true left-handed pieces, this is even more important if I'm looking at a big buffalo. Thanks for asking the question.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    The Montana Rifle Company's model 1999 is being offered in various sizes for lefthand shooters. It is a model 70 style CRF action.
    The owner is a regular poster on the www.accuratereloading.com forum, and seems to be taking the plight of LH shooters seriously.
    As a righthander I don't pay that much attention to the issue, but I've seen it discussed on that forum quite often.
    CZ is not currently offering the big stuff in LH.
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • greeker375
    The largest caliber rifle I have is a .375 H&H made by Sako. Its' an excellent and very accurate off the shelf rifle. They make it in 416 rigby. CZ also makes the 550 Mag. Sako and CZ are the only ones I know that have a 4 shell mag capacity. Most of the others are 2 & 3. Either one you can't go wrong on. Carrying that caliber should make you feel secure regardless the game your after. Additionally, I don't think either one would cost you the arm AND leg.

    Good Luck.
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  • aglore
    A Remington 700 in 416 Rem Mag or a Win Mod 70 in the same cartridge will be all you would ever need. You can buy either one for less than $1500 from the custom shops. Another option is the Ruger #1 in 416 Rigby or 458 Lott. I have hunted grizzly bear with the Ruger in 416 Rigby and never felt under gunned with only having 1 round. Put 4 rounds into a grizzly bear in under 30 seconds.

    AlleninAlaska


    He who dares not offend cannot be honest.
    -- Thomas Paine
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  • rsnyder55
    Being a lefty myself, I started with the Remingtons and then a friend turned me on to the left handed Weatherbys which IMHO are far and away better. I started with the 300 Wby and went up from there. You may or may not want to opt for the custom action but in my opinion well worth the money.

    If you have a chance to visit their store, ask to see the blem rack. You can sometimes find exactly what you are looking for at a great price.
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  • Python
    sparksinner;
    You are entering a whole new world with big game rifles.
    I recommend wieght at 12 to 13 pounds and obviously muzzle heavy. You are talking about rifles of 200+ ft. pounds of recoil. Wheatherby, Krieghoff, Ruger, Winchester and others built lefties. You might also consider Single shots like the Ruger #1. You will want robust stock demintions and a least two recoil lugs in the stock. Winchester's first offering in big bore was a Mod.,70 in 458 win. mag. The stock was not heavy enough and many broke under recoil. This problem has since been rectified. I have my grandfathers big rifles, bolts, doubles, and drillings. They are English rigbys, Holland&Holland, and wheatherby's. From 375H&H to 500 nitro express. Remington builts a very good rifle in big game calibers. Just keep in mind the lighter the rifle the more recoil you will feel, and in some chamberings, a 10 pound rifle could get you a broken collar bone. These calibers can be equally punishing on both ends of the gun. They originated the term shoulder busters.
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  • aglore
    Python, not to pee on your post, but not one of the cartridges mentioned puts out 200+ foot pounds of recoil. My 500 AHR will launch a 535 grain bullet at 2400+ FPS and only put out 104 foot pounds of recoil in my 11 pound rifle. It will only produce 110 foot pounds of recoil with a 570 grain bullet at 2375 FPS. You would have to be shooting a cartridge almost as big as the 50 BMG in a 12 pound rifle to get anywhere near 200 foot pounds of recoil and I don't know of any hunting cartridges that will do that, not even the British big bores will reach 200 foot pounds of recoil.

    AlleninAlaska

    He who dares not offend cannot be honest.
    -- Thomas Paine
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  • rsnyder55
    When choosing a caliber for Africa, be certain to check their laws. Some countries will not allow anything under a .40 caliber for big game I have been told. Thus a 375 would not be acceptable.
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  • Python
    Aglore;
    Thanks for pointing out my typo. Many of the big bores will produce 100+. I have a few of the "English big bores" that approach 200. My .500 Nitro Express is one of them. The statement was made, typo not withstanding, merely as a caution. Most shooters are not accustomed to the much higher recoil of big bore rifles. Kinda' like the guy used to a 30-30 or even 30-06 shooting a .300 mag for the first time. The difference is quite noticeable.
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  • Ricky3
    Me,I'd go with a Browning auto, in 300 mag, 338, and to get around the customs bozos, I'd epoxy on a fake lever action. They won't know the facts of the matter. Then just remove the "mask" when you get into the field. The BOSS comp lets you "tune" the barrel for any given load's best accuracy, and it reduces muzzlejump and felt recoil. So does the BAR'S 9 lb weight. I'd also use the PAST, gel filled vest, at least, whenever firing from prone, or shooting full charge ammo a lot. I'd also work up to full charge ammo slowly, using reloads that have less recoil at first.
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