All my shots were at about 150 to 200 yards and the rifle was just coming in to its own at that range. It is a fairly heavy rifle (9.5lb) and recoil is no problem.

Any rifle in to 7mm through 338 will do well in the hands of a good shot. For myself I always take the rifle I shoot best, have confidence in and are fimiliar with, as long as it is powerful enough to get the job done.

Steve

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

the 9.3x64 I just built is sure an all around caliber and I'm becomming enchanted with it, we'll see.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

The only animal that went more than 40 or 50 yards was the impala! Hit him in the guts and we found it the next morning. Shot placement IS important.

I took a .30-06 along and shot two blesbok and three springbok with 180 grain Nosler Partitions as well. I saw gemsbok, eland, zebra and smaller animals taken with .300 Winchester Magnums and they worked just fine too.

Anyway, I don't delue myself that the .375 is necessary. To be honest, a .300 Magnum or .338 would probably be a better "balance", but the .375 with Swift A-Frames worked so well near and far that it is the one I will take the next time I go.

On my last safari (eland, kudu, waterbuck, 2 zebra, buffalo and blue wildebeest) I took a .300 Win Mag (200 gr. TBBC) and .375 H&H (300 gr. Swift A-frame).

I asked the PH what he wanted me to use on the plains game. He said the .375 H&H. In Africa there seems to be preference for the .375 H&H. The .375 H&H worked like a charm (no shot was over 150 yards). In fact, I can't prove it, but I think the .375 H&H saved the day. On my shot on the wildebeest, I hit him a little high on the shoulder. The bullet ended up under the skin on the opposing hip (he was facing us and quartering to the left). He died within 40 yards. I always wondered if I had shot him with the .300, if the effect would have been the same.

Except for long shots in open plains (for example, springbok in the Karoo or the Kalahari in Namibia), I will always prefer a .375 H&H on any size plains game. I would even use it (loaded with solids) on duikers and klipspringer.

I've said this before, but if you already have a .270 or 30.06, don't go out and buy a .300 mag. Go out and buy a .375 H&H and hunt Africa with the classic African cartridge.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Regards,

Terry

Sarge

Holland's .375: One Planet, One Rifle.

I took a .280 Rem. for smaller game, like impala, blesbok, springbok, etc. But even the .280 was too much gun and served mostly as a back-up to my .300.

I have no doubt that all the larger calibers will work as well. But, I try not to fix what's not broken.

Don Martin.

Would any of you consider taking a .338-06 for the plains game? Using 210-225g bullets it is so close to the ,338 Mag it is worth talking about.

-Mr Mike

I was very impressed by the performance of the .338 that I used on all of of the above.
I used 210 gr. Nosler Partitions which I reduce loaded for 2600fps muzzle velocity. I couldn't recover any bullets to check weight retention and expansion since all went completely through. 3 of the 5 animals (Kudu, Gemsbok and Blesbok) were taken at distances between 220 and 250 yards.

The only animal that went any distance at all after the first shot was the Gemsbok which was initially shot through both lungs at 240 yds and had started to head for the thick brush. A second quartering away shot in the right shoulder anchored him.

quote:

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Originally posted by DaJudge:
I was very impressed by the performance of the .338 that I used on all of of the above. I used 210 gr. Nosler Partitions which I reduce loaded for 2600fps muzzle velocity. I couldn't recover any bullets to check weight retention and expansion since all went completely through. 3 of the 5 animals (Kudu, Gemsbok and Blesbok) were taken at distances between 220 and 250 yards.

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DaJudge,

Was that a .338-06 or a .338WinMag? From the velocity you listed it sounds more like a .338-06.

-Mr Mike

I can't seem to remember much anymore, so I go on the KISS principle.

Don

It's a .338 Win. Mag (reduced load).

I have taken all of these animals with several 270 wildcats, ranging from the the 270 Ackley to the 270/404.

Bullets used were 130 Barnes X, 140 Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and the 150 Jensen.

Without exception, all the rifles and bullets performed exceptionally well, and left nothing to be desired.

I have also shot some of these animals with other calibers, like a 7mm Firehawk, a 338 Titan and my own 375/404.

I might be prejudiced here, but the 375/404 seems to drop them quicker.

One thing is sure though, I will not consider using any bullets except those that hold together.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

[This message has been edited by fredj338 (edited 07-17-2001).]

I took two zebra, two wildebeest, three impala, and a gemsbok at between 75 and 200 yards with a .308 using 168 grain match bullets. Shot placement is obviously (given my ammunition choice) far more important than bullet weight or diameter so shoot the gun and calibre that you shoot the best.

JohnTheGreek