Two Rifles for the Big Four and Plains Game

31 July 2011, 19:53

Double-D

So lets say you just decided to go for it and book 28 days in the masailand and the Selous. This hunt will include the big four and lots of the unique plains game from the masailand. With all the restrictions in place regarding flying with more than two rifles which two would you choose? I no this has been probably chased around here before and in lots of books. Every time I do this I get caught up in trying to get below three rifles. A versitle heavy rifle and something that can reach out a little? Does te light rifle realy need to be able to back up the heavy in case of problems with the heavy rifle? What do you all think?

31 July 2011, 20:02

ddrhook

one medium bore and one big bore. calibers of your choice. any and all rifles will kill what you want it to if you do your part and put the shot where it belongs

31 July 2011, 20:12

jjs

My view both rifles should be capable to take the largest game. I have never taken more than two rifles and one has always been a 375 H&H paired with a larger bore.

Last trip I took a 404 Jeffery and a 375 H&H both capable of handling most anything, DG or 200+ yd. capability for PG.

You already probably know this but just in case, Tanzania legal requirement for DG is 375 min. unless this has changed recently.

A 375, 416, or 404 provide a lot of flexibility. I really like a 375 as a back up because, good balance of power, lighter weight, accuracy and recoil.

31 July 2011, 20:22

Biebs

DD, great hunt! You'll have Grant's, Tommys, and Genenuk on the menu...more precious to many than dangerous game. I'd have one rifle in 450 or up, and a 375. Enjoy!

31 July 2011, 20:23

SteveGl

.300WM
.470NE (Double)

31 July 2011, 20:23

MARK H. YOUNG

Personally and considering what I have in the gun rack I'd take my 458WM and 375 WBY. I'm of the mind now that if you are hunintg DG your light rifle should be adequate for DG as well as PG just in the off chance that your heavy develops a problem.

Mark

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31 July 2011, 20:29

BaxterB

I like Peter Flack's line of reasoning...

http://www.peterflack.co.za/ar...TheAfricanRifle.html

31 July 2011, 20:35

jetdrvr

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
DD, great hunt! You'll have Grant's, Tommys, and Genenuk on the menu...more precious to many than dangerous game. I'd have one rifle in 450 or up, and a 375. Enjoy!

31 July 2011, 21:57

MacD37

I have to agree basically with jetdrvr, and biebs With the 450 up and a 375 H&H!

Having said that let me add, that there will be a difference in the choices if the client is a person that uses only bolt rifles. The chamberings still apply, as above but in a bolt rifle there are some differences! In that case my choice on the small rifle would still be the 375H&H with both irons, and scope, mounted in quality “RETURN TO ZERO” quick detach scope rings and bases, in a CRF bolt rifle. For the large rifle setup the same my choice would be the 458 LOTT.

If the client is to use both bolt and double then the light rifle would still be the same for me, and my double would also be a 450NE up. Then you have the guy who only wants to hunt with double rifles large and small, like a lot of the members of DRSS, my light double would be chambered for 375FL mag, and have facility for mounting a with quick detach scope! The heavy would still be the 450NE up! In other words, what ever floats your boat!

....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1
DRSS Charter member
"If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982

Hands of Old Elmer Keith

01 August 2011, 00:53

Harris

.404J and .375 H&H with a few solids for both. Both powerful enough for DG and flat enough for PG out to 200 yards.

01 August 2011, 01:09

Hasher

either my 470 and a 9.3x62

or

my 416 Taylor and a 30/06

or

470 and a 375

or

416 and 7mm Mauser

What I would do is ensure my pH had a heavy that I could borow if mine broke down.

01 August 2011, 01:28

Biebs

quote:
Then you have the guy who only wants to hunt with double rifles large and small, like a lot of the members of DRSS

Mac, you mean like those glassy-eyed guys holding a quart glass of Kool-Aid ? :-)

01 August 2011, 01:39

OldHandgunHunter

A 375 H&H with both solids and expanding bullets & a 470 NE.

With those two, you're properly armed for DG and for all the plainsgame species you might encounter -- and in a pinch you can always use the 375 H&H should bad tidings befall the 470.

01 August 2011, 01:46

Indy

I just returned from a Big 4 safari (see African hunting reports), during which I alao shot four plains game animals. I took a .375 H&H CRF with 300 grain softs and solids, Talley quick-detachable mounts, and a Burris 1.5-6x42 scope with illuminated reticle. No other rifle. If mine had gotten lost, I'd have used Gavin Rorke's .416.

I would take the same thing again. With the .375 penetrating both shoulders of a large bull elephant, a bang-flop on a bull buffalo, and killing game like impala deader and faster than a .300 (in my limited experience), who needs any other gun? You'll only have the wrong one in hand when you need the right one.

01 August 2011, 01:52

dogcat

Be like Saeed and take one - a .375/404 or be like me and take a .416 Rem and a .300WM .

Or, be like the old timers and take one .375 H&H with softs and solids. Shoot it well and never look back.

01 August 2011, 02:12

Cross L

Two 416's As good out to 250-300 yrds as a 375 and just that bit more up close-

SSR

01 August 2011, 02:42

lavaca

I agree with many here. My go to is a .416 Rem. and I have no qualms about taking plains game with it. (But if you do, I strongly recommend solids on the small stuff especially for a Texas heart shot, but that's another story). So I'd be fine with that rifle either as the light or the heavy and then something .45 or over for elephant. That said, not much wrong with a .375 and a .416.

01 August 2011, 02:47

Blacktailer

Your PH may have an extra DG rifle in camp. Ask him. If so I see no reason in bringing 2 DG rifles with you. My PH in Tanz had a 500NE double and a 375Wby so I had no fears that if my 375 went teats up I could use his 375. While not the ideal situation to hunt DG with someone else's rifle, the chance that your DG rifle is going to have a problem should be all but nil or you shouldn't be bringing it in the first place. This leaves the option of bringing a light rifle which is nice for the lighter game like impala and one of the trackers can always pack your other rifle when you are in the bush.

01 August 2011, 03:05

shotgun46

quote:
Originally posted by dogcat:
Be like Saeed and take one - a .375/404 or be like me and take a .416 Rem and a .300WM .

Or, be like the old timers and take one .375 H&H with softs and solids. Shoot it well and never look back.

01 August 2011, 03:06

robncolorado

keep it simple... 375 and 416... flavour as u wish.... now PRACTICE!!!

01 August 2011, 03:22

Small Bore

Can't argue with the .375 bolt action if one rifle is all you plan to take.

However, a double .470 and a 16-bore drilling with an 8x57 rifled barrel and quick detachable scope covers it all from elephant plains game to sand grouse.

01 August 2011, 04:12

retreever

My standard safari set up. $50#2 double and my
375H&H in Kimber Caprivi.

Mike

01 August 2011, 13:50

infinito

.416 Remmie or Rigby and a .22 rimfire. You can shoot everything with the 416 and the rimfire you take with just cause you wanted to take two rifles........

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01 August 2011, 14:32

HJ wild

quote:
Originally posted by Double-D:
So lets say you just decided to go for it and book 28 days in the masailand and the Selous. This hunt will include the big four and lots of the unique plains game from the masailand. With all the restrictions in place regarding flying with more than two rifles which two would you choose? I no this has been probably chased around here before and in lots of books. Every time I do this I get caught up in trying to get below three rifles. A versitle heavy rifle and something that can reach out a little? Does te light rifle realy need to be able to back up the heavy in case of problems with the heavy rifle? What do you all think?

You don’t need two rifles. One .458 Lott is enough:
- 500 gns FMJ and/or SN at 2290 fps for Big Game /DG
- 400 gns Woodleigh Protected Point at 2430 fps for all kind of plainsgame
Cheers, Hans

01 August 2011, 15:16

G D F

I know this offer.I have hunted there ,lake Natron TWC , and hunted in Selous twice as well. Best combination for this offer will be 416 for DG and 300WM for PG.
If you want to tray hunt on buff on Ketumbene mount don't take double because average shooting range there 150m and more.I have had several long shots(more then 250m) for species in Masayland too. In Selous 95% shots untill 100m.
If you have some questions about those areas I can help.

01 August 2011, 16:54

338User

I have two approaches to this problem. 1.) take a 338 Win Mag (225gn Barnes TSX @ 2800 fps) and a 505 Gibbs (600 gn Woodleig softs & solids @ 2270fps). 2.) take a 416 Rigby with two scopes in QD mounts, and two loads, one being 450gn Woodleighs (softs and solids) at 2400fps and the other being 300gn Barnes TSX at 2900fps. I believe either option will work, and I will try both before I caak.

01 August 2011, 16:58

African Hunters Quest

458 Lott
315gr HV or equivalent Barnes
450gr FN or NF solids

500 Nitro Express Double
450gr FN or NF solids

It just does not get better than that.

01 August 2011, 17:31

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
quote:
Then you have the guy who only wants to hunt with double rifles large and small, like a lot of the members of DRSS

Mac, you mean like those glassy-eyed guys holding a quart glass of Kool-Aid ? :-)

You got it! However most of those glasses of cool-aid are spiked with 50% vodka to deaden the pain of the recoil,and the sore shoulders from carrying the doubles over their shoulders PH style!

01 August 2011, 17:58

Mikelravy

Matching 338 and 416 Rugers for me.

01 August 2011, 19:24

Larry Sellers

.375 H & H with 300 gr solids and a .375 H & H with 300 gr TSX. One gun with two loads.

or

9.3 X 62 with 286 gr solids and a 9.3 X 62 with 286 gr TSX. One gun with two loads.

I just take one of the above ( based on personal whim) as my PH has one of each of his own that I can use if neccessary.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

01 August 2011, 19:41

Biebs

quote:
You got it! However most of those glasses of cool-aid are spiked with 50% vodka to deaden the pain of the recoil,and the sore shoulders from carrying the doubles over their shoulders PH style! Big Grin

Hey, Kool-Aid and vodka sounds good! Maybe I'll pick up another couple of DRs!

01 August 2011, 21:03

Blacktailer

quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
quote:
You got it! However most of those glasses of cool-aid are spiked with 50% vodka to deaden the pain of the recoil,and the sore shoulders from carrying the doubles over their shoulders PH style! Big Grin

Hey, Kool-Aid and vodka sounds good! Maybe I'll pick up another couple of DRs!

For those cold mornings you need Yukon Jack and Tang

02 August 2011, 00:28

cable68

I like the idea of having two versatiles available. My last time I took a 375 and a 404.

02 August 2011, 00:33

Cross L

quote:
Originally posted by Blacktailer:
quote:
Originally posted by Biebs:
quote:
You got it! However most of those glasses of cool-aid are spiked with 50% vodka to deaden the pain of the recoil,and the sore shoulders from carrying the doubles over their shoulders PH style! Big Grin

Hey, Kool-Aid and vodka sounds good! Maybe I'll pick up another couple of DRs!

For those cold mornings you need Yukon Jack and Tang

Now that there is BAD-ass

SSR

02 August 2011, 00:43

Tom In Tennessee

When going for PG only in RSA, my two gun battery has been a 7mmMag and a shotgun, when going for the Tiny Ones in RSA, my two gun battery has been a .22-250 and a shotgun.....the shotgun was to kill pigeons and waterfowl , oh , and a Blue Duiker, while just killing time and having a good go!
Otherwise, my two gun battery has been a .375RUM and a .416Rigby.

02 August 2011, 01:00

LRH270

I've done just about that with a .470 double and a #1 in 9,3x74r.

And with a .375 H&H and a 12 gauge.

But I believe the best solution is to take along my favorite blond cowgirl and make it a 4-gun flight

02 August 2011, 01:03

Tom In Tennessee

Blonde Cowgirls are good....so are dark complexion Boer ladies...

02 August 2011, 01:13

Ongwe

A 416 Something and a 300 to 338 Something would be my choices. Both scoped, with back up iron sites on the heavy, and an extra backup scope for the light.

Next time I go over I'll be taking a 416 Remington and a 338 Win Mag, in more or less matching Model 70s.