I am doing an Ele. Sable hunt in Zim. soon and I will be using a .470 for Ele.,but I am still undecieded what to use on the Sable, my choices are .375,3006.,6.5,or 458 lott. I am leaning towards the old 06,but I have heard that the Sable can be a difficult animal to put down. Your suggestions regarding the best caliber and bullet selection would be appreciated.DD

You can use any of them except teh 6.5. Because the 270 is the minimum caliber for sable in Zimbabwe if I can remember right.

The 30-06 will work just fine. I have shot dozens of sable with a 270 Ackley.

DD,
I would take the 375 that way if something happens to your 470 you still have a rifle for ele...The 375 will reach out there also...and maximize damage...

Mike

I agree with retreever, for exactly the same reasons. 06 works too...

Here's another concurrence with retreever's logic. I took my sable with a 9.3x62 and 286-grain Nosler Partitions. It went straight down where it stood after being hit in the top of the heart.

Took mine with a 530 grain carbon arrow, including a 100 grain Titanium Broadhead.

If it were me, since you're already taking the .470, I'd bring along the .375, its really versatile, so you can use it on a lot of game. And, it is certainly enough gun. You're right, Sable are tough to put down, but the old H&H will get the job done very well.

I took a 44-inch sable in Zimbabwe's Matetsi in 1983 with a .30.06. I took a 42-inch (we misjudged its size) in 1994 in Zambia's Mumbwa with a 7 mm Rem. Mag. Both were one shot, dead-in-their-track kills with shoulder shots.

Bill Quimby

Comparatively speaking, ALL African animals are hard to put down...

Take the 375 w/ 300gr premiums... swift, woodleigh, northfork, etc... You never know what will "pop up" on safari and that caliber will suit any PG situation you could encounter very well.

You may decide you want an elant after you arrive... you'll be glad you brought the 375.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
I took a 42-inch (we misjudged its size) in 1994

Awwww....you have my deepest sympathies. ONLY 42"?

Considering you'll be hunting in Zim where the ranges tend to be shorter than say, Tz, I'd go with the 375 H&H. Sables are good sized animals and after witnessing a 350 yard shot on a kudu in Zim this past June, the 375 gets my vote. jorge

.375-.375-.375 because it works for anything and if you need to take a texas heart shot it will penetrate to the chest cavity. I shot mine with a 300 grain trophy bonded bearclaw in 2004.

Dave,

Sable are pretty tough animals. I wouldnt dream of using anything less than a 300 mag.
The 338 would be about perfect. But a 375 would be more of a good thing. I shot my sable through the heart with a 375 and he still ran about 150 yards.

Hugh

Have only shot one Sable ,it was in Zimbabwe and I used a 30-06 with 180gr Nosler Partitions and it was a one shot 100yd kill. Next day I took an Oribi with the same gun and load at 400yds. Two shots on it as I hit it too far back with first one, didn't calculate drift properly. Went on to take a Klipspringer, Kudu and nice 15" Bushbuck with same gun and load on same trip. Feel totally confident with a 30-06 on anything in Zimbabwe below Eland out to 300+yds. The last desire I had to take a Sable was 2 years ago in the Matetsi. He would have gone a very good 47" according to my PH friend who rarely gets the length wrong but as we were hunting Elephant I had a 416Rigby so did'nt take the shot which was a GOOD 300yds. Have wished ever since I had tried at least but don't like to wound animals and it was just at last light. I would have not hesitated with my 30-06.

Zim: that's a great story and testament to the old 06! I suggested the 375 just because it gives you just the edge you might need if the shot opportunity is not optimal. Craig Boddington relates he passed on what was perhaps the greatest kudu of his fifty plus safaris because all he had an 06 at the time and all the kudu gave him was a Texas heart shot at last light. Had he had the 375 he says he would have taken the shot. jorge

jorge,

I've read that story too. Several times. I've often wondered just how large that kudu was and what might have been the 'reality' of the situation given potential 'writer embelishment' to make for a better story. I'll have to ask him in person the next time I see him at SCI or SHOT.

Cheers,
CL

375

A sable is half the size of a bull elk and no tougher. If you have a favorite 06, it is plenty of gun. The 375 does make sense as a back up for the double, however. A long time ago I stopped preparing assuming "worst case scenarios". Follow the list Terry prepared in packing and look forward to the time of your life.

"I took a 42-inch (we misjudged its size) in 1994 "

"Awwww....you have my deepest sympathies. ONLY 42"? "

I didn't want to take another sable unless it was better than my first. The PH and I thought it was the 46-47-incher we'd seen earlier.

BillQ

Dave, I have a clear opinion because I did exactly what you are going to do. I had my 470 double and I had a hard time deciding which other rifle to take. Finally, it was decided to take the 375 and I could not have been better equiped. I shot a nice Sable bull with the 375 at about 150 yds + all of the other plains game I shot. Go with the 375 as it is a great backup to the 470. I would have the trackers carry it unless you are clearly on a big ele. You can always carry the DR.

The .375 is the way to go as a great back up for the DG rifle and PG gun.

I'm taking my scoped 9.3x74R double this trip as I don't own a .375 and I'm practiced for longer shots with it. Plus it is a bit more than my .30-06 (which I really love) in case a big nasty shows up unexpectedly.

If my second option was a 375 instead, it would go along when in DG country.

Use enough gun as the saying goes. Take the .375.

Anyone espousing using just enough gun are doing you no favors.