The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting what caliber Plainsgame rifle?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I have read the threads and I am still just as confused as I was before. I'm going to Africa in 06 for Kudu, Zebra, oryx and some misc. animals (plains game). My problem is settling on the right caliber. I live in Ohio and rifles are not aloud for hunting except 22's for squirrels. My primary game will be deer but caribou and maybe an elk trip down the road. I have in mind 300 wsm model 70, 30'06, and at the far end a 375 H&H. I know its a question that has been asked alot but any information or ideas will be greatly appreciated. | ||
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Opening the 'can of worms' again. Just get a 300 win mag and call it a day. | |||
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I am not sure why you are confused becuase this is pretty straight forward any upper end deer rifle will work just fine... I wouldn't even go with a 300 win mag...i would get a 30-06 and be done with it Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Bayou, Since you cannot use a rifle in your home state, that means ANY time you are rifle hunting you will be a long way from home. I recommend a 300 Win Mag. You have the choice from 150 grain bullets to 200 grain premium bullets to match the game you are hunting. Also now there are factory "reduced" loads for close range deer hunting if you do not reload. I can HIGHLY recommend the Blaser R 93. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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Another vote for the .300 Win Mag. Regards, Terry  Msasi haogopi mwiba [A hunter is not afraid of thorns] | |||
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Plainsgame? .270 - - - - - that's all it takes!!  One shot - - - - One Kill!!!  "America's Meat - - - SPAM" As always, Good Hunting!!! Widowmaker416 | |||
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30-06 for 2006. You'll be fine with any of them. The 375 H&H is a classic and fun to shoot, the 300 win mag a good choice, but for here and there, the 30-06 will serve you well. It offers more bullet choices and has less recoil and muzzle blast. I've killled all the animals you mention, in both North America and Africa, using an '06 with 180 grain Nosler Partitions by Federal Premium. "There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark | |||
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All the suggestions are good. A 30-06 or .300 Mag will do nicely. ______________________ Age and Treachery Will Always Overcome Youth and Skill | |||
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My 2 cents... 300 Mag or 300 WSM. I know the 30-06 will get it done in Africa, but the 300 carries 30-06 ballistics for another 100 + yards which may not mean much on deer size animals or even elk at under 200 yards but for long shots on tough African game like zebra or wildebeest, I want the extra punch. I used my 300 WSM on everything from springbuck to eland with good results. At this time, there are several excellent loads for the WSM, but you might choose the regular 300 mag if you want more choices. Really, I think you can use almost any caliber on plains game with success as long as you know and understand the limitations of the ballistics and practice enough to put the whole in the right spot. And of course you need to know where that spot is. Invest in lots of time at the range. | |||
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While you did not mention it I'd recommend the 338 Winchester Mag if you're not too sensitive to recoil . If you are, then by all means get the 30-06 and never look back. Either one has a bullet weight and construction for all but the dangerous stuff and the 338 will handle all but the thick skined beasts as well.I still have a 300H&H mag more for nostalgia than any practical reason and do take it hunting now and then. I'm one of those who believes that if the 30-06 isn't enough gun then jump to the 338WM. | |||
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From another Ohio hunter (man I hate using a shotgun) I deer hunt in WV because I can use centerfire rifle. I went through this exercise a couple of years back. Still haven't been to Africa or outside WV to hunt with it but I bought a 338 winnie and love it. Very accurate recoil isn't as bad as my uncles ruger 300 win, and makes a bigger hole to boot. just my .02 gabe It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! | |||
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Another .300 Win Mag fan here. Not only is factory ammo available for it from 150 to 200 grains, but you buy it anywhere in the world. Chances are your PH will have some left over from someone else's hunt. The .300WSM will do pretty much the same things, but ammo is not widely distributed yet. On the other hand, you will get few arguments against the .30-06. The .338 Win Mag is a great round, but begins at 180 grains, and has more recoil than some guys want. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ | |||
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No need for confusion. A trainload of everything you're hunting has been taken with every known caliber from 6.5X54 to 375. The sweet spot would be something between and including the 30-06 and 340 Weatherby. Personally, I'd go with a 300 Win Mag, or a 300 H&H if you want to be a bit more of a traditionalist. Either will handle the heavier bullets a bit better than the 300 WSM. ______________________________ "Truth is the daughter of time." Francis Bacon | |||
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As posted on a reply to the same question in "Big Game Hunting" for kudu, springbok and every other animal with premium bullets the 30-06 will get the job done. Zebra and Gemsbok are tough animals and I will use a 338 WM next trip. Trajectory like a 30-06 with more punch & pounding. Premium bullets and practice, practice, practice. Have a superb hunt. You will love Africa. Prayer, planning, preperation, perseverence, proper procedure, and positive attitude, positively prevents poor performance. | |||
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300 win mag or 300 wsm all pretty good shoot all day calibers. All plains game I have seen fall to 300 magnum cartridges if they are placed correctly. Eland to Springbok they all go down. I have a comment to make though, use premium bullets where you can. Standard bullets do not take magnum velocities to well and combine that with a tough skinned animal like a wildebeest or zebra and you may have some fragmentation problems. I have acquired a 30-06 to shoot only standard ammo at a maximum limit of 200m, to test that theory the next hunt. I am quite sure the 06 will do the job using 150-180 grainers, the 300win mag does allow one greater confidence at ranges above 250. please also note that 338win, 338 lapua,300 wsm and several other cartridges are not commonly available in africa. 30-06 is very common and 300 win mag and 7mm rem mag all pretty ok on over the counter availibilty.( I don't reload) good luck and happy hunting TM "one of the most common african animals is the common coolerbok(or coleman's coolerbok). Many have been domesticated and can be found in hunting camps, lodges and in the back of vehicles." | |||
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I'm taking a 270 Weatherby. | |||
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A 300 WSM is all it takes. I've taken over 35 animals in Africa with it. Shes not to pretty anymore but she never fails me. Global Sportsmen Outfitters, LLC Bob Cunningham 404-802-2500  | |||
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Good choice Chuckwagon. I don't own one, never have, I bought a 270wsm and now wish I'd bought a weatherby. As to the question at hand. I used a 30-06 on our trip to Namibia and a 300wsm in South Africa. I like the 300 better but I've been playing with a 338win and I'm starting to like it even more. On the other hand, my wife used a 270win with Barnes X bullets on both trips without any problems  Really, any deer rifle from 270 to 338 will do just fine. Enjoy, have fun  ______________________ | |||
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Another vote for the .300 Win. Mag. Just cant go wrong with one. Regards Carl Exercise makes you look good naked, so does bourbon.....You decide | |||
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Think about the calibres that kill out of proportion to their size. All have long, heavy bullets that penetrate like mad at moderate velocity. Load a 30-06 with any bullet over 180 grains and you are in business. I believe Woodleigh even makes 220 grain solids and softs. While the 300 win. mag. offers extra range, I prefer to hunt. Just get closer. JMHO, JohnTheGreek | |||
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Another vote for .338win. It's got all of what the .300 has plus a larger, heavier bullet. It's nice to have the extra range for some of the plains game shots. Les | |||
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My sons and I used the following - .243 Win, .270 Win, .280 Rem., .300 Win Mag., 7mm Rem Mag. All did the job. Used .243 on Kudu without issue. .270 on Wildebeast, .280 on Kudu also. Shoot what you shoot the straightest. | |||
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300 Winny and don't look back.  Good shooting.phurley | |||
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Dear Bayou Where are you going to hunt next year? If you are not recoil shy the 300 WM is an excellent caliber for long range shooting altough on kudu, zebra and oryx is performing not better of an accurate 270 shooting premium bullets, that is far more sensible choice. If you are going to hunt in the bush the 300 is quite useless and you will do far better with a 9.3x62 or similar caliber. Andrea Sandri-Boriani | |||
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I'm headed to Namibia for plains game hunting, and I bought a 300 Win Mag for this trip. I am also planning to get a 375 H&H for future hunts. Caleb | |||
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I'll be hunting a similar bag this summer. I'll probably go with the 375 because I have it, shoot it well and have confidence in it and this IS Africa we're talking about. Absent the 375 I wouldn't hesitate to take either my 30-06 or 300 WM instead. I've used all 3 on plainsgame and been happy with each. Anything from 30-06 up to 375 will put a smile on your PH's face. I suggest that you consider how recoil sensitive you are. Within this caliber range your ability to shoot well is more important than which caliber you choose. The 30-06 can be shot well by anyone. In my opinion the 375 is next. It recoils more but the force is more of a push than a sharp slap. 300 wim mag recoils less than the 375, but it is a sharp slap rather than a push. It also is loud which can be diconcerting, on the other hand it holds it's trajectory farther than the other two. The best thing to do is try them out first. If possible try a friends gun. You may have difficulty finding a 375 but I'm sure you know someone who has a 30-06 and a 300 WM that you can try. Once you experience them you will have an idea of which works for you. If they all work, an African hunt is a great excuse to by the classic african gun....a 375H&H. | |||
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I´d go with the .375 -you might as well get it now. The .338 is probably also a good choice. | |||
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Lots of good suggestions, yet the central question is how well you handle recoil?? Maybe you don't know, not having been much around rifles until now. I seriously think you should try to establish that BEFORE you plunk down your hardearned cash on this rifle or that. A .300 Mag (WSM, Win, Wby etc) is a great gun, but only if you can shoot it. So have a friend take you to the range, and figure out whether you are comfortable with the recoil level a .300 generates. Wear a PAST recoil pad and top flight hearing protection. If that works fine, and you can shoot it well, the .300 is a fine choice. Otherwise, the .30-06 or the .270 Win are great alternatives, that will kill just as well, with less fuss. Personally, I would not get a .338 if you are intending to bring a .375 H&H as your heavier rifle. They are just too close. Mostly, it is the medium rifle, one shoots the most - unless one shoots everything with the .375 H&H, which is also an option. So make sure you feel comfortable with that caliber as well. Finally, whatever you decide to bring: practice, practice and practice some more! If you have not shot rifles before, it is high time to start. Have a great trip - mike ********************* The rifle is a noble weapon... It entices its bearer into primeval forests, into mountains and deserts untenanted by man. - Horace Kephart | |||
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Bayou, I use a .308 Win for such animals, usually with a 180 grain premium bullet such as the Winchester FailSafe. I shoot a .308 because it is enough gun, and that is what my rifle came in.  One of the .300s with a 180 grain good bullet will work for you: .308, .30-'06 or .300 Mag your choice or perhaps depending on the rifle you want to buy. jim if you're too busy to hunt,you're too busy. | |||
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The nice thing about .308 and 30-06 is that you can find ammo. In fact, you can find .308 ammo at the local police station. Just barter some meat. | |||
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I've killed the animals you mention with everything from a 7mm Remington Mag to a .375 H&H Mag. and have come to believe that the .338 Winchester Mag. is best suited for them. Other calibers will do the job on these animals, but the .338 Winchester Mag. is the best tool, IMO. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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I used a 375 with 260 gr Nosler accubonds and it worked great. If you already have a 375 and are sure you shoot it comfortably, you can't go wrong with it, it's authoritative. If you don;t already have one, a 300 mag with heavy bullets would be my choice. Zebra are stout; tons have been killed with 30-06's and the such, but I liked the extra margin in the 375. Try one out if you have a chance, but main thing is to know that you're extra comfortable with the recoil. Whatever you buy, do lots of practice offhand and off shooting sticks. Bob | |||
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IMO a .280 Rem is a low end and the .375 H&H is a high end gun.....any of these and anything in between is a good choice.....I, too, like the .300 mags!! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Good luck on your hunt. The answer is simple. You need to get TWO rifles just in case something happens to one. Get a 300WSM and a 375 H&H. Done!!! | |||
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I have found the 338 Win to be the best all around plainsgame rifle...but a 06 or 300 magnum of any kind will get the job done..I like the 200 gr. Noslers in the 300s and 180s in the 06.....My 300 is a 300 H&H, I like that long neck for my favored 200 gr. bullets... Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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You already have enough opinions on calibers. FWIW, I thought I would mention that Ohio has plenty of shooting ranges that will allow you to get some practice under your belt before heading over. For ranges that might be near you, browse at: http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/findlocal.asp?State=OH Good luck, Doug | |||
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I do alot of shooting, mostly shotguns and pistols. The only rifle I use is a 22-250 for coyotes and it doesn't kick much at all. I do believe in a lot of practice to come aquainted with my fire arms. Buffalo will not be on the list for my trip but maybe down the road a few years. Just looking for a great rifle for deer and the occasional bigger bodied animal like caribou and elk. Of course there are different opinions but if you don't ask, you won't know. Trying to get a a selection down for a blue collar worker with a sweet spot for fire arms. This is truly the best site I have run accross and it is a wealth of information. Thanks | |||
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Bayou, where are you located. My guess is farther away from me than a convenient drive (I am 2 hours away from everything :-)), but if you would be interested in shooting a couple to determine your recoil tolerance I currently have a .338, a .458, and am working on a deal for an 06. So I think I could cover the spectrum of recoil that you would see in any of the above mentioned rifles. gabe It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! | |||
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Bayou Speak to your PH as to the type of hunting your undertaking. If its long shots of say 200 yds +, then a 300 win mag. If its in the bush were distances are restricted to 100 yds max then a 30-06 with a minimum bullet weight of 180 gns covers all plains game. This year I am taking my 375 H+H for plains game and I have downloaded the 300 gn woodleigh SP to 2300 fps as we are are hunting in thick bush. Therefore if you are going to hunt Africa frequently but keeping away from the real big nasties then a 24" 0.375 H+H Mauser action with QD mounts on a 1.75-6X scope with QD mounts and QD sling is perfect. In summary a larger calibre, bullets with a good sectional density of 0.3+ , moderate velocites and moderate distances make good hunting. Mark Hunting is getting as close as you can, shooting is getting as far away as possible. | |||
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