Second of probably a dozen posts to come!

Springbuck through eland, blue wildebeast and zebra - should I bring just the 35 Whelen (Rem 700) or bring the 9.3x72R too (Ruger #1)?

Originally thought 8mm Rem Mag would be my choice but I simply love the Whelen, and the CDL stock is more comfortable than the 8 mag's 700 Classic stock.

If I were going wholly traditional it'd be 8mm Mauser (also 700 Classic) and the 9.3, given the locale. But once again, I really like the Whelen.

Baggage weight going to be an issue with 2 rifles? More complexity than necessary having to worry what gun you carrying for what game? Or do eland warrant the 9.3? Is any ballistic advantage of the 9.3 offset by the single shot rifle?

My strong inclination is to take the Whelen and be done with it but you know how gun nuts are.

Thoughts? -WSJ

No way would I take 2 guns for the hunt you are doing. Any one of the rifles you mentioned will be just fine if you use enough bullet (TSX, Trophy Bonded Tipped, Nosler Partition, etc) for the Eland. I would use one bullet for all your game animals.

As far as the game are concerned, not that much difference between them in effectivness with good bullets. I never go hunting anywhere without a backup rifle and one spare scope with rings. I like using my own equipment!

"Results will vary," but my experience with eland is that they can take a lot of lead, so take the max you have.

I don't like to go anywhere with only a single rifle and my "backup" must be able to handle the heaviest game I'm hunting. But, it's likely to be lighter than my primary rifle so as to be more suitable for the smaller stuff. Then, I shoot everything with my primary and the last time the backup comes out of the case is to sight check on the first day.

One..your PH will have a backup if required.

quote:

use one bullet for all your game animals.

Yes, that's good advice and what I plan to do, regardless of which I bring. Although the Whelen shoots 225 Accubonds very well now I thought about moving up to a 250 Partition or A-frame for the hunt but haven't worked up loads yet. I do have 2 boxes of Federal 225 gr Trophy Bonded factory ammo also but haven't shot or chronographed them yet. I've got Lapua 285 gr Mega factory loads for the 9.3 which haven't proved as accurate as I'd hoped, plus some 286 gr Hornady's that I haven't yet loaded up.

It might be goofy but unless there is a real good reasson not to I'm going to bring handloaded ammo.

I would think either of your choices are fine, although I'm not personally wild about hunting with a single shot.

I would take both.

I typically take a .416 rigby and a .375 H&H and get by under weight restrictions with a storm case, so I would not worry about the weight unless you put a bunch of extra stuff with the guns, or if you use a larger metal case.

I always take two rifles. Murphy's law...


Mike

I took 2 rifles for all my antelope this year with awildebeast and a zebra, and a warthog in there as well.

8x68S (same as yoru 8 Mag and a 30/06.

Used the 8 for the bigger stuff and the 06 for everythign else.

Both did just fine.

I always take two rifles even if I am headed to a buddies to deer hunt who has a safe full of rifles.

Take both the 35 and the 9.3. They will both go in one double rifle case (your going to take/be charged for one case anyway). IF your ammo gets "lost" along the way I can guarantee factory 9.3 will be available in town.

If you end up going to either the Shona or Sebra properties you don't need long range rifles as most shots can easily be under 150 yds.

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
As far as the game are concerned, not that much difference between them in effectivness with good bullets. I never go hunting anywhere without a backup rifle and one spare scope with rings. I like using my own equipment!

+1 also for anything smaller than Springbok bring solids.

For a planes games hunt in Namibia as you describe, I would not bother with dragging a second rifle half way around the world.

The Whelen with a good 250 grs bullet will take care of the lot, and in case of need, there will always be a loaner rifle in camp.

I also can´t see the reasoning for two rifles for different sorts of game on such a safari?
Ok if the really small ones are on the list, but for springbok and up, I would go for one rifle and one load.
Who knows when the gold medal trophy suddenly stands there and you are carrying the "other / wrong" rifle

Take the 35 Whelen with a good load and know the trajectory out to 200 yds and you are home safe

I usually take a backup rifle, just in case. Having said that, I've never had an equipment problem. Still if it were me, I'd take two. I usually use a tuffpak, two fit in nicely, why not use the room?

We Europeans traveling to Africa are restricted with usually a total of 20 kilos / two items checked in baggage (on economy/tourist class).
That means we have to be very sober about what to bring along.

Most airlines also have weight restrictions on sport equipment (read guns) which make it quite costly to bring along a case with two rifles as one usually have to pay overveight.

The guys I know from my neck of woods that travel to Africa, bring only one rifle and one load, but quite a few of us carry a spare scope, just in case.

One rifle and two scopes is a good combo if you don't want to take a spare rifle. On my last trip I had a rifle go down and had to borrow a rifle from a friend who had brought two. I have had scopes get damaged so I always take an extra scope. I have used the extra scope almost every time. Only once for me. I also have never brought it back. They are starved for good optics over there.......Tom

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
I always take two rifles. Murphy's law...


Mike

Lugging two is cheap insurance.

I took a 7mm and .338 to Namibia. It is a long way to go. Can something happen? Hey, the other day the bolt handle FELL OFF my Rem 700! Glad I wasn't on a hunt.

I took 2 in 2008-a .270 and a .338. The .270 was way off at the range. I discovered a problem with my mounts. Luckillu the .338 was on. I plan on taking 2 to Namibia this year- 375 & 300H&H.

Take 2. I had a sako .338 split the pistol grip at the tang from (we think) overtemped factory federal. Mod 70 .30-06 spare saved the hunt.
Scott

Since I personally don't care for the 8mm Magnum and have shot all the game listed several times I personally would use a 375H&H and feel perfectly armed as I have taken all the listed with a 375H&H. I used 270gr Nosler Partitions with total confidence and it wasn't misplaced.For anything in Africa below Elephant out to 300yds I will take the 375H&H everytime.

I always find two better than one.

+1 for Nampom's advice of a few solids for the little guys. I didn't for Namibia and my taxidermist had a job reassembling my klipspringer!

quote:

Most airlines also have weight restrictions on sport equipment (read guns) which make it quite costly to bring along a case with two rifles as one usually have to pay overveight.

I have a Cape Buffalo Double case (indestructable) which weighs 35 lbs empty. Always bring 2 rifles and I've never had to pay more for "overweight" charges. The extra piece of mind a backup rifle brings is well worth it. Never had an equipment malfunction but I know I'm more confident with my guns than if I'd have to borrow someone else's.

quote:

I personally would use a 375H&H and feel perfectly armed

But I don't have a 375! I do have the rest, and with one rifle did not think I would be a bit under-gunned with the 35 Whelen.

So, if wieght's not an issue I should probably take two rifles, and at a minimum an extra scope mounted in rings for the one rifle.

From what I've read and knew, perhaps the Whelen and the 8mm Mauser,, both of which have same mounts, rings, scopes. And 8 Mauser will be locally available in the even I need amo for a back-up.

Nostalgia or practicality? Still considering, but thanks ofr the input. Definitely got me thinking that belt AND suspenders is worht minor inconvenience. -WSJ

WSJ:

Just for planning purposes, taking two rifles is not that big of a problem at all. A double rifle case is "one" checked bag just like a single rifle just have to keep the weight of the case within the particular airlines' weight restrictions.

Paperwork wise - it is just one more US Customs 4457 that takes 5 min to fill out and you have to go there for one rifle anyway and they are valid for as long as you own the rifle(s). The temp import/export document for Namibia is a one page form and both rifles can be done on the same sheet. Even IF you have to do a SAPS 520 Temp Import permit for RSA, the extra rifle only adds one line on the same form.

The 35W should be just fine for all the PG you plan on taking - a 30-06 is sufficient and the 35W is just a "better" 30-06. I do know that if you go with Jan (Sebra) he grew up with a 8x57 Mauser that he still has and uses.

If you really want to "wear a belt and suspenders" - outside of a stock getting cracked/broken by the airlines while in transit (happened to me the first trip) what are the most "probable" thing(s) to break on a rifle? Answer(s) - scope, scope mount coming loose, extractor, firing pin, firing pin spring and miscellaneous screws coming loose/falling out.

Can't do much about a broken stock but you can buy and and bring spare parts with you. Since that first trip, I now take a pre-fitted extractor and firing pin for each rifle, a small assortment of small screws in common gun threads/lengths in very small plastic bags in a plastic 35mm film canister or in a hard plastic cigar tube with the firing pin(s)/extractor(s) in the rifle case with the rifle(s). For the most part, as long as the firing pins and extractors are pre-fitted before hand, nearly everything can be tightened and/or replaced in the field with a set of simple screw drivers. The cost of spare parts is small but the piece of mind is HUGE!

When I went I only took one rifle. With this particular rifle i did happen to have a second stock. This was a carbon fiber stock I stuck on it while I was finishing up the walnut one. I also took an extra scope already sighted and in rings. I also took an extra firing pin assembly although I've never had a firing pin break on my bolt guns it did pay off in this case. My original firing pin spring went soft mid trip.

I would take the Whelen only and load it to 2750 fps or so (Varget) with the Barnes 225 gr TSX and have no worries.

Question answered: two rifles it is based on the majority of replies here (about 90% said two) and that at least of couple of the outfitters make the same recommendation. Thanks all for the input.

+1 on the spare firing pin(s), springs, etc. I'd planned scope bases and rings but hadn't thought about the firing pins. On the list now . . . .

Next question is which two? First is definitely the 35 Whelen, probably with 225 gr Acccubonds (I got turned off by Barne bullets some years ago and still can't bring muyself to try them again, although the fault was probably not the bullets'). At any rate I like Noslers and so does the Whelen.

Second rifle choice is tougher - as I mentioned my first #2 choice was Ruger No. #1 9.3x74R, which is way cool shoots good, and a sentimental choice for Namibia. Ammo ought to be available locally in an emergency. Second choice is between 8mm Mauser (Rem 700 Classic) and 300 Win mag (Winchester 70). The Mauser has the edge for 'proper' rifle for the locale but the Winchester has such an advantage ballistically that it's a strong favorite if the Ruger stays home. Should not be ammo issues with either. And the 300's had the barrel bobbed to 24 inches, so it should be easy to carry/handle.

Next up is a new rifle case since the one I've got now probably won't be airline compliant, plus I don't want to gamble some pricey (to me) rifles on my back-of-the-truck grade case. As suggested here I looked at the Cape Buffalo and also the SKB. Similar prices but I'm leaning to SKB because of the diider between guns and in-case storage, plus it's a bit lighter. Thoughts?

Thanks again. -WSJ

As far as cases go, Tuffpak is my choice. I have had the large one and now I use the short one. It doesn't look like a gun case, it even comes out with the regular luggage at times. The guns need to be in two pieces but that has never been a problem. It also will take alot of your other things, boots, shirts, pants and other odds and ends. I wouldn't trade mine......Tom

TUFF-PAK
wsj
Enjoy planning your safari, it's one of my favorite things to do.

quote:

Enjoy planning your safari, it's one of my favorite things to do.

Apparently it's one of mine too since I've been 'planning' for about 40 years now and haven't made it yet!

Seriously, I am completely enjoying the planning and considering, plus input. Hell, if there'd been internet in 1988 I could have been and old hand by now.

Thanks all. -WSJ

I took two (a .30-06 and a .375 Ruger) and enjoyed hunting with both. The only thing I regret was taking an extra scope in rings. It was stolen out of my bags on the return trip. Delta eventually gave me a refund almost a year later.

A well prepared hunter takes two rifles. Weight cannot be that big of an issue. Otherwise, overweight baggage fees are a bargain, compaired to the cost of a decent safari.

I took a 338 Federal (Sako 85S) and a 375H&H to RSA for plainsgame. Lost a screw out of the stock on the Sako, my primary rifle. Really liked the 375H&H for the eland, too.

Use me as an example. Take two rifles. I'ts Africa, after all.

what happens if the airlines wreck your 1 rifle?? do you cry? wet your pants/ gnarl your teeth, or just use the other one

quote:

what happens if the airlines wreck your 1 rifle?? do you cry? wet your pants/ gnarl your teeth

Nicely put! Yes, it'd be a safe bet I'd do all those things plus stomping, swearing, and pitching other stuff about (old habits are hard to break ). And then I'd get a bug up my butt and try to just go buy something I always wanted and couldn't afford but now could justify as the salvation of the trip.

But in truth the second rifle makes the best sense. -WSJ

I've dragged two twice and one twice. Next hunt this April I'll only bring one (338/06 NP 225s).
I guess it could depend on how far from a gunsmith you are. I found one once in Tzneen, SA for a broken scope mount. Very good work and cheap (he got a big tip for a walk in fix).
On one trip I used a hard sided travelers golf bag. Packed it with extra clothes. It worked great and didn't send up flags in the terminals I went through.

Whoo hoo! Hunt's booked, deposit sent, travel arrangements under consideration.

Rifles will be 35 Whelen bolt gun (Remington) and 9.3x74R single shot (Ruger.

Still looking at rifle cases and still leaning toward SKB. Anyone ever have a bad experience with them?

Thanks -WSJ

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:
...Still looking at rifle cases and still leaning toward SKB. Anyone ever have a bad experience with them?

Thanks -WSJ

Handfull of trip to Africa and a dozen or so flights state side and never had a problem with mine.