The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Minimum caliber for elephant?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Minimum caliber for elephant? | Login/Join |
One of Us |
I recently read on another Forum where a poster stated that "in most African countries today, the minimum legal caliber for elephant is .40 cal." Is this true? I thought the minimum for the big five was the .375. NRA Endowment Life Member | ||
|
One of Us |
Definitely not true. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
|
One of Us |
I believe that it's .375 everywhere -- When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun. | |||
|
One of Us |
Not true other than in the 60's or 70's there was a East African min of .40 maybe for Keyna and Tanganyika ( -- cant remember that was before my time). Here is the current min's: Benin • There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Benin. • Benin does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Botswana • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Botswana is .222 caliber for any game other than dangerous game. • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Botswana is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting. • The maximum equipment allowed for rifle hunting in Botswana is .577 Nitro Express caliber. • Botswana does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Burkina Faso • There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Burkina Faso. • Burkina Faso does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Cameroon • For Group 1 - Small Game, the equipment requirement for hunting is .240 caliber or less, shotgun may be used as well. • For Group 2 - Medium Game, the equipment requirement for hunting is .240 to .354 caliber. • For Group 3 - Big Game, the equipment requirement for hunting is .354 caliber or larger. • Cameroon does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Central African Republic • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Central African Republic is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting. • Central African Republic does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Ethiopia • There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Ethiopia. • Ethiopia does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Mozambique • There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Mozambique. • Mozambique does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Namibia • Smallest caliber allowed 7 mm (.284). • Minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) • Big Game 5400 Joule (Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Lion, etc.) • Large Game 2700 Joule (Greater Kudu, Cape Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Hartmann's Zebra, Burchell's Zebra, Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Leopard, etc.) • Medium to Small Game 1350 Joule (Springbok, Impala, Blesbok, Gray Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich, Caracal, Black-Faced Impala, Red Lechwe, Damara Dik-Dik, Klipspringer, Black-Backed Jackal, Warthog, Cheetah, Nyala, Chacma Baboon, Game Birds, etc.) South Africa • Most provinces do not have a minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting and rely on common sense. • Some provinces require a minimum of .375 caliber for dangerous or big game hunting. • No provinces require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Tanzania • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Tanzania is .240 caliber for any game other than dangerous game. • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Tanzania is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting. • Tanzania does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Zambia • Zambia does not have a minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting plains game and rely on common sense. Caliber in the .270 range will be well suited for some of the smaller plains game in Zambia. • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Zambia is .300 caliber for dangerous game such as Leopard and Lion. • The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Zambia is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting such as Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo. • Zambia does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used. Zimbabwe • Class A Game 5300 Joule Minimum caliber 9.2mm in diameter (Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo) • Class B Game 4300 Joule Minimum caliber 7.0mm in diameter (Lion, Giraffe, Eland) • Class C Game 3000 Joule Minimum caliber 7.0mm in diameter (Leopard, Crocodile, Kudu, Oryx / Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Zebra, Nyala, Sable Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, etc.) • Class D Game 850 Joule Minimum caliber 5.56mm in diameter (Warthog, Impala, Reedbuck, Sitatunga, Duiker, Steenbok, Jackal, Game Birds, etc.) • Black Powder Rifles Minimum caliber .40 DRSS Member | |||
|
| One of Us |
Great post!! Clears a lot of questions,past and current. Bob DRSS DSC SCI NRA & ISRA | |||
|
| One of Us |
505 - Well said! Man, that's more info than I could have found in a week. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Got this from a friend off another web site he is a source of vast knowledge!  Ed DRSS Member | |||
|
One of Us |
There goes my life size Dik-Dik  Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
|
| One of Us |
505, your section re: Namibia is incorrect in a couple of respects. There is no "smallest caliber allowed" - and there is no minimum energy requirement for elephant, if you can believe it. The 5,400 joule minimum does apply to Cape buffalo. One would hope that common sense would prevail, despite legal minimums or the lack thereof. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
|
| one of us |
Within the last couple of year there was defiantly a minimum energy requirement in Tanzania. Has that changed? I'm thinking this info may be less than perfect? | |||
|
| One of Us |
This needs to be saved in the Africa Reference Forum. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing. I will now keep my .375  | |||
|
| One of Us |
Am I to understand that in Cameroon, I can shoot something with too large a calibre? That makes no sense. I thought that was what solids were for. | |||
|
| One of Us |
505ED, Thanks for that great reply. Like dogcat said, your reply should be saved in the Africa Refrence Forum. I'm saving a copy in my refrence files. NRA Endowment Life Member | |||
|
| One of Us |
Mozambique does have a minimum caliber restriction for hunting which is "minimum 6mm bullet diameter and a minimum Case length of 40mm" | |||
|
| Administrator |
505ED, Thank you for this information. I have added it to the African Reference Forum. | |||
|
one of us |
Congrats Ed you have now been "published" on AR! I will be seeking your autograph in Dallas!  Seriously, excellent reference material. On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch... Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling Life grows grim without senseless indulgence. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Not to knock the effort, as I do think that this information is useful, but again, the 7mm minimum for Namibia is not the law. It is an error that seems to have its source on the NAPHA website. The law in Namibia refers only to muzzle energy. This is the law (Nature Conservation Ordinance 1975: No.4 of 1975): "Restrictions in regard to firearms and capturing apparatus 42. (1) No person shall use a revolver, pistol or automatic fire-arm when hunting game or use a fire-arm of which the bullet has an energy at the muzzle of the barrel which is lower than the following when hunting the species of game indicated thereunder: (a) 5400 joules: Buffalo. (b) 2700 joules: Eland Kudu Oryx Wildebeest Hartebeest All species of exotic game. (c) 1350 joules: Springbok Duiker: Provided that the Executive Committee may for the purposes of this subsection by regulation differentiate between the calibre of different fire-arms in respect of different Species of game. [So far as I have been able to determine, no such regulations exist.] (2) No person shall when hunting the species of game mentioned in subsection 1(b) or (c) use cartridges with bullets commonly known as 'solid'." See Nature Conservation Ordinance 1975: No. 4 of 1975. Again, the only species of DG mentioned in the law is buffalo. Odd, to be sure, but there you have it. I only mention this because I would hate to see someone influenced by this information to leave his .264, 6.5mm, .25-06, .257, .243 or smaller bore rifle home, because he thinks it's illegal to use. BTW, my .25-06 generates over 3,100 joules of muzzle energy with 115 grain bullets, and by Namibian law is therefore a legal eland rifle. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
|
one of us |
I don't doubt that you are correct, but I do seem to remember the 7mm minimum. It stuck in my mind because I can remember thinking that the rule disqualified two of the ideal springbok cartridges: the 270w and the 25-06. I'm guessing they decided to eliminate the rule as it was a bit silly. Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
|
| one of us |
From the NAPHA:
So I guess you can't used solids for buffalo, elephant or hippo in Namibia... Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
|
| One of Us |
NAPHA really should fix their website. AFAIK, Jason, there never was a 7mm minimum law in Namibia. I have used my .25-06 there with great effect.  Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
|
| one of us |
My guess is that someone in the NAPHA who had a hand in writing the the rule-book does not like the 270win, and just added in the "7mm min". My PH in Namibia had a 270 as his loaner gun. He thought it was a great option for his clients to use. Judging by the rifles I saw in the hands of resident hunters, and the ammo on the shelves of gun-shops, I would guess the 270 win is in the top five of the most popular cartridges in Namibia. I would guess someone Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
|
| One of Us |
Someone, I believe Ross Segfried, Reported on a survey of PHs in kenya and Tanzania back in the day and the 270 was the favorite light rifle for hunters, light enough they didnt flinch but still killed well. SSR | |||
|
one of us |
My 270 Win makes way more than 2,700 joules muzzle energy But my 9.3x62 don't quite make the 5,400 mark for buff  ________ Ray | |||
|
| One of Us |
Ray, if you can afford a Trophy Buffalo in Namibia, you can well afford a big-enough rifle! They get BIG $$$ for their Buff. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I noticed that Botswana lists a maximum allowed caliber as .577NE. Does this mean that the guys with .600s and .700s are out of luck and can't take their large caliber rifles? I'd be upset if that was what I liked to hunt with. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= DRSS; NRA; Illinois State Rifle Association; Missouri Sport Shooting Association “One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain.” – Thomas Sowell, “The Vision Of The Anointed: Self-Congratulation As A Basis For Social Policy” . | |||
|
| One of Us |
Zimbabwe also has what ammounts to a 7mm minimum for most plains game and the legislation was specifically drafted to exclude the .270 yet alow the 7x57. At the time the legislation was drafted (1990) the chief warden had withdrawn all rifles under 7,62 from the field stations because of problems encountered with our .270's and winchester 130grn Silver tip ammo. If he had his way, the minimum would have been 7,62, but the chief Investigations officer owned a 7x57...so their was a compromise. Nothing really based on fact- just like most laws. Scojac- the US governm,ent banned flying with a rifle or ammo over .50 a couple of years ago. They have since lifted that to .720..so US citizens cannot, in theory, carry their trusty 4 bore to africa to hunt with. Zimbabwe has a maximum energy for firearms owned by civilians...it is quite generous but anything more powerful than a .50 BMG is classed as military only | |||
|
| one of us |
Actually as of Feb 18, 2009 the regs in Ethiopia are.................. 25 Prohibited Methods of Hunting... g) use a firearm of 0.22 calibers except with respect to small wildlife species such as birds, dik dik, duiker, hare, and jackals i) use firearm from 0.240 to 0/300 caliber for any wildlife except medium sized wild animals such as grants gazelle, bohor, bushbuck and lesser kudu j) use firearms other than from 0.300 to0.378 caliber for larger wildlife speices such as oryx, tiang and waterbuck k) use firearms other than from 0.375 to 0.600 caliber for larger and dangerous wildlife species such as buffalo, hippopotamus, lion, and leopard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This was taken straight from the Government Gazette where the regs were published. Intersting phraseology eh? Rich Elliott Rich Elliott Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris | |||
|
one of us |
Are you afraid of blowing up the cape? Just use a solid. | |||
|
One of Us |
Bloody hell that was a post and a half - bugger me who ever put that together is one fine dam researcher. Thanks - never to young to learn new stuff | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Minimum caliber for elephant?
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia