How practical would it be to try and use my 470 to take either a zebra, warthog or wildebeest while hunting plains game on my upcoming trip to Port Elizabeth. I will also either take my scoped 375 or 7 Rem mag. I would like to shoot at least 1 animal with the 470.

Rsm:
In my early double rifle days I always took a scoped .375 or .270 with me for long shots. I carried a double and the skinner carried my scoped rifle. When the double rifle bug bit good, I dropped the bolt rifle and only hunted with a double, accepting the fact my choices in shooting would be limited.

To date I have taken several cape buffalo, water buffalo in Australia, hippo, moose in Alaska, a dozen caribou, grizzly, and lots of plains game. Except for a couple of caribou, I've never shot over 100 yards (actually 8 to 95 yards). The challenge of a double is you actually get to hunt rather than a 500 yard assassination where the animal is not spooked.

Take both, carry your double, and have your PH work his damnedest to get you within your comfortable shooting range. Taking animals with an open sighted double you will find more rewarding.
Cheers and good luck,
Cal
PS. The last six international trips I've been on I've only taken a .600 nitro. I pass on shots at 200 yards but to shoot up close and personal does it for me. My bag of trophies is smaller but that's ok.

I think you will appreciate the hunt more in that you will have to work harder.

Sure take it. An open country animal like a springbok would be pretty neat with a double. And do take your 7 mag also.

Mark

Have had a lot of fun with my 470 on Impala, warthog, kudu and zebra. Definitely give it a try!

I have done this 2 years in a row and had a blast. There are reports from Tholo safaris in the hunt report section on it. It made the hunt 10 times more fun...

Absolutely! I hunted on foot and eventually shot a zebra with my open-sighted Lott in the BVC a few years ago. I came away from it thinking that anybody who has a double in the cabinet but can't swing continued buff/ele hunts should give this a try.

Took my 450 3 1/4 on a Eastern Cape hunt. Shot several animals with it. It added challenge to animals I had previously take. You will have a great time with your 470.

You will do fine with your double rifle on most game in Africa. Most shots will be within 100 yds, and even with a big bore double a 100 yd shot on just about any animal you see is well within your range.
In my opinion hunting everything in the USA with your doubles is the key to hunting Africa with it as well. I hunt just about everything in the USA with one of my doubles, even my 470NE,9.3X74R, or my 500-450#1 Express doubles with iron sights or with one double with a scope and that practice will tell you what your capable of with the doubles.

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Just take the double and use the iron sights. It's not the handicap you think it is. In three trips, all I have ever carried is a Sharps with standard ladder barrel iron sights and a blade front.

I have taken a lot of warties in Africa & pigs here back home with my 470,I use the speer gold dot 400's,they work real well & getting them to regulate was easy.

quote:

Originally posted by sharpsguy:
Just take the double and use the iron sights. It's not the handicap you think it is. In three trips, all I have ever carried is a Sharps with standard ladder barrel iron sights and a blade front.

Sharpsguy,
what caliber is your Sharps & what have you taken with it?
I almost took my Shiloh Sharps the one time,it's a 45-110,but the length of the barrel just made me uneasy to pack it in a guncase,I was afraid of damage.

Have hunted plains game from steenbok, warthog, zebra, blue wildebeest, kudu, eland, gemsbok with doubles in .350 No 2, .375 H&H flanged and .375 belted rimless magnum, .303 British, 500/450 nitro as well as .470 nitro (somewhat overgunned ), and .22 K-hornet.

Mostly iron sights, but some scope work on the .350, and Trijicon rmr06 on the .375 flanged. Longest shot was scoped 196 yds; most were under 100 yds. Key is to practice with 8" ballons set out a varying distances to 100 yards to master iron sights.

Regards