For most of August I will be hunting in Namibia. Management hunt in the Kalahari and baboons and jackels in the Khomas. Most shots will be between 250 and 500 yards. I am building an F-class and an F-TR class rifle for a gentleman over there. Not something I want to hunt with. I have three actions I can use, Rem 700 LA, Howa 1500 LA, and a Mauser(Yugo size), two mag bolt face and one 30-06 bolt face. I have barrels for .338 in 1-10 & 1-9, 6.5mm barrels in 1-8.5 & 1-7.5 and one .308 in 1-10. Right now I'm leaning toward .338 WM, 1-9. A barrels are straight so any contour is possible. Also have considered 6.5/284, 1-8.5. It needs to be a somewhat longer range hunting gun that will take Gemsbuck. What do you guys think? ....Tom

.338WM with 1-9 twist - Will be a rifle that will last him forever and cater for any game (within legal parameters the heart desires at the distances described ... and more.

I second the 338. Great round, can go light or heavy on bullets. I would also choose the Howa action over the rem action.

1 in 9 .338, turn it to #3-ish, finished at 24 inches and put it on the mauser action if possible.

Will light bullets stabalize with a 1 n 9 twist in a .338? The 6.5/284 is certainly a long range cartridge and 140 grain 6.5mm premium bullets can handle a gemsbok nicely.

quote:

Originally posted by 376 steyr:
Will light bullets stabalize with a 1 n 9 twist in a .338? The 6.5/284 is certainly a long range cartridge and 140 grain 6.5mm premium bullets can handle a gemsbok nicely.

Then the mother of all bull Elands shows up slightly beyond the ideally acceptable range trotting away at an angle as the most normally do and then you would wish you had the .338

I don't think he mentioned eland but you got a point.

I would build a 6.5/284, 6.5-06 or a 6.5 WSM and use 120 grain Barnes TTSX with the BC of .443 for PG if you are doing chest shots.
For Jackals, Baboons and neck head shots on PG, I think 120 or 140 graon Nosler Ballistic Tip is better.

If you want a long range rig for Eland(longer than 300 meters), then I would build a 338 Lapua or a 338 Norma.

For long range hunting Jackals and Baboons and if you are going to use head and neck shots on the management hunt and it is going to be long shots, then I clearly think a 6.5 is better than a 338.

How about a 300 Rem Ultra Mag on the 700 action? 1-10 twist is perfect for long range, but turn the barrel down pretty thin for easier carrying. Load a 200gr Tipped X or Long-Range X bullet at about 2900fps and have fun!

a second for the 300 ultra mag 700.

300 Ultra and 180 grain bullets.

I have one of our own 30/404, built on a Sako action and has a 27inch Dan Lilja barrel.

I have used it in South Africa to shoot everything with.

From nyala 10 yards away to blue and black wildebeests over 400 yards.

It worked like a charm.

As usual you guys have given me some more to think about. The biggest problem I have is that I agree with all of you. So we have solved nothing. I have never used a 6.5/284 in Africa, but had a hunting buddy with me that shot everything with a 6.5-06 and did well. I have used a .338 and it did well. Another friend I have hunted the Kalahari with used a .300 RUM with great success. I am going to start the build in about a week and a half so I will make up my mind by then. Right now I'm off to Argentina to shoot about 2000 of those defenseless doves........Thanks guys.........Tom