Short of hunting the big five, from 1900 until around 1950 what was the most common caliber that an average African farmer or rancher would have taken up each day as he went about his buisness ? If he was heading out to check his stock or prehaps looking for some meat ?

I guess what I'm asking is there a most common caliber that was used in the southern parts of Africa. What is the African equivlent of the 30.06 ?

The reason I am asking is I would like to have a working rifle built on a Mauser action in that most proven and best plains game caliber, as experienced by true Africans who lived and worked the land. Any ideas on what the caliber should be ?.........................JJ

This is just a guess and there are many much more qualified to answer but my perception is that it would be something like a 7X57. Maybe a 303.

If it were me I would build a 7X57.

It was probably the 303 but that would have been a Lee Enfield. In a Mauser, it would have been a 7x57 or a 9.3x62 (the latter is the one I would choose. We'll build it for you for $850 with express sights, finished and ready to stock. You decide how much you want to spend on the handle!

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I think it will be the 303 or as we know it "The Majuba Kettie"

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The .303 in Sa and possibly in Zim (British colonies.) In Namibia, 8x57 as well as 9.3x62 I think. The African equivalent of the .30-06 would be the 8x57 IMO, although not widely used, about the same ballistics, and was once popular in some German colonies. If I would have a project simmelar to yours, i would go the 9.3x62 route, as it was the most popular alrounder before WW11 in Africa.

The 303 Brit probably killed more game in Africa than any other caliber until the introduction of the AK47.

Lots of elephant was shot with the 303 Brit using Kynoch Solids.

Even if you have a look today at the average South African rifle owner you will almost always find a 303 Brit as part of the collection.

Gerhard

I have seen more 9x57 rifles still "in the family" of ranchers in Zim and SA. Usually they were passed down from fathers or grandfathers. I handled one that had supposedly disposed of more than 50 lions back when they were considered vermin.

In former English possessions, the .303 was probably the most common chambering.

In former German possessions and South Africa, the 7x57 was probably the most common chambering.

Former Portuguese or French possessions, who knows?

George

303's are very common in SA and Zim. In Zambia the AK 47 seems to be what all the game scouts use.

Continent wide- Including all the French and Portugues colonies - probably 9,3x62 Certainly in mozambique and Angola the 9,3 was about the most popular, followed by the 8x57 and 10,75. In Tanganyika and Namibia the 8x57 would have been standard until after WWII. Even in Zim, if a farmer had the money to buy a decent rifle he bought a civy mauser, usually in 8x57 or 9,3. My dad still has his- an 8x57 bought new in 1939.

From my readings, I think the 9.3x62 was also very popular among farmers/settlers.

The 9.3x62
http://www.african-hunter.com/the_9_3_x_62_mauser.htm

The 9x57 Mauser
http://www.african-hunter.com/9x57_mauser.htm

-Bob F.

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I will 'stem saam' with what the other Africans are alluding to...

In days gone by definately the .303, 7x57 and 8x57 - from what I can tell. Alf is correct..Prof. Felix Lategan seems to be the authority on small arms history in the region.

These days, (and I am taking the stand from what I see in SA and very slight hunting experience in Zim) I would say the .308 might well rule the roost. .303's are everywhere too but don't seem to see as much use as .308's. Just about very farmer/rancher/PH I know has a .308 as working rifle.

The reason, it seems was in the 80's it was relatively easy to get 7,62 military ammo from your Commando base or budies or boetie in the force - cheap ammo for practice and security. Not great hunting ammo, I have never hunted with except one impala but many have used it successfully (and unsucessfully i am sure!)- man, some of those military 7.62's made for machine guns can be HOT too!

P.S. ALF, I would like to PM you at some point to discuss from stuff if that is OK with you?

ALF,

No doubt such cartridges as the 7x57 and the .303 were much more widely used than the 9x57 and 9.3x62. I was simply trying to add in that they were popular cartridges among the settlers/farmers. Also, let's not forget about East Africa during the colonial days. I wouldn't doubt that the military cartridges were the most common, though.

I did find these comments from Finn Aagaard interesting:

"Sporterized .303 Lee-Enfields were also seen, but these were not very common in Kenya as one was required to have a governor's permit to own one."
"Surprisingly enough, I saw very few 8x57mm Mausers either, though the 8x60mm was quite common, and well respected."
-Finn Aagaard, "Kenya Guns and Days", American Rifleman, December 1983.

Of course, he was talking about his years in Kenya and not a period before that. Still, I find the comment about needing a governor's permit to own a .303 interesting. Maybe it had something to do with post-Mau Mau regulations???? Maybe some other posters will have more info about this.

Cheers,
-Bob F.

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Up until WWI throughout Africa, and in former German colonies long after that -- the 9.3x62.

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ALF,

You knowledge and arguments are overwhelming. I can only quote John Taylor in African Rifles and Cartridges:"This was the German answer to the demands of their folks in Tanganyika for something better than the 9mm and comparable with the British 400/350 and 360 No. 2. It was immediately acceptable and has ever since been the most widely used medium bore in Africa."

interboat,

I think the key phrase in Taylor's quote is "...the most widely used medium bore in Africa." The other cartridges like the 7x57 and .303 British, that ALF and others have mentioned, are considered small bores. The 9.3 was probably the most widely used medium bore cartridge but not necessarily the most widely used cartridge.

Just my ramblings.....
-Bob F.

Bob F.,

Granted.

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ALF,

I cheerfully concede to your superior knowledge and unassailable logic.

The original poster, JJ_Miller, has been given a lot of good alternative choices in answer to his question. Any of the calibers mentioned should satisfy him. I, of course, would choose the 9.3 because it's such a great cartridge, but the 303, 7x57, et al would certainly make a working Mauser-action rifle of authentic origin that any African farmer would be proud of.

I'm with interboat! ALF is making my brain hurt!

Cheers,
-Bob F.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ Gould:
It was probably the 303 but that would have been a Lee Enfield. In a Mauser, it would have been a 7x57 or a 9.3x62 (the latter is the one I would choose. We'll build it for you for $850 with express sights, finished and ready to stock. You decide how much you want to spend on the handle!

Wich action would you use to build this man a rifle and what barrel maker?

Great thread guys, very interesting... Goes to show that for the average guy it all came down to practicality and what's available widely. It does no good to choose a cartridge that's going to be difficult to acquire - a loaded 7mm Mauser beats an empty 505 Gibbs every time! They used what they had available to them and if you know your rifle well and become thoroughly familiar with it then it's amazing what you can accomplish with it. The military cartridges have always been an overwhelming favorite of course because of available rifles and surplus ammo in enormous quantities.

If I were to take up such a project (and I won't as the more money I spend on guns, the less I can spend on hunts) I would get hold of a sound military SMLE and build a .303. I would sporterize the bold handle, change the sights to either express or Williams peep, refinish the metal and get a decent piece of walnut for it and have fun.

As usual.....simply amazing data combined with photos of the rifles in question.

Best,

John

Alf,

Please don't tell us those are your guns in the photos. I'm jealous enough of your collection as it is!

Dean

Thats what I was thinking. Very good Thread. Something I have wondered myself before.

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Wasn't the original question pertaining to "Southern Africa" which would be the German influenced countries. As I said in my earlier post, I've talked to quite a few third generation residents in Zim and most have their grandfathers 9.3x57 retired in a place of honor.

quote:

Originally posted by JJ_Miller:
Short of hunting the big five, from 1900 until around 1950 what was the most common caliber that an average African farmer or rancher would have taken up each day as he went about his buisness ? If he was heading out to check his stock or prehaps looking for some meat ?

I guess what I'm asking is there a most common caliber that was used in the southern parts of Africa. What is the African equivlent of the 30.06 ?

The reason I am asking is I would like to have a working rifle built on a Mauser action in that most proven and best plains game caliber, as experienced by true Africans who lived and worked the land. Any ideas on what the caliber should be ?.........................JJ

I am pretty sure that the kind of working rifle used in Africa depends upon what area you are looking at just like in Any other country. There are no right or wrong answeres. Most farmers could afford only small amounts of money for rifles and shotguns. They probably wouldn't buy a London Best for the job. Ammunition availabiliy may have dictated the choice of arms more than convention. Fortunately, if you live in the USA and are contemplating hunting in Africa, you can choose any caliber you want to do the job and there are a world of choices at your desposal. If you want to use a Mauser action, perhaps you should choose a caliber that was common in Mauser actioned rifles during the time frame you constructed. Arguably, there may be better or worse options available in Mauser rifles up to the 500 Jeffery. Choose a good caliber made by a really qualified metalsmith and have fun. Hunting and shooting is where the fun is anyway!

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