A "Real" African's Battery...?

25 March 2002, 06:17

Sort of like a "local's" Montana battery... you know, what do you guys that live there and hunt all the time have in the closet... or better yet, actually use?

Found this little article:

http://www.mukiwasafari.com/html/rifles_andy.html

Seems this South African gent has a 243, 30-06 and 375 H&H... sounds reasonable! Sort of like me having a 243, 270 and 338 Win Mag here.

I know a lot of us debate the "one-rifle-rifle." I've never embraced that concept as I think anyone who actually wants more than one rifle can find a way to finance it even if finances are limited!

Regards,

Brad

PS... these topics are usually started by us bored Americans who are between seasons and are tired of looking at freezing and thawing snow!

25 March 2002, 06:38

Buell98

Just take what you want to take as long as it is suitable for the game you are hunting... There is no one "perfect" battery.

All anyone really needs for an african battery is a .375; perhaps the most versatile round for african hunting.

Buell

25 March 2002, 06:39

ALF

25 March 2002, 07:26

Pete Millan

I'd say the local South African would be well served with a 243 Win, a 30-06 and a 375 H&H.

If he was a just a wee bit eccentric, the 25-06, a 7X64 and a 9.3X62.

I've got a 22-250, 270, 7X64 and a 375.

They all do well, given the right application.

Cheers

Pete

------------------
I want to die in my sleep like my Grandfather, not screaming and yelling like the passengers on the bus he was driving...

25 March 2002, 11:05

Pete E

Just a question for the African based hunters...how many of you hunt on ground that contains dangerous game??

Would guys feel happy going in the field with a .243 or .270 if there was an off chance of running into something nasty??

25 March 2002, 11:21

Atkinson

In my circle of friends in Africa:

RSA: 270, 30-06, 243, 300H&H and lately lots of my friends are buying 6x45's and ammo is produced in RSA for it....

Zimbabwe: 300 H&H, 30-06 270, 303, 9.3x62, 375, 458 Win. and quite a few really nice doubles that were bought when they weren't worth much. Same with some of the H&H and Rigbys bolt guns.These guys have some very nice stuff indeed....

Tanz.: 300 H&H, 9.3x63, 375, 416 Rigbys, 458 Win. and again some nice doubles and English bolt rifles in big bore calibers such as 404, 425, 318 etc.

I have seen some of the finest rifles in the world at farm homes in Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

Africans like nice guns and they use them. What I see is a lack of the need for scopes, but that also is a changing scene and more scopes come into play as time goes by.

There are lots of gun nuts in Africa...

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

25 March 2002, 11:47

<leo>

Alf, Are these new U.S. restrictions the result of 9-11? Actually, that .338 mag that would be used in Montana is really in the same class as the .375 H&H it just wouldn't be considered a legal DGR. But if an SA resident wasn't in DG country it wouldn't be necessary to have that .375 except for those occasional treks for DG.

25 March 2002, 12:06

Heritage Arms

.222 Rem

.30 -06

.300 H&H

.458 Mag

12 Gauge shotgun

9mm Browning Hi Power

Have always worked for me over there, We have ammo for all of these. I wish we had a 375 but with permits these days I will carry mine back and forth

25 March 2002, 13:51

LE270

quote:
Originally posted by alekojjensen:
[B
.30 -06
.300 H&H
[/B]

Both of those are superb calibers. However, if you are restricted on the number of guns you can own, why have both of them as they seem to me to be near enough alike that I would sell one of them and get a .375

25 March 2002, 14:12

Heritage Arms

We registered them all on the bone fide hunters program. Especially would you really want to get rid of a magnum mauser Sako in .300 H&H that out shoots most custom rifles. They are one very close to the other but that is what we did your logic is correct.

[This message has been edited by alekojjensen (edited 03-25-2002).]

25 March 2002, 14:49

Ku-dude

My son was here the past two weeks, and upon his departure, I gave him his choice of several guns I have. He was torn between a pre-64 Model 70 in 270 and a custom 300WM. The 300 isn't shooting like it ought, and I told him so. He eventually selected the 270, but later asked me if I'd send him the 300 when it was right. I told him the two rifles were essentially the same. Their balistics curves were similar. When you move up, you go to 338, 9.3, or 375HH.

The comments of the resident hunter are consistent with my experiences. If you aren't likely to encounter dangerous game, you can carry a 30 caliber. If you think you might encounter dangerous game, you want no less than a 338.

It seems to me, that a two rifle battery would consist of a 270 to 30 magnum, and a 9.3 to 404. This wouldn't be a bag selection for the USA. Ku-dude

26 March 2002, 03:29

<J Snyman>

My battery consists of a .22 lr, 12 gauge shotgun, 6x45mm and a .303 Brit.

My .22 is used mainly for plinking and the odd small animal.
The 12 gauge for clay targets and wingshooting (mainly geese)
My custom built 6x45mm (6mm-223)is used for smaller game like steenbuck and duiker.
My modified 303 is used mainly for springbuck and kudu hunting.

Prices of game puts a severe damper on the availability of bigger game to hunt for the "average" South African hunter. Our new firearm law also intends to restrict firearm ownership to 4 arms per person, unless you are a registered dedicated- or professional hunter.

26 March 2002, 04:34

500nitro

besides the perennial 22lr, and some "fillers" and several shotguns, I like my 6.5x55, 30-06 and 500.
I am building a 375 to complement the suite.

26 March 2002, 07:01

<JHook>

I just bought my son a Rem youth M-700 .243 win. for his 9th B-day. I think thats a good starting point for him to build on, tho he knows when I croak he gets everything I have. He's an only-kid so he'll probably flim-flam me out of everything while Im still sucking H2O.

The first big-game head he'll collect will be in Africa, probably an Impala. I think thats fitting for a son of mine!....................J