What would you pick for plains-game? You know, impalas, kudu, maybe a Volkswagon-size porcupine? If it helps, I'll be using a 98 Mauser action and have experience with AKs, shotguns, but not high-powered rifles. Throw me ideas!

Miss L.
Personally, I like the larger plains game: kudu, eland, gemsbok, waterbuck, and zebra. .30-06 or thereabouts is fine. No doubt you will get many opinions that follow. Boil them all down and pick what you like best and most of all, enjoy your hunt!
Cheers,
Cal

.30'06 is hard to beat.

I used a 30-06 on plains game from Steenbok to Eland. Would and will use it again in a heartbeat!

I am a big caliber guy and used 300RUM and 375 H&H but borrowed a 30.06 as well. Shot placement shot placement shot placement.

.30-06 or .308 are great, but if you have to go through one of the countries that have some sort of no military caliber restriction on the arms passing through, choosing something like the .280 is a good option that won't cause that to cause problems.

If you handle recoil well (shotguns often have more recoil than people think...) stepping up to a .375 H&H or a 9.3 of some stripe may mean you don't need to buy a new gun when you decide to hunt something a little bigger like buffalo, although its way more gun than you need for Kudu or smaller. Having said that, I've shot everything from Dik Dik to Hippo with my .375.

I would suggest staying with something reasonably mainstream so if you have luggage issues on the flight, you at least have a shot at finding something.

I used a .280 Rem. with 175 grain handloads with great results on Kudu, Zebra, Gemsbock, Impala, and warthog. I would not hesitate to use it, or a similarly loaded 7x57 on PG again. It killed with a bit more authority than my old .318 W.R. that I used on the previous safari.

Strongly considering 30-06, since there's not a lot I couldn't handle with it. I don't forsee wanting to move up to like, buffalo or elephant or anything ginormous like that (taxidermy costs and whatnot) so I'm not too worried about that.

I can handle shotgun recoil fine. I have since suffered a spinal injury that occasionally gives me fits, but again, taking it into consideration but not tremendously concerned.

Where are you planning on hunting? Anything big and nasty in the area? If not, any good 30 caliber should be fine. I use a 300 win mag with 180 grain A Frames.

If hunting in DG country consider stepping up to a 375. I use a 416 and shoot 350 grain A Frames.

Obvious I like A Frames as they shoot well in my rifles but any premium bullet should be fine. Have fun!

Miss Lovecraft

I took my first safari last year and took 2 rifles.

a 30/06 using 165 Barnes TSX bullets

and
an 8x68S Shooting older barnes X bullets.

I took everything in size from Springbok, Impala and bushbuck up through Wildebeast, Waterbuck and eland.

My theory was to use the 8mm on the bigger animals and the 06 on the smaller which for teh most part is exactly what happened. However either rifle woudl have suficed for even the largest of them.

YOu are best off with a rifle you can shoot well.

The single most important thing is shot placement.

After that bullet construction.


I am going back this simmer to SA.

My largest critter on the ticket is Black Wildebeast. Every thign els eis smaller.

I have my choices narrowed down to:

6.5x55
306
30/06

So whtever you shot best is teh rifle you shoudl take.

Did I mention SHOTPLACEMENT??????

I'm partial to the 7X64 but agree that the 30-06 is hard to beat for versatility and availabilty of ammo.

Anything in th '06 class is fine. One exception would be Eland. They are BIG. Go big bullet weight for caliber, moderate velocity, top grade bullets. I favor TSX's. Think penetration and wound channel. Stay cool, shoot well, and all will be fine. Before heading out, practice setting up and shooting off the sticks with your PH. And, have a great safari!

My buddies and I have used .300wm, .300 weatherby, .270 weatherby and .30/06. Used them on steenbok all the way up to eland. I even think my buddy used his .300 weatherby on giraffe on our last trip.

The 9.3x62 is a good option for Plains-game and if a big game becomes available at a price "to good to refuse" you are set.

Hard to beat the .30-06 and 180 gr Partitions.

Wait>.... One GUN? What is this One Gun????? You are going to Africa, the rifles are the least expensive I and very fun ) part! Bring plenty of rifles say I!

OK, at least two.

Last trip, had a 300 WM, 375 H&H and 416 Rigby. Next trip, leaving the 300 behind, got a new lighter 375, different optics, still bringing 416 double.

The 300 was good, the 375 was better, in terms of not having to walk after animals. All well shot, but the 375, kept them, DRT, right there.

If the injury gives you some problems, consider this. A 30/06 with amuzzle brake will give you less recoil. But you must have ear plugs the noise will hurt.But recoil will be less.

Mike

300 H&H, least recoiling .30 of the lot.
More than enough gun for all plains game. Shoot 150-180 GR TSX or GS Customs FN type bullets, drive bands reduce recoil further.
If you are prone to having fits then please inform your PH before you book and ensure that you have all the medication you need to reduce the likelyhood of a fit. Also have all supplies you need to stop the fit and to handle the post fit shock etc.

Have your doctors call your PH before the trip to explain signs symtopms and emercy procedures. Have the doctors details and a sat phone handy and make sure you pay for med evac service and insure to include private medical care and repatriation in the case of a server fit.

Last but no least, you may want to look at destinations within easy reach of good medical facilities, i.e. 3 hours on tar roads 1 hour on back roads.
Ensure that your PH is qualified to handle first aid emergencies and carries the right equipment at all times.

Other than that, have a great time.



Dont shoot jacketed bullets

I've always taken the .375 along with some carefully chosen "other" rifle, either bigger or smaller.

With few exceptions I just end up useing the .375 for everything.

Haveing said that, if there is some open country involved the .300s are about as good as anything.

I took a .300 Win Mag loaded with 180 grain Barnes TTSX with me for my plains game hunt last year. Shot completely through every animal including large Zebra, Kudu, Gemsbok and Blue Wildebeest. It was wonderfully effective!

-John

30-06 would be fine. I prefer 375H&H for everything except Buffalo and larger.

338 Win Mag is a fantastic choice as well, unless its too much gun, then the '06 should be fine.

Kudu Impala, etc. are not that tough. Zebra and Wildebeest can take some punishment, but even a .308 in the right spot will work on them.

DAM GIRL JUST GO IN THE OLD MANS GUN ROOM GRAB ONE OF EVERYTHING AND TAKE THEM TO THE RANGE SHOT ALL OF THEM. THEN HAVE HIM BUILD YOU THE CALIBER YOU LIKE BEST WITH YOUR BACK LIGHTER RECOIL WOULD BE BEST!!!!!!!!!

Consider well what Retreever and ddrhook have said. Recoil, although you've handled it before your spinal injury, could still have an effect. Get one of the lady's Herean recoil reducing pads (fits under the bra strap) and that should lessen the shock to your spine.

I went on a plains game hunt with my .338WSM wildcat using 210gr Nosler Partition bullets. Everything went down. A .30-06 with 180gr Partitions, or other premium bullet, should do you fine.

some what redundant but 30-06 with 180 gr premium rounds. Trophy bonded bear claws worked well for me and my sons.

quote:

Originally posted by dawaba:
Hard to beat the .30-06 and 180 gr Partitions.

Same here

Savage Long Range Hunter-6.5/.284. Light, minimal recoil. I took everything up to very lage kudu last year with the round in a XP 100 pistol. All one shot. Taking it back this year. 130 gr. Nosler Accubonds is all you need.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I used a borrowed .30-06 and was perfectly satisfied with the results. As said earlier, bullet placement with a quality bullet is the key to success.

I am far from an African expert but have made 8 safari's and shot most everything Zimbabwe has to offer multiple times. I have ALWAYS carried 2 guns with one always being a 375H&H. The only lesser calibers I have carried have been a custom 06 and a custom 7x57 and both these have taken everything up thru Wildebeest. Ranges for the 2 lesser rifles as have the 375 ranged out to 300yds. Complete success in all cases. So whatever you like above 25 caliber would to me be an excellant choice. I really like the 7x57 as it is light and adequate with 175gr Nosler Partitions good for any plains game. These are just my choices and in no way considered reccomendations. What YOU use is strictly up to you.

Ok, Ms. Lovecraft, I have a Brno actioned '06 for building your rifle. You need to come over and look at optics in the next few days.

OK tim now call john or franz and get her some north fork bullets

When the gun is done. She will definitely be shooting north forks when she goes over. I have 300 sierras for her practice then rezero with nort forks.

I used a 3006 and a cz 308 for plains game ,and they were totally adecuated ,but i would prefer my cz 375hyh for kudu or ganyana 9,3x62 ,a ligth short rifle that i used in poland in the past .My favourite caliber is the 375hyh but its a personal taste ,second 308 winch.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
The 9.3x62 is a good option for Plains-game and if a big game becomes available at a price "to good to refuse" you are set.

On a Mauser 98 I would also opt for a 9.3 X 62mm. Shoot someone else's rifle in that caliber and find out if you think it is too much too handle. If too much for you, then a 7 X 64mm.

I have shot all the African plains game, including eland, with several 270 caliber rifles.

Using quality bullets from Barnes, Trophy Bonded and Jensen.

Thanks for all the help, you guys!

I'm planning on bringing one, but I doubt that I really need to worry about extras considering the company. : )))

Excited, the optics are in and as soon as I can get over this sinus bug, I'll need to have a look.

I would worry less about caliber and more about using premium bullets. I've used the .375, .300, .270, and 7x57 on plains game and the only problems I've had were using cup & core bullets.

I know a retired PH in Kenya who hunted planes game most of his life with a 270. he was surprised when he found out i like it the thought all americans only shot 06 or bigger