What one rifle, and one load, "could be different question's or the same", has had the most impact in Hunting Africa from the beginning of firearms hunting ?

The load can be different, or they could be the same. But what one rifle, and one load, changed hunting in Africa more then any before or after it ?........10

Other than the transition from black powder to the smokeless rifles, which was absolute.. I suppose the 375 H&H with the 300 gr. bullet and Cordite load, or perhaps the 404 Jefferys...

You have posed a difficult question and I doubt you get much more than opinnions such as mine with little substance,as to fact.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Rick and Ray,just in an effort to get this thread going, I'm going to throw something out here to discuss on this topic.

I don't have enough background in African hunting history to determine the answer to the question, but doesn't it stand to reason that some of the old military rifles that were so prevalent after the 2 "great wars" were the real impact cartridges on the African continent? It seems like the 7x57, 303 Brit., and the 9.3 x ? cartridges get mentioned a lot in literature, especially as damage control calibers, while the 404 and 375 were more for the upper crust hunter who could afford long, lavish safaris. Which of these 2 groups do you think affected the African hunting the most, as we see it today?
Interesting question, Rick.- Sheister

At the risk of being a smart-a$$, I'd venture a guess that it would be the AK-47 and/or SKS and 123 gr FMJ loads.

I know you are talking about sport hunting, but my point is that this rifle has closed down more good hunting than perhaps any other. Just a guess, no hard evidence to support it.

In sporting arms, I'm wondering if it isn't the .458 Magnum in various rifles? Finally an affordable "everyman" dangerous game rifle and load instead of high priced H&H's and Rigby's and such.

Or, Jim, the .308 (NATO) Win... hunters, poachers and armies use it.

Impact is relative to the time in history.

Prior to WWII and after the blackpowder era I would say that the 404 Jeffrey should stand alone in this department. It was used by a majority of the game department. It was also used by sport and meat hunters in Africa prior to World War II.

Sport hunting grew dramatically after the war and 375 H&H ammunition was readily available and rifles were being produced in the United States and elsewhere. During this same period the Kynoch ammunition became no longer available and the only source of ammunition for the 404 Jeffrey was RWS. During this period the 375 H&H became the standard medium rifle that could handle anything.

During normal times I would say that these rifles had a great impact.

I in reality the rifle and caliber that had the greatest impact on Africa was the HK-47 7.62x39. It destroyed an entire history of conservation and way of life in Africa. The poaching impact even to this day can still be seen throughout Africa. The wildlife will never recover from the slaughter that took place during those years.

That's my 2 cents
Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

I agree with Santela, thats about it...

The 303 did have a major impact in Africa, as did the 9.3x62, the 404 and the 375 and this took place over a century or two...the 308 is now a standard by which all calibers are compared to and every household has a few cases of ammo stached under the floors, I suspect.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Well those who say the answer's are the rifles and loads of the tribal armies, that were supplied by the foriegn power's, for influence and money, are technicaly correct. It was my fault for not stipulating "Rifles and loads that had the most impact on sport hunting in Africa".

I didnt want to include the assault weapon rounds, tho since I didnt stipulate it the poster's were entirely right in mentioning them.

I would hazard a guess that the rifle's and loads that drove the ivory trade had a great impact on sport hunting in Africa. These Ivory hunters were, in many way's, the first pioneers into what would become the great game fields of Africa and their experinces , both good and bad , would have had a major influence on the growing "sport hunting" industy on the continent.

The adventures of these men alone, along with those of their loads and rifles, became literary fodder that ignited the fires of generation's of Sporthunter's that began to migrate to Africa, thus beginning the practice of game management and conservation.

Tho my knowledge of the rifles and loads of the "Ivory Trade Day's" is limited, I'd hazard that they, and the men that used them, had a great impact on the emergance of modern conservation on the continant...............10