The Accurate Reloading Forums
Baboon rifle?
15 June 2007, 17:51
D HunterBaboon rifle?
Some may laugh at this question as in "What is the best possum gun", but truthfully. Obviously a large caliber will kill a baboon. This question is for the folks that do it day in and day out as a depradation issue. Would a varmint gun like a 22-250 be enough gun? Would a 300 mag of some ilk be better? I assume lots of the shooting takes place at long range so that a flat shooter is an advantage. Scope of preference? I don't currently own a varmint rig at present.(could be another excuse to buy a rifle.) On my next trip to Africa I hope to kill one of my close relatives with the big canine teeth.
Although cartridge selection is important there is nothing that will substitute for proper first shot placement. Good hunting, "D"
15 June 2007, 17:57
Blair338/378I shot nearly 40 baboons in Zim with a 7mm STW shooting 140 Xbt's.............worked perfectly
Probably a 257 WBY is the perfect baboon rifle or something similar............
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.
15 June 2007, 18:03
kudu56When we were in Zimbabwe in 02, the rancher who owned the property we were hunting on, took a liking to my four boys. About the third day he came to camp one morning and announced, boys, today we wage war on the baboons! At the same time he dropped a brick of .22 shells on the table, handed my oldest a bolt action .22, and then he took them for two days of shooting, your close relatives. They killed dozens. And needless to say my sons had a ball. The population of baboons had gotten out of control and they were destroying the local bird population. My sons said the two two, ( as the rancher called it) worked fine. But you had to get close. I would think a .223 or a .22-250, would be great to.
15 June 2007, 18:19
Bryan ChickI used my 3006 for my one and only baboon-range was about 100yds
15 June 2007, 19:14
Magnum Hunter1I shot one with a 300 Wby. and another with a 338 Win. Mag. Both worked of course. A 300 is great. Anything from 243 on up I would think would be plenty.
15 June 2007, 19:27
Rick RThis would be perfect (if it were legal)
15 June 2007, 19:58
LRH270I agree with Rick R.
I kept thinking over and over that I wished I had my heavy-barreled AR in South Africa.
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15 June 2007, 20:08
tsibindi...thru the years in Zim, the one caliber that is used almost exclusively on baboons, is a M-70 in .223/5.56 with a 2.5x8 Leupold. This rifle has been responsible for killing so many baboons, it has the distinction of being referred as "The Gudu Gun!"
Obviously you can shoot baboons with whatever rifle/caliber you have when the opportunity arises. But, if you're gonna' have a day of shooting nothing but baboons, I think the .223 is a good choice.
15 June 2007, 20:12
Dwight22WMR should work just fine.
It hasn't been mentioned but given what has been sed it should but has anyone used a 17 hmr? I would be curious as to results.
gabe
It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
15 June 2007, 22:25
archer_375gabe...like shooting anything else with a 17 hmr, it would run off and die somewhere...
15 June 2007, 22:30
CunninghamWhatever you have handy.
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15 June 2007, 23:58
AtkinsonBaboons can be very hard to hunt, and a long range caliber may be needed. In RSA and where they have been hunted a lot they live in the cliff areas and those suckers are the smartest animal I have ever hunted..I like a 243, 22-250, or even a 270. We go in a mellon field before daylight and lay in a hole, do not move a muscle, not even a twitch, don't peek out, when they seem to be on top of you, jump up and start shooting. I like my 6x45 for this hunt, its about perfect, and as they take off, it keeps them in range for awhile.
I know true baboon hunter. He hires a helicopter and it almost lands near the cliffs, he jumps out with his 223 M-16, and a 12 ga. pump landing in a depression and the helicopter takes off, the baboons come out raising hell as it disapears, then he opens up and kills a ton of them...He has had some very close calls btw, they can be pushed too far. I suspect one day we will probably pick up some of his parts that are not etable..
Just hunting baboons as opposed to taking them at random when they present themselves is a lot of fun in itself and very challanging...
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
Archer,
On the list of things that I have shot with mine is Squirrel, ground hog coyote and turkey (multiples of each) and none have crawled off before dying, all but one has been instant, so maybe I am just doing something wrong. It was my assumption that if a double deuce was being discussed as having been used that the little 17 would handle the load, so was just looking for some experiences.
gabe
It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
Boha and I shot some baboons on our last trip, he used a 30-06 with (I think) 180gr Hornady bullets and I used my 8x68S with 187gr H-mantel bullets.
They both worked nicely but if I had the pick I´d take the 8x68S.
16 June 2007, 02:58
juanpozziI never killed baboons but i believe they can have the resistance of a human soldier ,so we must use at least a 308 ,i believe everybody who used the great fal will agree ,what you think Ganyana.
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I agree. I think you need at a least a center fire rifle. Ranges can be quite long and I do not believe that you should just wound one and leave it to die. having said that I am not too keen on following up a wounded one either. I have used both a 30.06 and a 300WM (happened to be what I had with me)!
Peter.
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16 June 2007, 03:57
N E 450 No2I have shot baboons with my 9,3x74R and my 450/400 3 1/4", as targets of oppertunity.
If I was going to shoot a lot of them I think a 243 to a 300 Win Mag would work.
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16 June 2007, 04:34
Use Enough GunSo the consensus is that a .22-250 Centerfire with premium bullets would work?
16 June 2007, 05:00
BuliwyfThe .264 Winchester Magnum with 140 grainers is a good match for taking an ocassional baboon. If I were going to focus on baboon shooting I would opt for the 25 WSSM and 120's.
16 June 2007, 05:15
luv2safariI'm of the opinion that ANY rifle in a baboon's hands would be dangerous...
16 June 2007, 05:19
SGraves155My baboon prefers the .22, but he's just not safe with it.
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16 June 2007, 07:17
Eland SlayerI do believe that my heavy barreled Browning A-Bolt chambered in .223 WSSM would be PERFECT for the job!!
17 June 2007, 02:26
OldcoyoteI was thinking - Gee, I hope the animal rights activists aren't reading this. I then read Ray's account of the helicopter assault and now I can't stop laughing!
.............................................
19 June 2007, 04:41
Blair338/378quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
Baboons can be very hard to hunt, and a long range caliber may be needed. In RSA and where they have been hunted a lot they live in the cliff areas and those suckers are the smartest animal I have ever hunted..I like a 243, 22-250, or even a 270. We go in a mellon field before daylight and lay in a hole, do not move a muscle, not even a twitch, don't peek out, when they seem to be on top of you, jump up and start shooting. I like my 6x45 for this hunt, its about perfect, and as they take off, it keeps them in range for awhile.
I know true baboon hunter. He hires a helicopter and it almost lands near the cliffs, he jumps out with his 223 M-16, and a 12 ga. pump landing in a depression and the helicopter takes off, the baboons come out raising hell as it disapears, then he opens up and kills a ton of them...He has had some very close calls btw, they can be pushed too far. I suspect one day we will probably pick up some of his parts that are not etable..
Just hunting baboons as opposed to taking them at random when they present themselves is a lot of fun in itself and very challanging...
Ray,
That bloke sounds like he's as mad as a cut snake
Does he have Aussie relatives?
As you say, hunting them can be very challenging.
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.
19 June 2007, 04:44
Blair338/378quote:
Originally posted by kudu56:
When we were in Zimbabwe in 02, the rancher who owned the property we were hunting on, took a liking to my four boys. About the third day he came to camp one morning and announced, boys, today we wage war on the baboons! At the same time he dropped a brick of .22 shells on the table, handed my oldest a bolt action .22, and then he took them for two days of shooting, your close relatives. They killed dozens. And needless to say my sons had a ball. The population of baboons had gotten out of control and they were destroying the local bird population. My sons said the two two, ( as the rancher called it) worked fine. But you had to get close. I would think a .223 or a .22-250, would be great to.
Bloody lucky they don't have wolves in Zim, Kudu.... or you and your boys would have had a ball.
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.
19 June 2007, 17:59
kudu56quote:
Bloody lucky they don't have wolves in Zim, Kudu.... or you and your boys would have had a ball.
I wish we could send them some of our wolves! Some bloody ones.
19 June 2007, 20:06
L. David Keith.223 gets my vote. Push 60 grain Nosler partitions through their chest if you want a good specimen for mounting. LDK
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http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007
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Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......
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19 June 2007, 22:22
stubbleduck47Brice...Were you aiming at the head??
To follow up on what Peter said: use enough gun (.243 and up.) Quite simply, because baboons are problem animals many hunters (shooters) forget their ethics and kill these animals inhumanely. My ranch has problem baboons and I shoot them, but make every effort to make a clean kill. Every animal deserves at least that.
20 June 2007, 00:47
almostacowboyI've always loved the sound of ".257 Roberts".
Dave
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20 June 2007, 08:41
AtkinsonBlair,
Yes, I always considered him a little ringy..and apparantly he has had some close calls. He hunted the Swartkei area of RSA which consists of high mountian bluffs and fields down below...Lots of baboons.
shooting a running baboon can really be an optical illusion as they run sideways you know. Its very disturbing.
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
20 June 2007, 15:27
Blair338/378Ray,
I can imagine! If I was your mate, I'd add a hi-cap handgun to my arsenal. Good for CQB!
I remember in Zim', we were pursuing a troop and a wounded baboon tried to get up and have a go, the PH yelled "shoot that !@#$ again!" I think a decent centerfire of say 25-06 is appopriate for them..........the bulls are tough.
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.
20 June 2007, 15:30
Blair338/378quote:
Originally posted by kudu56:
quote:
Bloody lucky they don't have wolves in Zim, Kudu.... or you and your boys would have had a ball.
I wish we could send them some of our wolves! Some bloody ones.
Come to Oz and play with our bloody Dingoes, mate
........
They kill sheep like you wouldn't believe.......
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.
20 June 2007, 22:20
KUDUBULLAn ultra-light and a 12 gauge shotgun are always an option where we go.
I swear I saw a baboon last year as we where coming in low to shoot start running as if he was saying..."oh Shit'
Ray Matthews
Matthews Outdoor Adventures
2808 Bainbridge Trail
Mansfield, Texas 76063
20 June 2007, 23:47
Use Enough GunHe was.
22 June 2007, 11:09
Blair338/378quote:
Originally posted by KUDUBULL:
An ultra-light and a 12 gauge shotgun are always an option where we go.
I swear I saw a baboon last year as we where coming in low to shoot start running as if he was saying..."oh Shit'
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.
I think it would be wonderful to do a baboon only safari. Just a heavy barreled 308 with a good German scope and lots of 168 Grain Ballistic tips in good Lapua brass.
30 April 2009, 04:15
Blair338/378D99,
Like a roo shoot, just more challenging.....
Something flatter shooting is better in my opinion.
A 257Wby shooting 115 Berger VLDs works well
Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!
Blair.