Best calibers vs calibers we like

30 October 2016, 18:20

I'm sticking my neck out here, based on collective experience between me and my friends, and what we have observed.
The best calibers for light plains game, are 270 or 7x64
The best caliber for large boned plains game is, the 338win mag.
Dangerous game is 40 or bigger.
Now, what we like, is 9.3x62, 35 Whelen, 30-06, 375h&h, even 458win, loaded to a hot 45-70 level. And more, obviously.
If you taking one rifle for everything Africa has to offer, then that's something else, but per category, the best hasn't changed since the late 50's

30 October 2016, 19:23

boet

Oops, wrong forum. Moderator please move this to the African hunting forum. Apologies

31 October 2016, 00:47

BuffHunter63

A 300 Win Mag (or 300 H&H) will work nicely for all plains game (with proper bullet and placement).

A DG rifle should be the biggest caliber the shooter can shoot accurately (again with proper bullets).

Tony Sanchez-Arino stated a DG rifle should be 40 caliber or larger and fire a bullet weighing at least 400grs at faster than 2000 fps. He thought a .375 H&H Mag is adequate for all DG under some conditions, but is not a proper "stopper" rifle for close-range work for elephants and buffalo. As he states in one of his books "If a buffalo charges than you can't have too big a gun."

I would not want to use my .44 mag on an elephant, even though it is larger than .40 caliber. Just kidding.

BH63

31 October 2016, 01:39

MARK H. YOUNG

Boet,

Or you could use a scoped 375 or 416 with a mixture of softs and solids and be in good shape for everything from duikers to elephant. This is always my recommendation and if my hunters want to take an additional smaller or larger caliber that fine. Personally I've used the 30-06 and 375 something a lot with a the 458 for elephant. This has worked nicely for me.

Mark

31 October 2016, 01:40

lavaca

A .416 of any species is the one-rifle-do-it-all in my opinion; from elephant to duiker. Feel the same way about a .30-06 or a .300 mag as a light rifle.

That said, we all like to tweak things. So I'll be hunting with a 7mm Weatherby in Masailand next year. And the .416 of course. Questions will be which rifle to use on dik dik and klippie. I'm thinking .416 solids.

31 October 2016, 03:50

MacD37

I've taken just about everything short of elephant with a 375H&H bolt rifle with a quick detach scope and Iron sights with softs and solids. Never had a problem stopping anything.

I would say the 416s would be a good choice as well for a one rifle safari!

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31 October 2016, 04:06

Michael Robinson

IMHO, there is no such thing as a best caliber for anything (except .22 Long Rifle for squirrels

).

There are any number of calibers very well-suited for every single hunting situation.

IMHO, which one of them any of us chooses is just a matter of personal predilection.

But I will gladly tell anyone with a lot of time which ones I think are best for me!

31 October 2016, 04:08

lavaca

Mac,

I've never had a true one-rifle safari as I've always carried a light rifle. from a .375 to a .30-06. That said, I've actually shot exactly one impala with my light rifle. Missed a bushbuck with the light rifle one time at long range as well, which is one reason I don't use the light rifle much. I'd have made that shot with the .416 I think, even downhill at 300 yards.

31 October 2016, 09:55

crbutler

IMO, "best" caliber/cartridge is the ubiquitous .375 H&H. Not the greatest choice for some individual options, but will get anything done.

For a light rifle, there are too many choices that all are too close together to really make one choice. .308, .30-06, .270, 7mm Mauser, 7mm Mag, all work well. One cannot call "best" if they all work about as well.

If I could take everything as they did in the days of yore, I would haul a .22 Hornet, a .30-06, a .375 or .416, and a .470 or .500 for rifles, and a 12 Ga shotgun.

31 October 2016, 22:54

surefire7

I've taken three rifle batteries on safari, but I now think a two rifle is just fine.

Since the discussion is a 'light' and a 'heavy', I'll throw my 2 cents in. I really like the one(s) I've used the past two years: a 404 Jeffery (Heavy) and either a 338 WM or 35 Whelen (light). I could be just as happy with a 30-06, 338.06 or 9.3x62 for the light. Some day, that's exactly what I'll do, just to take something different!

Good hunting to all of you.

01 November 2016, 04:41

AFRICAN LEADWOOD

It all depends on the hunt and the range. A 9.3 or.375 light works well if shots aren't too long and gives overlap for DG. In my opinion you generally have to shoot with what is in your hands at the time and passing rifles back and forth doesn't really work for me. Hence the all rounders have appeal to me as a "light". It seems to depend on how the hunt is put together and whether you may encounter DG after plains game etc.

The original post seemed more about how much overlap there is and how we may choose what's not the "best" for the intended purpose because it is a favourite. I do agree but the best differs and is what gives you confidence and is what you shoot well.

01 November 2016, 07:07

surestrike

.375H&H and a heavy. The .375 is never the wrong answer on anything, and can fill in for your heavy if it has an issue. As happened to me in 2008.

01 November 2016, 09:30

Saeed

Years ago, I used to take two rifles on safari.

One for big dangerous game, and one for everything else.

I have used several 270 wildcats, 7mm and 338 rifles for the lighter game animals.

I have used several 416 rifles for the big dangerous animals.

Then I found the magic formula.

The action screws came loose on my light rifle, and we did not have the right Alen key to tighten it.

I was missing very easy shots, and found out why.

We needed leopard bait, and were shooting impala for that.

4 impalas later, with 4 shots, range from 50 yards to over 430 yards, with a 375/404.

When I got home, I built an identical rifle for the 375/404, and never looked back.

Many of us have been hunting with these two for years, shooting everything on offer.

Works like magic.

One rifle. One load. One bullet.

01 November 2016, 14:56

drongo

Next safari a 375 H&H and a 12 gauge. The bird shooting is too good to ignore!

01 November 2016, 20:22

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
Mac,

I've never had a true one-rifle safari as I've always carried a light rifle. from a .375 to a .30-06. That said, I've actually shot exactly one impala with my light rifle. Missed a bushbuck with the light rifle one time at long range as well, which is one reason I don't use the light rifle much. I'd have made that shot with the .416 I think, even downhill at 300 yards.

My choice for a light/heavy is the 375H&H for the light and the heavy is usually a double rifle chambered for an over 400 cal. My reasoning is both are legal for dangerous game, and both have the ability to handle just about anything you run into.

quote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
I've taken three rifle batteries on safari, but I now think a two rifle is just fine.

Since the discussion is a 'light' and a 'heavy', I'll throw my 2 cents in. I really like the one(s) I've used the past two years: a 404 Jeffery (Heavy) and either a 338 WM or 35 Whelen (light). I could be just as happy with a 30-06, 338.06 or 9.3x62 for the light. Some day, that's exactly what I'll do, just to take something different!

Good hunting to all of you.

On the light rifle I see no reason to take a light rifle other than a 375H&H it being legal for the big boys, and if you can hit an animal with a 30-06 you can hit that same animal at the same distance with a a 375 H&H as the flight path of a 300 gr 375 bullet from a 375H&H rifle is identical to a 180 gr bullet from a 30-06, but is legal to take the big boys if something happens to your big rifle!

IMO, the perfect is a over 400 big bore, double or bolt and a 375H&H CRF bolt rifle with good iron sights, and a scope in quality “return to zero” quick detach rings and bases. These two will cover all bases from DIK DIK with a solid to elephant and soft point for larger plains game.

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02 November 2016, 04:53

H T

Have used a 270 & 308 Win as light rifles. Good enough, but limiting in reality. Have used 338 Win Mag, 375 H&H, 458 and 470 as heavies. 338 and 375 work like magic as to versatility. 375 will also do for dangerous game, especially if you are the client and not the PH needing a stopping rifle. Of course, I love my 470 double beyond reason and accordingly use it whenever possible.

However, I suggest a different slant might be worth considering, especially with the ability to use a 375 as an all around gun.

Years ago, my father hunted with a local surgeon from El Paso who had a pair of model 70 super grades in 375. The good doctor used those for elk, deer, moose, whatever for north American game. If something went awry with one of them, say a horse tumped over on one, he had a spare. Or if action screws came loose or a scope mount broke, he could either use the other rifle, or parts from either one to solve the problem. As I think about Africa and being away from a nearby source of parts, that makes a lot of sense to me.

Haven't tried it, but having a pair of 375s for Africa does have its logical appeal.

02 November 2016, 04:57

Opus1

But I only like the best calibers....

02 November 2016, 05:02

Fjold

After my first trip to Africa, I've only brought my 375 H&H. It works.

quote:
Originally posted by H T:

Haven't tried it, but having a pair of 375s for Africa does have its logical appeal.

Except in South Africa where you can't bring in two guns chambered for the same cartridge.

02 November 2016, 05:14

Ackley Improved User

For my next trip to Africa, I'm taking one gun, like I've alway done on seven previous trips.

One gun, one caliber fits all. No need for more.

It'll be the 375 Ackley Improved or 416 RUM, I haven't quite decided yet and the outcome will be the same.

Either will work just fine...that is, as long as I shoot straight.

02 November 2016, 05:22

dogcat

quote:
Originally posted by drongo:
Next safari a 375 H&H and a 12 gauge. The bird shooting is too good to ignore!

You have my idea!!!!

02 November 2016, 06:42

surefire7

quote:
Originally posted by MacD37:
quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
Mac,

I've never had a true one-rifle safari as I've always carried a light rifle. from a .375 to a .30-06. That said, I've actually shot exactly one impala with my light rifle. Missed a bushbuck with the light rifle one time at long range as well, which is one reason I don't use the light rifle much. I'd have made that shot with the .416 I think, even downhill at 300 yards.

My choice for a light/heavy is the 375H&H for the light and the heavy is usually a double rifle chambered for an over 400 cal. My reasoning is both are legal for dangerous game, and both have the ability to handle just about anything you run into.

quote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
I've taken three rifle batteries on safari, but I now think a two rifle is just fine.

Since the discussion is a 'light' and a 'heavy', I'll throw my 2 cents in. I really like the one(s) I've used the past two years: a 404 Jeffery (Heavy) and either a 338 WM or 35 Whelen (light). I could be just as happy with a 30-06, 338.06 or 9.3x62 for the light. Some day, that's exactly what I'll do, just to take something different!

Good hunting to all of you.

On the light rifle I see no reason to take a light rifle other than a 375H&H it being legal for the big boys, and if you can hit an animal with a 30-06 you can hit that same animal at the same distance with a a 375 H&H as the flight path of a 300 gr 375 bullet from a 375H&H rifle is identical to a 180 gr bullet from a 30-06, but is legal to take the big boys if something happens to your big rifle!

IMO, the perfect is a over 400 big bore, double or bolt and a 375H&H CRF bolt rifle with good iron sights, and a scope in quality “return to zero” quick detach rings and bases. These two will cover all bases from DIK DIK with a solid to elephant and soft point for larger plains game.

MacD37,

I agree with you completely about the 375, IF the heavy is 45 caliber or higher. For me, if I take a large medium, like a 416 or 404, I feel the medium 375 is too close to the same power level.

I have taken a 458 Lott and 375 H&H a couple of times to Africa and love the capabilities of the two, for the exact same reasons you described; a true heavy and an excellent medium.

With a large medium (411-440), I like a 'small or medium' medium (323-366). It's probably not as versatile as the 45/375 combo, which I too like, but hey, I have many rifles and calibers, and they talk to me from the safe asking, "so, when is it our turn to go?" How can a caring man turn them away?...

Enjoy your next safari!

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