I'm planing on going to RAS next summer . Still working on the details... anyway

With luck I'm planing on taking: kudu, zebra, bushbuck, warthog, blue wildebeast, and impala. From what I've read and watched here, it seams like many plains game is taken with a 7mm mauser, 30-06, 300 winny etc. I feel that my battery would more than adequatly cover the spectrum. My current line up of riffles are, .260 Rem custom rem, 280 Rem mountian rifle, 270 winny ultra light ruger, 308 pre64 feather weight, 30-06 rem 700 classic, 7rem mag 700bdl, & 35 Brown Whelen on a 98 mauser.

I was planing on takeing two rifles... My two picks are the 280, its very accurate and light, the other being the 35, with a little more ummph. I would like to get a 375 one day but feal that my spectrum is pretty well covered, besideds a rifle would cost me an amimal or so my wife says

I feal like I could use either for all game if need be, but would probably use the 35 for the bigger three and the 280 for the others. Shooing either a 225-250 preimium bullet out of the 35 from 2700-2850 fps, and in the 280 shooting a premium bonded bullet in either a 150 or 160 range.

Do you think this is adequate? Or should I take some thing else?

The second question is, how much is the import tax on rifles/ammo in RSA (if there is a tax)?

Thanks
Ivan

Your choices and conclusions are valid.



Of your list of animals, I used my .338 Win. Mag. for kudu, blue wildebeest and zebra to great effect and my .30-06 for the rest except bushbuck (didn't get one but I was carrying my .30-06 the one time I went after one).



There is no "guns and ammo" tax to enter SA but you do need to register them with the police using Form SAP 311. Make sure you have your copy of US Customs Form 4457 for both weapons.



This is from the Hunting Report website,



http://www.huntingreport.com/africa_gun_import_procedures_temp.cfm

Your Whelen is a good choice & I am fan of the .280 but go w/ heavy for caliber bullets in the .280. I like the 160grNP or 175gr Hornady, Corelok for the .280. I took my .338-06 & shot everything w/ the 210grNP, only recovered one bullet (from my Kudu bull). I would think the 225grNP or 2250grNP would do you well on Kudu & Wildebeast, everything else could go w/ the .280. The problem/joy of hunting in Africa is you never know what you'll bump into. That's why so many are fond of the 9.3 & .375 for everything. Use enough gun, good bullets, good placement=great time.

Fredj338,
I also used my 338/06 on two safaris. I shot 9 of the large African antelope with it, using 200gr Barnes X bullets. The Whelen would work just fine on the big guys. I used a used a 7x57 on one hunt and a 257 Robert's on the other as my small gun. They worked fine also.

A good choice Donato. I love my .338-06. the 210grNP @ 2700fps is my allround load & I like the 250grGS or Hornady @ 2450fps for a timber load. I have a .280 & a .338-06, no need for a .30-06.

Ivan,

Your choices are similar to mine, this May I will take my 7x57 with 160 grain NP and 35 Whelen will shoot 225 Barnes X. With the Whelen I plan to take waterbuck and black wildebeest and the 7mm for the smaller antelopes. I've used the 35 Whelen on a previous safari but this will be the first time for the 7x57.

BigBullet

Simplicity is of great value, and I like to get by with one rifle if at all possible, plus a spare scope.

I've taken just a .300 Win. Mag. for all of the animals you mentioned, plus others. I've also taken a single rifle in .375 H&H. Both worked superbly on everything - from duiker to eland - and I'd gladly hunt with either one of those cartridges again for one-rifle, plainsgame-type safaris, and I probably will.

Quite honestly, cartridge selection is an overrated consideration. Bullet selection and the quality and mechanical integrity of your scope and rifle count for a whole lot more.

AD

BINGO !

Even if I was planning on using one rifle for all my game, I would still take two rifles and a spare sighted in scope for each. Get a Tuff Pak and you will have plenty of room.
The 35 and the 280 sound like a good pair to me.
Sometimes I change rifles on a hunt just for the fun of it.

Look at our host, Saeed, the guy seems to love just bringing one rifle, his 375/404.

I've really come to like the 35 Wheelen. I bought one on a whim, one of those "one of 500" offered by Ruger through a wholesaler. I changed that horrible "boat paddle" stock of course and topped it with a 1.75X6 Leupold. With 225gr A Frames, I would have NO problem taking that rifle to Africa and like Allen and others stated, with a spare scope. It's prudent to take two rifles, so my vote goes to the 06 with good premium bullets. jorge

I've used both 30-06 and 375 in Africa. I prefer the 375 but your 30-06 could handle everything on your list. Personally, I'd take the one that I have the most confidence in.

Jorge,

I bought one of those special run Ruger .35 Whelens also! I like mine so much that it's now at the gunsmith's getting a custom wood stock and some other goodies (steel bottom metal, London Guns red recoil pad, etc). I want to take it to South Africa for plains game in the near future.


Ivan,

If you'll be hunting in bushveld in RSA, then the .35 Brown Whelen is a good choice. If you'll be in more open country, like many parts of the Eastern Cape, then you might want a flatter shooting cartridge. I have not hunted in the Cape; only in the Limpopo Province which is usually bushveld. Usual ranges there run about 50 to 150 yards. Personally, from your list of rifles, I would take the .30-06 as a back up to the .35 Brown Whelen if you want to take two rifles. I just like heavier bullets so the '06 appeals to me. On my last trip in 2002 to the Limpopo Province, I used my .30-06 loaded with 220gr round nose Woodleighs at about 2460fps. It worked great on Steenbuck, Bushbuck, Impala, Warthog and Red Hartebeest (the largest animal I took on that trip). But your .280 is also a good choice. I'd use 160 gr or even 175 gr bullets in it.

But your .35 Brown Whelen would do it all if you only took one rifle. However, if your luggage gets lost that has your ammo in it, but your rifle makes it through, then you'll be in a bind. Having your .280, .308 or .30-06 along as a spare, for example, would mean that you could buy factory ammo if need be. Just something to keep in mind.

For plains game in bushveld, I think it's hard to go wrong with a .338-06, a .35 Whelen, or a 9.3x62. All are good choices.

There are more experienced posters on here than me. Their advice is worth listening to.

Just my ramblings....
-Bob F.

Bob: I'd like to see the finished product! All I did to mine was install a McMillan stock. It shoots pretty well too. Like I alluded, with 225gr Swift A Frame handloads I can hold MOA at 100. Man, it absolutely FLATTENED a decent sized bear up in Maine last year: