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Do you know what the best thing about big game hunting is? One hunting trip doesn’t just put food on the table, it’ll stock you up for the month. While big game hunts are some of the most exciting trips you’ll ever experience, it’s important that you’re properly armed. You probably don’t want to be facing down an 800-pound grizzly bear with your trusty .243 Winchester. Leave that for the smaller hunts and grab yourself a gun that packs a serious punch.

big game rifle — Big game requires a big rifle…and some big bullets.

In this article, we’re going to talk about some of the best big game hunting rifles for those ferocious big game animals. This includes dangerous game such as bear, moose, elk, and large African game such as gemsbok, eland, and cape buffalo. These are also great guns to have around for self-defense in places where bigger, deadlier wildlife is a problem. Let’s get to it.

Always Bring Enough Gun

If you’ve been around a few hunting lodges, you’ve probably heard someone say “bring enough gun” before, referring to high-caliber hunting rifles. For big game hunters, going on a trip without enough gun will leave you going home empty handed, and it could potentially put you at risk for being attacked.

big game comparison — They don’t call Elk, Moose, Buffalo, and Bear “Big Game” for nothing.

Big game hunting is no joke, so always bring enough firepower. Whether you’re tracking a moose through Washington State’s mountains and valleys or hunting a Cape buffalo in the South African veld, you want to bring a gun you can trust. Choose a rifle and a scope that is dependable and will knock your target on its ass while keeping you at a safe distance from it.

What Caliber Do I Use?

Just like with regular hunting, the type of caliber you use for your big game trips depends largely on what you’re shooting at. Your granddaddy’s .308 might be a good choice for taking down elk provided you’re a crack shot, but you’ll want something a little bit more powerful if hunting large African game. Alternatively, your cigar-sized .577 Nitro Express elephant slayer is going to be a bit too much for that upcoming mountain goat hunt.

big game rounds — Big ammo for a big target.

Let’s take a look at some of the popular big game calibers out there:

.30-06 Springfield – a classic caliber among American hunters. It’s versatile, powerful, and affordable. It can also take down virtually anything on the North American continent.

.358 Winchester Magnum – a powerful yet expensive caliber designed for big Alaskan and Canadian game.

.416 Magnum – a big borecartridge designed for dangerous game. It has enough kickass stopping power to take down the thick-skinned Big Five African game.

.45-70 Government – a heavy-hitting caliber for taking down big North American game like moose and bears.

.450 Marlin – similar to the .45-70, the .450 Marlin is a powerful caliber that can handle all forms of North American big game.
.458 Lott – a powerful caliber designed for African game. It was created with the purpose of improving follow-up shots after big game hunters had near-death encounters with the .375 H&H and .458 Winchester Magnum cartridges.

Now that we’ve covered the details, let’s take a look at the fun stuff.

The Absolute Best Big Game Hunting Rifles

1. Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 ($900)

The Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 ($900) comes in a variety of calibers, making it a great well-rounded rifle for North American hunting. If your focus is primarily hunting big game, I’d recommend choosing between one of the three strongest calibers available: .30-06, .358 Winchester, and the .450 Marlin.

Each of these calibers are perfect for handling all North American big game without being too much overkill for medium-sized hunts. That makes this gun perfect for hunting anything from elk to brown bears, as well as large African bucks like gemsbok and eland. Weighing less than eight pounds, the Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 lives up to its name. It’s a lever-action rifle that comes with a four-round detachable magazine, making it significantly easier to quickly fire any those follow-up shots. Aside from being lightweight, another feature that I like about this gun is its compact nature. With a barrel length of 20 inches, you’ll find that firing the BLR Lightweight ’81 on the ground or up in a tree stand to be equally comfortable. It’s also easy to carry during those long treks through mountains, valleys, and fields.

2. Benelli R1 ($1,000)

The Benelli R1 ($1,000) is an incredibly crafted big game rifle. It comes in three calibers: .30-06, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Winchester Magnum. All of these calibers are perfect for North American big game hunts.

benelli r1 synthetic — The R1 is one of the best looking guns you’ll find on the market.

If you want some serious stopping power that can take down grizzlies, moose, and thin-skinned big African game like Cape buffalo and wildebeest, the .338 Winchester Magnum is your best bet. Like other Benelli products, the R1 is a beautifully crafted firearm that has been designed for comfort and accuracy. Shooting the R1 feels like a breeze thanks to its specially designed ComforTech stock, which is perfect for taking some of the punch out of those heavy magnum loads. Another thing that I like about the R1 is how easy it is to fire off a follow-up shot. Since the gun is gas-operated autoloader, you won’t be wasting any time manually cycling ammo in between shots. Combine this with the gun’s low-recoil design and you’ve got yourself an incredibly accurate big game hunting rifle that’s perfect for going after dangerous critters.

benelli r1 wood — The R1 is also available with a more traditional wood stock.

Other nice features include a receiver mounted picatinny rail, easy-to-use magazine (four round capacity for .30-06 and three round capacity for magnums), and optional interchangeable 22” and 24” barrels. What’s your take on the R1?

Readers’ Ratings

4.99/5 (1662)

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3. Weatherby Mark V DGR ($3,600)

Nobody said big game hunting was cheap. However, if you’re looking for a gun that’s reliable and packs some heaving stopping power, the Mark V by Weatherby ($3,600) is worth every penny.

weatherby mark v near bear tracks — Weatherby Mark V near bear tracks.

The Mark V DGR is the version designed specifically for hunting dangerous game, hence the name Dangerous Game Rifle (DGR). It comes in a number of different calibers, with the lowest being .300 Weatherby Magnum and the largest being .460 Weatherby Magnum. The Mark V is a beautiful bolt-action rifle that is durable and reliable enough for the most dangerous hunting trips. The Mark V has been carefully engineered for quickness and durability, making it easier to make those important follow-up shots when needed. The Mark V’s bolt was given a 54-degree bolt lift to make cycling ammo smoother and quicker. The gun also comes with a drop-box magazine that has a four-round capacity for lower calibers and a three-round capacity for .378, .416, and .460 Magnum models.

What I like most about the Mark V is that there’s a version for every type of big game hunting out there. The big-bore calibers are perfect for those African safari hunts, while the .300, .340, and .375 models are great for all North American hunting excursions. Overall, the Mark V is a hunting rifle that’s as accurate as it is beautiful. In fact, it’s almost so beautifully designed, so you may feel guilty lugging it around on those long hunting trips.

4. Marlin 1895 Big Bore ($745)

The Marlin 1895 Big Bore ($745) is an affordable big game hunting rifle that uses the .45-70 Government cartridge. It’s a popular gun among North American sportsmen who hunt bear, deer, hogs, and moose. It’s also powerful enough to handle any of the larger African grazers, like the kudu, gemsbok, and Cape buffalo.

As with most Marlin models, the lever-action of the 1895 is smooth and easy to operate. The gun comes with a four-round capacity tubular magazine, making it easy to cycle through ammo in a pinch. The inside of the barrel was also given six deep-cut Ballard-style rifling grooves to ensure maximum accuracy when firing at those big game targets. What I really like about the 1895 is its comfortable design. With a weight of around seven pounds unloaded, the gun is incredibly light and easy to carry for those long-haul hunting trips. Its 22” barrel is the perfect length for tree stand shooting. Like other big game guns, the 1895 Big Bore is a heavy hitter. Even with its rubber butt pad, you can still feel the gun’s kick with every trigger pull. For this reason, using the .45-70 for white tail deer and other mid-sized game would be overkill.

5. D’Arcy Echols & Co. Legend Heavy Sporter .458 Lott ($15,000)

In case you’re wondering, no, that price tag is not a typo. While the Legend Heavy Sporter is probably one of the most expensive hunting rifles on the market, it’s also one of the few that’s an elephant gun in every sense of the word.

While there are a few different versions of this rifle, all of which support big bore calibers, the .458 Lott has become the most popular dangerous game cartridge over the past decade. That means that this gun has been specially designed for dangerous, thick-skinned African game. In fact, it’s such a powerful gun that shooting big cats and elk with it would be overkill. Even though the Heavy Sporter is designed specifically for African game, it has also been successfully used in North America to hunt grizzlies and bison. What’s great about this gun is the sturdy design. There’s nothing flimsy or cheaply made about this gun – which is expected for the price tag. Weighing in just under 10 pounds fully-loaded, the Heavy Sporter is a heavy gun that packs an incredible amount of power and should only be handled by experienced hunters. The Heavy Sporter is a bolt-action rifle that comes with a four-round capacity magazine. Since time is of the essence when hunting dangerous game, the bolt has designed in a way that is smooth and easy to operate. In addition, since this gun uses the .458 Lott cartridge, it’s significantly easier to get a follow-up shot in when compared to other heavy-recoil big bore calibers.

Remember This Before Shooting Big Game Rifles

Now that you’ve learned a little bit about dangerous game rifles and big bore calibers, you probably want to book a flight to southern Africa or the Kodiak and try your luck at big game hunting. If you’re new to big game hunting, it’s absolutely critical that you learn how to shoot big bore calibers before going on your first hunting trip. These high-powered guns can even manhandle the professionals if they’re caught off guard. Elephant guns are called bruisers for a reason Don’t forget that it’s called dangerous game for a reason too. You’re hunting animals that are incredibly powerful and aggressive, and one false move could have serious consequences. For this reason, it’s important that you know how to operate a big bore rifle and are an experienced hunter before you go on a big game hunting trip.

charging bear — Sometimes, one round is all you get.

With that said, going on a big game hunting trip provides a level of excitement that you won’t get from your annual whitetail or hog hunts. Going on one of these North American or African safaris is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Also, with all big game hunting experiences, make sure to book safaris through reputable companies that are ethical and follow the local and national laws. There are plenty of challenging game animals to hunt without going after threatened or endangered critters. Leave those in the wild where they belong. Do you have any big game hunting stories? Any rifles you think should be included? Looking for the perfect scope for your hunting rifle? Check out our Best Rifle Scopes article.

17 Leave a Reply

Hunter Mann

I love the effect of large calibers for hunting game. My go to is the Ruger Mk 2 in 375 H&H. Effective for hunting anything anywhere... Next on the list would be .338 Winchester Magnum. By the way, the African Cape Buffalo are not thin skinned, and the .338 WM is not legal for the them anywhere to my knowledge. Also please note that except police and military personnel, semi automatic rifles and shotguns are not allowed in most African countries. Due your homework before you go.

June 1, 2020 9:54 am
RGP

"Best" large bore hunting rifles.... not even close!

Heym, Searcy, Rigby, Mauser. If you want something cheaper but still good (~$2,000) maybe a Sako Kodiak or Sako Brown Bear. Go any cheaper than that, and you'll spend all the money you saved having it worked over by a good gunsmith.

May 24, 2020 9:13 am

d

The author is a clown, and knows nothing about DG in Africa.

June 8, 2021 10:29 pm

Dannzal

You're going to tell me that .308 isn't enough, but then praise 30-06 throughout the article? .308 isn't as versatile for loads, but the standards for the two are practically the same, which makes me think this is a fluff article full of hot air. Unless you meant the .308 diameter 30-30, but these guys should know their stuff better. Also, 45-70 is absolutely not too much for whitetail. I'm enjoying some of the meat now that the 45 put down cleanly.

April 27, 2020 2:01 pm
DEAN DIX

I LIKE YOUR INFORMATION ON THE BIG BORES BUT I WAS WONDERING IF THE 50 CARTRIDGE IS NOT TALKED ABOUT. IT HAS THE KILLING POWER. I ALSO FEEL THAT BULLET PLACEMENT RATES VERY HIGH.

October 31, 2019 3:36 pm
Kirk Biszick

I am a new guy that has had 6 hours instruction from Texas Rangers, Marine Corps snipers, Delta snipers, Active duty Naval snipers including possibly ex-Seals... choosing my words very carefully.

Great article. Chris Kyle believed in bigger caliber heavier bullet (can't believe I have to use past tense regarding Kyle). Quicker bleed-out, especially when using self-defense/hunting rounds.

I am interested in big bore for America and Africa. Willing to use different rifles for each continent. Already formulating plan in my mind...

Any and all advice from experienced American and African hunters is greatly appreciated.

Kirk Rocco Biszick, Ph.D.
Engineer, Huntsville Alabama

June 28, 2019 1:18 am
Rexford Dundon

How about the Big Horn Armory rifles, 500 S&W Magnum cartridges in a lever gun (or 500 Auto Max) same cartridge minus rim fired through a AR-10 style platform BHA makes. You can get them with over 4400 ft lbs energy through an 18" bbl carbine.

May 20, 2019 12:51 am
Robb m

I was wondering about the 35 Whelan calibre for hunting big game. At one time it seemed very popular out west for bears.

January 22, 2019 8:19 pm
Jim

No mention of one of the best dgr’s out now the CZ 550 Safari Magnum. Built like a tank with quality through and through. How the hell did you miss that yet come up with the BLR? And 45-70 too much for deer? You need some experience with stuff you write about.

November 25, 2018 8:24 pm
Acj

Why not include the Remington 700 long range here?

September 22, 2018 2:01 pm

David L

Remington's current issues with quality control and reliability cause them to be something we really can't recommend to anyone.

September 22, 2018 3:15 pm

Brad Cobb

Sounds interesting talking about the different capabilities and uses of these calipers... Going after a T-Rex it sounds like the 458 Lott would be the caliber to choose... However who has got $15,000 sitting around?... Looks to me like you would be just about as well off with something like a Barret 50 caliber?

June 19, 2018 3:08 pm
SHM

It saddens me that when searching big bore rifles this garbage is the number one response. There is no 358 Winchester Magnum. Being large bore does not make it magnum. It appears as your number one rifle selection was just a random dangerous game rifle with a high price tag. Terrible list and terrible information.

February 17, 2018 12:12 pm

John Trujillo

Then the Swedes have tricked us with the .358 Norma.

July 26, 2018 3:27 am

Jim

Yes but the cartridge was listed as the .358 WINCHESTER magnum

November 25, 2018 8:19 pm

Dennis W. Bechtel

have a custom rifle y howa in 458 lott ,it kicks like the cannon that it is and I use it 7 time per year when I hunt really dangerous game.in the sand box accurate out to about 500 yds.i call it my talibunny gun.

June 26, 2017 7:08 am

Jim

That would be a nice rifle. I’m trying to get Weatherby to offer the Vanguard in .458 win mag since they offer it in .375 H&H (which I have). They are interested

November 25, 2018 8:21 pm

Best Large-Bore Hunting Rifles: Big Guns & Big Game