I don't want you "big bore only" guys to get excited, but I want to hear from those hunters that have experience with sub-30 caliber rifles on safari.

I must tell you that I have experience with the .458 Win Mag, .416 Rigby, and .450/400 3". Until now the smallest caliber I have taken on safari was .338 Win Mag (with my favorire 250 Nosler partition handloads)- for most plains game shooting. You and I have all heard all the stories about how tough African game is.

Well, this year I went to Namibia with a .338 and a .264 Win Mag. The .264 is a Winchester M70 CRF with a 26" barrel mounted with Zeiss 3x9. Handloads were max loads of RL22 pushing 140 grain Barnes XLC. I have previously used the .264 on deer-sized game only.

My PH thought the .264 would be OK for springbok and warthog. I started hunting the first day with the .264 and never had a need to use the .338. I took warthog, springbok, red hartebeest, black wildebeest,kudu, gemsbok and a huge mountain zebra stallion. Ranges were approximately 50 yards to over 400 yards. All animals went down quickly without any complication. Only one bullet was recovered- a frontal chest shot on the hartebeest.

I was surprised- my PH was stunned. The smallest gun he had seen used by a client until now was a 30-06- which he recommends to clients as a minimum. I have no problem with guys that use nothing smaller than a .375 on safari. I won't pretend that I think a small bore will kill as well under all conditions as my .338 (especially when the game gets bigger), but I am beginning to rethink my own caliber minimums. I would like to hear from others that have used sub-30 calibers on safari- good or bad.

AK Hunter,
I have taken a Weatherby 257 a few times with great success, but I really like to shoot big bores. The smallest I use now is 375 H&H. CHEERS

This past July my son took three Impala, two wildebeasts, a Zebra, a Duiker, and a Reedbuck with a 6.5X55 with 140 gr. Swifts. All were one shot kills except the Zebra which required a finisher, primarily because he was hit a bit too far back on the first shot. The trackers loved it, none of the animals went over 100 feet.

Geronimo

I don't understand the point of using the MINIMUM caliber to do the job.

AK hunter, this past june on safari I used a .308 on all of my plains game. It worked great on most everything, but required an extra shot on a gemsbok and blue wildebeest. My ph actually used a .270.

Hey, I love my .243 for deer and antelope, and I would happily use it on a game ranch hunts and the like. My problem with sub-calibers in Africa is when hunting in areas that have DG, because twice now after plains game it turned out I was the only person with a firearm.

The most memorable incident was when I took off after a nice impala with my .308, accompanied by the apprentice PH and the tracker. They apparently thought that we’d just be going a few hundred yards and be right back, so neither one brought a rifle. Well, just as I was about to settle the crosshairs on the Impala, we spotted a VERY NICE kudu, and instantly the hunt turned into a kudu stalk. 3 hours and 4 miles later, we still haven’t gotten a shot at the kudu but we been up close to both buffalo and ele’s, and I’m feeling a little naked with a .308 loaded with Noslers. Bottom line is that when I got home I replaced that .308 with a .376, and from now on I won’t be out in an area where DG roams without a rifle that can be used, in a pinch, to take care of a problem.

So feel free to bring whatever you want, and shoot whatever you’re comfortable with. Your .264, properly loaded and used, will kill any plains game on the continent and do so in fine fashion. The question for me isn’t whether it will cleanly take the game you’re after, but will it sort out a crisis if the need arises. I know what my choice is.

Last year I took a 416Rigby and a 7x57. Used the 416 for Elephant and the 7x57 for all else. It was very effective on everything up thru Kudu which was the largest plains game I took. VERY pleasant to carry and to shoot. If I ever get the chance to go again I will take a light rifle and a heavy. I would even consider a 257 Roberts up thru Kudu and not really feel undergunned. With good bullets and proper placement should be no problem. The small calibers are really easy to shoot accurately.

On my one and only hunt in RSA I used a borrowed 240 wby. Took 4 critters in 4 days with 4 bullets. Okay 5 one to verify zero.

Animals taken were warthog, impala, lechwee and zebra. I wasn't into Africa at the time and left with nothing but pictures. IT was fun but so easy I really didn't think about Africa until I started to visit this board in 2000 (I think). Now I pan on going over at least once a year beginning in 07 and that trip will be a dozy. 28 days in TZ with Pierre von Tonder and 14 days at a ranch in RSA.

Our expert Ray is putting all the details together for me. Perfect. I'm certainly too busy to deal with all the details. Besides Ray is a great guy and I like the idea of having a quality guy in the USA I can talk to if there are any problems. I really doubt there will be any as I have a lot of faith and trust in our boy Ray and Pierre has a reputation that is nothing but first rate.

Back on topic. I think the smaller bores are perfectly fine if you can shoot and pick your shots and your animals. I was a bit nervous on the zebra with the 240. Took out his heart and aorta, put a hole in both lungs and he ran 150 to 200 yards in a big circle and dropped dead. No second shot required as when we got to him his eye blink reflex was gone.

For me hunting is such a personal thing I really take the approach, be legal (just because) and do what you want and feel is right for you. It's your money and vacation. Not screwing up is not going to cost you trophy fees and more importantly days and if that isn't enough incentive to be responsible maybe you should take up bowling or darts.

I now prefer to be well gunned and will take large caliber rifles and get close now. It is the way I like to hunt so that is how I do it. Years ago I liked to snipe game. I've changed but have nothing against those that like to use the small bores to hunt with, just stay within the laws.

There is nothing (PG) that can't be cleanly taken with a 25 bore. In fact I just love the 257 Roberts and would take any PG with one if that was all that was at hand. I would prefer a 500a2 but the Roberts will do just fine provided you do your part and know where to place the bullet and then put it there.

John

JMO once again.

Now Ak Hunter, you know damn well you need at least a $35K .470NE double to shoot anything bigger than a Hare in Africa. If you don't know it, I'm sure you will be reminded of that fact!
( I am just joshing of course.)

I have shot hundreds of plains game, from duikers to eland, with several 270 wildcats. These include 270 Ackley, 270/7mm Dakota and 270/404.

Bullets used were 130 grains Barnes X, 140 grains Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, 150 Jensens.

All of the above worked without any problems at all.

When I am hunting buffalo and elephants, I use a 375/404 for all my hunts.

When hunting just plains game - as in South Africa - I use a 30/404.

My wife uses a Winchester Mod. 70 Feather Weight in 7x57mm and has taken Kudu, Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Impala, Blesbuck, Springbuck, Warthog, and Duiker, all with 140 grain bullets. They all went down with one shot.

My daughter used a Rugr #1 in 7x57mm and took Impala, Blesbok, and Springbuck all with one shot.

I have used my wife's 7x57mm on Impala, Porcupine, and Hare. And one year took a Ruger Mod. 77 in .233 to shoot a bunch of Rock Hyrax and a couple of Baboons.

In the RSA, we used a .243, .270 and .280 on everything (no zebra or eland). The locals used a 22-250 for springbok and the small guys.

My dad shot springbok, impala, warthog, hartebeest, kudu, and mountain zebra last year with his .270 WSM shooting 140 grain TSXs. I had my .338 as a bigger gun that he could have used, but he saw no need. The WSM seemed to kill just as effectively as my .338.

The key to your success was chosing the right bullet and shooting straight, well done. Tought bullets like the TSX "upgun" the smaller bores, I would rather have your combo than a 300 mag with the wrong bullets, like a 150 grain PMP for instance.

I have shoot over 100 critters in Zimbabwe with a Interarms .270. factory federal ammo, mostly 150 grain Hy-Shok. I'm very please and very comfortable using this caliber.

From Duikers, Zebra, 3 kudu, lots of baboons, all the way up to 2000 pound Eland, (with one shot I might add!) The other gun I use is a 416 Remington.

I have no plans or thoughts of ever changing calibers, why change something that works great!!!!

There is a gent who posts here with the handle of "outdoor writer" who's used the 264 in Afria extensively with great success. With today excelent bullet--AND judicious shot palcement, there is no reason (and you proved it) the 264 is not enough. Hell Roy Weatherby killed lots of game with his 257.Prsonally I wouldn't go any lower an certainly not a 243. jorge