I hope to some day go to Africa and do some hunting.And I know very little about the type of Rifles and ammo that people use.So my question is-What would be the best caliber and rifle to get for an African hunt?I am not a rich man so I will only like to spend a $1000 or less for my rifle.Also does every one use open sights or do you use a scope?If you use a scope what power is the best?My main target would be big Cats.Thanks in advance.

You'll probably get a million different answers on this, but I would say (and I'm sure a lot of posters here will agree) that if you're budget is restricted, then a .375 H&H would be the calibre for you. It will allow you to kill everything from a duiker to an Elephant......as long as you use a good and suitable bullet and put it in the right place.

As to scopes, a lot will depend upon what you're going to hunt and where, but even in the bushveld where you will be shooting at fairly close range it would be a good idea to have a scope on the rifle....... but if you're planning to hunt any DG then QD mounts are a great (and very advisable) investment.

CZ will shortly have available an "American-style" 550 Safari model available in .375 H&H. Load it with 270 grain Barnes XLT's, A-Frames, Trophy Bonded or other quality ammo and you can do anything you need in Africa, save follow up shots on Buffalo or any shots on Elephant... Maybe brain a Hippo??? You can use 300 grain solids for that. My CZ, albeit a customized one, shoots both solids and softs in the same 1.5". You can usually find a new CZ for less than $650. The "American" models will be available in November, I believe. Add $100 for Talley QD mounts and you still have the bucks for a VXII 1x4 scope, all within your budget!

I like the .375 because it has the trajectory of a .30/06, doesn't have any recoil of consequence, has ammo available everywhere, is available in all brands of rifles and great components are available for the handloader. Oh, yeah... It has worked for 100 years in Africa, almost, anyway...

You may have seen "One planet, one gun." quoted here by someone??? on the forum. It's true.

I�ll agree with shakari and the Judge on choice of caliber, but do try one first as some people experience the recoil as heavy. Personally I�d say that the recoil is stout but in know way bad as long as the gun fits you. You can�t go wrong on a Leupold scope in 1.5-4 as long as you�re not planning +250 yard shots.

Nah! The recoil is not that heavy.
You first need to shoot something BIG.
Then have someone who knows how to handle big guns help you with your form, and the H&H ain't a big deal.
I've shot some pretty stout loads from a Ruger #1 that should've weighed more. It barks, but it don't bite.

Now, as for cartridge selection, doesn't anyone feel like a 338 mag of some sort would be a better choice for cats?

You see, one problem with the H&H is that it's sort of a one-gun kinda proposition. Be prepared to sell it and your 30-06 when you realize they make all your other guns unnecessary.

Get you a .338, on the other hand, and then you still "need" a .416 bore or better....

Whilst it's never a good idea to generalise about anything in life, I reckon that a .375 H&H is the perfect client rifle for most clients. Put a Winchester Silvertip in it for cats, a Barnes X or a Woodleigh PSP for Buff etc and a solid for Elephants and follow ups and it will do everything.

I'm not knocking .416s or or anything else, but I've never had a client who is scared of a .375 H&H, but I've had plenty who flinched away from .416s & bigger....... if a client can shoot a bigger calibre well, then it's fine by me. But many can't and it's better to shoot a .375 H&H well, than a bigger calibre badly....If you've got a .375 H&H, why bother with a .338. Of course the other attraction of a .375 H&H is that it's about the only calibre which you can buy ammo for anywhere and everywhere in Africa.......

[ 08-29-2003, 01:11: Message edited by: shakari ]

I've not yet been over but, in addition to reading informative posts on this forum for some time, I got "Safari Rifles" by Boddington and "The Perfect Shot" by Robertson.

The advice within those isn't necessarily any better than what you received above, but the books are great to curl up with and read over-and-over.

I think the answer is actually quite simple. Any caiber from .375 H&H up that you can keep 5 shots on a paper plate offhand ( or off shooting sticks)at 100 yrds is perfectly fine for DG in Africa!You probably will shoot DG at 25-50 yrds max anyway. the 100 yrd test simply shows it's not too much gun for you! You really don't need any other info than that. For shots over 100 yds on non-dangerous game use a 30-06 sighted for 200 yrds.-Rob

One more vote for the 375H&H, the 338 is a fine cartridge, but is not legal for Buffalo or Elephnat, and is not legal for Lion in many places! With the 375 H&H and a pocket full of softs, and solids weighing 300 grs you are legal for anything that walks in Africa, or anywhere else!

On a slightly different spin, I took my 375 H&H on my first hunt and was very pleased with the decision. Even though I was only going for plains game, the rifle was a big factor in gaining the respect of the PH. Plan on being judged and expect to be tested on your shooting proficiency. On two different occasions I over heard my PH speaking in Afrikans (sp?) to others and heard, "blaa, blaa, blaa, 375 H&H" and was immediately rewarded with nods of approval. It warmed this little guys heart to know I had gained approval.

The point I'm attempting to make is the 375 H&H made for a more enjoyable hunt even though a 30/06 would have been just fine for all the game taken

I would opt for a cz 550 .375 H&H get the stock bedded put a leupold 1-4 Vari X 11 in warnes or talley QD's get a smith to check it over (deal with the clip issue in the bolt), load some woodleigh 270 gr or 300 gr Round Noses and your right. Hold six shots has enough weight to be pleasant to shoot and they shoot very well !!

From the The Rifle Book by Jack O'Connor

"Francois Edmond-Blanc of Paris, one of the world's most renowned and experienced big-game hunters, a chap who not only has made a score of safaris in various parts of Africa but also has hunted in North America, India and the Middle East, usually goes on safari with only two rifles, a pair of .375's"

He seems never to have felt undergunned and I don't see why anyone else should, either.

I'll join the .375 Holland and Holland Belted Rimless Magnum club, too.

Don't get me wrong, I also like heavy rifles with subway tunnel-sized holes in their barrels. I own more than my share of them. But if I had to choose only one, it would be a .375.

You should have no trouble with the .375's recoil. Moderate recoil is one of its many qualities.

Just make sure the stock is of good design and fits you, and make sure your rifle weighs 9-10 pounds or so, and you'll be fine.

375 H&H magnum, like Porsche, there is NO substitute! jorge

Just my two cents...
I bought a 375 for my safari next month having never shot anything bigger than my 300RUM. It doesn't kick bad at all and after hunting the local deer season with it, I may never carry anything else. Anything inside of 300yds is dinner!
Blacktailer

For rifle choice there is nothing you will hunt on this planet that cannot be cleanly taken with a 375HH. My personal 375HH has killed countless animals for myself and as a loner to many many clients over the years. I don't recall a single animal being lost when hit with my 270 Aframe loads.

The scope issue is easy as well. Any scope that goes down to 2 or 2.5 power or so, and not more then 9 power is needed. Although not a problem to have more power, it's tough to find a scope that will be as low as 2 power and go much over 8 or 9X. The lower end of the scale is more practical for the bush.

The odd part of the whole topic is that you start by saying your not rich but want to start with the big cats. That probably ain't gonna happen, if you're not fairly well off with the money.

Male Lion hunts will likely exceed 17 grand, Female lion about 9 grand and leopard will push 10 grand when all is said and done including arifare. For half that much ( 4-6K) you can hunt ten days and shoot at least 5-7 beautiful trophy animals including airfare and you don't need a new rifle to do it!

There is a lot of Romance in the big cats and buffalo etc. However the reality is they are darn expensive and require lots of time to shoot a single animal. A really great safari can be had for a very reasonable cost with much more shooting involved each day.

With all due respects to the above posts, I own a .375 H&H and love it...but on my first hunt in RSA I used a .300 H&H for plains game.

I'd use a .30-06 on that trip if going again....that 26" barrel was forever getting in my way.

Next time cape buffalo are on the adjenda and the
.375 H&H will be in tow.

I agree that the 375 H&H is a good choice, but in order to make a REAL choice, you need at least two reasonable alternatives.

First, I would take a good honest look at the416 rem Mag with premium bullets for the application you have in mind, noting that the recoil in a 10 lb rifle will be more than the H&H but comparable for a 12 lb REM compared to a 10 lb H&H when using 350 gr bullets in the 416. Trajectories and velocities will be nearly identical.

The extra diameter and weight provided by the 416 350 grainer will have much more authority in the field, and confidence is very important.

Second, it's hard to beat a 338 Win Mag in a light, compact rifle for the big cats and it will be useful in the states as well. Factory High Energy and Light Mag offerings from Federal and Hornady duplicate the 375 H&H energy at pressures so low they won't operate gas operated semi-autos. If you hand load, you can choose bullet weights from 160 to 300 grains and take any game on the Continent covering velocities from 2475 to 3300 fps.

Guys thanks for all your replies.I guess the 375 H&H and Vari X III low power scope gets the nod. God Bless

I think where you hunt has a lot to do with what caliber you hunt with. If I was hunting Wart Hog in an area where something wants to stomp you or make you part of their food chain, I would be thinking about a 416 of some sort.

Just a thought.

For 99.9% of African hunting, I think it's hard to beat the tried and true .375 H&H. If you've never shot a heavier recoiling caliber like this, IMO you start practicing with lighter loads and work your way up as your comfort level increases. Make sure the stock fits you. I would also suggest that your first few shots with this caliber be taken while standing vs. shooting from a bench. The recoil is very manageable.

I don't get it. The 375 is too much gun and a 338 is great????? There is nothing that a 338 can do that a 375 can't do as well or better! There are definitely animals I would not tackle with a 338 that the 375 would handle well. If big critters, bears/moose/African dangerous game are on the menu, the 375 is THE choice of the two. I have numerous of both. I have loaded for them for 30 years. The 375 just seems to be the go-to caliber for the international hunter. With the ever improving bullet development, The old girl just keeps getting better! Opinions are like noses, everyone has one and this is mine.

That tired old comparison of action length is a weak one!All pre-64 model 70's have the same length action!!!DA!!!!!All of the remington actions for 30-06 to 375 are the same length. The bolt throw is the same. The bolt stop on the Winchester is in the same place for all calibers based on the 06-375 length. It is abbreviated only on the 308 and shorter case length. The ONLY exception to the rule is if you choose to use a true magnum length action which Holland and Holland rarely used anyway. All of the original Holland magnums, 300 and 375 H&H were an internally modified 98 Mauser actions that had----you guessed it------the same bolt throw and a 30-06. Sorry about the agression mut miss information is bad information.

[ 08-29-2003, 19:34: Message edited by: lb404 ]

Well put, 404, I personally have had about all the (military expletives deleted) about action length I care to tolerate. The alleged danger of "short stroking" the bolt is too stupid an argument to even acknowledge and all the hype about the superiority of short fat cases is just that, hype! Under strictly controlled conditions in bench rest competition, it matters. In the field? Bah! If the local authorities were to legalize the .338 and good 300 gr. bullets became available, it would be a wonder. Of course, it would be nothing more than a repeat of the .333 Jeffrey since there hasn't been a new idea of consequence in cartridge design in the last 75 years but no matter. However, it hasn't happened and isn't likely to happen so the question is moot. Now can we get off this silly .338 kick and give the poor chappie some useful advice?

Guys - it was a joke, that's what the "wink" means!...

Sorry about the tone of the message, I was being called out on my free time to go to work!