Hello Gentlemen, I'm a long time lurker but first time poster on Nitroexpress.com and may I say what a mine of information it is!

I wasn't sure whether or not to put this question here in the Aussie hunting section but as they are all dangerous game, I think, I thought it would be best asked on here.

I've only been hunting for a few years now but have well and truly gotten the bug, I got shooting here most weeks from August until the end March, wingshooting, varminting and deer stalking according to season and occasion and even managed to squeak in a trip to Africa last year for Plains game.

This last has ruined me completely, It's very difficult to sit in a high seat watching a four acre field for a Fallow to wander out when you have seen how it might otherwise be done.

So It's Russia for bear this year, Australia for Scrub bulls and hopefully water buffalo next and a cape the year after that.

I live in the UK and we have silly and onerous firearms laws meaning that I'd ideally like to get one dangerous game rifle and stick to it. I feel it's better to be a good man with one rifle than indifferent with many.

This quest inevitably leads one to the .375 H&H as far I can see, or maybe one of the .416s, so my question is how do these animals rate against each other in terms of toughness and belligerence?

I'm not recoil shy as far I can tell, I have shot .375s, .378W (the worst of all in a 8 1/2lb rifle) .458s .470, .500 and a blackpowder 8 bore at the rifle club for shits and giggles and though I'll admit they can rock your world just a touch, have not put me off the idea of bigger bores.

The second question is related to the first in as much as I see no point in going for the minimum for one, only to be undergunned on the other. It is the question of the calibre, again all assistance on this regard would be much appreciated.

If I might be so bold please restrict suggestions to commonly available calibres as getting exotic wildcats made up for use over here is very onerous.

Thank you in advance,

A