OK, time is getting near, I have worked up loads for three rifles and can take only two. The choices are 7x64, 300 H&H and 9.3x64. The 7 with 160gr Noslers and the 9.3 with 286gr Noslers will shoot 1.5in at 100yds. The 300 H&H will do .5s with both 180gr FailSafes and 180gr Woodleighs. I shoot all equally well. Game will include Kudu, Gemsbok, Zebra and an assortment of smaller critters. I realize any of the above would do for a one rifle battery, but my case holds two and I like the redundency. Thanks, Bob

Bob:

Of the three I'd take the 300 H&H and the 9.3x64. Your 7x64 is neither as accurate nor as powerful as the 300 H&H, so why bother with it as your lighter rifle?

By all means, take the .300 H&H. It's a classic African round in every way, and just one heck of a fine cartridge.

When I hunted Namibia a couple of years ago, I used a .300 Win. Mag. loaded with 180 gr. Nosler Partitions to about 3,075 fps. and zeroed for 250 yds. This load was absolutely lethal on everything from Damaraland dik dik to Cape eland, and just-plain dumped everything in a most efficient manner. I can't envision how anything else could have performed a whole lot better except maybe in theory. Contrary to popular barstool conjecture, even the .300 Win. Mag.'s short neck didn't hinder performance in the slightest, at least not in any way that as demonstrable! It worked so well that I'm taking the same rifle and load to RSA this year for a full compliment of plainsgame that'll include the same range of animals. I suspect I'll get about the same results as before.

Your .300 H&H will work every bit as well........

AD

For my next hunt in Zimbabwe next year, my light rifle is my Model 70 in 300 H&H loaded to about 2975 and 180gr Nosler Partitons. I think you will be pleased with the results that grand old cartridge affords. jorge

The 300 H&H.
I too have a wonderful 9.3 x 62 but take the 300 H&H.
I went 6 animals for 6 shots in Namibia 2000 with '06 and factory 180 Nosler Partitions. I shot critters from Kudu, Gemsbok, Hartebeest to Steinbok.

Take the .300H&H. I've used a .300 magnums loaded to H&H levels on three plains game hunts to Namibia with perfect results.

I have to agree with Slingster, .300 H&H and 9.3x64, no question about it.

Bob, take the 300 and leave the rest at home!!! I inherited a 300 H+H mod 70 from my late godfather with a bunch of silver-tip ammunition and wasn�t satisfied at all because of it being too soft. The South-African PMP ammunition wasn�t much better either so I started reloading with Noslers and Rhinos. Since then I am a very happy man and the rifle has become my favourite choice. My advice, leave the rest at home and have a great time with the .300.
In case you don�t want to take the brass back to the USA, please contact me via PM. I�ll be happy to take it.
Regards Kamaatu

Thanks Guys. The 300 H&H is a pre 64 M70 with an early M8 4X Leupold. The 9.3 has a later 3-9x VariX2. Probably should swap scopes, but the 300 shoots so well I am almost afraid to clean the bbl, much less change scopes. I told the PH/ranch owner I preferred a good stalk and shots within 200 yds. The 4X should be fine. Time sure flies. I booked the hunt last January and now September is just around the corner. Kamaatu--where in Namibia are you located? I am hunting with Danie Strauss. I think meeting at Joe's over a cold beer would be in order. Bob

VFR,

The 300 and the 9.3 are the choices...no brainer...Even a bad shot will give you big wound damage that a small caliber will not...IMHO...My light gun in August is a 375H&H
300gr spitzers.

Mike

For our 21 day Namibian hunt in April, Holly and I used my .300 Jarrett with 200 grain Nosler Partitions and my .375 H&H with 300 grain Swift A-Frames.



We took 23 animals ranging in size from Damaraland Dik-dik up to Kudu, Gemsbok and Mt. Zebra.



The .300 Jarrett would have sufficed for everything we were hunting, but I enjoy shooting the .375, and it's always good to have a second rifle along as a backup.



Some Namibian hunting areas are quite open and long-range shooting opportunities are not uncommon. In these situations, an accurate, flat-shooting rifle can be a real asset.

I have to agree with those who champion the 300 win. mag.. I used one on six animals in May (Warthog to Oryx), all one shot kills except a hartebes on which I made a bad first shot. I used factory Federal ammo with Nosler partitions. Good luck on your hunt. Lee from Alaska

Nothing is wrong with that M-8 4x vintage Leupold. Its one of my favorite sights. In 1971 one of those mounted on a 7mm Remington, with 175 gr Nosler Partitions, when on safari with my Uncle. I shot 21 head of game and didn't think I needed more scope than what I had. If anything, the new ones have to short a tube. That 300 H +H in a M-70 was a hot rock combonation. Still is. In the old days, 4x was considered more than enough for big game hunting. Still is as far as I have been able to tell in 40+ years of hunting and shooting. Oh those 180 gr Fail Safes are poison on those Zebra's. As for traveling with two guns, I'm lazy, I just take some extra parts( extractor, ejector,follower spring) and an extra sight. Weights less than another rifle. Never needed over the years but its piece of mind. If you want to take two, then take two. I have a 7 x 64 and I like it a lot.

Bob,
I�m currently sitting in Europe earning some hard currency. Chances are good that I�ll be in Namibia in September but nothing is final yet. It all depends on the project here in Europe but when it�s finished, I�ll hit the first plane down. If everything works out, we might very well have a beer or two at Joe�s or you come and visit me on my playgrounds near Otjiwarongo.
I�ll keep you updated.
Regards Kamaatu

VFR,

I have been to Namibia twice and have used a .300 WM and a 9.3x62.
Both calibres performed well and I can�t see why the .300H&H and the 9.3x64 wouldn�t.

I will start developing loads for my 9.3x64 this month!. Do have any pet loads you wouldn�t mind sharing?

B.Martins

VFR

I would select the 7X64 for the smaller animals and the 9,3X64 for the rest

Cheers
/ JOHAN

VFR,

where in Namibia you will be exactly going / in which kind of area you will be hunting - in general, up in the North there's mainly thicker (thorn) bush, whereas south of Windhoek the landscape is much more open and shooting distances are longer...

So if you hunt up North I would take the 9.3x64 and the .300 WM as back-up - if it's mainly open .300 WM and 7x64 as back-up.

Best regards,

Erik

PS: If you hunt Eland then definitively take the 9.3x64!

The 300 H&H will work well, just used premium bullets, a few weeks ago I used my 300 Win with 180 grain Pro-am Bullets (PMP) on a Kudu bull, my shot went low and hit heavy shoulder bones, bullet disintigrated, the shot was about 300 m, But the 9.3 makes a bigger hole and I will bring it along, My most used battery at this moment is my 300 Win, 338 Win and of course my old Staatmaker (Backup) the 9.3x62

Cheers

Flip

kamaatu

Give me an email, seems we are from the same neck of the woods Otjiwarongo