Hi all,

I'm not sure whether this question should be asked here or whether I should search for the Africa-Lite Forum.

My cousin and I are looking at a 7 to 10 day "safari" in the Eastern Cape.

I am looking for mainly the biggish antelope, with an Eland (kud, wildebeest, hartebeest).

I am determined that I will be using my 9.3x62 - but my bullet choices are Woodleigh 250gr PP and Nosler 250gr Accubond. Hodgdon specs for the powders I can get are not great - and those are the powders I can actually get.

What say you?

Actually what's the concensus on the bullet choice?

The 250 Accubond in a 9,3 x 62 will be perfect for a plains game safari, they generally shoot well and hold together nicely

With good shot placement they will be more than adequate for any African plainsgame, large or small

Have you emailed woodleigh directly? I emailed them a list of powders I had on hand for a particular bullet/cartridge and they provided me with data that I had not seen before. Worked quite nicely.

Bren, have you tried looking up Hodgdons website directly?

If you can't do that, which powders do you have access to? I can look the data up on your behalf if needed.

Africa-Lite !? In my books you are a heavyweight if you are planning a hunt in Africa. You will have a wonderful time. I have hunted the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

I will offer some comments intended to be helpful so that you will have the best experience possible. Some of my comments are controversial.

The Eastern Cape:

Great/beautiful country, so book some extra days to see the towns, parks and country. Ask me if you want any tips there.

Much of the ground is very rockey, and the walking can be tough.

Some hunting operations there are different than in Limpopo, in that you have get out on the highway and drive for a long ways to a "game pasture". I was on a hunt there where we spent several hours a day sitting in a truck, roaring up and down the highway. If that is what you like, go with Two Waters Safari. They have a nice new lodge built near a local pub on the highway.

In some Eastern Cape hunting you will have long shots. Ask your PH ahead of time. Know where to hold your rifle at 250 yds.+ in some cases.

Bullet selection.

Woodleigh bullets are excellent I am told.

The accubond bullet is very popular. But not with me. It actually won't make much difference with your nice 9.3x62. Also, your impact velocity with the weights that you suggest may be low enough that the Accubond will hold together ok.

But here is the deal. In spite of it's popularity the accubond does not hold together as well as other comparable bullets at higher velocities. Swift bullets are much better. In fact, many bullets are better as far a terminal performance is concerned. ( There is a post here on AR where the guy praises the terminal performance of AB bullets and to make his point he posts picture of recovered bullets. The bullets he shows have lost almost 505% of their weight. Go figure.) But again, it is not a deal breaker with your excellent calibre on plains game and the likely impact velocities. This is just my opinion and I am only trying to be helpful. What ever bullet you use you will have a great hunt. Good luck and please post some photos when you return. Brian

I also wouldn't call it wimpy hunting, but the lodging is so nice you may forget you are in a hunting camp in the Eastern Cape.

I agree the ground is pretty rocky and most spots are a bit hilly. The walking can be rough...and it is chilly in June-July.

As to the rifle caliber, I see no problem with a 9.3 on the bigger animals for terminal performance. Some shooting may be a bit longer ranged, if you are shooting at Rhebok or springbok, which may be an issue for you.

Bullet choice, I am one of the odd ones out in that my experience for what I have done, the Accubond doesn't shoot as well as plain old partitions. In any case, a 250 grain bullet will work fine for eland, and the rest of your choices are really not that big. Anything you would use on stag will work fine. Just chose whatever shoots in your rifle more accurately. I don't have much experience with woodleighs, but any premium quality game bullet will be fine (I wouldn't use Bergers or Ballistic tips on eland) A frames, partitions, bear claws, TSX or TTSX, all are fine choices that I have used.

Velocity wise, animals really can't tell 200 FPS difference, so if it shoots well, don't worry about max velocities...

You will have fun out there!

Very good advice from crbutler. Brian

Bren,

i do not know if you tried but the australian varget ar2208 i think is working greatly with the 9.3x62.

with the woodleigh in 250 grains and 9.3x62 i prefer the rn but that is just me.

for the rest you will have fun for sure.

I would go with the Woodleigh. I have hunted with 250 grain bullets in my 9.3 with good results but I was using A-Frame and Barnes. You will have no trouble killing the animals you pursue with that bullet.

Thank you all, gentlemen.

I will be addressing your posts individually later, but keep it coming, please.

Mate, as far as I'm aware, the Hogden powders are often re stamped ADI (Aus Defence Industry) powders so ideally just match to AR2208 and I would go the Woodleigh RN in 286grn

You could also take your components and load there. South Africa's Somchem powders are excellent and there is quite a variety.

In my opinion either will be fine. A 180 grain partition fired from a 30-06 or .300 magnum will easily dispatch any of this game.

Thanks for all the advice.

Just a few things:

• I know I don't NEED a 9.3 and that a .30-06 would do, but my 9.3 is new
• I will not be taking components and reloading there, because of load development time and space. and I seriously doubt that the local S335, S355 and S365 will give me anything the ADI powders don't
• If I was to hunt in the Bushveld, I'd just load up Woodleigh 286 gr RN and call it good
• The only useful (for 9.3)powders I can reliably get here are AR2206H (H4895), AR2208 (Varget) and AR2209 (H4350) - no Re17's no IMR - except for 8208

Since distances are difficult to forecast for the Eastern Cape - dense thickets along the caost to MMFA (miles and miles of fuck all) in the Karoo, I feel that a more streamlined bullet than the Woodleigh RN is needed, for the long shots, but able to hit and anchor at short range.

To this end, I will look up loads in the Woodleigh reloading manual (for the 250gr PP) as well as what the Nosler manual says and then Hodgdon or ADI for the other info - always wise to cross-reference.

I think you have a fair idea of where I'm coming from now.

Thanks all.


<<Please note, I have edited and changed a few things above>>

I load my 9.3X62 Mauser with 286 Gr Lapua Megas (not too dissimilar to the Woodleighs), 250 gr TSX and cheaper Hornady for plinking.

AR 2208 (Varget) is the perfect powder for this cartridge.

PM me with your email and I will send you lots of info including some good articles from older magazines.

I also have some info on bullet tests done in Australia a few years ago for which I contributed a little.

I have not hunted africa seriously (just a bird hunt).

I my research I found that East cape is unique & great fun.

If you are looking for big Kudu, Eland etc. I would seriously consider Tholo in Botswana.

Tholo in Botswana fits your bill. Same price as the Eastern Cape and bit more wild.

So does Kowas in Namibia. Great place with a lot of animals. Guns go into Namibia with no hassle.

I'm Glad that people are suggesting different places to hunt. The Eastern Cape is the first place that I would go for touring great country with lots of history, but it is the LAST place that I would go to hunt. Their system/style of hunting often involves a lot of highway driving and pasture hunting.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Africa Dawn Safaris. Marius Kruger. I have hunted there 5 times with my wife and family. It is as good as it gets for a first class farm hunt. It is in the Waterburg Moutatains north of Vaalwater, in Limpopo. Huge land mass in great country, great hunting and lodge. First class operation. Great Trophies.

If you read "A short Buffalo Hunting Story" here on AR, or read "Abrahams Grin" in the spring 2015 issue of African Hunting Gazette here on AR, they both took place at Africa Dawn Safaris.

2. Big Game Hunting Adventures. I have booked with them for this September, for three buffalo cows and am looking forward to hunting with them. They might be the best kept secret in South Africa. I wish I found them years ago.

They also have the best rates for a quality trophy hunt that I have seen. They have a USA agent John McAdams who is very professional to deal with. He is an Africa hunter himself and is in constant contact with his outfitters. http://biggamehuntingadventures.com/contact/

The outfitter is a team of two seasoned Afrikaners with a first class tracker. I am looking forward to being in the bush with them. They are the "real African deal."
They have a substantial hunting lodge on the south side of the Limpopo River. With them, it's all about the hunting adventure, comfortable food and hospitality. I am not expecting five star accomadations like at Africa Sky, above.
I am expecting a real quality African hunt at an affordable price. They also have some good videos to check out.

Limpopo is a better place for your 9.3 as it has great bush veld hunting with most shots being within 200 yds.

If you are travelling through Johannesburg, Stay at Africa Sky Guest house. They pick you up at the airport and have a gun procesing service.

I have used several taxidermist and found that Bullseye is the best by far.

Here is my short "Poop List" of places to avoid":
Two Waters Hunting Safaris. Trophex Taxidermist.

Just trying to help a first time African hunter. You will have a great time.

Brian

PS. Kudos to Big Game Hunting Adventure": I had booked and paid a long ways ahead of time with them for a buffalo hunt in April and then just before the hunt my wife had surprise open heart surgery. Panic! I phoned John, the agent, from the hospital and he refunded all my money, by wire transfer, that same day! I was impressed. I later rescheduled my hunt for Sept. Brian