I couldn't go to Africa without a .375, just nostalgia I guess. An old Mod 70 went off to Pacnor for a barrel and chambering in 375 H&H. I found Glenn Morovitz at SCI and he agreed to carve a stock and do the metal work. Calico Hardwoods is a couple blocks from my office, so several hours were spent looking for a tough blank. Glenn did a beautiful job, front sight from NECG, banded of course, sling stud the same, full butt, trim forend, open grip, cast off, custom fit, beautiful, (project rifle, barrel, Glenn and parts $3,500)
Wielands book on african rifles led me to the .458 Lott. My Africa trip was 10 days in SA, 10 days in Moz and 2 buffalo. The 375 was for plans game, and backup for buff. Now, I need 1 1/2" of drop, so most new rifles with the silly straight stock stuff, don't fit me, not for a big bore. My 270WSM Kimber is fine, but a Kimber .458 Lott is not going to work. I found a Ruger RSM, fits very well, at George Caswells, made a deal, Champlin installed a recoil pad, tunned the trigger and with dies and supplies, say $2,500. But, I've always found Ruger QD bases to be tedious and the front sight is too small for old eyes, so off it went to NECG's for a 3/32 front bead, a robust rear sight, and EAW QD bases and rings. I installed a Leupold VXR 1.25X4. Big bright picture, the red dote feature was ignored, and good eye relief. Another SCI find (another $900 or so) Swifts ballistician is a gem, I called for Lott load data, and he agreed to develop it in a day or two and he did. Reloader 15 and 2,200 fps with 500 grain A-Frames gets a buffs attention and is a joy to shot in the 11 lb Ruger. I planned to spend the first years SS, but... then a nice sable stepped out and broke that bank. Coutada 14 was great, Debbie runs a good camp and Oct was the dry time, so not much wading. Two buffs, a sable, and misc plans game, my rifles performed perfectly.
The RSM is now off being bored and rechambered to .495 A-Square, another Wieland thing. It really was too heavy for the .458. With Africa, nothing goes according to plan, but mine came really close.

Glad to hear that your plans went so well.

With all respect to Wieland, I do not buy everything he writes (or Art Alphin either), so I would be slow to convert to a .495 A-Square.

For me, I like weight on my .458s. Up to you, of course.

Where's your pictures?
Thanks, all sounds good but----?
George

the old reliables, 375 h&h, 458 Win and Lott, you'll always find ammo in Africa if yours goes south on the trip over, With the new cartridges, Ruger shorts, Dakotas etc. if your ammo goes missing you have one hell of an expensive boat anchor. Stick with old and your covered.

I had that experience years ago. Found 375 H&H ammo available when my gun arrived, but my own ammo had not. Using borrowed and available 375 H&H ammo, I shot a huge leopard with that borrowed ammo before my own ammo eventually showed up. As to my 300 WSM, it sat collecting the red dust of Africa until the ammo did arrive. No ammo for it was even remotely available. Great advice dande_jack!

I would not trust weiland as far as I could throw him on anything from what viscosity oil to use in my Jag.

He has had issues with remembering to return at least one expensive rifle to the manufacturer.

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick Stoll:
Calico Hardwoods is a couple blocks from my office, so several hours were spent looking for a tough blank.

I used to live about 10 minutes from Calico. I loved looking through their blanks. Bob used to let me have the run of the place. It wasn't the same after he retired, but it was still great.

I may have figured out photo sharing. This is Mozambique, Oct 2012 Marromeu coutada 14.



First buf an old bachelor, took 3 500 grn A-frames and a 500 grn Hornady soft, second buf from a herd took one A-F in the heart and one to the neck/spine, the sable has one in the middle of the shoulder.
Ruger RSM .458 Lott all around.

I feel the same way about the .375. I only have 7 trips under my belt but have taken a .375 H&H for each and every trip I have been on. Whether I use it or not, for plains game or a back up for my heavy caliber. I have an awful lot of confidence in my .375.