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What caliber #1

6K views 21 replies 18 participants last post by  Frank V 
#1 ·
I'm seriously considering a #1 as a Hunting Rifle for mostly Big Game.

I prefer to hunt with a Handgun, bear, deer, and hogs. However I'm thinking I may want to try bear with a rifle next year, and later on buffalo, either American Bison or Cape. Don't worry, I plan to use a Handgun for Cape with a friend "backing me up" with a .458.

Short of prarie dogs and coyotes, what caliber would you all select? I have a .223 for long range varmits, so I was thinking of a 45-70. One of my friends is suggesting I get a more "modern" caliber. I want something good for 500 Yard shots if I need it, and even further, but 250 Yards will be the "norm".

Biker
 
#2 · (Edited)
.375 H&H will kill anything on this planet, unless you mean North American big game then a 300 Win Mag will handle most everything 'cept maybe Grizzly. It would handle that too but if you can get your hands on a thermal nuclear warhead that would do for the Grizzly, if not then refer back to the 375 H&H.
 
#4 ·
yes sir,
the 375 h&h ought to be fine.
Been quite a few years back, but put several rounds thru a No.1 tropical-----lota of power there and struck me more as a hard push than a bad kick if ya know what i mean.
 
#6 ·
The .375 H&H or the new .375 Ruger would be my choice also if you want long range stopping power. From the #1 at least, the .375 seems to be more accurate than say a .338 Winchester in a #1-B.

I had a #1-H for several years in .375 H&H and it would cloverleaf 270 grain Hornady spire points at 100 yards..

Bob
 
#8 ·
a #1 Tropical (1-H) in any of the calibers listed should do the job just fine. The ammo availability for 375 H&H probably makes it a better choice for Africa although I imagine you could find several of the calibers listed over there if your supply went to South America instead of South Africa.
 
#11 ·
I have had a 375 H&H before, awsome caliber. I'm now a 45-70 guy for rifles. I think even though an older cartridge, it's pretty modernized and with that said is a great performer. In the black powder days it has taken many a Bison and sometimes at good distances. It was and also still used in long range competition so the range is there when loaded right. Just my .02
 
#12 ·
I have a#1 in 375, also 458, and have a hoot shooting big bores. The 375 comes back so fast I find myself dodging the scope. I recently installed pre fit limbsaver pads, blus action ease slip on leather pads( these increase surface area of buttpad and help). I have not tried the 375 yet but it really tamed the 458. I think the extra length helped a lot as I am fairly tall.

I had just gotten a new cz 550 Safari Classic in 375 and found its longer length of pull and extra weight helped with recoil and acutally made the 375 a pleasure to shoot.
 
#13 ·
I would say .300 win mag if this were a bolt action repeater or double rifle, being that it is a single rifle I would say something heavier is in order.

I too would opt for at least the .375 H&H or even the .458, I'd want something heavy if I've only got one shot.
 
#15 ·
I have both a .45-70 and a .375 H&H #1; for the deer, hogs, etc. I would choose the .45-70 hands-down. For the buffalo and bigger/ further game, the .375 would be the better choice, I think. I bought the .375 for a future elk hunt that may include shots longer than I want to take with the .45-70; now all I have to do is find the time and funds to make it happen. :(
 
#16 ·
I have a 1H tropical and the 1S. The only difference is how much heavier the BBL is on the tropical. Granted my 1H is a .416 Rigby but it is way heavier then my 1S in 45/70. If you reload you can load your 45/70 to very "modern" velocities. I have one load that if you shoot it 3 times you have a migraine for 2 days! LOL! If you really want it for long range I would get either go with the 300 Win mag or try and find a used 300 Weatherby mag. My good friend has the 300 Weatherby and just got back from a Texas hunt. He shot a deer that was walking to him at 286 yds. The bullet entered his chest from the front and ended up embedded in his scrotum.
 
#17 ·
I'm partial to the .338 Win Mag. It will handily take down anything in North America, with one shot and proper targeting....
Unfortunately I believe they are not in the current #1 line up and I doubt if there's many nice used ones on the market. I know if I had one it wouldn't be up for sale
 
#19 ·
Stick with the 45-70. It has more character and probably less kick than the typical magnum rifles being mentioned.

I would personally rather have it in a nice lever-action Marlin, but that is a personal decision.

There are or were leagues in which expert shooters would shoot the 45-70 out to insane distances.

It does not have an aerodynamic or fast-moving bullet. It has a rainbow trajectory. But the bullet is so heavy, that it retains a lot of its energy.

If you're going to do it with a #1, your back-up should have a repeater other than a bolt-action, IMO. Something like a semi-auto BAR or AR15 in 308. Or maybe a semi-auto 12 gauge magnum shotgun with slugs.

I've heard that 375s kick really hard. Don't know if they are better or worse than 45-70 in that regard.
 
#21 ·
You know what they say about opinions

For what it's worth..........

I own a 375 H&H, 30-06, 45-70, & 270 Weatherby Mag and anyone of these would anchor something up to a moose. As far as bear hunting goes the 375 H&H may be overkill.......but better than being killed.:p
 
#22 ·
BikerRN, the .375H&H Mag is a very good cartridge, the recoil isn't as bad as most let on,it's normally very accurate, shoots as flat as the .30-06, has a very good selection of factory loads, a good selection of bullets to reload, can be loaded almost to .38-55 levels if wanted, it will not blow up meat as do faster cartridges, & will reliabily take most big game including several of the big 5. With the Barnes Tripple Shock it really shines in the penitration dept. I think you'd like it. In the Ruger #1 it's really a pretty package too. Thanks Frank
 
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