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Doc proudly espouses his choice of cartridges. Good for debate!

I disagree on an armchair basis on his comment that the .404 Jeffery Mauser rifles were only for the rich. I think this is confusing the .404 with the .416 Rigby. The Rigby required a proper Magnum sized action. The .404 does not. It fits a standard action though with some modification.

The M98 .404 was the issue firearm of some British East African colonial parks, wildlife services. I think Uganda for sure. Maybe Kenya and Tanzania? I don't think they were expensive rifles, rather more utilitarian.

The .375 H&H Mag requires a longer action. However my Whitworth M98 is a standard action. Loading cartridges into the magazine does require a down and rearwards action. Something I neglected to tell JB when he borrowed my rifle for a buff hunt. In the heat of a hunt, an unfamiliar awkward loading can mean delays. I also load the projectiles to fit the magazine. I use 300 gr Woodleigh Weldcore RNSPs and FMJs. I was thinking of using protected points ... they might not fit well?

However that might be moot, as most .375 H&Hs were probably H&H rifles in the first half of the 1900s. So price may have been an issue. Certainly if we looked at a Purdey, H&H, WR, or Rigby today compared to some other offerings, the price differential is a big factor.

Historically let's look at some dates of introduction, or design dates:
.404 Jeffery - 1905;
.416 Rigby - 1911;
.375 H&H Magnum - 1912; & the baby
9.3x64 - 1927.
The 9.3x62 was released in 1905.

A considerable time lag in between. One would hold the copy would show improvements! I think it's biggest advantage is fitting into more normalised actions easier. Performance wise there isn't any real difference between the 9.3x64 and the .375 H&H Magnum. The huge advantage of the .375 H&H May is it is the most widespread "big bore" cartridge on Earth. And if your ammo goes missing, it might be purchasable compared to not a chance for the x64. And of course actually be able to buy a rifle chambered for the .375. On safari the .375 calibre is often the minimum for dangerous game. Fact.

It is true the Brennecke bullets were great improvements. The bias in Africa to FMJ or "solid" bullets was no doubt created by the failure of many early SP expanding bullets. Today not an issue if a hunter does his research and chooses a controlled expanding projectile suitable for the game hunted.

I've liked the idea of a 9.3x64 for forty years or more. But have no need of one already having a .375, .404 etc. Perhaps if a barrel was available for my Mauser M03 rifle. Was the x64 ever available in the M03? Having a .404 barrel, do I need one? No. I tend today to wanting to hunt more, and spend less on more guns collecting dust in the safe.

Docs articles are usually good value. Strong opinions. Actual use of the cartridges and rifles. What an excellent article used to be like, not an advertising list like most are today.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (06/08/23 05:15 PM)