I am going to Namibia June 10-20 for my first African hunt. I also am going to Montana in Nov. for my first Elk hunt. Right now I own 1 rifle .280 Rem which is very accurate and which I have shot for years, I also handload. My PH says load it up with 175gr A-frames and come on no problems. I will be after Kudu, 2 Gemsbok, Zebra and Eland plus other smaller critters. I have some reservations, I do not want to limit myself to broadside shots only, which I think I would with the 280. Plus with the upcoming Elk hunt I feel the 280 is on the small side for both trips.

I would like nothing better than to take it and go on, but do not want to spend my time in Africa tracking. I am thinking about a 338-06 or 338 Win Mag. load it up with heavy bullets and go hunting. Only reservation is it has double the recoil of my 280. I do not want to develop a flinch or make a poor shot because of this.

Would like to hear from guys who have shot elk and/or been to Africa.

Thank you,

Wayne

Having only made one safari, I am certainly not an expert. But having killed both elk and African plains game with a 30/06 and 7x57, the name of the game is shot placement. The Aframes should provide you with all the penetration you need. Study "The Perfect Shot" until you can recite it in your sleep and practice shooting of shooting sticks until you are comfortable, can call your shots, and place them where they need to be. The only questionable animal would be the eland. Never having shot one, I would suggest you follow the advice of your PH. Have fun and good hunting. Jerry Hoover

I went on my first last September. I took my 338-06AI with Barnes 225 XFB bullets. Shot everything you're after except eland. All one shot kills but did not recover any bullets...all pass throughs.

It might be wise to take two rifles just in case something goes wrong with one of them. I took a 25-06 for the smaller antelopes.

Believe me, YOU won't be doing any of the tracking. You have paid for local bushmen to do it for you. They have a stellar reputation.

I would say the 338 Winnie would be great for both. For me the 280 Rem is a little small for African animals which seem to be a lot tougher then their US counterparts. If you are recoil sensitive stick with the 280 and it will serve you very well but the 338 sure makes a few other shots plausible and safe that couldn't otherwise be taken. If you do decide to switch make sure you have enough time with the new rifle to get comfortable with it.

Ok, here is my 2c worth. Having been to Africa a couple times & owning a .280 & .338-06, if you have time to get to know a new rifle, then by all means take a .338-06 or .338wm. I would feel ok hunting elk or African plainsgame w/ a good 175gr bullet in the .280 but you will have to limit your shots on zebra & definetly eland. June is only 6mos out & for me, not enough time to get to know a .338wm. A .338-06 w/ 210gr NP will handle everything you want to hunt & be a bit softer on recoil. Trajectory of the .280/175gr & .338-06/210gr would be very close, allowing you to practice more w/ the light rifle. I would take both BTW, never know what can happen when traveling across the pond.

My personal opinion is that the .338 is the best all around plains game cartridge. However, that is provided the shooter can shoot it well. I think most PH's would rather have a client that can shoot a 280 confidently than a client that flinches with a 338.

I would not hesitate to hunt plainsgame with a 280 loaded with 175 grain premium bullets. Placement and penetration are more important than caliber. On my last safari, my son and I took a 338 and a 264. Loaded with 140 grain Barnes XLC's, the 264 easily dropped kudu, zebra, hartebeest, wildebeest, gemsbok, and more.

But I would never tell someone not to buy another gun for a coming hunt. I have used that reasoning myself more than once. But if that's the case, get the gun soon and get a lot of practice with it.

The 280 and 338 are 2 of my favorite calibers. They also make a great 2 gun combination for all North American big game.

Just for interest sake, I realy dont think a 280 is a good idea for Eland. I've seen many Eland take 3 perfect shots with a 30/06 and still walk more than 2km before it dies, and when you skin it you see there is no heart and very little lungs left, but it still went that far, so I would say it's a no no on the 280 for the Eland. Other game maybe okey with good vital shots, but you will probably have to track a couple of 100m for each animal. The game in africa are tough.

I really wanted a larger gun anyway so what does everybody think of this one. Probaly paid too much but I wanted it and other things I have wanted slipped by for a few lousy bucks.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?item=41400448

Thanks for every one who posted AR is great. I will most likely take both guns and use the 338 for the Eland and Zebra. Now I have to buy a scope, sling, reloading dies cleaning supplies and all that other fun stuff. Glad I don't play golf my house and garage are full now.

Thanks again,

Wayne

Good choice my friend!

Nice looking rifle!

I just aquired a M70 Pre64 338-06 so I can't say as to the performace on game yet. But I've killed an elk and few animals with my 280 and my wife aslo shot one. I've killed more than a truckload of elk with a 7mm rem mag with modest handloads that are just a touch faster than my 280 will poop out. That is my main elk rifle, well now that I have this 338-06 she'll be my number 2.

As far as African game performace and the 280, I only shot the little stuff, bushbuck, impala, warthog and it was more than adequate, my wife however shot a very nice blue widebeest with it and 160 accubonds. It was a quartering away shot and the bullet was found lodged under the hide on the point of the opposite shoulder. The shot was from about 125 yards and she got probaly close to 30" of penitration! Result... 75 yard run and one very dead bull!

I shot the 'big' stuff, kudu and gemsbuck with my 375, just made me feel more confidant to know that I could send out a THS and not worry about it. As a matter of fact I did just that on my kudu. He had taken one in the ribs and it broke the off side shoulder we later found out, but as he turned to run I put one right up the pucker hole! I woudln't have even thought about taking that shot with the 280 that we brought or the 7mm for that matter.

I think you'll be more than satisfied with that 338! I've never handeled that particular model in that caliber, but it looks very similar to my 375, I'll bet its about a pound heavier than the standard M70 so that should help take a substancial 'bite' out of the recoil!

Good luck, I hope you have a great hunt(s)!!!

Montana
The 280 is very light in Eland, which can weight out over a ton. Zebra and Kudu are easily elk size and tough to knock down once you get them fired up. If you do take the 280 make sure you have a well constructed bullet that will hold together. On those bigger critters broad side shots behind the shoulder would serve you but still a bit risky. Not that you can't get the job done but keep in mind your there on a limited number of days and you do not want to be chasing a wounded eland for 3 days and loosing hunt time. Case in point, had a client a few years back shooting a 300 Win mag at a wounded zebra at only maybe 50 yards, Shooting it from the back side as we were trying to get it down, he hit it, maybe 5 times from the rear and none of the bullets made it throuh the stomach area, stopping in the stomach contents and never making it to the heart and lung area. In that case a 375 with solids would have done the job. If you shoot the 280 very well, take it but know your limits, I would opt for something more in the 300 win to 338 class.
Don

That's a fine choice. I shot kudu, Hartmann's zebra, gemsbok, hartebeest, and springbok with my Winchester M70 in .338 Win. It worked great. Take along your .280 as a backup and/or for the smaller species and have a good hunt.

Just my two cents worth, I was very impressed with the handloaded 280 my dad took with him to Namibia. We used 160 grain XLC's and he got full penetration on Gemsbok, Hartebeest and Springbok. I personally would not try eland, but that is only an opinion. He shot his Kudu and his Steenbuck with his 375 H&H. Shot placement is everything. The 160 grain bullet is very long and in a premium bullet should hold together and punch quite a good hole. We were all very impressed with the 280, and that's coming from somone who wouldn't have thought about using anything smaller than a 35 whelen on whitetail. I still like my larger diameter bullets, but I can see a spot for a 280 in my safe at some point. I have a 338 UM and its a great gun, it does serious damage to animals. Have a great adventure!

Montana,

I think you'll be very happy with the 338WM. With a good premium bullet you can take a shot from just about any angle on plains game and not have to worry about reaching the vitals. The 338 has served me very well in Alaska and Africa on all manner of game from springbok to eland and moose.

Mark

Montana,

I have hunted Namibia extensively and in my opinion the number one most important thing in Africa is your bullet. I always recommend to all my clients bring the gun you are most comfortable with and trust. My choice is Barnes X, or Swift A frame. I have seen clients taking 3 buffalo this year with me with Swift A Frame in 375.

If you are sure that you will not develop a nasty flinch, which I have seen with many 338 hunters I would say it is a an excellent calibre.

I hunted Namibia last May with 338 WM using Federal 250 NPs. Shots ranged from 75-225 yards.The only time I had probelms was with my ability with shot placement. I took a zebra, springbuck, gemsbok and kudu with the 338. I never felt any recoil with my adrenaline pumping even when I had to take a second shot. Take the 338 with good ammo and don't worry.
John

Hi
I would say 30-06 minimum for the Eland with 180 grn Barnes or Swift A frames,300 win mag is better and bigger even better.
280 with premium bullets will do fine for the other game.Good shot placement,little bit of luck and I think you will have a hunt of your life.Damn I miss Namibia.
Be safe ,shoot straight and enjoy it.
Johan

I have been a western hunter for my whole life, but never hunted Africa until August of this year.

I borrowed a really piss poor old and beaten 308 Musgrave from the PH. It got the job done, but I would have preferred my own rifles I have a 338 R93 with a Zeiss.

I reccomend you use the rifle your familiar with.

If you know someone that owns a 338, 8mm Mag, 350 Rem mag or something in that range, I would ask them to borrow it and see if it's something you can live with.

Your 280 that you shoot all the time will be better than the 338 you never shoot because you dont like the recoil.