hoppdoc

Here is my story.

First let me sat that I much prefer a double rifle when hunting DG and PG in Zimbabwe. I have done 3 Safaris there, a 21 day a 30 day and a 35 day.

On the first 2 trips I took a scoped Chapuis double in 9,3x74R and a British 450 No2.

On the first trip I used the 9,3 on all plains game, and the 450 No2 on 3 elephants and a buff, I did not connect on lion or leopard. I knew when I was after elephant or buff and carried the big gun.

WQe did bump into elephants a few times when PG hunting with the 9,3. As it was a double I would silently load 2 solids until we were clear of the elephants.

On my second trip I did shoot a giraffe with the 450 No2, at 188 yards, on purpose, but also shot an eland and a wildebeest with the No2 "on accident" as I bumped into them when hunting buff.

I also shot a giraffe, my big buff and a cow elephant "on purpose" with the 9,3. The elephant was shot with iron sights.

On my third trip I took my wife and more guns, the first two mentioned as well as my recently scoped 450/400 3 1/4" British double.

Since this was my first trip with the 400 I used it on a buff, bull elephant, warthog and lion.
The warthog and the lion were shot with the scope, the others ironsights.
I shot one elephant with the 450 and the rest of the plainsgame with the 9,3 except for a bush buck and honey badger shot with the Blaser R 93.

My wife shot her buff with the scoped 400, plaiuns game with the Blaser 308 and the 30-06 bbl of hert drilling.

Here is what I think, baised on these 3 Safaris.

I have found the 9,3x74R Scoped double to be the perfect PG rifle that can also take DG if necessary.

I would not hesitate to use it on elephant or cape buff again.
I have shot my biggest buff with it at about 60 yards at last light with the scope and the frticle illuminated. I might not have taken the shot without the scope as there were several other buff right behind him, and the light was bad, shooting a black buff in a black hole.

An iron sighted big bore double is a great DG rifle, only if you can shoot iron sights.

My 450 No2 is my favorite rifle, however in the real world most of us can shoot and hit game better in some circumstances with a scope, even if our iron sight technique is good.

Enter the scoped 450/400.
This just might be the best allround rifle for DG for present day Safari hunters.

With a scoped 450/400 [in QD mounts, mine are claw], you have all the advantages of an iron sighted double rifle, and all the advantages of a scoped 400 cal rifle.
The best of both worlds.

A pair of scoped doubles a 9,3x74R and a 450/400 are a perfect combo for hunting DG and PG in Africa IMHO.

I shot my scoped 450/400 just today. The scope did not hurt the regulation at all and it did not effect the fine handling of the double in any way.

I really like it.

No doubt the 450 No2 is a little bigger hammer, but the 400 is hammer enough.

Any other questions please ask.