I know many PHs and for the most part they carry stock .375s, 416's and 458's, factory stuff that ammo is easy to come by and much is left in camp by hunters...Some few carry double rifles and most of those were gifts from clients or were picked up when these old guns were cheap and ammo was not available..It is not a particularly lucrative business and many are just leaking out a living doing what they love. To many of them a rifle is nothing more than a necessary tool, but a few are gun nuts, and that usually adds to their success as a PH in that they have that in common with their clients...
Probably the best source of information on this subject is Safari Rifles by Boddington..He did a good study on the subject, with the better PHs in the safari industry.
While most of the PHs out there are excellent in their job, keep in mind that all PHs are not gun or caliber experts, and they may carry any manor of rifle or caliber. Some of these guys are excellent hunters and some are not and a gun is only a tool to them, and they may or may not be good shots or hunters. A lot depends on the country they are in and what is involved in getting a license.
