Ok that is fine, that was all I was planning on taking was two rifles, but the part about reloading is discouraging, as I have lots of reloading equipment.Would the following two rifles suffice: .30-06 Sprg. and the .458 Lott, or should I take something like the .450 marlin and the .458 Lott. I am open to any suggestions

When I arrive in Botswana I plan on acquiring my PH liscence, if at all possible. Here in the US I have guided(only an amateur) hunts for deer(bow, muzzleloader and gun), turkey(gun), and hog(which I killed with a knife and guided gun hunts). I know that this is nothing like African Game hunting, but it is a venture that I would like to experience

The story goes that there is a lot of 9.3x62 and 458 WM ammo avaiilable in S. Africa. So, like RIP suggested, pick a couple for which that you can reasonably expect to find ammo.

Do us all a favor and drive out to the beach and throw that Marlin into the sea!

proeliator,

Will has mentioned another great choice in the 9.3x62, but I think your .30-06 and a .458 Lott combo would be about ideal.



To be a PH in Botswana requires a formal training course of certification and a 3-year apprenticeship, and/or big money to bribe someone ... but hey, Botswana had a PR campaign going on about anti-corruption and reporting anyone offering/soliciting bribes in the airports at Gabarone and Maun ... could be a tough nut to crack.



You should also pick up the Setswana tongue and some Afrikaans lingo if you hope to work with the locals there, black and white. Then there are the San Bushmen with their !tongue!clicking! ... hopefully they have picked up some Setswana or English. English is a big language in Botswana, however, thanks to the Brits who abdicated the colony around 1965.



It will be a tough row to hoe. A noncitizen of Botswana would have the chances of a snowball in hades ...



And Will is right about the 450 Marlin, it is crap. A 45-70 would be better, but not advisable. 30-06 and .458 Lott, that's the ticket.

I really would like a straight up answer to if my rifle choices are stupid(please be honest). I know that the .458 Lott would work, but would the .450 Marlin and the .30-06 Sprg. be suitable rifles for African game?

If I lived in a place that would only let me have 2 rifles, I would certainly make sure one was a Blaser R93. so that I could still shoot just about any caliber. At last count I think you had around 25 different caliber choices, from .222 to a .416. This gun was completely designed to get around the regulations like you'll see in Botswana.

22lr is also prohibited in Botswana, and there is a ration on ammo (I think it's 100 rounds per rifle per year). And no handguns.

If I were you I would get a 375 for the little big game hunting you are likely to be doing yourself, alternatively a 458 WM if you seriously plan to PH for DG; and a 243 or 308 for everyday "biltong" hunts...there are lots of small critters in Bots and ammo for those calibers is very easy to get.

But you will also need a shotgun, there is some fine wingshooting available.

Ever thought of getting a Valmet "System"...receiver with a set of shotgun bbls in 12 or 20, a 9.3x74R double rifle bbl, and possibly a combo bbl 308/12 ga or 30-06/12ga? We have a small selection of Valmet stuff on our site.

In my misspent youth (everything before last week) I knocked around some of the finer third world countries. To deliberately mash and mix metaphors, it seemed to me that the 7.62x51/.308 was the "lingua franca" of light rifles anywhere the Limeys had been. Same for countries that had gotten obsolescent equipment from the US.
Surprising how much you can get from a local cop or soldier for a pack of Marlboro cigarettes.
Kind of odd seeing a five foot nothing indig hauling around a G-3 or FAL.
Do a web search about the Botswana military and police force. See what they are carrying. There's your supply of ammunition. Get it from mid-level sergeants. Best return on your tobacco.
I suppose I should be touting the advantages of the 9.3x62 since I bought one yesterday and am now an expert on them . That would likely be a more than adequate "do most of it all" rifle, and you can pick up a new CZ for a very good price it seems.
Given the realities of gun ownership in Botswana as related by previous posters who have been there (I have not), it seems that the critical issue is ammunition availablility. You will have to make your caliber selection based on that.
It sounds like a wonderful way to spend your early twenties.
Have fun,
JCN

Try the Botwana consulate for a possible answer.

As you can see I am new to this forum, so I'll try to post this simple, and try not to waste too many of you gentlemen's time. I am currently a college student in the US and my father had gotten a job offer in Botswana. He took up the offer and asked me to come along with him. My biggest question is; What guns am I allowed to take with me if any. This is very important to me as I am a gun collector, but I will only be bringing rifles suited for hunting(no H&K rifles or "assault style weapons"). One big reason for me asking this is that I wanted to buy a .458 Lott over here and take it with me. I appreciate your time

http://www.gov.bw/

Might be of some help..........

-Bob F.

When I was there in 2001, one of my PH's was a new emigrant from RSA. He was an old hand in the bush wars, was farming citrus in the Tuli Block, and free lance PH-ing for me at the time.



He bemoaned the fact that he was allowed to have only 2 rifles by Botswana law, even as a PH. Also, it is illegal to reload ammunition, even for your own use, in Botswana, so he had a friend in RSA reload for him and ship the ammo to him. You may use handloads in Botswana, you just can't assemble the components yourself, in that country.



Basie had decided to use his Mauser .375 H&H for everything except to carry his .475 No.2 3-1/2" NE double when on the track of elephant and cape buffalo.



If you are looking at either nonresident or resident status,

better plan on only two rifles and a shotgun, unless things have changed.



A 30-06 and a .375 H&H, or a .375 H&H/.375 Wby plus a .458 Lott would do.



Since ammo availability may be an issue, your .458 Lott would be a good choice, as it can fire the .458 WinMag ammo in a pinch.



I am not aware of any proscriptions against .223/5.56 Nato or .308/7.62 Nato ammo, but they might be good choices for ammo availability for a light rifle.



Research the link above and maybe a current Botswana resident will pitch in, but what I have said is something to consider. Botswana is very restrictive on gun ownership by its citizens, and what is allowed into the country with visitors.



A .375 Wby can fire the .375 H&H ammo to good effect also.