If your were going to Africa for Buff,Leopard and PG. and only wanted to carry one rifle, what would your best choice be.

I've taken that very hunt, and my personal choice was the .375H&H. However, I had a .30-06 for the lighter game, as I would NEVER risk a multi-thousand dollar hunt by bringing just one rifle.

George

375 ________ or 416 _________, pick the variety of each you like.

.375 H&H

1) .375 H&H
2) 9.3x62

hutnjim

A 375 of some kind would easily fill the bill and in fact probably be ideal but as George said don't even consider taking only one rifle.

Mark

I did Buffalo and plainsgame with a 375 H&H and a 30-06. They worked for me, should work for you.

If I did it again I would probably take a 416 Rigby or a 470 NE for the Buff and a 375 H&H for the rest. Not because I'm unhappy with the 375 , but because I inherited the 416 and 470 and would love the chance to use them properly.

TerryR

Since buffalo is involved I'd take a 416 something, probably remington mag.

I always have to laugh at the cautions to never risk a hunt by taking only one rifle. Everyone shoots the beejeezus out of their weapons, and if the problem was to occur, it would most likely be at home. Same with quality scopes. I know 3 people who had problems on their safari's with firearms, but it was not because of mechanical malfunction. It was the fact that the guns never arrived when they did, and they were both in one case! The safe bet is to make sure that your PH has a reliable backup rifle available in camp that you can use or rent, if problems arise. Make sure there is ammo also, hopefully matching what you brought; my hunting partner used a borrowed 338 WinMag, and the PH doled out ammo one at a time.

George do you normally take two separate gun cases one for each rifle?

Been there, done exactly that. Took a 375 H&H and a 465 H&H. Shot one buff with the 465 but really didn't need it. The 375 would have easily killed that buff as it did the other two.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by huntnjim:
George do you normally take two separate gun cases one for each rifle?

No, I use one gun case with two rifles (each in its own soft case) packed inside. My knife and multi-tool go in it as well.

George

If it where my hunt and I had to take one rifle I would opt for the .416 Rigby..................probably would take to two scopes in QD's one a 2-7 the other a 2.5x compact. Load would be woodleigh 410 gr softs and solids.

Hopefully one day I will have this "choice dilemma"

I like to take 2 rifles when going on any hunt. I have never had a rifle breakdown, but you never know. I would prefer to have one of my own rifles as a back up. If taking say a 375 for buff and other big plains game with say a 30-06 for back up and for lesser plains game I would take a few solids for the "small" rifle for use on buff just in case.
It never hurts to Be Prepared.

375H&H, 9.3X64BR or 9.3x62

Ok I beleive I am hearing more for two guns instead of one. If going into Tanzina or Zimbabwe I understand there is limitations on amo. How many lbs or rounds are allowed for each rifle?

.416 Rigby is the do it all caliber. Then again, with a PH backing you up you don't need to do it all. Huntnjm, airlines limit ammo to 5 kg. Weight rather than numbers.

9,3x70 Expert Magnum!

LD

only one choice here..378 weatherby.

AKA, how is the recoil on the 378 compaired to the RUM.

Wink, Are you comfortable at 250 yards on PG with the 416 Rigby. BTW I prefer any one with me in a hunting situation not to shoot follow up shots unless absolutely necessary on my animals.

The old three seven five would be my choice for a single rifle. A two-rifle battery would be 10.75x73, and 8x68S.

No doubt about it, and like GeorgeS I've done that hunt as well. .375 H&H and the .30-06 were my choices. One rifle is never enough!

If I were to opt to bring two rifles I would think the DG rifle would be in the 40 caliber range. I like the 416 Rigby for buff but if I were to return someday for the long tusk would I be undergunned??

I think a 40 cal 400 grain bullet at @2150 is a good elephant gun, solids of course.
So I do not think you would be undergunned with a 416 Rigby.
I must add that I think a double is the best choice for elephant and buff, but that is strictly a personal thing.

NE450No2 What would be your longest shot with your double you would be comfortable taking on buff?

I could flip up my 200 yard leaf, go to a kneeling position and hit a buff in the vital area. My double shoots to the flip up sight at 200 yards.... but I probably not would not take such a shot at an unwounded buff. For me the thrill of buff hunting is to get close.
I did shoot one of my elephants at 120 yards.
He was just about to step out of sight, first shot low in the chest, second shot broke front leg. He spun around and came for us. He went a body length or two fell down. When he got back up I had closed to with in 50 to 60 yards and I brained him.
I can shoot my iron sighted double as good as I can shoot an iron sighted bolt. I can shoot my scope sighted 9,3x74R double on game as good as I can shoot my scope sighted 375.

I have killed deer to 85 yards with my 450 No2.
I have killed caribou in Alaska at 85 yards and 150 yards with my 450/400 double [iron sights].
I have killed a coyote at 271 yards and a kudu at a little over 300 yards with my scoped 9,3x74R.

I have also killed buff at 12 and @30 yards, elephants at 6 yards and 12 yards with the 450 No2, now THAT is where the fun is.

If you have a good 375 bolt rifle, think about getting a good 450/400 double, or even a 470 if you can take the additional recoil.

huntinjim
I have been using doubles for quite a bit of my hunting for the last 9 years or so. For everything from deer and pigs to caribou and black bear, I took 2 doubles to Africa, Zim in 2004 and I am taking the same 2 back to Zim Feb 26th for a 30 day hunt.[The 450 No2 and the 9,3x74R].
Baised on all the hunting I have done with my doubles I would recommend that a person considering a double take a hard look at a 450/400, either a British gun or a new made one. If I bought a new made 450/400 I would definately have Quick Detach scpoe mounts fited.
In fact I am considering having a scope fitted to my British 450/400, or buying a Chapuis 450/400 from Evolution USA.
I have handled several large bore doubles [400 and up] with scopes mounted properly, low over the bbls and they are just as fast as any bolt rifle to pick up the crosshairs. A 450/400 double with a scope in QD mounts would be one of the best rifles for a sport hunter.
Not just for Africa either.

Frankly I think any of the 375 + rifles will work nicely for a one gun trip. The limiting factor is simply how well and how much you shoot it prior to the trip. The choice is very personal. what gun do you like the most. What gun do you want to make into a very very special gun by being able to say. "that's the rifle I took to africa" If you are willing to pass on shots past 200 yrds for the plains game a scoped double in 450/400 is just grand. I've used mine on zebra's impala baboons and what not. The down side is that if you get there and your ammo doesn't you will have a problem.

Another simpler and infinity cheaper route is a good bold gun in 458 winchester mag. It works great on hogs deer P.G. and all the big stuff. If you get seperated from your ammo in flight just about every PH has a bunch of it from previous hunts. just MHO.

ES

Huntinjim, I think the 375 is a bit light for buff. I've done buff and PG with a 416, but next hunt, I'm thinking 458 WM for both. 400 gr TBBC's for PG, shoots flatter and with more MV in 458 WM than 400 gr TBBC's out of my 416 Rigby and I'll be using 500 gr. AGS's for buff.

Just finished re-reading Tony Sanchez Arino and along with him, a myriad of other PHs and for them, the client is best served with a 375 of any flavor. I stand by that recommendation. With one of the 375, you can comfortably reach out to 350 plus, whereas all the doubles, and even the 416, would not have the required trajectory to make a well-reasoned shot. jorge

quote:

Originally posted by huntnjim:
AKA, how is the recoil on the 378 compaired to the RUM.

..I have never shot the 375 RUM. Just the 375. I hope to one day

Gentlemen,

Years ago I used to take two rifles for my hunts. A 270 or 7mm for plains game, and a 375 or a 416 for buffalo and elephants.

First day on one hunt, I kept missing easy shots with my 7mm rifle. We discovered that the action screws were loose. We did not have an Alen key to tighten the action, so I just used my 375/404 to shoot the impala bait we wanted for leopard.

4 shots brought us 4 impala, at ranges from about 50 yards to over 400 yards.

After that little episode, I decided not to take a small caliber rifle on hunts where buffalo are on the menu.

Ever since then, I have taken two identical rifles, both 375/404 we built ourselves. I use one, and my hunting friends use the otherThese two rifles have been on 11 hunts. And everyone who uses them falls in love with them.

Even people who would normally hunt plains game, seem to want to build one just like these.

9.3x62, 9.3x64 or .375H&H (or anything remotely simmelar) more than enough. Most hunters are overgunned anyhow, and cannot use a rifle bigger than a .416 anyhow......

No brainer IMO, a .375 H&H.

I took just my .375 on a cape buffalo and plains game safari last trip.

Seems to be a big time consensus here, everyone says .375 H&H and so do I.

I took my .404j to Moz. & a short trip to RSA in 04. I shot my buff. bushbuck, waterbuck & camp meat. I don't feel really comfortable much past 200yds w/ a 380grNF @ 2200fps. Trajectory gets prett parabolic after that. If I ever get some of Mikes 340grNF, then I can get a good 2600fps load & maybe feel better out to 300yds or so. Having said all that, it would be hard to beat a .375h&h for the couple of shots you take @ a buff. then a dozen or so @ PG, the .375 is hard to beat for sure.

quote:

Originally posted by huntnjim:
If your were going to Africa for Buff,Leopard and PG. and only wanted to carry one rifle, what would your best choice be.

9.3 x 62 or 375 H&H

Mauser action

See as how I doubt the PH or anyone else has a left-handed anything with a 12 1/4" LOP, I am opting to take a .375H&H and a .300WinMag of my very own with back-up scopes. I may lose them both in transit and if so, that is just that, but to only take one just doesn't make sense to me. JMO