The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting First safari next yearGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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Next year will be my first safari, a SA pg tour, outfitter iwill disclose on a later stage. Thinking of what rifle to bring, the .358 Norma or the .404 would like to go a one dont know what that turns up . But the terrain and what rifle that suits me is good also . Im not so sure that i would like to loan a rifle,never shot good with others rifles. I understand the sa paperwork and wait can take its toll but as i seen much here on these pages, ppppp was mr Rigby before a pc crash | ||
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For plainsgame, the 404 is too much gun and trajectory not great. For me, a 338 win mag is ideal. If not shooting Eland, 300win mag will work too. Good luck and have a great time! | |||
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For plains game take the rifle your most comfortable with. You don't need to take a big gun, you need to take a rifle you shoot well. Proper shot placement will do the job every time. | |||
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For Africa and nostalgia I would take the 404 Jeffery with 300 gr & 400 gr loads. I would practice a lot with them and develop loads that shoot both bullets 1 or 1.5 inch vertically apart. That would set me up for PG out to 300 meters. I personally did this with a 416 Rigby and 340gr and 400 gr bullets. I just did not do the hunt! "When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick." | |||
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You will be fine with either of you know your rifle and shoot within your limitations. I have been to and through South Africa at least ten times with gums, it is no problem at all. Spend $150.00 and use a service for pre approved permits, $150.00 is nothing but a founding error in the total cost of your hunt....... | |||
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If you want to use a big gun just because, either of those is fine. Honestly, your elg or moose is larger than all plains game except Eland, and from personal experience, an Eland dies easier than moose. If you are in a more open area, shots will be longer. Whatever you use locally will kill plains game without worry. Buffalo on up you want the bigger rifles. Ditto on the gun service. With Joberg being what it is, I’d get the service and take the headaches away. | |||
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It is a group tour with a few other hunters and other observers ,mostly americans i think ,so a few on he tour. I have a 7x57 also, on a DWM 1908 action, bc stock ,leupold scope. But action is of the first lot in 1909, sr 4xx, some research said it was either surplus not used,or not built on before my smith found it somewhere, somewhen. I am looking into to find some more 300 grain HP copper bullets here, i had some earlier, and the .404 was close to .30-06 trajectory with them ,but .358 and 225 or 250 spitzer also is very good option also. I shall look up the gun help services,will email the outfitter was mr Rigby before a pc crash | |||
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Of the rifles you are considering, for a hunt of the kind you describe, I would take the .358 Norma Magnum. Loaded with 225 or 250 grain expanding bullets, it will be deadly on plains game at all reasonable ranges. Good luck! Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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Be prepared to be infected with the Africa bug! "Never, ever, book a hunt with Jeri Booth or Detail Company Adventures" | |||
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358 Norma. Good luck! | |||
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+1 ...Per, this is good advice.. | |||
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If Inwas in your place, I would take the 7x57. No animal is going to know what hit them. I would use 140 grain premium bullets - preferably mono metal. I have shot hundreds of plains game,including eland, with various 270 rifles. Never felt I needed anything else. | |||
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..a .30-06 and $700... DRSS: HQ Scandinavia. Chapters in Sweden & Norway | |||
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There has been other good advice given, but nothing better than these words above. Of the three you mentioned owning, I’d probably take the 7x57. With good quality bullets placed properly, you won’t need anything bigger. | |||
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Thanks for all tips guys , i remembered that i have a few boxes of both Tig 177 grain and Hornady Gmx 139 , zeroed the 7mm with Gmx . But going to reload for them all soon . Will see what that goes best with, will do some 300 meter 7mm shooting and see . Saeed , i would very much like to visit Dubai and see the site for so much i have learnt. I might be tempted to try the Trex also . was mr Rigby before a pc crash | |||
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Been there three times, not and expert but not a rookie. I’d take a 338 win , 300 win, or a plain old 30-06 if I was only hunting plains game. NRA Patron member | |||
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A 6.5mm-30 Cal. class rifle. Use Premium Bullets!!! | |||
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PerH I'm not really in the almost anything will work group. The reason for that is if your 60 inch kudu or your 40 inch eland is going straight away I'd feel much more comfortable with your 358 Norma than a lesser round. I agree that given an ideal shot presentation that a huge array of calibers with good bullets will work but you're not always going to get that kind of shot. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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Man up and take the .404 ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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He said he was hunting in SA. My guess is it's High Fence. I am not sure why he would need to take a marginal shot? | |||
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PerH, As it was already mentioned. Take the 7x57 with premium bullets in the 140-160gr range. The 7x57 is a classic caliber that has been used in Southern Africa for a very long time. It is perfect for all the plains game animals you would like to hunt. The biggest thing to do now is getting a load that works for your rifle, shoot often and shoot in different field positions and off the sticks out to 200m. Depending on what and where you hunt 200m should be a maximum distance range in most scenarios for antelope up to Eland. Remember ultimately it goes about proper shot placement. A big caliber bullet in the gut is still a wounded animal compared to a smaller caliber bullet in the boiler room. Above else enjoy the anticipation and preparation of the hunt as its already part of the hunt. Gerhard FFF Safaris Capture Your African Moments Hunting Outfitter (MP&LP) Proffesional Hunter (MP&LP) History guide Wildlife Photographer www.fffsafaris.co.za | |||
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9.3 x 62 w/ 250 gr. TSX. Really accurate, fairly flat to 250. Hits like Thors hammer. | |||
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Why would you sign up for a group hunt with a bunch of people you have not met? Esp. a group of Americans, you being from Norway? Are you a very gregarious type of guy? Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC BigfiveHQ.com, Large Calibers and African Safaris Doublegunhq.com, Fine English, American and German Double Rifles and Shotguns VH2Q.com, Varmint Rifles and Gear | |||
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Group hunts are very affordable and I have been conducting them for some years now. Everyone has got on just fine and makes for a very social safari. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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I think Russ is asking about them not knowing each other. We always hunt in a group, but we are all friends and known to each other. One year I invited a man who appeared as a good individual here on AR, he was claiming he was down on all sorts of fronts, from his very sick wife to not being able to afford to hunt. He turned out to be the most obnoxious individual I have ever met in a hunting camp. He was a habitual liar, absolutely refused to get on with anyone else, turned up with custom made rifles, wanted to shoot everything that walked, shot multiple animals because someone shot a better trophy than him. Got back home and went on several hunting website with all sorts of claims, until I mentioned the truth! I think my experience is rather unique, on several dimensions. And I honestly doubt that anyone will have the same experience with any normal hunter. | |||
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Good grief. The group hunts I conduct are from the AR family and we all get along just fine. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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A fb that i have had lot of chats with friend won a auction and asked if i wanted to tag alomg on one of the ones he got. So i checked out the firm with some phasa friends and it was deemed alright. Lots pf chats and such between many in common from before so looking forward to try and see how a tour of that goes. Reason why i thought using the .404 was to add some of the species it was meant for to its record. The builder who was never working as a gunsmith, onlymstudied he went into offshore industry i think later so never a gunsmith. The next owner took, red deer, reindeer, moose, grouse,capercaille the 2 with Mimek bullet, and the 2 seal species also. So thinking it deserves something of its original ones to be put in there. But was mr Rigby before a pc crash | |||
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then follow Andrew advice and take the classic where it belongs ... | |||
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Yep, take 404 J, nothing more classic and with 300 grains, it’ll shoot accurately good distance I’m bringing mine this year " Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins. When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar. Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move... Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies... Only fools hope to live forever “ Hávamál” | |||
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Gentlemen...this is his first PG safari...to bring a .404 for such is nonsense.. Out of his firearms I and others suggested bringing the .358 Norma mag. with 250 grainers...that will be excellent if eland is to be shot.. Otherwise the 7x57mm is an excellent choice....I have shot both kudu and zebra, etc. with a .308...with some mediocre PMP 165 grainers...worked very well... | |||
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I totally agree with your advice but the .404 is an excellent calibre in the right hands and as others have stated it is a classic. I suppose it boils down to whatever you shoot best. ROYAL KAFUE LTD Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144 Instagram - kafueroyal | |||
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That's the answer.  | |||
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Are you going with Austin? Saw that offer. I would go with the 358 or 7X57. They both will serve you well. On my two trips to RSA I used 308 and they didn`t care  All went down! | |||
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Going big caliber is fine if you shoot it well. Meaning no flinching, no trigger pull issues, etc. Why risk wounding game? For plains game a good old fashioned -06 or similar caliber is magic. ~Ann   | |||
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Totally agree that the .404 is a good round...for everything actually.. | |||
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My recommendation would be to take both the .358 and the .404. I think it is always good to take a back-up rifle. Use whatever rifle you feel like at the time. My first African hunt was for buffalo and a few smaller animals with Peter Bernard in 2011. I told him I was bringing my .458 Lott for the buffalo and he said it would work for everything. I hunted for the buffalo first, then killed 3 impala, a hyena, and a baboon. 6 animals with 6 shots. Two of the impala were at 150-175 yards so a flatter-shooting rifle would have been nice, but the .458 worked. A number of people said I should have hunted smaller animals first, then gone after a buffalo later. The buffalo was the animal I wanted most so that is all I hunted until I got him. Consider the advice you get but do what feels best for you. Take the rifle(s) you want to use and have confidence in and just have fun. | |||
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