Wink, You're right of course, no need to hijack a thread to continue the Muzzle Brake controversy.

My choice has been, and will continue to be, a synthetic stock, stainless Win. Model 70 in .338 WinMag - with B.O.S.S. and a "Dead Mule" recoil reducer installed. If you can find one of these, or the Browning equivalent, I highly recommend them.

If you don't like recoil and can't carry a heavy rifle, your options are to use a smaller bore gun with a fast twist and looong tough bullets.

7x57 for example. It has a long track record in Africa.

Or you could go for slow-moving heavy slugs. 45-70 in a Ruger no 1? Or 450 Marlin lever action?

Just some creative alternatives to the usual 375H&H answer.

Russ
A 45/70 in a Ruger No1 kicks a whole lot more than a 9,3x74R Chapuis Double. I have both.

LHowell: I like your choice of the .338 WinMag and your rifle if you want to go "light" and can only carry one. I have a Model 70, synthetic stocked and Magna-ported, in .300 WinMag and it's a great all-around rifle. In fact, it's all I need for anything short of buffalo and lion. I can't afford to hunt an elephant or a rhino so I don't bother with hypotheticals. I have a .416 Rigby for the buff. But where is the problem really? If someone can shoot a .338 with no problem, how can he be recoil sensitive?

Danny,

The Pachmeyer Decelerator recoil pads change the felt recoil on all guns. This is an easy modification and the benefits are real. Others say that the mercury stock inserts work well so that's another thing to consider.

Lighter bullets in any cartridge kick less so consider the light monolithic bullets like the Barnes X's.

There may be other ways around this. Call a PH on the phone and ask about it. First get his sympathy and remember money talks.

I have shoot a few buffalo with both the 9.2x62 and the .338 Win. and find they kill buffalo quite well with a well placed shot as some put it....I also think that a poorly placed shot with "any" caliber is asking for trouble from Buffalo....It the first shot is correct they all have the same effect....

Is the 9.3 or 338 a stopper? yes with a brain shot or spine shot...Is the 470 a stopper? again yes with a brain shot or a spine shot and a bit better with a heart/lung shot I think, but not sure as sometimes yes and sometimes no...

I personally prefer a 40 caliber and up, but I really don't know why, other than you guys have scared me to death with tales of fear and the ability of Buffalo to be super natural in strength! and they can if that first shot is wrong, I have seen it.

I always shoot for the brain in a charge, although its a hard shot sometimes unless you wait one out...I just don't trust a chest shot to do the job..I will qualify this statement to the degree that if the charge initiates at some distance I will shoot for the chest, but up close always for the brain....the point being is a 9.3 to the brain is as effective as a 600 nitro to the brain.

Also Danny, remember you have a professional to back you up if something goes wrong, so pick you company carefully and all will be fine.

Hi
i would like to plan for african hunting,but my health is not so good as before and want a light weight rifle enough for all african games but, with low intensity caliber making it easier to the shoulder . The magnum hard hitting calibers are not easy to shoot in a light rifle. my favorit calibers are 9,3x 62 in cz or old husky and 376 styer in mannlicher scout.i 'll be glad to hear your opinion on these calibers and guns. are they legal for even the big fives over there?
all the best
danny

Two years ago I had never heard of a 9.3x62, but now have a CZ American in the caliber and another ordered. I took it to Africa hoping to whack an elephant but I had the .416 in my hands at the time and so it never worked out.

Going to take it deer hunting to see what happens if I get a chance. It is a powder puff to shoot and the really nice thing is the heavy bullets that are available for it.

And experienced buffalo hunters say that the 9.3 is just as effective as the .375. So what more do you want?

I would much rather take a bruised shoulder over an angry Buff stomping my crotch into a mud hole. Light recoil and light rifles don't seem to go together. That being said the 375HH would be my choice.

For plains game and the amount of bowhunting areas which are popping all over you might should consider a crossbow. Lowest kick of all and weight won't be much a factor sitting blinds in a waterhole. True your range will be severely limited, but in this game you can't have everything. Ask your PH

Danny,

You might consider a light weight rifle with a muzzle break in .375 H&H. I have one made by Match Grade Arms and the recoil is very manageable with the muzzle break. It is extrememely lightweight and easy to carry. I haven't shot it in a long time since I had another .375 H&H built by Roger Biesen, but I recall that the recoil is very light.

Regards,

Terry

Danny: Depending on the country, the 9.3x62 will be fine for Buffalo and leopard.

Both the 9.3x62 and .376 Steyr would be excellent choices for Africa for everything but the really big game like elephant, rhino, and hippo, for which it would be marginal at best, and likely illegal for dangerous game in some countries. They'll do the job on lion, leopard, and buffalo, though.

I've used both on plains game with great results. The 9.3/286 Nosler Partition @ 2350 fps and the .375/300 Woodleigh Protected Point SP @ 2320 fps really seem to hit hard and put the animal down quickly.

Terry

Do the hunting world a favour and throw that muzzel break away! I will not spot for a client or back them up if they have a rifle fitted with a muzzel break. It is simply too dangerous for me.

Danny, Stick to your 9,3 if that is what you use at home. If the first shot is placed properly you will have no trouble on buff or elephant. You only need a big rifle if the first shot is poor, and that is when the PH earns his keep.

Amen, amen, amen! A big rifle as a first choice is only needed by those hunting by themselves. Now a goodly number of us like hunting with them and letting the PH be a spectator, but that's a whole different story. Take the 9.3.

Danny,

You might consider a Chapuis Double Rifle in 9,3x74R. I have been using one for about 6 years. I used in in Africa in June for all my plains game with excellent results.

It weighs 7 1/4 Lbs with out scope and even with the scope on hthe rifle is a delight to carry. Since you are using a rifle a little on the light side for the big stuff the one-two punch of a double would be an advantage IMHO. Especially in the thick Jess or in a charge.

If you like the 9.3mm, why not consider the 9.3x64. I had one built on a standard length Win pre64 M70 action and could not be more pleased. A little more case capacity over the 62 would allow you to use the 300gr Swifts more efficiently. I have not used it on anything any tougher than oryx, but with 286gr Partitions, it was most effective.

The Interarms Whitworth is a nice light fast handling rifle. Recoil not too bad in 375 H&H.

A friend just back from South Africa tells me that his PH and others have decided on a categorical ban on rifles with muzzle brakes on their hunts. Anybody else heard of this movement? You may want to consider this in your choice of a light recoiling rifle. I think a .416 Taylor would be the right route for a do-it-all light recoiler.

Banning rifles with Muzzle brakes? How silly.
As if the PH's in South Africa don't have enough to worry about already! Rifle import regulation, inflated prices, SAA Airbus seating, etc. What are they gonna do send the hunter home? With his money?

What is the big deal about muzzle brakes anyway, the noise?
If you're shooting anything without ear protection - you get what you get!

LHowell, it seems this is something the PHs want, not some bureaucrats idea of politically correct. If you noticed Ganyana's post, he also says that he won't spot for a client with a muzzlebreak. Since I'm not a PH, I'll let them speak for themselves. Perhaps this issue should be the subject of a seperate discussion altogether.