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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting plains game in RSAGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I am planning a hunt to the Free State in the RSA in September for plains game. I plan to bring two rifles for this first time trip to Africa. Rifle number one is a .30/06 loaded with Barnes triple X 180 grs. and rifle number two is a .280 Rem with 160 Nosler Accubonds. I had thought of bringing my .338 Win. mag, however decided it was bigger than needed. Any thoughts or suggestions on this choice would be appreciated. | ||
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one of us |
I'd suggest you take EITHER the 280 OR the 30-06, AND the 338 as your second rifle. My preference would be the 30-06 simply because I've had better luck accuracy-wise with it than with a 280, but that's just a personal choice. The 338 is a great all-around caliber and you can take anything you encounter in RSA with it. LTC, USA, RET Benefactor Life Member, NRA Member, SCI & DSC Proud son of Texas A&M, Class of 1969 "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning | |||
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| One of Us |
Either of the two rifles, 06 or 280 will do what you are likely to require of them.(what one will do the other will also) Why not take the 338 if eland, gemsbok, or wildebeest are on the menu and the one you shoot best of the other two for everything else. JMO Regards, Adrian | |||
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| One of Us |
Whatever rifles you take make sure you are comfortable with on long distance shots. It is very open in the Free State and you will see a lot of animals but getting close will be a problem. Good Hunting,  | |||
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One of Us |
Michael, I take a .280 w/160 gr Accubonds on every trip to Africa. It will handle any plains game on the continent if you make the shot. I must stress that my .280s are very accurate and shot placement of course is paramount to success. If you have any intention of hunting smaller PG (Bushbuck down to Steenbok) I'd take a small centerfire (I use a .223) or ask if your PH has a .22 Hornet etc. However, I'd only take one of the calibers you mention: the most accurate of the two. If you have any questions or concerns, just give me a call. David 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." | |||
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One of Us |
Take the 06 and the 338.  | |||
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| one of us |
ditto, it's my plainsgame battery If you are hunting wildebeest and/or eland definitely take the .338 and for your second rifle, whichever of the other two you shoot best. Eland are just plain large and wildebeests are a tougher animal than some give them credit. Besides Eland and Wildebeest, I also used my .338 on Sable, Kudu and Zebra. | |||
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One of Us |
I have hunted the free state twice. Long ranges and cold, windy conditions are the norm. I would take the 30-06 loaded with an aerodynamic projectile like a 165. .280's are rare in the Free State. I am a beleiver in the one gun, one load phylosophy. Additional rifles just add weight to your luggage which would be better used for comfortable warm clothing. Leave your excess .30-06 ammo for the locals who will appreciate it. What animals will you be hunting ? Eland can be found in the Karoo where ranges are xtra long. Gemsbok and Black Wildebeast are about the largest native animals to the region and can be handled by a .308 and 150's. The Free State has a certain appeal and I loved hunting there. | |||
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