Benin Buffalo - 9.3x62 or .375H&H?

13 August 2007, 20:19

Well folks, I booked with Russell Selle, San Miguel Adventures for a 14 day hunt in Benin with Club Faune in January 2008 for everything but lion (they are booked out until 2010). Looking to hunt roan, harnessed bushbuck, red flanked duiker, western Bubal hartebeest, western bush duiker, Nagor reedbuck and oribi. Oh yea and NW savannah buffalo...

I understand they are somewhat smaller than ol' syncerus caffer... my dilemma, should I take my time tested Searcy .375H&H with the 300 grain Swift A-Frame load or take my virgin Kizler built 9.3x62 shooting Lapua naturalis 285 grainers?

I would like to break in my 9.3 and it is a light well-balanced rifle with a Zeiss 2.5x8 Conquest... but my old .375 has taken buff in Tanzania and bunches of other game all over Africa...

What would you do if you couldn't take both?

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.

13 August 2007, 20:26

KimR

Bloody the 9.3!

13 August 2007, 22:07

TerryR

I love the 375, but if I had a new 9.3 I'd take it.

TerryR

13 August 2007, 22:19

505ED

Bwanamrm,

What load are you using with the naturalis, that is one bullet I've played with a bit but could not get the factory stuff to shoot very well in my 9.3, just lookin for a good starting point. I 've got to order some stuff from Grafs this week anyway.

Heck IMO I'd blood the 9.3!

Ed

13 August 2007, 22:48

bwanamrm

quote:
What load are you using with the naturalis, that is one bullet I've played with a bit but could not get the factory stuff to shoot very well in my 9.3

Sorry, Ed, no reloading data as I am using the factory load. Groups around 1" to 1.25" in my rifle which is good enough for buff...

13 August 2007, 22:52

SBT

Russell,

The 375 has done it's job and done it well. It has had it's turn. It is now time to give it's little brother a chance.

13 August 2007, 23:12

Michael Robinson

The allure of a new rifle is irresistible. I can never fight it and usually I don't even try.

I'd go with the 9.3x62mm.

Sounds like a terrific safari, BTW. Best of luck.

14 August 2007, 00:27

mr rigby

Rhino in RSA makes the 300 grain bullet for 9,3mm and Rhino in Sweden loads the 9,3x62 with that bullet, its an 100 meter cartridge, but you get an sledge hammer for the 9,3 with that round.

14 August 2007, 00:38

analog_peninsula

You might want to check whether either ammo is available locally in the hunting area. That might be a deciding factor.

14 August 2007, 00:42

Riodot

Give the 9.3 it's chance.

14 August 2007, 00:54

Pathfinder

I don't believe you'll be able to tell the difference between the two and neither will the game.I would opt for the 9.3 myself

14 August 2007, 01:29

30ott6

Take me and you can use both. I'll carry one for you. It's just that easy.

John

14 August 2007, 01:58

Use Enough Gun

Take the virgin.

14 August 2007, 01:59

500grains

There's no point in owning a 9.3 unless it gets to go hunting...

14 August 2007, 02:23

JudgeG

Have you made sure that the 9.3x62 is legal in Benin. I saw a fellow hunting in BF with a .338, btw, so in West Africa, the caliber may well be o.k.

I've hunted buff in Burkina Faso (albeit, with a .404 Jeffery). Even though smaller, Savannah buffalo can be quite testy.

If kosher, I'd take the 9.3x62 just because I hadn't used it yet.

14 August 2007, 03:11

els

Russel,
When I grow up I am going to be just like you! How many trips is this 12? When are you going to get that elusive LION. Then you will have it all.

14 August 2007, 04:39

bwanamrm

quote:
Have you made sure that the 9.3x62 is legal in Benin

Good question, Judge... always good to have a legal scholar amongst us! I'll check on it!

quote:
When I grow up I am going to be just like you!

Hell Ernie, who said I grew up!

14 August 2007, 05:29

Atkinson

I would keep in mind that dwarf buffalo are more agressive than Cape buffalo, I personally would opt for the .375 or a .416 based on that alone..I am a big fan of the 9.3x62 but its a marginal caliber anyway you cut it. But I suppose it will work, I have killed Cape Buffalo with it and it seemed to compare with my .338 on buffalo, and thats satisfactory IMO.

Neither caliber is my idea of a stopping caliber and you just might need that extra punch IMO...

14 August 2007, 06:31

MLindsay

Well, I think you should take the 9.3 for the plains game and get a new 500 rifle built just for the buffalo!!! You can't take your money with you!!

Mike

14 August 2007, 07:42

JudgeG

Els:

I think my September trip will be no. 12. You can adopt me and pay for number 13?

Regardless of any of us expanding our family, why don't you, me and Russell arrange a safari.

Us old farts need to stick together. We can buy out the 2010 lion quota in Benin? Don't all three of us have a .450/.400? Isn't that like DNA?

14 August 2007, 08:19

Allout

quote:
Originally posted by JudgeG:
Els:

I think my September trip will be no. 12. You can adopt me and pay for number 13?

Regardless of any of us expanding our family, why don't you, me and Russell arrange a safari.

Us old farts need to stick together. We can buy out the 2010 lion quota in Benin? Don't all three of us have a .450/.400? Isn't that like DNA?

The three of you can team up and adopt me (I am a problem child who needs lots of supervision anyway

)
And besides, I am a big fan of the 450/400. That should count for something...Right?

Good luck on your trips this year guys.

Oh - and for what it is worth I would take the 9.3 also. Gotta get it bloody somewhere.

Brian