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• Hunting Rifles

Big caliber rifles for the hunt of your dreams-- whether on the hunt in the African plains on a safari, or in the Rocky Mountains of North America. Bolt action rifles are the most common for large animal hunting all over the world. Always "bring enough gun" to get the job done, and practice for the terrain you plan to visit. The classic rifle caliber for almost any situation is the 375 H&H, but we carry guns in almost every hunting caliber available, and as always- at great prices! 

Sig KILO8K-ABS, Rangefinder Monocular, 7Xx25mm, FDE, Circle, Duplex, Box + Milling Grid Reticles

Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan .375 Ruger, 20" Barrel, Hogue Overmolded Black Stock, Stainless Steel, 3rd

Savage 10/110 Bear Hunter 375 Ruger 23" Barrel, Stainless Steel,, , AccuFit Mossy Oak Break-Up Stock, 2 rd

Savage 10/110 Brush Hunter 375 Ruger, 20" Barrel, Stainless Steel,, , Synthetic, 3 rd

Chapuis Armes Elan Classic Double Rifle, .470 NE, 24" Barrel, Ejectors

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five EA 500 N.E. Color Case Hardened

Chapuis Armes Elan Classic .375 H&H, 25.5" Barrel, Engraved, Box-Lock, Circassian Walnut

Chapuis Armes Elan Artisan Double Rifle, .375 H&H FL, 25.5" Barrel

Chapuis Armes Elan Artisan Double Rifle, .470 NE, 24" Barrel

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five EA EDL 500 N.E.

Remington Model 700 North American Custom 300 Win Mag 24" Fluted Barrel, Muzzle Brake

Chapuis Armes Elan Artisan Double Rifle, .450-400 NE, 25.5" Barrel

Chapuis Armes Elan Classic, .450-400 NE 25.5"

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five EA EDL 470 N.E.

Remington Custom Shop North American . 375 H&H, 24" Barrel, Tan Stock /w Black Webbing

Remington Custom Shop 700 NA 338 Lapua, 26" Barrel W/Muzzle Brake, 40X Trigger, Tan Stock W/Black Webbing

Smith & Wesson 500 Hunter Performance Center .500 S&W, 10.5" Barrel, Synthetic Grip, Matte Stainless, 5rd

Smith & Wesson 629 Performance Center 44 Rem Mag, 7.5", 6rd, W/Red Dot Sight

Dakota Arms Model 97 Long Range SS Hunter 300 Win Mag, 24" Barrel, Falcon Ceramic Coating, Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 Scope

Remington 700 SPS 375 H&H 24" Barrel, Sythentic Black Stock

Dakota Arms Model 76 African Custom 416 Rigby Upgraded, Color Case Hardening, Rings and Base

Montana Rifle Co. Colorado Buck Edition 300 Win Mag, 24" Barrel Synthetic, Cerakote, Right Hand, Brake

Sako 85 Brown Bear 375 H&H Magnum 21" Barrel 1/12 Twist

Montana Rifle Co. Extreme Vantage V2 375 H&H 24" Barrel, Muzzle Brake Synthetic, SS, Sights, RH

Sabatti Classic Safari Express, Double Trig, Extractors Only 9.3X74R

Marlin 1895 SBL Modern Lever Hunter MLH 45-70 18" Threaded Barrel, Sniper Gray Cerakote, Black Stock, Light Splatter XS Ghost Ring Sight

Winchester M70 Safari Express Bolt 375 H&H Mag 24" Barrel Grade I Walnut Stock

Winchester M70 Alaskan Bolt 375 H&H Mag 25" Barrel Walnut Stock Blued

Seekins SP10 6.5 Creedmoor, 22" Barrel, Flat Dark Earth, 20rd

Marlin 1895 Cape Hunter Package 45-70, 18" Barrel, Leupold VX3i Scope W/Super Low Mount System

Sabatti Classic 92 EA Express, Double Trig, Auto Ejectors 9.3X74R

Ruger M77 Hawkeye African 9.3x62 24" Barrel Satin Blue Finish American Walnut Stock 3 Round

Savage 10/110 Brush Hunter 338 Winchester Magnum, 20" Barrel, Stainless Steel,, , Synthetic, 4 rd

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five .450/.400 Nitro Express, ExtractorsDouble Trigger

Browning X-Bolt Medallion Safari Bolt 300 H&H Mag 24" Barrel, Black Walnut Stock Blued Open Sights, 3rd

Browning X-Bolt Medallion Safari Bolt 338 Win Mag 24" Barrel, Black Walnut Stock Blued, 3rd

Browning X-Bolt Medallion Safari Bolt 300 WSM 24" Barrel, Black Walnut Stock Blued, 3rd

Kimber Talkeetna Rifle, .375 H&H Mag 24" Barrel Kevlar Carbon Stock

Browning BLR LiteWeight 81 Takedown SS 300 WinMag 24" SS Barrel Gray Stock

Browning X-Bolt Hunter 375 H&H Mag 24" Barrel, Satin Walnut Stock Blued, 4rd

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The Ryan Breeding Rifle

The Ryan Breeding Rifle  is the culmination of my long association with noted Riflemaker and African Hunter , Gil Van Horn . This combined effort totals over 90 years experience in methods and design innovations, which guarantees the finest and most dependable Safari rifles available today.

My rifles have been extensively tested and proven in game fields throughout the world by clients and professional hunters alike. Many professionals opt for my 5-shot short barrel big bores for the ultimate fast handling ‘stopper’ in dangerous situations. Ultra rugged design ensures the utmost dependability. You can be assured that the finest attention to detail will be applied at every phase in the construction of your rifle. I sincerely appreciate your interest in my work, and I look forward to building you a Safari rifle to be proud of for years to come.

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The 6 Best Rifles for Hunting Africa

Getting ready for a safari hunt read on to learn about the best rifles for hunting africa..

The subject of selecting the best rifles for hunting Africa is an extremely controversial topic that has been hotly debated for many years. Fortunately, there are a bunch of really good rifles currently manufactured in a number of different rifle cartridges suitable for most hunting safaris.

Africa is an extremely large and diverse continent and the different species of game that inhabit Africa are as varied as the continent itself. For that reason, a hunter on a plains game safari will need a different rifle from another person pursuing thick-skinned dangerous game like buffalo hippo. For that reason, "one size fits all" solutions are hard to find, but a few different rifles come pretty close.

Regardless of what and where in Africa you plan on hunting, spend plenty of time at the range prior to your safari and use quality bullets like the Barnes TSX/TTSX , Nosler Partition, and Swift A-Frame. You'll make your Professional Hunter (PH) very happy if you show up with a rifle you are very familiar with and can shoot accurately, even if it's in a lighter cartridge.

All of the choices on our list of rifles are accurate, well built, and reliable. They will hold up their end of the bargain if you do your part.

Continue reading to learn all about our choices for the best rifles for hunting Africa.

1. Ruger Hawkeye .30-06

No list of Africa hunting rifles would be complete without a rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The Ruger Hawkeye is the latest incarnation of the venerable Ruger M77 and does the Ruger name proud. Not only is the rifle very accurate, but it also has a Mauser type controlled round feed system, which is a very important feature for any rifle that will be used for hunting in Africa. All Ruger rifles are also made in the United States.

While it is not suitable for hunting game like cape buffalo, the .30-06 Springfield is a great all-around cartridge for hunting plains game animals such as kudu, wildebeest, zebra and impala. If you want something with a little more power, the Hawkeye and its cousin, the Hawkeye African, are also available in several other calibers including the 7mm Remington Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum, and .375 Ruger.

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The Ruger Hawkeye isn't particularly expensive, but for hunters on a more strict budget, the Ruger American is another good choice for a plains game rifle. It doesn't have a controlled round feed system, but it's still a good value rifle and is also chambered in big game calibers like the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield.

2. Weatherby Vanguard .300 Winchester Magnum

Sportsman's Guide

The Weatherby Vanguard is another great choice for a plains game hunting rifle. The Vanguard comes with the standard Weatherby guarantee of sub-MOA accuracy (less than 1? at 100 yards).

Combine that with the flat shooting characteristics of the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, and you've got a rifle ideally suited for taking long-range shots on African game. For instance, the Weatherby Vanguard would be a perfect choice for hunting springbok in the Karoo in South Africa or gemsbok in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia.

That being said, this rifle isn't restricted to long range hunting either and will also work extremely well on closer range shots in thicker conditions. Indeed, the .300 Win Mag can use heavier bullet weights than the .30-06 Springfield, which gives it a bit of an edge over the .30-06 class of cartridges on really big species of plains game like eland.

3. CZ 550 .375 H&H

For good reason, the CZ 550 chambered in .375 H&H Magnum is always near the top of the list of the best rifles for hunting Africa. If you could only take one rifle on a hunt and you want to hunt the widest variety of animals possible, the CZ 550 in .375 H&H Magnum is a solid choice.

The CZ 550 chambered in .375 H&H is well suited for hunting dangerous game and a hunter carrying one is adequately armed for hunting even the biggest elephant and buffalo. The rifle has a controlled round feed action, which is essential for hunting dangerous game. It also can hold six bullets (five in the magazine and one in the chamber), which is great if things go wrong when hunting Cape Buffalo or elephant.

However, it is not limited to just dangerous game hunts and is also a very popular choice for hunting plains game. When shooting solid or controlled expansion bullets, even the mighty .375 H&H will cause surprisingly little damage to the hides of smaller animals.

For this reason, the a nice rifle in .375 H&H is about as close as you'll get to the perfect rifle for hunting plains and dangerous game.

4. Ruger Guide Gun .375 Ruger

Even though it is a relative newcomer to the game, the Ruger Guide Gun is a compelling choice as one of the best rifles for hunting Africa. Designed to be extremely rugged, accurate, easy to carry, and powerful, the Ruger Guide gun delivers on all counts and is starting to become more and more popular among professional hunters in Africa.

The .375 Ruger was designed specifically to mirror the performance of the .375 H&H in a standard length action on a Ruger rifle. The cartridge was introduced in 2007 and has developed a great reputation in Africa over the last few years. The flat shooting characteristics of the cartridge are great for hunting game like blesbok and black wildebeest in the highveld, but the rifle is also easy to handle and powerful enough for hunting game like cape buffalo and kudu in thick bushveld conditions.

Like the Ruger Hawkeye and CZ 550, the Ruger Guide Gun does have a controlled round feed action. However, the rifle has two strikes against it when compared to the CZ 550: it only can hold four rounds (three in the magazine and one in the chamber) and .375 Ruger ammunition is not nearly as widespread or as easy to find as .375 H&H ammunition. However, this is still a great rifle and, like the .375 H&H, is suitable for virtually every species of plains and dangerous game in Africa.

5. Mauser M98 Magnum .416 Rigby

When it was first introduced, the Mauser 1898 revolutionized the shooting world and is the rifle that virtually all modern bolt action rifles are compared to. Fortunately for hunters and shooters all over the world, Mauser recently restarted production of the legendary Model 98 and is now producing a magnum version chambered in .375 H&H and .416 Rigby.

Like the rifle it is descended from, the Mauser M98 Magnum features a controlled round feed action. Additionally, even when chambered in the large and potent .416 Rigby cartridge, the Mauser can hold five bullets (four in the magazine and one in the chamber).

This makes it a great rifle for the person searching for a hard hitting and dependable rifle to use while elephant, hippo, and/or cape buffalo hunting.

6. Winchester Model 70 .458 Winchester

For those who want something even bigger and more powerful than older cartridges like the .45-70 Government or the legendary .375 H&H and .416 Rigby, the .458 Winchester is another serious rifle for dangerous game hunting.

Originally designed to duplicate the performance of traditional English double rifle cartridges like the .450 and .470 Nitro Express in a modern bolt action, the .458 Winchester developed a bad reputation in the 1950s and 1960s for being unreliable, which lead to the development of cartridges like the .458 Lott. However, the issues with the ammunition have been fixed and companies like Hornady are now producing .458 Winchester ammunition that will absolutely hammer a buffalo or an elephant.

Couple this development with the fact that FN Herstal is now producing Winchester Model 70 rifles that feature controlled round feeding and you've got a winner. As long as you can handle the stout recoil of the .458 Winchester, it is a very solid choice and will serve you well in Africa. After all, there's a reason why so many game rangers in Zimbabwe have used this rifle and cartridge for dangerous game culling and problem animal control over the years.

What do you think of our choices for the best rifles for hunting in Africa? Did we miss any?

Like what you see here? Check out John McAdams on his  hunting blog . 

NEXT:  HERE'S HOW MUCH AN AFRICAN HUNTING SAFARI COSTS (NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK)

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Maybe your African safari is just a dream at this stage, but you can make it a reality. In fact, I recommend you do. The cost is much less than a guided North American mule deer or elk hunt. So why not edge closer to your dream safari by deciding which African cartridge/rifle you’ll shoot?

Perhaps the most famous African cartridge is the .375 H&H Magnum, but a couple of its offspring, the .416 Remington Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum, offer more power and heavier bullets. Which would be best? Let’s examine each in depth and then you can pick your winner.

.375 Holland & Holland

This belted magnum of 1912 was not the first belted magnum cartridge, but it was and remains the first and most enduringly successful one. Created by the British gunmaking firm of Holland & Holland, it holds enough smokeless powder (about 78 grains or 20 grains more than a 30-06) to drive 300-grain bullets 2,500 fps (feet per second) from a 24-inch barrel. That’s fast enough to grind out about 4,200 ft-lbs (foot pounds) of kinetic energy, roughly 1,300 ft-lbs more than the .30-06 will churn out with a hot 180-grain bullet. Recoil of this .375 H&H load will be around 45 ft-lbs in a rifle/scope weighing 9 pounds. Thanks to all that powder, brass, and bullet, .375 H&H rounds sell for $1.60 to $2.60 each.

When released, the .375 was offered with 270-grain and 235-grain bullets, too. The lighter slugs were designed to shoot faster, flatter and farther for reaching smaller plains game species. All three proved to shoot so close to point of aim inside of sensible hunting distances that they could be fired interchangeably without re-sighting the rifle. Today 253-grain loads are rare, but many ammo brands offer 250-, 260, and 270-grain .375 H&H ammo. Trajectory with Federal’s 260-grain Nosler Accubond load is identical to the Federal 180-grain Nosler Accubond .30-06 load to 400 yards, making it a great option for smaller antelope.

The H&H was originally tailored for ideal performance in Holland & Holland’s Mauser M98 repeating bolt-action magazine rifle. By 1912, the Mauser had proven itself the slickest, fastest, strongest, most durable and trustworthy repeater in the world, and that began changing attitudes about suitable African rifles. It might not have provided as fast a second shot as the doubles, but the 4 or 5 rounds stored in its box magazine made up for that. All it needed was a new powerful cartridge. The .375 H&H proved to be it. Nice to have when something like the infamously durable Cape buffalo came charging with revenge on its mind.

What most folks wonder about the .375 H&H is that belt. It’s been widely imagined to strengthen the case against the incredible pressures a magnum must produce. The .375 is rated for an average pressure of 62,000 psi, which is significant, but less than the 65,000 psi of the un-belted .270 Winchester and .22-250 Remington. So why the belt? To precisely headspace the cartridge. Headspacing is the mechanical process of limiting how far into the chamber a cartridge will go. Without a tight fit (minimum headspace) the firing pin can push the cartridge forward instead of crushing and igniting the primer. Modern bottlenecked cartridges like the .270 Win. are stopped by their rather sharp shoulders deep inside the chamber. The .375 H&H shoulder was sufficiently small and sloped that engineers felt it insufficient for dependable headspacing. They added the belt which abuts a mirrored rim reamed into the chamber.

Read Next: Why Hunting Africa Has Nothing To Do With Trophy Hunting

Given the inconsistency and volativity of early smokeless powders, the taper of the 375 H&H proved useful for easy cycling and, especially, extraction of hot rounds made all the hotter by tropical heat. Initially envisioned as suitable for medium game like eland, lions, tigers, and bears, oh my (I couldn’t resist,) the 300-grain slugs soon proved adequate for hippo, buffalo and even elephants. In time the .375 H&H earned its place as the go-to, do-all world beater, the ideal one-gun cartridge for handling anything. But it would eventually give birth to competition, as we’ll see below.

.416 Remington Magnum

Most hunters know that the magnum-length (3.6 inches) .375 H&H is the parent case for such famous rounds as the .300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, .270 Weatherby Magnum, 300 Weatherby Magnum and several more. Well, add the .416 Remington Magnum to the list. It was actually made in 1988 by necking up the 8mm Rem. Mag., but that was based on the .375 H&H case, so we’re nit picking.

Compared to the 7mm Rem. Mag., the .416 Rem. Mag. is sort of the homely, unknown sister, but not due to any of its shortcomings. In fact there are no shortcomings to this cartridge unless you consider too much bullet, power, and recoil as shortcomings. Well, maybe the recoil. But I know women who weigh 120-pounds soaking wet in waders and shoot a .416 Rem. Mag.

As the title indicates, this magnum spits a .416” bullet weighing 350- or 400-grains, although some 450-grain options are out there. I suspect Remington brought it to life to replace the 416 Rigby which was moribund in 1988. In power and trajectory these .416s are an even match, but the Remington is chambered in more affordable rifles like the M700. Ammo is slightly less expensive, too, at $2 to $5 per shot compared to Rigby’s at $4 to $8 a pop. Most 416 Rem. Mag. loads burn about 77 grains of powder to drive a 400-grain slug 2,400 fps. This produces 5,100 ft-lbs energy. That’s a whumping heap, and you’ll feel it at the butt as almost 64 tf-lbs of recoil in a 9-pound rifle. But if a small woman can shoot it, you’re surely not going to shy away, are you?

In my experience, the .416 Rem. Mag. definitely lets you know it’s gone off, but it isn’t sharp or punishing. At least not in the several rifles I’ve fired. A Dakota M76 was particularly well controlled and eminently shootable. But I wouldn’t want this in a lightweight rifle with a skinny butt and sharp-edged comb. I have noticed that after about 18 or 20 rounds in one setting, I tend to get a headache, so don’t get a .416 Rem. Mag. for prairie dog shooting.

In all seriousness, before considering this .416, ask yourself what you’ll most commonly hunt with it. Most safaris these days include a buffalo or two, sometimes a hippo or elephant, rarely a lion, but commonly a lot of plains game varying in size from 10-pound dik-dik antelope up to 2,000-pound eland. There are quite a few African species the size of elk and heavier and the .416 is a solid option for them. And there’s always the chance you’ll need to discourage something large and unfriendly at short range. The .416’s additional punch over the .375’s might work to your advantage. The .416 Rem. Mag. is also a well respected bear stopper in Alaska. Many find it good moose medicine, too.

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Because most 400-grain bullets are rather poorly shaped for ballistic efficiency, this cartridge can’t match the 375 for long range work, but if you don’t mind your bullet striking 1.5-inches high at 50 yards and 3 inches high at 125 yards, you could zero your .416 Rem.Mag. at 200 yards. That will extend MPBR to 250 yards or so. That’s hardly long range stuff, but it’s longer than our next cartridge can manage…

.458 Winchester Magnum

Like the .416 Remington Magnum, the .458 Win. Mag. springs from the .375 H&H. But it arose way back in 1956 when most truly large bore, dangerous game rifles were chambered 450 or 470 Nitro Express or larger in big, magnum double rifles few Americans could afford. Winchester engineers wisely shortened the magnum-length (3.6”) 375 H&H case to the 30-06 length of 3.34”. This meant it could be chambered in standard Model 70 rifles. Winner winner chicken dinner. Affordable, readily available rifles and ammo soon inspired not only American sportsmen, but African PHs to grab this big, new .45.

As you might guess, there is no bottleneck on this case. The brass tapers minimally from .513” at its base to .481” at its mouth, just enough to hold a .458” bullet while leaving enough taper for easy feeding and extraction. The case generally burns about 68-grains of powder to accelerate a 500-grain bullet 2,050 to 2,200 fps, fast enough to generate 5,000 to 5,500 ft-lbs energy from a 24” barrel. Recoil? Oh, there is some. Count on about 73 ft-lbs to slap you around if you’re shooting a 9-pound rifle. You might want to add another pound or two to soften the blow.

While experienced African PHs like this horsepower for addressing elephants and charging buffalos, few hunters appreciate the looping trajectory curve these heavy, generally blunt-nosed bullets scribe. Zero a 500-grain Federal Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer at 150 yards and it will strike about 2.5 inches high at 100, fall 6 inches low at 200, and plummet 15 inches at 300 yards. Not exactly an open country, long-range tool. But don’t write it off. In many game rich parts of Africa, thick brush makes 200-yard shots rare and about as long as you’ll be offered. A clear understanding of this trajectory coupled with lots of practice could make the 458 Win. Mag. an easy, dead-on-hold rifle for all your safari shooting.

Per round prices run $3.40 to $5.40 per cartridge.

Where, What, and How You’ll Hunt

While pondering these three popular African big bores, consider what, where, and how you’ll hunt. If your main interest is truly big, dangerous species like buffalo, lion, elephant and possibly leopard, the biggest slug you can throw precisely might be your best option. Should the stuff hit the fan, you might welcome the extra punch, too. But if the recoil makes you flinch…

Read Next: 10 Life-Changing Lessons I Learned From My First Africa Safari

Realistically your PH will be handling any emergencies. In many cases the client isn’t even welcomed on a search for wounded game likely to charge at close range. So you might want to downplay your perceived need for self-defense in favor of a more precise first shot. The right bullet in the right place is always more effective than a heavier, harder-hitting bullet in the wrong place.

Should a wide variety of game be in your sights, the bigger rounds might not be ideal either. Plains game antelope are routinely taken with 338 Win. Mag., various 300 magnums, .30-06, .308 Winchesters and even 6.5 Creedmoors these days. We’re not saying all of these are optimum, but with today’s premium bullets, many PHs prefer clients bring rifles they can shoot precisely rather than big thumpers that make them flinch. But if buffalo are on your to-do list, you’ll want one of the big boys.

Conclusions

It was a foregone conclusion that the .375 H&H would be our pick. It’s just too versatile to pass over. Virtually everyone can shoot it more precisely than either of the other two. Ammo is cheaper so you’re liable to practice more. Maximum point blank range is much greater so you can engage plains game at greater distances. And the .375 isn’t a bad option for Alaskan bears, Canadian moose and even Rocky Mountain elk, making it a rifle you’ll use more often.

That said, if you’re the kind of hunter who enjoys magnum recoil as well as magnum thump, if you like stalking close and ending the game dramatically, either the .416 Rem. Mag. or .458 Win. Mag. will serve you well.

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What Makes the Perfect Battery of African Hunting Rifles

Sure, you could bring any old rifle to hunt in Africa, but these have style—and five- and six-figure price tags to match

By John B. Snow | Published Mar 8, 2021 4:00 PM EST

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Among the detritus left in the wake of the COVID pandemic were two trips to Africa that I had planned. I was hardly alone in this. Pretty much every hunter who had booked an international trip had to cancel. Though the virus defeated my ability to physically set foot in Africa, it wasn’t able to confine my imagination. And whenever I think about Africa and hunting, invariably my mind goes right to great African calibers and rifles.

Griffin & Howe African Hunting Rifles

That line of thought got a boost last week with a couple of announcements. One was from the folks at Griffin & Howe, who have spent their time in lock-down building a couple batteries of great African rifles. One was a trio of sporters built on pre-64 Winchester Model 70 actions, chambered in .270 Win., .300 Win. Mag., and .375 H&H. All are stunners. They are stocked with exhibition-grade Circassian walnut with ebony fore-end tips. They come with 24-inch Bartlein barrels turned to a contour specific to G&H. They have barrel bands, of course. And though each of the rifles comes scoped with high-end Austrian glass—Swarovski’s Z6i 1.7-10×42, which is a great all-around African scope—they also have open sights with two leaves that are regulated at 100, 200, and 300 yards on the .270 and the .300, and at 50, 100, and 200 yards on the .375. Be still my beating heart.

As nice as those are, however, the rifles that really caught my eye were the three Griffin & Howe guns built on Mauser actions. They were stocked, sighted, and given barrels similar to the pre-64s, but they were chambered in 7×57 Mauser, .300 H&H, and .404 Jeffery. I’m not sure it is possible to assemble a more classy trio of cartridges.

Most of the rifles were snapped up the day they were announced, despite sporting price tags somewhere around $41,000 each. Before you spit up your beer, consider that the wood alone for the stocks is about $4,000 per gun, the scope and mounts add another $3,000, each rifle came with its own custom made knife with handles made from the same walnut blank as the stock—another $2,500—and that the whole thing is presented in a custom presentation case worth a pretty penny as well.

Even though the rifles are all well out of my reach—I can’t tell you how hard I’m lusting for that .300 H&H—those extras do make the price tag easier to digest.

Holland & Holland .500 Nitro Express

It seems like every rifle maker is backordered these days, with wait times stretching into months. Not to be outdone, the gents at Holland & Holland have basically said hold my Pimms and watch this, as they’ve taken to making an announcement every time a single gun is completed.

Their latest is a “Round Action” double rifle chambered in .500 Nitro Express can be yours for the princely sum of £98,925, which comes to $137,733.28 American. When you check out online you can round up to the nearest dollar if you want to donate to Prince Charles’s polo pony fund.

Of course, one pull of the trigger will knock the snark right out of you. Like many of the Nitro Express cartridges, the .500 NE can trace its origins to mid-19th Century England, when gun makers were trying to keep their royals and lords from being reduced to wet greasy spots on the African landscape. Stuffing brass with large-diameter bullets and lots of black powder was the go-to strategy. The original .500 NE had enough horsepower to drive a 440-grain bullet at about 1,500 fps, generating just shy of 2,200 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.

Once smokeless powder came on the scene, the NE cartridges all got a performance boost. Gunmaker Westley Richards is credited with debuting the souped-up .500 NE back in 1890. Today, Hornady loads 570-grain DGS solids that step out 2,150 fps, bumping the muzzle energy up to a stout 5,850 foot-pounds— enough to properly flatten buffalo, elephant, rhino, and the like .

Read Next: The Ten Greatest Dangerous-Game Guns

The Ideal African Hunting Rifle Battery

Personally, I’ve always been partial to the .416 Rigby. In fact, on my first four trips to Africa, it was the only rifle I carried, and I used it on everything from Cape buffalo down to duiker. I did eventually expand my horizons and have carried rifles chambered in .30-06, .204 Ruger (for predators and small critters), .375 H&H, and the 6.5 Creedmoor.

One reason why hunters and gun writers love to opine on the best cartridges for Africa is, because there’s no one correct answer, though that doesn’t stop any of us from voicing our opinions, which is exactly what I’m going to do.

First off, from a practical standpoint, a three-gun battery is a pain in the ass. Yes, it’s what lots of hunters took back in the day —but that was the era of porters and no baggage fees. A classic three-gun battery would check the boxes for heavy, medium, and light work. If I were so inclined, I’d probably opt for a .470 NE for the big stuff, a .300 H&H for the medium game, and, just to mix it up a bit, a .220 Swift for my light gun. All are old, established cartridges and would thrive in the mopane.

But I’m going to limit my battery to a pair of rifles, so with that in mind, and assuming I’m chasing dangerous game, I’m going to bring my .416 Rigby and a .280 Remington. The Rigby will be loaded with 400-grain Nosler Partitions for the buffalo, and backed with some solids in case things go south. For the .280, I’m partial to the 140-grain Accubond, which is as lethal as they come.

If for some reason, those old cartridges don’t roll your socks up and down, and you want to go with rifles chambered in something of more recent vintage, then I’d suggest a 375 Ruger and a 6.5 PRC.

The 375 Ruger is almost criminally underrated. It was introduced in 2008, in the midst of a frenzy of new cartridges, and sort of got lost in the mix. It’s based on a rimless and beltless case of original design, and duplicates the performance of the 375 H&H. I’ve used it on a couple of brown bear hunts in Alaska, and found it to be both accurate and deadly.

Hornady loads it with a number of good bullets. For thick-skinned dangerous game, you can go with the 300-grain DGS solid. The 300-grain DGX bullet—which is a bonded bullet that expands—can handle anything short of an elephant, and is a great choice if you want your projectiles to plow through several feet of hide, meat, and bone and pop out on the other side. It also comes loaded with 270-grain Interlock soft points or the 250-grain GMX, which is a tipped monolithic bullet made from a copper alloy.

Read Next: The Fastest Dangerous-Game Rifles

The 6.5 PRC has become a favorite all-purpose big game round of mine over the last few years. It is similar to the 6.5 Creedmoor, but brings more horsepower to the party. It typically shoots about 150 to 200 fps faster than the Creed and would be a great choice on any plains game animal. It shoots flat, it is typically very accurate, and those lovely 6.5 mm bullets punch above their weight class thanks to their high sectional densities, meaning they will penetrate deeply and get to the vitals.

John B. Snow is Shooting Editor of Outdoor Life, where he oversees the publication’s firearms and shooting coverage. This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix.

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The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, visited the CZ factory in Uhersky Brod as part of his two-day visit to the Zlin region of the country. The Head of State was welcomed by Jan Zajic, CEO of CZ and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

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BAR Mark II Safari

$1,229.99 - $1,849.99 MSRP

The BAR MK II Safari is the ultimate sporting autoloader, featuring the time-honored combination of fine walnut, a precision machined steel receiver and a hammer forged barrel. Classic in looks and contemporary in performance, the BAR MK II Safari is the hunting rifle that sets the standard for every other autoloader on the planet with accuracy, speed and a caliber selection unmatched by any other hunting semi-auto. This magnificent rifle will make autoloading enthusiasts out of the most skeptical riflemen.

The Browning BAR sporting version is certainly a distinct and separate rifle from the military BAR M1918, but its design is the result of the understanding and expertise that started with John M. Browning. His grandson, Bruce Browning, was the driving force behind today's BAR. A large team of automatic firearms experts at the FN factory in Belgium also played a key role in its development. This group of designers, lead by Marcel Olinger, began serious work on the project code named "Carbine 66," with full-scale development and testing done throughout 1966 in preparation for an official 1967 product launch. Both the history and the efficiency of this amazing rifle is unequaled among autoloading rifles.

NOTE: Unless specifically listed as included with a firearm, accessories shown such as scopes, optical sights, rings, ring mounts, optic rails, bipod rails, ammunition, etc. are NOT included. Accessories are available at authorized Browning dealers and  here on Browning.com.

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125 years. The original. Mauser 98.

 One rifle. 25 masterpieces.

The MAUSER 98 action is regarded as  the forefather of all modern bolt action  rifles. Built in the millions, copied in  the thousands, never matched.  We have had the original for 125 years.  A fact we want to celebrate!

The image shows the anniversary model MAUSER 98 Magnum .375 H&H

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It evokes nostalgia for the old days and yet it is a  milestone of modern firearms technology: the anniversary  edition of the MAUSER 98, limited to 25 pieces.  The style of classic safari rifles from times past inspired  our master gunsmiths to create an exclusive anniversary edition  of the original MAUSER 98. The action, bolt handle ball, trigger  guard, pistol grip cap and magazine base are colour case hardened and, together with gold damascening, English ornaments and  an exquisite wood grade 8 stock with a red recoil pad, give these  masterpieces a truly unique look. Each of the anniversary 98s is  one of a kind.

Bolt handle ball with colour case hardening, fish scale checkering and gold inlays.

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Unique for eternity.

These unique rifles are available in a standard version and  a magnum version. Details of the firearms and the calibre  options are listed in the table below. 

Born from genius, forged by gigantic hammers, built for eternity. The story that started in 1898 is stronger than ever. MAUSER remains true to its genesis and continues to make the most reliable firearms in the world. The time has come for the original to be manufactured at home: at MAUSER.

As with no other rifle in our history, the Model 98 action defines the core value of the MAUSER brand. This encourages our mission to build guns that never disappoint their owners. The entirely new MAUSER 98 line is not only a unique combination of technology and craftsmanship, but a true commitment to our roots as the birth-place of the world’s most reliable rifles.

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Radiators fail once more: Moscow suburbs residents appeal to Putin

R esidents across the Moscow suburbs are besieged by a heating problem, for which they plead direct intervention from President Vladimir Putin. These individuals have yet to experience any semblance of home heating since winter started due to a dwindling supply of heating oil. The issue, one largely avoided by local authority communication, has left residents desperate to the point of directly appealing to the president.

While plots have been uncovered to disrupt Ukraine's infrastructure for a second consecutive winter, thus depriving civilians of heating, it seems Russians are now mired in their crisis. Irony drips from the fact that those under Putin's leadership are looking to cause turmoil in Ukraine, yet at home, they face a similar predicament.

Many dwellings within the Moscow agglomeration are presently without heat. The capital's residents are desperate, directly appealing to President Putin due to a perceived lack of alternate avenues for assistance. The absence of suitable heating functionality since winter commenced pushes them towards desperation with no relief in sight.

This seems improbable, but in Russia, it appears that anything can happen.

It remains uncertain if Vladimir Putin is actively addressing the heating crisis. Some experts suggest that Russia's heating oil reserves are depleting, which negatively affects residents' quality of life. Plagued by cold radiators and plummeting winter temperatures, these citizens have directly addressed their pleas to their head of state.

This heating crisis is happening in Elektrostal, a town approximately 71 miles from Moscow.

Ironically, Russia has constantly aimed to destroy the Ukrainian infrastructure since war broke out, deliberately trying to leave Ukrainians without heating during the harsh winters, aiming to break their strong will. It's an irony they now struggle with a domestic heating crisis, particularly near Moscow, their largest and most pivotal city.

Desperate individuals are reaching out to Vladimir Putin. They question his knowledge of the heating infrastructure conditions in the Moscow suburbs and the dire situations residents face there. Sundown brings no relief from the harsh Russian winter and without heating, their houses turn cold. With elections nearing, more and more residents find themselves reaching out directly to their president.

"Since winter's start, we've been without heating. This has been a yearly occurrence for the past three years. Despite paying for heating, we don't have enough. We implore you, help us!" - these are the desperate pleas from the heavily dressed populace dealing with the Russian winter conditions.

Experts attribute the heating oil shortage to international sanctions and surging demands for diesel fuel, pivotal to military operations. Russia now grapples with a dearth of raw materials essential for boiler and heating plant operation. As supplies dwindle, houses grow cold with little hope of any immediate corrective intervention.

It would be adequate if the war ceased, residents were prioritized, and attention accorded to their welfare.

Russians report Ukrainian drone shot down near Moscow

Putin faces strategic dilemma in prolonged Ukrainian war

Former Ukrainian deputy Kywa assassinated in Moscow amidst war tensions

Watch CBS News

Russia attacks Ukrainian energy sector as Kyiv launches drones at southern Russia

April 27, 2024 / 7:20 AM EDT / AP

Russia launched a barrage of missiles against Ukraine overnight, in attacks that appeared to target the country's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia said its air defense systems had intercepted more than 60 Ukrainian drones over the southern Krasnodar region.

Ukraine's air force said Saturday that Russia had launched 34 missiles against Ukraine overnight, of which 21 had been shot down by Ukrainian air defenses.

In a post on Telegram, Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko said energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk in the south of the country and Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv in the west had been attacked and that an engineer was injured.

Private energy operator DTEK said four of its thermal power plants were damaged and that there were "casualties," without going into detail.

Earlier this month Russia destroyed one of Ukraine's largest power plants and damaged others in a massive missile and drone attack as it renewed its push to target Ukraine's energy facilities.

Ukraine has appealed to its Western allies for more air defense systems to ward off such attacks. At a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the U.S. will provide Ukraine with additional munitions and gear for its air defense launchers.

Further east, a psychiatric hospital was damaged and one person was wounded after Russia launched a missile attack overnight on Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv. Photos from the scene showed a huge crater on the grounds of the facility and patients taking shelter in corridors. Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said a 53-year-old woman was hurt.

Also in the Kharkiv region, a man was killed in an overnight attack on the city of Vovchansk, according to Ukraine's State Service for Emegency Situations.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said Russian air defense systems had intercepted 66 drones over the country's southern Krasnodar region. Two more drones were shot down over the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

The governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, said that Ukrainian forces targeted an oil refinery and infrastructure facilities but that there were no casualties or serious damage. The regional department of the Emergency Situations Ministry reported that a fire broke out at the Slavyansk oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban during the attack.

Ukrainian officials normally decline to comment on attacks on Russian soil, but the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said Saturday that two oil refineries in the Krasnodar region had been hit by drones.

Five people were wounded in a drone attack in a border village in Russia's Belgorod region, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

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