I would like to call in some views on the relatively new 400 H&H calibre as being possibly the "best" all round calibre for an African safari to go after a mixed bag including Dangerous Game. The minimum legal in most African countries for DG is a 375 H&H.

I'm taking my 375 H&H to Zambia this year for Cape Buffalo and Hippo. However, although the 375 will do the job, wiser people than me have said that it is prudent to always use a calibre that will not just do the job but will also do the job if things go wrong. I am inclined to agree with this; Buffalo are notoriously hard to kill and, if they turn and come at you with intent, the 375 could be wanting. The trouble is that anything bigger than a 375, say a 450, is usually too much gun for the plains game that always come as a part of a rounded African safari.

So now we have the 400 H&H. From the information given by Holland & Holland, this is intended to be a calibre that propels a 400 grain bullet (compared to a 300 grain form the 375) and thus gives a lot more stopping power. At the same time, this calibre is touted as having a manageable recoil and will reach out a lot further than the larger 416 and 450's. If this is true, it could be the "ideal" (OK we all know there is no such thing) calibre to take to Africa and cope with everything.

The trouble is that all the information in the public domain appears to come from Holland & Holland who clearly have a proprietory interest in the matter. What I am looking for is some independent comment based on experience, anecdote or research. Terry Wieland in his book "Dangerous Game Rifles" mentions it briefly although doesn't impart much information or give an opinion.

Hope someone can help.

Happy Hunting.

So far, the 400 H&H has been a proprietary cartridge offered only by Holland and Holland. No one else makes rifles chambered for it, nor ammunition manufacturers produce ammunition for it.

Ballistically, it is very similar to the 416 Remington Magnum, which is much more widely available. The 416 RM also has a better selection of bullets available to it and much more reloading data surrounding, not mention much easier to get "properly headstamped" brass.

If It were me and I wanted something a touch more powerful than the 375 H&H, I would look to the 416 Rem Mag or 416 Rigby. Both offer more velocity with similarily weighted bullets (due to increased case capacity), a better, wider, more common and less expensive selection of bullets, and rifles so chambered can be found worldwide.

alyeska338 couldn't have said it any better. the 416's are outstanding cartridges not only on large dangerous game, but very versatile when handloaded. you can find a bullet and data for every hunting scenario under the sun!