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A friend & I were discussing the availibility of 375 Ruger ammo in Africa. I said it would most likely be hard to get in a store if ammo was lost as it is relatively new and infrastructure in some places is not as good as it could be or is in other places. He fdeels it would be realatively easy to come by. It would be ineteresting to hear from people inAfrica what they know firsthand about the question. | ||
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clayman 216, I think it would be highly unlikely that you would find 375 Ruger ammo in Africa unless your PH owned one and had his own stash. To go into a store and find it on the shelf in my opinion would probably be impossible. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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I've really never understood the logic behind this question. No, you probably will not be able to find ammo in Africa for a 375 Ruger, but so what. What happens if your 458 Lott ammo shows up, but your gun doesn't! How likely are you to find a 458 Lott to use with your ammo? It's the same question but in reverse. I would never purchase a rifle caliber based on what is likely to be available in the local stores if the ammo fails to make the trip. Likely outcomes are, it will show up on the next flight, the next day or two, or not at all in which case you'll just borrow a camp rifle. Not ideal, but you'll still get your hunt done. Just look at the "going to Africa gunless" thread. There are ways to help avoid this ammo problem however such as splitting ammo among multiple bags, especially if you are traveling with companions or other hunters. Bottom line for me is I shoot and plan to hunt with the rifles in calibers of my choice, regardless of obscurity; plan for contingencies by splitting the ammo, and ensuring alternative rifles are available if all else fails. Have fun on your trip. | |||
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As far as finding 375 Ruger ammo in Africa, good luck! And I think your friend has been watching too many hunting shows.
Why would anyone want to use their ammo in a borrowed gun? It just makes no sense... If you enjoy hunting with your own guns then it makes sense to have guns chambered in common cartridges. If your ammo is lost you will still be able to use your rifle which will make your hunt more enjoyable. If you like odd ball cartridges, then go ahead and take a rifle chambered for one. You will probably enjoy your hunt more that way(assuming your ammo is not lost). 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 | |||
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Jason, The question was rhetorical! Sorry you took it literally! The point I was trying to make is that I often hear folks recommend purchasing a certain caliber based on how easy it is to find ammo if your bag gets lost. Well, what happens if your ammo bag shows up and the rifle doesn't? In either case, you will find an alternative. To me, using MY guns is very important to my overall enjoyment of the hunt. For some odd reason, using MY ammo is almost as important, but only in my gun. I'm a reloader and can't remember the last box of factory ammo I purchased. The point being I would not compromise on what caliber I want to hunt with based on it's availability to be found in an African store. If either the ammo or rifle fails to show up, you are in the same situation and will likely end up borrowing a weapon, at least for a portion of the hunt. You could take the rhetorical question further. What if you hunt with a 416 Rigby, but you plan to hunt Bennin. If someone told you that since Bennin is not as popular of a hunting destination and therefore it is difficult to find 416 Rigby ammo should your bag fail to show up, would you reject hunting in Bennin because it is unlikely to find 416 Rigby ammo in stores there if your ammo fails to show up? No! You use the rifle caliber you have an affinity for, plan for the worst by splitting your ammo, and if all else fails and part of the rifle / ammo combination fails to show up, borrow a weapon. Not ideal, but not the end of the adventure either. Choose a weapon that you want to hunt with if that is most important to you. It is to me. | |||
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I have been hunting with wildcats for so many years, and have had no problems about lost rifles or ammo. | |||
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I am still not totally sure if I will bring my own gun or not on my PG hunt this year, but that is because I am mainly focusing on hunting spot and stalk with my bow. If I decide that I will bring my own gun, it will be a 375Ruger with my selfmade ammo. I will not be worried at all that my ammo will get lost, but if that unlikely event should happen, it is not the end of the world. I can still use a camp gun and go hunting  If going on a pure rifle hunt, I will bring my own gun for sure and I will bring my 375Ruger | |||
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Todd Williams: I've really never understood the logic behind this question. No, you probably will not be able to find ammo in Africa for a 375 Ruger, but so what. What happens if your 458 Lott ammo shows up, but your gun doesn't! How likely are you to find a 458 Lott to use with your ammo? It's the same question but in reverse. Todd, +1 That is classic. Maybe someone has said it before but I've never seen it. Well said and quite relevant. Don Trust only those who stand to lose as much as you do when things go wrong. | |||
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About a year ago, I asked my PH in RSA this question. His reply was to the effect that the 375 Ruger is well known in South Africa and ammo is readily available. I do not know the situation in other African countries. Hugh | |||
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Yes there a number of excellent sporting goods stores in the RSA and finding exotic ammo is a real possibility here. I had a good friend who had the airline he was flying with appropriate his .577 ammo because of some obscure reg regarding calibers over .500 being weapons of war. The Afton House lined up a car and after a few phone calls and a long drive he was in possession of Kynoch .577 ammo again. If you lose ammo in transit between the States and South Africa and are spending the evening there you are in luck... if you lose it between South Africa and a remote strip in Zambia, not so much! One last tip, like Saeed I have been lucky (knocking on wood) that it hasn't happened to me in all of my safaris. A couple of things you can do if traveling with a companion is 1. All use the same caliber so if one guy's bags get lost, you still have ammo to share and 2. put a box of your ammo in his luggage and vice versa... just might bail you out on your hunt of a lifetime. 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. | |||
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Originally posted by Todd Williams: What happens if your 458 Lott ammo shows up, but your gun doesn't! How likely are you to find a 458 Lott to use with your ammo? It's the same question but in reverse. In fact the Lott is popular in Africa. My PH uses a Lott and would not hesitate to let me use it with my ammo. In fact I always leave any un-used ammo with him. Jonny Hulme uses a Lott for his plains game rifle and loaner gun. On a different note,What I see in Africa is very high priced ammo. Thophy fee high priced! The only easy day is yesterday! | |||
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[quote]Posted 19 February 2012 07:34 I have been hunting with wildcats for so many years, and have had no problems about lost rifles or ammo. yes - but you are a very special person. i've had the airlines loose ammo twice, wreck one rifle and loose one | |||
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375 Ruger was to be had in Windhoek last year. Not in big quantities, but a few boxes in a gun shop according to my outfitter. I brought my own 375 Ruger rifle and ammo, and left some surplus ammo with my outfitter. Arild Iversen. | |||
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Often wondered about this "leaving of ammo with the outfitter" In South Africa the new law clearly states that you may not own ammo for a rifle/gun you have no licence for and secondly you are also limited to the amount of ammo you may have. We all had various rounds "sitting on the desk" or somewhere as a display, not only that I and many others I knew "collected" ammo for expected leaner times, something that blew over from the embargo days when you could not get any at all. The new law put paid to all of that, risking never ever owning a gun of even jail time because of some single random errand cartridge sitting on your desk our laying in the pick-up from some others rifle used in hunting became a reality ! | |||
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I guess the reason is very simple. Surplus ammo after a safari is ended, are left with the outfitter as a back up in case other clients need it by one reason or another. My idee was to lend a sort of "helping hand" to fellow hunters in need. If a law sayes this is not legal, I guess the outfitter should be the first one to say "no thanks", and the ammo then goes back home with me to where it came from. Arild Iversen. | |||
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I understood that it was rhetorical, I was just pointing out a flaw in your logic. If your ammo is lost you are not "in the same situation" as you would be if your rifle was lost: -If your rifle is lost you will be forced to use a loaner. -If your ammo is lost you can still use your rifle, as long as replacement ammo is available.(this is the basis for the argument in favor of using a common cartridge) The bottom line is that hunters have to make the choice based on what is important to them. 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 | |||
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I luv the don't get a Ruger or WSM cartridge because u will never find replacement ammo argument ... Funny nobody ever makes that argument about the 280 Remington, 338-06, 35 whelen or any of the Weatherby's. I am sure the shelves in Africa are over loaded with them. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Exactly! Jason, If you're willing to limit the calibers you hunt with based on the ability to get ammo if your ammo bag gets delayed or lost, are you willing to limit the places you hunt based on the ability to get ammo in that locale, even if it's a common caliber? Example, I've hunted Brown Bear in Kamchatka Russia twice. I don't know for sure, but I'll bet that if my 416 Rigby (1st hunt) or my 375 H&H (second hunt) ammo failed to arrive, I would not have been able to replace it even though the 375 H&H is "common". "Common" to Petropavlovsk Russia? Hmmm. I don't know about that. But I rolled the dice and hunted there anyway. Just stick with a scoped 375 and a scoped 30/06. You'll be fine! As long as you don't get tooooo far off the beaten track. | |||
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Well you can shoot a 375 H&H through a 375 Weatherby Magnum ... Regards, Chuck "There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit" Michael Douglas "The Ghost And The Darkness" | |||
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Build a 375 H&H Ackley Improved - reload it and you can get 300 gr. bullets going 2875 fps (5500 ft# muzzle energy) without any problem, 250 grainers like the TTSX going 3100 fps. I've got 300 gr. Barnes banded solids doing 2950 fps without pressure signs (5800 ft# muzzle energy). This is more than enough power and range. With the excellent bullets available today for the .375, it'll kill anything on the planet with a well placed shot. The AI is slightly better than the Weatherby, especially if you build it without excessive freebore, which you'll likely have to do with the Weatherby reamer. Without the excessive freebore, the 375 AI is very accurate - inherently accurate like the 375 H&H. You can seat the bullet close to the lans. Suppose your ammo gets lost, stolen, or taken by the "authorities." The 375 AI will shoot standard 375 H&H and 375 Weatherby ammo - no problem. Just not as powerful. Seriously, 375 AI is an incredible caliber for worldwide hunting. AIU | |||
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Mike, you are quite correct, but part of the reason that it is rarely mentioned is that it is a given that those cartridges are not easy to find anywhere. Even more important, very few guys are heading out and buying rifles chambered for those cartridges.
Not hunting in places like Russia or Pakistan because of lack of replacement ammo would be stupid. If you hunt those places you do so understanding that small issues may become big problems. The reason that this always comes up with the 375 Ruger is simple: when you choose the Ruger you are opting for the "new kid on the block" instead the equally capable classic. Sure you get a slightly faster cartridge, but you do so at the expense of availability. But, as I said before, pick the one that you will enjoy most. But don't BS yourself into believing that your choice does not have its own set of complications. And your 30-06/375 comment describes me pretty well. In my travels outside the US, those are the only two cartridges that I have taken and hunted with.(I did take a 416 Rigby on my elephant hunt, but it never left the case) 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 | |||
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Every time I see a post about cartridge or rifle availability in "Africa" I have to wonder whether people who make the post have ever looked at a map of the continent. If you are looking for .375 Ruger in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Uganda or Tanzania I think you would have to accept that the answer is "most unlikely". In some of these countries there is no ammo locally available in any caliber, period. South Africa and Namibia have significant local populations who possess firearms and have the right to buy ammunition. I've never been to Botswana, but I suspect that outside of SA and Namibia you would be pretty darn lucky to find almost any caliber available for sale to a foreigner. "Availability" then becomes limited to what the PH may have in his camp or can acquire readily, in sufficient quantity to make it available to you. Just being in South Africa does not make that ammo available everywhere. In Hoedspruit, where one PH I have hunted with a couple of times lives, the local store only had .375 H&H, 458 WinMag, 9.3 X 62, 30.06 and 7X57 and not necessarily in quantities or bullet types that may interest you. They didn't even have any .300 WinMag the day I stopped in. If your rifle isn't chambered in one of those calibers it is unlikely he will travel to Joburg just to browse through the greater options that exist there. Conclusion, before you go ask the PH what he has in camp if your ammo doesn't make it. Also ask him what he has in camp as a loaner rifle if your rifle doesn't make it. Other than what the PH has in camp, there is no assurance that you will be able get any ammo in most African countries. _________________________________ AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim. | |||
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The only cartridge that you can reliably get in any African country is the 7,62x39. It killed more DG in the past 20years than any other caliber. Why not take a rifle chambered for that cartridge and you will be fine on any hunt.  Fritz Rabe Askari Adventures & Fritz Rabe Bow-hunting | |||
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Jason, My point is you can stick with the 375 H&H and 30/06 as well but don't BS YOURSELF into believing you will always be able to get that ammo either, just because you stuck with a "Common" caliber. I'm done on this one as you and I are talking past each other. | |||
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Ammo? In Africa? Tee hee | |||
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Frankly I think the argument is overblown. As other people have mentioned you could be SOL if you shoot a .300 Weatherby, a 7mm Remington Mag or any other caliber we consider common. Your rifle could be delayed or lost just as easily as your ammo. In either case I guarantee the camp will have a gun you can use. I bought a .375 Ruger not because of the new factor or because of the extra 100-150 fps (which really doesn't matter). I bought the .375 Ruger because I really liked the rifle and it handled better than any other .375 H&H I looked at. Bring the rifle you like and you can shoot and don't worry about whether you can get ammo or not. If you can great, if you can't then roll with the punches and borrow a rifle. | |||
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In 2007 I was hunting near Kimberly,SA and one of the PHs owned a hunting and fishing store that we visited. He took us in the vault and I was amased at the different calibers of ammo. If I remember correctly, he had 300WM, 300WBY, 300WSM, 270WSM, 6mm REM, 22-250, 30-06, 25-06, 7mmm REM and lots of others. I bet he has 375 Ruger now. | |||
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Jason, My point was that folks are inconsistent...they will bash the choice of the 375 Ruger or WSM but extoll the virtues of the Weatherby's, the 338-06, or the 280 and never ever mention availability of ammo as an issue. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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