Caliber Advise for Africa
I'll be going to South Africa this fall for a plains game hunt. Right now the largest caliber rifle I have is a 30-06 that's not that accurate with 220 grain loads. I've been told by the outfitter that the ranges I'll be shooting at will be 50 to 250 yards. Any recommendations? I'm looking for something that will do the job but still have a low enough recoil that I can practice with the rifle during the summer without developing a flinch.
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Im planning a plains game hunt myself for 2012. IMO 30-06 is perfect for plains game. I would shoot 180g bullets, theres no need for the 220g. Thats what I will be shooting out of my Browning abolt medallion with BOSS. Believe it or not, the 30-06 pack a lot of punch. Other calibers you should consider are 270wsm, 300wsm, 300 win mag or a 7mm mag. Hopefully someone who has been on a hunt will respond im very interested to hear what they have to say. What did your PH recommend?? 0 -
338 Winchester Magnum, ballistics like a 30-06 hard hitting and not too punishing on the shoulder.
If things with big claws and teeth are an issue the 375 H&H is good although recoil might get your attention.0 -
PH recommends .30 cal on up but not the 30-06 ( I'm not sure why). I've been thinking about a 300 WSM, but I wanted to get some reccomendations. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by md1634
PH recommends .30 cal on up but not the 30-06 ( I'm not sure why). I've been thinking about a 300 WSM, but I wanted to get some reccomendations.
Do yourself a favor...get yourself either a 300 or 338 Winchester mag...the full length one, and forget about the WSM's. Fly either 180 or 200 grain Barnes TSX bullets in them respectively, and be done with it.
If recoil is a problem, have a SVL Limbsaver pad put on the rifle.
Best0 -
quote:Originally posted by md1634
PH recommends .30 cal on up but not the 30-06 ( I'm not sure why). I've been thinking about a 300 WSM, but I wanted to get some reccomendations.
Listen to your PH. Go with at least a 300 Win Mag not the 300WSM, ammo might be hard to find in Africa for the WSM. Africa plains game can be large, think elk, personally this tpe of hunt screams a 338 Win Mag.0 -
Hi, I was there in '09. Used an '06 with no problems. That rifle is an old friend. Shot placement beats speed. I used a 180 grainer in handloads. Take your '06 and dont worry. Good luck, Swanie 0 -
Your intended trip sounds like as good a reason as any to buy another rifle.
Might I suggest 9.3x62? The European equiv of the 375 with a bit less recoil.0 -
I would go with a 300 Winchester Mag or 338 Winchester Mag. I have the 300, and I love it. Can't say enough about it. Had a little custom work done to it, and it is a hole puncher. Fabulous gun, and great ballistics. I had a brake installed as well, and recoil isn't bad at all. Loud as hell though. 
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As this was a possiblity a few years ago, I purchased a 300 Weatherby magnum. The main reason in addition to the ballistics was I could use 300H&H in a pinch. I had it Magnaported and it does not feel like it kicks any more than my 308. 0 -
I went to South Africa in 2008 for plains game. I was taking a 3006 and 7mm Mag. Due to SNAFU our rifles didn't arrive, but when my luggage arrived with the ammo one of the PH's lent us his 30-06.
We fired 6 shots, one at a box for sighting in, and killed: a zebra, a kudu, a blue wildebeest, an impala and a gemsbok. Ranges were from 75 to just over 200 yds.
I was using a moderate reload with 180 gr Woodleigh soft points. Believe me, what you have is all you'll need. But far from me to stop someone from buying a new rifle.
KC
PS the '06 literally knocked the zebra (which took 4 of us to load in the truck) on its azz.0 -
I am young, but I have A LOT of experience with the .375 H&H and that is what I would suggest here. Why? Because you have a rifle that shoots plenty flat for the plains game you seek and yet large enough to get you out of a bind with the dangerous game or hunt them in the future if you so choose.
A .375 loaded with 270 grainers will kick no more then a .300 Win Mag loaded with 180 grain or larger pills. The .375 gives you more of a shove, while the .300 gives a sharper kick.
Jon0 -
Selous killed a pile of elephants with a 7 x 57. More recently larger has become better for hunters that do not shoot daily. Your .30-06 may well be fine for the game you intend to take, but will it stop a dangerous animal such as a lion or buffalo accidently encountered? Good reason to buy a .338 or .375. 0 -
My personal favorite (and Teddy Roosevelt's) is the 405 W.C.F.[^]
T.R. and his son Kermit took three Winchester Model 1895 rifles chambered in that cartridge on safari to Africa more than 100-years ago, and they killed almost everthing type of game found on continent with it.
The center rifle in my signature picture below is an original Model 1885 in 405 W.C.F. I shoot factory Hornady ammo in it, and it launches a 300-grain JSP bullet at nearly 2500 fps out of the 30-inch barrel. Yes, it does have a noticable amount of recoil, but I doubt you will notice it when it drops a Cape Buffalo dead in its tracks[:0].
Just in case you are not familar with the 405 WCF, it is the cartridge to the left of the 30-06 cartridge in this picture...0
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