What would you recommend for an adult novice to take on his first whitetail Deer hunt this year and a plainesgame (non eland)in the next two years?
I suggested a 30-06 in whatever flavor piqued his interest. Yeah, I know it's unorigional, but you know it'll work just fine.
He is enamored with the new Marlin 336XLR in 338Marlin Express. My reaction is: It's a little unconventional, but if that caliber indeed replicates the 30-06, it should work. I'd sure hope my luggage gets through though as there is no way in hell he'll find that ammo in Africa.

quote:

I suggested a 30-06

I'll second that.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:

quote:

I suggested a 30-06

I'll second that.

Third, though I can only speak from an African plainsgame perspective.

Yep, 30-06 will do the job.

A .30/06 or .308 is my suggestion. Personally, I like Winchester rifles and if you can find a Featherweight Classic in the latter I'd go with it and put thereupon a 2.5-8x Leupold VX-III or similar.

Actually, I think so much of the idea that I did it about seven years ago.

The late novelist Norman Mailer compared a bolt gun for serious hunting to a lever action rifle (although this was a Savage 99) by describing the Savage 99 as a "f**k-your-finger lever action".

Whatever a lever action may do with your finger, whether it is a Savage or a Marlin, it is NOT a long-range gun and its power and accuracy are limited. A good bolt .30-06 is as fine a deer and plains game rifle as can be had.

Pretty much .30-06 is the proper medicine for whitetail and most African plainsgame (with a good quality variable scope).

Before I got my .30-06, I had a Model 99 Savage in .308 and it was certainly not as described by Mr. Mailer.

If there was such a thing as the perfect big game rifle for everything up to cape buffalo it would be the 30-06. It just flat works with noderate recoil and reasonably flat trajectory. These new Marlins are pretty sexy but as for practicality they do not hold a candle to any bolt action 30-06.

Mark

Given the inevitable progression from whitetail to African plainsgame to eventually dangerous game just have him go ahead and get a 375 H&H!

Be classic, the 275 Rigby (aka 7x57).

Another vote for a 30-06 bolt gun. If you want something different you could get a bolt gun in 7x57. The big problem with the marlin 338me is that there is only 1 load in 1 bullet weight and you can't find it in most places here, let alone africa. By the way I have a 308me in the xlr, its a nice gun but not a choice for africa. I'm not yet sold on the leverevolution gummy tips as fas as being a premium bullet. They seemed soft on the 2 deer I shot last year.

If you wanted to be different (go ahead and grumble now) I'd advise the 300 H&H. Perfect for plains game, not too much for deer, and DEAD SEXY. If not, the 300 Win is pretty bad ass too. But you guys are right, the '06 or the 308 both do it all. Just shoot it straight.

Just bought a Pre 64 Mod 70 from a poster here last month in 300 H & H, scoped it with a Zeiss Davari in 3 X 9 and this would be my choice. In fact it will be my choice when I go back to Namibia in a couple of years. Brass for the H & H is available now in good quantities, and soooo many good bullets out there in .30 cal.

This piece just shouts Africa!!!


Larry Sellers
SI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by odie:
Pretty much .30-06 is the proper medicine for whitetail and most African plainsgame (with a good quality variable scope).

.....

+ What ever number we're up to!

My Dad and I have taken a 30-06 and a .308 Win to Africa twice. If you shoot them well and use good bullets either of them will work perfect for plainsgame.

I took a 300 Wby. Mag. on my first plains game hunt and it worked perfectly. On the second safari I carried a 338WM as might light rifle and was glad I did. I picked up a Kimber Classic in 30-06 that was going to be my new light rifle on safari but I have since found a Pre-64 Winchester in 300 H&H that I am going to make my go to rifle. I just need some brass for the old H&H. I am lookin forward to carrying the old Winchester but the Kimber would do just as well. The -06 will do everything you need it to do, but sometimes it matters how you do it! Take your pick.

I used a 7mm Remmy and had 8 one-shot kills out of ten animals on everything from warthog to kudu, zebra and gemsbok, using 160 A Frames. If you already have a .30-06, use it. It'll work great. Hemingway killed lions with one.

Terry,


.300 win mag is your best choice. It will take all the African plains game with no problem. In addition, sooner or later you will want to hunt elk,bear, moose. .300 win mag covers it all.

.30-06 would be a good second choice.


dale

Buy the 3006 and save the rest of your money to invest in a 375/416 for everything else..

Good Luck,
Adrian

Another vote for the -06. Another point is that when you are looking for a used rifle, there are almost as many used 30-06 rifles circulating in the used market as everything else put together. This means you have your choice of just about every manufacturer and model and have the best chance of finding what you want. The -06 probably has the best combination of adequate power, availability of ammo, easily tolerable recoil and proven accuracy.

I'm going to be really boring and vote for the .30/06 in whatever rifle feels right.

Some of the suggestions of classic rifles are very artistic and aesthetically pleasing, but nonetheless impractical for the novice hunter.

I agree that a .30-06 bolt rifle would be perfect. And not just for a novice, either!

A 7mmRem Mag is a bit more versatile than a 30-06.......so 7mmRem mag.

quote:

Originally posted by Blair338/378:
A 7mmRem Mag is a bit more versatile than a 30-06.......so 7mmRem mag.

You must have meant .... Hmmm??? I can't think of a more versatile cartridge than the 30-06.

Another vote for the 100+ yr. old classic that every new rifle is chambered in.

We all know the 06's and all other 30 and 338 cals work well, but why not try something a bit off spec like a 35 whelen, 338-06, 350 remy mag, or a 9.3x62? I've had all but the 9.3 and have one of those on the way. I like my boolitz a bit bigger and slower, but that's just perspective.

The common rounds are more logical in case you do lose your ammo, but there are a lot of great choices for pg out there. It will be fun just researching ballistics etc. trying to figure it out. My vote, either the 35 Whelen or the 9.3.

30-06/338-06/9.3x62
the increasing order do not involve my preference, I have a 9.3x62. The quickest solution is to buy a 30-06. The other two caliber begin to be a little more demanding.

30-06 with 180gr TSX is good enough for any African plainsgame

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
I agree that a .30-06 bolt rifle would be perfect. And not just for a novice, either!

So true.

Add one to the long list for the 30-06.

JPK

I love the 30s, but I will offer a dissent for a newbie. I would recommend a 7/08. 7/08 offers good bullet selections and offers low recoil. Mount a 2.5x8 VX-3 or Conquest and slay critters.

Pick any decent 270 Winchester, 280 Remington, or a 30-06, and you will never regret it.

I have shot litrally hundreds of plains game, from duikers to eland, with a 270.

I beleive some countries such as France prohibit the use of military calibres and the UK has an embargo on the transit of some military calibres. Someone correct me if Im wrong. This may expand with time.

Best go for a purely sporting round like the 270, 7mm RM or 7x64. No hassles now or the foreseable future.

I'll buck the trend & say the .270 win. There is not a cartridge I like better except maybe the .375 H&H.

Has anyone mentioned the 30-06 yet? That would be my suggestion.

30-06 for me also

308 or 30-06.

I would pick a good 165 or 180gr bullet.

For someone who has not done much shooting, a 30-06 is a little too much gun (in terms of recoil, esp. with a fixed breech action). The last thing you want on a first time hunt is a flinch.

I would go with something more like the list of calibers recommended for youth hunters. 6.5x55, 7mm-08, 7x57 etc. I went through this thought process last year wrt to my boy, who was 12 at the time. He started shooting at 7 with a 22 mag, then went to a 222 Rem at 10, and shot my 250 Savage at 11. I ended up getting him a 300 Savage that I loaded with light bullets (125gr Sierras) at moderate velocities. By the time we get to Africa this Sept, he will be shooting 165 grainers at full throttle. Had I not been a reloader, I would have bought him a 257 or 6.5

It's important that a first time hunter place his shot well...easier to do if he is not intimidated by the rifle.

One gun, the .30-06, seems to be the best option. I did not believe it when I had to go with a .30-06 because of arthritis, but now two hunts latter I am a 100% believer in an 06 with 180 grain to 220 grain bullets. The 06 laid down the game from a 56 inch Kudu on down to Steenbuck with no problems, and it's going back to Africa with me next year too!
LLS

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
The late novelist Norman Mailer compared a bolt gun for serious hunting to a lever action rifle (although this was a Savage 99) by describing the Savage 99 as a "f**k-your-finger lever action".

Whatever a lever action may do with your finger, whether it is a Savage or a Marlin, it is NOT a long-range gun and its power and accuracy are limited. A good bolt .30-06 is as fine a deer and plains game rifle as can be had.

"Whatever a lever action may do with your finger, whether it is a Savage or a Marlin, it is NOT a long-range gun and its power and accuracy are limited."

Really, would you care to take your everyday hunting rifle and shoot it against my 99 in .308?

Hint: You better have a REALLY accurate everyday rifle or you won't like the results.