Affordable Elephant Gun?

[sixgunnin]

Anyone know of an affordable elephant gun option under about $1,000? I'm thinking something upwards of 6000 foot pounds. Wouldn't have to be a bolt action, but that would be pretty nice.

Thinking something along the lines of the 500 Jeffery, 500 nitro, .458 Lott. I figure with casting my own bullets I could reload rounds for less than twenty cents.

Probably will never shoot at elephants, just wanting to lob really big chunks of lead around

 

[FITASC]

That's funny right there......

 

[Rob228]

This is about as close as you are going to get:

https://ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAfrican/models.html

Looking at about 5k foot pounds of energy.

 

[jmr40]

Street price on the Ruger should be about $1000 +/- $100. The 375 Ruger or 375 H&H would do just fine.

Another option

http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/vanguard/vanguard-safari.html

And probably the cheapest option

http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/vanguard/vanguardr-synthetic-375-h-h.html

There is always the used market.

Probably will never shoot at elephants, just wanting to lob really big chunks of lead around

Then you want this:

https://www.marlinfirearms.com/lever-action/model-1895-big-bore

 

[CalmerThanYou]

Better price in a case of Ben-Gay and a chiropractor.

 

[FITASC]

More like an ophthalmologist for the detached retinas...............

I figure with casting my own bullets I could reload rounds for less than twenty cents.

About $5+ /empty brass case, the lead alone will be more than .30, let alone the cost for primer and powder.........sure smells like fish.......

 

[zxcvbob]

A Browning or Winchester 1886 in .45-70 is pretty close. And it's a good cartridge for big cast bullets. Don't know if you can find a decent one under $1000, though.

 

[ThomasT]

Probably will never shoot at elephants, just wanting to lob really big chunks of lead around

Just buy a large bore muzzle loader. A .58 caliber or a smoothbore musket in 12 gauge. There are lots of way to shoot big chunks of lead.

 

[Dufus]

I got my Weatherby 460 for $1000 a few years ago.

Shop around and you might get lucky.

I shoot cast out of my 375 H&H and the 460, but it shure as hell ain't 20 cents.

The powder alone will run 50 cents.

 

[sixgunnin]

Just buy a large bore muzzle loader. A .58 caliber or a smoothbore musket in 12 gauge. There are lots of way to shoot big chunks of lead.

Oh, forgot to mention, I also want them to be going really fast

 

[COSteve]

Thinking something along the lines of the 500 Jeffery, 500 nitro, .458 Lott. I figure with casting my own bullets I could reload rounds for less than twenty cents.

Probably will never shoot at elephants, just wanting to lob really big chunks of lead around

That's hysterical!!! The empty brass will likely cost you $5-$10 per round, the powder (90 to 110grns per rd) say even 100grns at $30/lb will cost likely about 45¢ per rd, and primers (Fed GM215M) are what, 3.5¢ per rd. So, on the cheap side, you've got $5.50 in brass, powder, and primer per rd without a bullet or reloading dies, etc., to load it.

 

[sixgunnin]

About $5+ /empty brass case, the lead alone will be more than .30, let alone the cost for primer and powder.........sure smells like fish.......

Ok. Sounds like I might have stretched that one a little bit

 

[Drm50]

None of the above are "really" fast, with jackets. With cast a good bit slower.
458Win are fairly common used at gun shows for under $1K. 375H&H which is
a lot more useful caliber for most people usually bring more. Those big English
cartridges were never made in cheap guns. The cheapest would be a #1 Ruger
which are not really cheap.

 

[sixgunnin]

And probably the cheapest option

http://www.weatherby.com/products/ri...c-375-h-h.html

That is about what I am looking for, I will do some more research on the 375, think I might like that though. Might be easier to find brass for that too

Thank you for the help!

 

[TXAZ]

Why not consider a .50 BMG? 12,000 ft lbs. There are a few around. Serbu and LAR make both make single shot .50 BMG’s around $1K.

 

[Pathfinder45]

If you get one, it will likely lose its charm in the first box of ammo fired.

 

[Model12Win]

Just get an NEF single shot rifled slug gun and shoot Lightfields.

 

[Nunya53]

Here you go....

https://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Acti...Size=24&Sort=13&View=1&mfg=1000303&ca=5000145

or this one...it's a "must have" https://www.gunbroker.com/item/785826528

Jerry

 

[Nunya53]

In all seriousness you can pick up a Winchester Alaskan for about $1300 or an African for about $1400...depends on what you consider "affordable". To me, that is affordable, for some that is sky high and for others that is chump change. I don't know you or your situation.....

Jerry

 

[briandg]

At one time you could pretty easily pick up a .458 or .375 magnum at a local place because men bought them as trophies. Not to hunt, it was a matter of pride that they owned the ultimate gun. My father in law had one. So, these things would sit in cases and sell for a small return decades later.