Off to Africa in July
Namibia again and then Zim for buffalo
I was invited to go by former biz partner and his son who have been on safari before.
Now I have taken most of my game with the old 30/06-180 grn.Nosler combo some with my 9.3x62-286 grn. combo and my buffalo with .416 RM-350 grn Barnes X.
Add to the above a Rem. pump in 35 Whelen, Ruger 77 in 338 WM and I just purchased a 50's era Sako/FN caliber 300H&H.
Question is: for the plains game part what to use and take?

35 Whelen, 9.3x62, 300 H&H or 338 W.M.?

The buffalo will be shot with .416 or 458 so that is not the question.
Which one of the others would you take provided they all will shoot the 8" pie plate well at 200 yards? It will all be factory ammo with top brand optics on top.
I took a Browning lever rifle in 7/08 with 2.5-8 Leupold and 140 grn. bullets to Namibia in 2000 and it killed stuff plenty good. That is why I got the pump 35 W as I grew up on the 870 pump shotgun. While I know they (pumps) go to Africa I have never seen one there while I was there. Just something different.
And your pick is????

Any of the four will do the job on plains game. Will the game include eland? If so, I'd lean toward the 9.3 or at least the .338. If not, take the one you shoot the best.

On my first Safari I took a Browning 338. It was used on everything from Duiker to Kudu. I dont think you could go wrong with any of your choices.

Good luck and enjoy your safari

I'd take the Sako 300 H&H and if for eland 220 Nosler

I would lean towards the 9.3x62, just because it is such a classic African cartridge, it is easy to shoot and it has been getting it done for a long, long time.

Yes, Plains Game in Namibia can go from Dik-Dik to Eland, so which ever is on your plate, let that be your determining factor. I'd do a 300 H&H.

Considering the trophy fees that have to be paid if wounded and lost, might as well take the 9.3x62 and kill them twice as dead as the 30-06.

I would recommend you take the 9,3x62, with a Dozen or so 298gr Woodleigh Solids...

As baised on my use of the 9,3x74R, the 9,3x62 can step up and work pretty good on the big stuff, cape buff, elephant, etc., if necessary...

Harry,

I like the 35 Whelen....


Mike

Another vote for the 9,3 X 62 though the ranges can be longer in Namibia.

Having just returned from a plains game hunt I would take the Classic 300H&H. Run 200gr Barnes TSX and have at them. It will shoot flatter and hit them just fine.

I used a 8x68S on my larger plains game including a big Eland and had zero complaints.

Hard to beat a 338 or 300 paired up with your 416.

If the 30-06 and 180 gr ammo has worked well in the past,not surprising as it has been working on PG for 100 yrs, why not stick with the 30-06?

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
If the 30-06 and 180 gr ammo has worked well in the past,not surprising as it has been working on PG for 100 yrs, why not stick with the 30-06?

Very, very good advice. I have used the 9.3x62 and .308 on PG and your .30-06 with 180's would be my pick.

I like the Whelen, just make sure that pump-action is legally OK for use in Namibia and Zim.

I would use the .338; you can always shoot the eland with a .416 - it is flat enough for 200 yards. I practice with mine out to 300 plus just in case.

If it was me, I would take my 9.3X62....but only because I have one!

300 H&H

quote:

Originally posted by Harry:
Off to Africa in July
Namibia again and then Zim for buffalo

To me, it would depend on where in Namibia you are going, and what plains game is on the menu. Parts of Namibia (such as the Kalahari desert) offer looooong range shooting. Other parts are much more like Zimbabwe in that shots (on average) are considerably shorter.

If your hunting destination offers a lot of long range shooting, the .300 H&H or the .338 Win Mag get the nod. Otherwise pick the one you feel most comfortable with. The .30-06/180 grs NP is a classic choice and hard to argue with, but any of the calibers you mention will do the job.

- mike

the 9,3x62 is indeed a classic African cartridge, but it made the biggest name for itself as a bushveld cartridge because of its excellent penetration on large game and little meat damage due to lower velocities and heavy bullets. It depends on the terrain you will hunt in Namibia, but I'd probably pick the .338 as it will do very well for longer ranges and as a bushveld cartridge in Zim if you load sensibly with 225gr or 250gr bullets. A good combination with your .416 or .458 IMHO

300 H&H and 180 grian partitions.

what happens if the airlines break your 416? take the 9.3

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
what happens if the airlines break your 416? take the 9.3

The above is a real consideration!

How about a 470NE double and a 375 H&H CRF bolt!

IMO, your light rifle should always be legal to take the place of your big rifle just in case! The 9.3X62 or the 300 H&H are both true African rifles, and I think in Zim both are legal for Buffalo, as I think 7mm Mag is minimum. I'd check to be sure though.

.338! Will kill everything!

Once bought an old pre 64 Model 70 - Guy from Mexico city was original owner...Said he went to Africa in the early 70s and shot 26 animals in 27 shots! included Buffalo and lion...

I've always thought of the .338 as a .375 "lite" - fantastic caliber with 220 grainers!

JW

With the wide open spaces of Namibia and the possibility to stretch a barrel, I would opt for the .300 H&H. I've done a .375 and .338 in Namibia and if I repeated that hunt would carry a .300...

All of the above are excellent comments. Shoot what you shoot best. My personal choice is 30-06 (165 grain Swift A Frame) and 416 Rem Mag 400 grain Swift A Frame and A-square solids).

The .338 Win. Mag. is my favorite large plains game cartridge, so I'd go with that. It really whacks 'em.

The 9.3x62 would be my second choice, of those you list. Love those big bullets.

Sounds like a great trip, Harry.

Good hunting and good shooting!

For what it is worth: I have killed all my plains game, including eland, with my 30-06 with 180g a-frame bullets; did just fine.

I appreciate the responses from you all.
I love my old '06 and seldom leave it home but most likely I will this trip. I took the 9.3x62 to RSA in 2002. My son and I took both the black and blue wildebeest and he took his kudu with it. The other animals were shot with the old faithful 30/06-180 Nosler combo.
Before going on this 2002 safari we took both the 9.3 x 62 Husky and the Ruger 77 in 3338WM to the range. We only had Norma 286 grn. ammo for the 9.3 but we had 210 & 225's for the 338. This was our first experience with either caliber or these rifles. The 9.3 grouped some better and the felt recoil was much softer. The two rifles measure the same and one is 2 ounces heavier soooo...the 338 stayed home and the 9.3 went.
Now I have never fired a shot in anger with the pump 35 Whelen but the few shots I have fired are 'ouch'..the lighter rifle weight does nothing for the recoil of the two bullet weights I have for it. The old Sako/FN in 300 H&H I just bought and I have yet to shoot it but I love the long sleek cartridge and everyone that I talk to that has a 300 H&H has no interest in getting rid of theirs. A couple of my pals have more than one. (I have five 30/06 so they seem sane to me!)My beautiful Dakota .416 has never been fired in anger. I took my buffalo using Geo. Hoffman's rifle in TZ and then came home and ordered my Dakota.
At the moment I am leaning towards the 9.3 and I would love to take the 300 H&H as I think of it as a true African caliber. Like most of you..I don't see how I could go wrong very far no matter which one I take. I am just tryin carry one rifle only and something that I feel will take care of Mr. Buffalo. Seems to me that bullet construction and placement is still what gets the job done no matter the size.
Your thoughts still most welcome and appreciated. Someone will always bring up a point you may not have considered.
Better tomorrows and please send big rains to Texas!

I have taken both a 338 and a 9.3 on plains game hunts and I am with the 9.3 bunch. I can get around 2600 with 250 Nosler Accu-Bonds (just about what I can get with my .338 Win)and right at 2400 with the 286s of various brands. This gives me a relatively flat shooting 250 and a real thumper with the 286s.

I've killed everything from Duiker to Eland with my .300wm, so your .300H&H will also. I've also killed Eland with my .416Rem and must say it was much more effective on the big critter than was the 300wm.

Were I you, I would take the .300 and the .416, that's the combo I have taken on more than a half-dozen of my safaris. While I prefer my .458Lott on Ele and Buff, the 416 will do for both quite nicely, while the 300 will handle everything other than most of the DG - it is excellent on Leopard BTW.

quote:

Originally posted by R. Gunn:
...I can get around 2600 with 250 Nosler Accu-Bonds (just about what I can get with my .338 Win)and right at 2400 with the 286s of various brands. This gives me a relatively flat shooting 250 and a real thumper with the 286s.

R. Gunn, what powder do you use, may I ask? Just curious...

I appreciate the responsed. I think it will come down to the 9.3x62 or the 300 H&H. I have yet to shoot the 300 so don't know how it will group. Too dang hot in Texas to venture outside.
16 days straight with 100 degree temps and two of those were 105 and one was 107. A fella could most likley just put the ammo on the ground and let it cook off...no worry about recoil nor cleaning the bbl. doing it that way
Guess I will just have to take more safaris so I can shoot the other guns.
What a wonderful problem to have.
Better tomorrows to all.