This might be like beating a dead horse, but never the less, I´ll appreciate any answers.
I´m bound for my first African trip in May, NW of Johannesburg at the banks of Limpopo.

Only plains game, biggest is zebra / kudu.
I got two rifles who fit the task, one M70 in 375 H&H the other a Ruger in 35 Whelen.
The M70 is just what it is... old dependable, the Ruger is my "go to" moose rifle light to carry and fast to shoot.

I shoot both well, both have Leupold glass, the M70 fires 270 gr A-frames, the Whelen 250 gr Woodleighs. Both are accurate rifles

The M70 is the Classic who defenately deserve a trip to RSA, but the Ruger is such a ligt dandy and a pleasure to carry..........

I´m torn between my two darlings, but have decided to bring only one, mostly because the weight limits on Air France...

Suggestions ?????

I'd take the 375

Flip a coin. You'll be very well armed with either one.

Arild,

Two years ago, I took both those calibers to RSA. Mostly used the 35 Whelen with 225 grain Barnes TSX and there really was no need for my 375 H&H. It was used strictly as a back up. The 35 Whelen has been my primary rifle on 3 plains games hunts and I have never felt undergunned. Just the availability of ammo thing always prevents me from taking only the 35 Whelen.

Good Hunting
BigBullet

Take whichever one you are more comfortable with. The 375 is good because if the ammo gets lost it would be much easier to find then 35 Whelen.

For a one rifle plains game safari. The 35 Whelan is the one rifle.

I had on my 2005 safari with me a Spaniard with his CZ 550 American Classic and the Kahles 1.75-6 30mm scope in EAW mounts. He hadn't shot the rifle much but crawled the scope too many times on those shots for Sprinbok and Gemsbok in the open. He was left with a lattice work of scope eyebrow. Not saying it wasn't totally operator error. But I know it would be nice not to get beat to hell on every sprinbok and steenbok.

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
I´ll appreciate any answers.
I´m bound for my first African trip in May, NW of Johannesburg at the banks of Limpopo.<<SNIP

Only plains game, biggest is zebra / kudu.
I got two rifles who fit the task, one M70 in 375 H&H the other a Ruger in 35 Whelen.<<SNIP

I shoot both well, both have Leupold glass, the M70 fires 270 gr A-frames, the Whelen 250 gr Woodleighs. Both are accurate rifles <<SNIP
I´m torn between my two darlings, but have decided to bring only one, mostly because the weight limits on Air France...

Suggestions ?????

I have only one thing to say! Damn the weight, both rifles deserve at trip to Africa! Who knows?, you may never get to Africa again. Take both, and shoot game with both. A little extra money for one more rifle's weight, is peanuts when you consider the over all cost of this venture! Besides you will be 12000 miles from home, and if your "ONE"rifles goes on the blink,in any way, the other one will be quietly waiting in the soft case!

I am with Mac. Take both rifles. I would not go to my deer lease with just one roifle much less Africa.

Arild,

I would take both...morning use the whelen for close shots and afternoon use the 375 for longer shots...
But whatever you know your rifles and they won't let you down...

Mike

Take the one you shoot best. By that I mean, accuratley, fast, from any position and consistently.

The truth is that for most hunters, that would mean your .35
Even though the .375 is not a huge cartridge, many don't shoot it well unless they have used it a lot. Its a brilliant round, I agree but many hunters just don't shoot them well enough.

In terms of 'power' both are fine, the .35 will do anything you want on plains game and near the Limpopo its highly unlikely you will be taking long shots....you really seem to like this rifle, so take it.

Contact your outfitter before hand. Get him to pick up or organise some .35 Whelen ammo which should be available at some major dealers in JHB/PTA and confirm that he has it. That way, if you loose your ammo, you can still use you rifle, simple!

The one advantage of the .375 is that if you need ammo, you will find it anywhere in SA. .35 you will need to go to major centers and then even may still have a tough time finding it 9hence my advice above).

Two rifles makes sense but in reality if you loose/break one, your outfitter should have one available as a back up.

Arild,

I would always recommend 2 rifles for almost any hunt. The 2 you mentioned will easily handle any chore you may have for them so as others have suggested take both.

Mark

Since you already have a .36 Whelen then there's no reason to convince you of its capabilities. However, there is an excellent article in the January issue of Sports Afield that covers this cartridge and it kissing cousins. It might sway your decision. It was somewhat of an eye opener for me. I would be very tempted to buy one for the right price and I already have a .375 and a .300 H&H.

Many thanks for all the good advices gentlemen !
I guess I´ll go the safe way then and take both rifles with me
The Tuffpak I bought from Mims will come to good use I guess . As much as I like my Whelen, going to Africa without the 375 H&H don´t seems right eighter.
Again...thanks for the inputs

( About the 35 Whelen article in Sports Afield.....The magacine is not aviable in my neighbourhood, so if any of you could be so nice as to send me a copy, I will cover all the expences promptly )