280 AI and 416 Rigby

[Africa Huntress]

Scotty, I promised you I would do this, so I will, but may be reluctant to do so in the future, for reasons we discussed yesterday. As you know I left another forum or would only answer questions via pm, due to the constant drum beat of the hidden ( and sometimes not so hidden ) we dont need or want information from a female. The very last thing I want to do is create any problem for this forum. I know you, Sean, and through Charles ( C. Schutte ), dubyam and Dr Mike and Fotis has certainly welcomed me to the forum with open arms and I thank them.

You ask about the 280 A.I and the 416 Rigby and Nosler products.

First the 416 Rigby--this Rifle, scope, ammunition ( and hunt ) is a gift to an older gentleman from my husband and I. So I will let you know how his hunt went ( and how the Nosler ammo preformed ) after he takes his hunt.

The 280 A.I.

We took a Holland and Holland made 300 H & H ( Kahles Scope) and a Mauser rifle 275 Rigby ( Schmidt and Bender scope ) on our first trip to Tajikistan. We wanted to make sure ( especially for me ) that due to the cramped position one sometimes shoots at in this barren land, that the recoil was light, eliminating a possible eye cut from the scope. However we felt that we wanted and in some cases needed a bit more range than those two delivered, especially since we dont crawl on rocks as well as we did when we were younger.

So we got a 280 A.I. in a Kilimanjaro Artemis and it will have a VX6 Leupold with three cds dials with us. We also felt the action needed to be very quiet and that was another reason we went this way (however we almost always only use CRF feed bolt rifles, when the hunt is important to us or we consider it a dangerous hunt ) Wind is also, always a factor on this hunt. The two different gentlemen who reload for us have both recommended we use the Nosler Ballistic tips and thats what they are loading up for us. I have no doubt that they will perform well===they better LOL. P.S., My husband will be with me, but I am the only one hunting this time. I wanted him to come to cook and to set up and break camp for me, LOL

 

[Guy Miner]

I'm not Scotty - but I appreciate your well-worded posts. Informative and useful.

Truly looking forward to seeing the after-Africa photos, and reading about your experiences.

You should have seen the disbelief back in the 1980's when The Corps first started seeing women Marines on the rifle range - producing the top scores and new range records in some cases...

Regards, Guy

 

[SJB358]

Great report Aleena, I am looking forward to hearing about the sheep hunt! That should be excellent. I think the 280AI will be a great companion, and it sounds like you are well set up!

Don't feel shy about posting your stuff up here. I think I can say we all wanna see it!

 

[DrMike]

Aleena,

I can't imagine anyone who regularly posts here who would take exception to learning from anyone, regardless of sex or nationality. Should anyone be so crass, I should think they would be quickly quieted by vigorous and firm reaction from others who do post here. My first mentor during my research career was a woman of character who developed capabilities in biological warfare for the US Army. I never felt demeaned for learning my craft from her. Later, I worked with a gal who pioneered the first birth control pill. Again, it didn't seem to demean my abilities to understand the physiology of bio-regulation. The greatest teacher I've had is my wife, who gently instructed me in grace and manners, polishing an otherwise crudely crafted male. I said all that to say that I doubt you will cause problems on this forum. I, for one, welcome any contribution you are able to make. When I cease learning from those who have performed, I will likely be suffering from advance dementia (which some may imagine has already seized my fevered brain).

The Artemis is a beautiful rifle. I can't imagine that I would be ashamed to tote one. If you get a chance, post a picture of your rifles.

 

[JD338]

Aleena,

I hope you will always feel comfortable here. This forum is a different breed and take pride on how it is running, mostly on auto pilot.
The members here are gentlemen and respect one another. We appreciate a womans point of view as many of us here have wives and daughters hunting so your inputs are very valuable to us!

I couldn't agree more with you on your comments regarding the 280 AI. I had one built a few years back and it is a powerful round without the recoil of the bigger magnums. I am planning on using it this year for antelope and will use the 140 gr BT. It shoots fast and flat.

JD338

 

[Africa Huntress]

Guy, Scotty, Dr. Mike, Jim

THANK YOU

Dr. Mike, to share a little side story connected to dementia or feeling old.

Our daughters are attending college in Ireland and recently was in a Fox Hunt year end extravaganza. My husband and I did these hunts when we were younger and when I was telling one of our daughters how she should saddle her horse, she said "mom, that is so yesterday" emphasizing the "so" . When I got back to the viewing area and told my husband, he said you should have reminded her that she is "so" not paying for all this and she might want to think about that before speaking to her mother like that in the future. LOL

JD338 That is exactly what they are loading up for me. Thank you also for the pm sir

 

[DrMike]

Ah, children (and grandchildren). They must learn their place in the world and manners when speaking to their elders. We had to learn, and so must they. My middle daughter is a surgeon, and she has been on the receiving end of intense discrimination repeat. The sheep hunt sounds like a great opportunity. I'm envious, not merely because you are going on such a great hunt, but because I'm finding it increasingly difficult to climb the steeper mountains. Old age ain't for cowards, I tell you. :mrgreen:

 

[Guest]

Aleena,
Welcome to the Forum. You will find everyone very open on this site and friendly. A great wealth of shared information exists from our members.
Looking forward to hear more about your hunt

Don

 

[alaska100]

Aleena

That will be great hunt. I love that rifle and would like to have one of their lever action rifles, but might be afraid to use it. (-: I was wondering if you can bring the horns or head and horns back from that country. I remember your not being able to bring anything out of Canada from your polar bear hunt.

I did finally get the 280 AI. Thank you for steering me in that direction. We took your suggestion and used a Winchester pre-64 action. Anyway my daughter loves it, thank you.

Enjoy your hunt

Dr. Mike

I remember my dad telling me that old age is not for cowards, and now as I get older, I am starting to understand his ( and your ) point (-:

Scotty, I know, I finally got something that "wasnt" a 30-06 (-:

 

[SJB358]

Scotty, I know, I finally got something that "wasnt" a 30-06 (-:

There is hope for everybody Sean... Mike taught me that! Once you ad your Whelen to your collection, you will forget about that old 30-06!

 

[jmad_81]

Scotty, I promised you I would do this, so I will, but may be reluctant to do so in the future, for reasons we discussed yesterday. As you know I left another forum or would only answer questions via pm, due to the constant drum beat of the hidden ( and sometimes not so hidden ) we dont need or want information from a female. The very last thing I want to do is create any problem for this forum. I know you, Sean, and through Charles ( C. Schutte ), dubyam and Dr Mike and Fotis has certainly welcomed me to the forum with open arms and I thank them.

I really hope you get to feeling comfertable here and contribute. I have learned so much here over the last several years. From what I've seen the type of Person that would say anything bad about what you might post because your a woman gets shopwn the door. First class people all around here! I'm a big fan of the 280 AI, and am looking at picking up somehting bigger than my 375 R someday and would welcome any input you might have.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Hegland]

As you know I left another forum or would only answer questions via pm, due to the constant drum beat of the hidden ( and sometimes not so hidden ) we dont need or want information from a female.

O'Connor noted astutely that women often hold their calm and their nerves better than any man when in front of game, and hence can usually offer superior advice. When Eleanor killed the first buck she'd ever seen, with a single shot and without anybody else around, she simply said she held where he'd told her to and squeezed the trigger. I think the quote was "I don't see anything hard about that."

Rest assured that you are welcome here and we look forward to your insights.

you will forget about that old 30-06!

Jeez Scotty, I never imagined a Marine would be so hostile towards the .30-06! :twisted:

 

[SJB358]

you will forget about that old 30-06!

Jeez Scotty, I never imagined a Marine would be so hostile towards the .30-06! :twisted:

Sorry, just haven't fully came around yet.. Nothing against it, think it is probably the one and done scenario. A guy could hunt everything with a 30-06 and not really need much else, unless he was going to Africa for something really big... I just can't behind that!

I would like a 30-06 someday though.. I would love to get my father an M70 Featherweight 30-06 with a nice scope on it. I kinda liken the M70 and 30-06 as two peas in a pod!

 

[6mm Remington]

Aleena I have hunted since I was 5 years old with my father at my side. That still doesn't mean that I cannot learn from you or anyone else for that matter. From the content of what you post, I will never have the experiences of some of the fabulous hunts you have been so fortunate to have been on. I not only welcome your posts with open arms, but this provides me the opportunity to live your adventures through you and your stories! Now who would not like that? :mrgreen: (Must have pictures also!) In addition the vast majority of women put their experiences and emotions of an event into words one heck of a lot better than us knuckle draggers! :shock:

We need more women and young ladies on this site and out with us in the field, or pretty soon there won't be any fields left to go out in to, and it will have all been taken away from us!
David

Scotty must buy a 30-06, must have a 30-06!

 

[SJB358]

Scotty must buy a 30-06, must have a 30-06!

Pretty early in the day for you to be drinking isn't it David? :twisted:

 

[6mm Remington]

Scotty must buy a 30-06, must have a 30-06!

Pretty early in the day for you to be drinking isn't it David? :twisted:

You know you want one Scotty! :mrgreen:

 

[Africa Huntress]

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU

David, I might know where you stole the name knuckle -draggers LOL. Both our daughters always hunt with us and will join us this summer for some dove hunting in Argentina. So we have hopefully added two more females to the hunting world.

Scotty--You like the 280 and the 35 Whelen, but dont have the mother of those two fine rounds ? LOL

Dr. Mike. It is funny our daughters never talk bad to me when their father is around, but will push the envelope when he is not, unless they want something and then they ask me to ask him LOL

Jmad-81

Sir, again this is just my opinion from using and observing what others use, in regards to "something above the 375"

If your thinking Africa, you must have at least a 375 to hunt dangerous game in most countries. However some countries have attempted to make the minimum 400. When they started talking about increasing the minimum Holland and Holland developed and came out with a 400 H & H and it is a fine round but you need to take as much ammo as you think you will need, because it is not easily found.

What you see most often is the 404 Jeffrey, 416 Rigby and Rem, and 458 Rem and Lott. There are a lot of others also. Unless you plan on hunting the Elephant, Rhino, or Buffalo, you dont need any of these. Certainly not for the other two of the Big five--lion and leopard. If you prefer a double, the most popular would be the 450/400, which ballistically is the same as the 404 Jeffery. however again their are many other doubles and some prefer larger.

Remember, flinching can ruin a shot and also a quick second shot might be necessary so you dont want to get something that your not able to shoot comfortably. We personally dont like porting, but do have some rifles with screw on brakes. We almost always use the brake at the range but never in the field. In fact some PH will not allow you to use a brake in the field. However if you use a brake to sight in your rifle, make sure you take it off and get use to shooting it without one, if your going to shoot it without a brake in the field.

Doubles, are an entirely different ballgame. My husband likes them and I do not. You can not change ammo, at least not easy, as the barrels are sighted in with specific ammo that you must use if you intend to obtain accuracy. To its credit it can fire two shells faster than a bolt action and of course if your hunting Africa, the nostalgia is a factor. My husband has a 450/400 likes it and uses it.

I personally prefer the 416 Rigby. It allows me to hunt plains game as well as dangerous game. If I went up from there I would use a 458 Lott. Like I said what I see the most is the 404 Jeffery and the 416 Rigby and Rem. and the 458 Lott and Rem. However, the ammo for the Rem is cheaper and easier to find, than the Jefferys, Rigby and Lott. There is absolutely no "hunting" reason to go above the 458. I suggest you try shooting anything above a 458, even the 460 Weatherby before you buy it. Unless of course you happen to look like a defensive linemen in the NFL LOL There are a lot of other calibers I did not discuss that you might want to look at also--best of luck to you sir in your search.

 

[SJB358]

Jake, I think she just said we need a few 416's? At least that was all I heard.. Man, I can't wait to break it to the wife that she needs to get me a 416! :twisted:

Aleena, the 30-06 is really very cool cartridge. I will never argue that, but until I am just bored stiff with the others on each side of the 30-06, I am fine with holding off. I do have a 308, so I am not too far off the 30-06.

 

[DrMike]

It is funny our daughters never talk bad to me when their father is around, but will push the envelope when he is not, unless they want something and then they ask me to ask him LOL

Dad's can have that effect on daughters.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Aleena I would hazard a guess, not knowing very much about you, that a .300 H&H will quickly settle the hash of any animal that is asked too. I have owned one or another of this caliber since I was in my early twenties many, many years ago up until I replaced it with a .340 Weatherby.

I have a sister who lives in the UK and hunts fox as a passion. This is something that I have never tried and can hardly sit a horse anymore. I bet that it would be fun to do though.

I do not have experience with the .280 AI but did use a .280 Rem for several years which my grandson has now and just killed his first blacktail deer with using a handloaded CT Silvertip 140 grain at 3000 fps MV. I also have a .270 and a 7mm Mag so the .280 loss is not a real issue with me but I am really happy that it did well by him though.