I’m going on safari in Mozambique in August and just curious as to what caliber. I’m shooting croc and Cape buffalo and some plains game. Thanks

.375-.416. Either is a great single rifle battery. I like a 400 grain .416 around 2400 FPS. Seems to punch above it’s weight and good to 200 yards. I use CRF but a push feed would probably be fine. Practice practice practice.

Depends a lot on how large a caliber you are comfortable with. If new to big bore shooting then the 375 h&h is a smart choice and perfectly capable and legal for cape buffalo. If not for the buff you could just go with any 30/06 to 7 mag and 30 mag range of caliber gun. A 270 with good bullets will do for plains game.

416 Rem Mag

458 WM
500 NE - If you taking a double.

Which concession? You may have long shots on Buff if its in the swamps.

quote:

Originally posted by eyeman:
I’m going on safari in Mozambique in August and just curious as to what caliber. I’m shooting croc and Cape buffalo and some plains game. Thanks

Buy a good 375 H&H. You may want another rifle, but you won’t need another rifle.

375 H&H. With it you can shoot everything you want on your list, as well as any of the small duikers and antelope(with solids of course). And, you won't feel that the caliber has beat the 'hell' out of you.

If you haven't done it before-

I would ask your outfitter a few questions, and then you need to ask yourself a few.

What range do you expect to shoot crocodile at?

How recoil tolerant are you?

How far can you get a first round shot hit pretty much every time into something the size of a basketball?

How far can you hit something a little bigger than a golf ball every time?

Are you willing to bring a second gun?

Recoil tolerance will tell you how big a rifle you want for buffalo. .375 H&H (or Ruger) is minimum in Mozambique, I believe. If you are really recoil sensitive, ask the outfitter if you can use a 9.3, otherwise, if you are not, then the discussion becomes expected ranges for game. A fast .375 (either .375 Weatherby, .375 RUM, or other less common calibers) will give you more ease with distance. The .416s are a bit bigger, but really kills them no deader. The double gun calibers are neat if that is what you want to shoot one with, but the range limitations will limit croc and PG shooting as a single rifle.

You need to know if you can make a good hit on buffalo (off sticks and offhand)- that is the basketball question- with your chosen rifle.

The golf ball is the croc shot. This will usually be able to be rested. Because of this, you may want to consider bringing a smaller bore rifle for this, and plains game, if you cannot match expected range of shot to what you can deliver.

For one gun, the .375 is great- especially if yours is an accurate one.

If you have done it before- whichever rifle(s) you want to try out.

For a first safari that includes dangerous game, the answer is nearly always 375.

Or, like I did...go old school with the 404 Jeff. But, like others have said, hard to beat the .375. One gun that truly does it all.

Gary

eyeman,

What cartridges are you used to shooting?
What gun do you shoot best?
What gun do you enjoy shooting?

I am a mere beginner at hunting Africa. Hunted Zimbabwe twice, Namibia once. Before my first hunt I asked the same question you pose here. Many assured me I could not go wrong shooting the .375 H&H. They were right. It was perfectly adequate for the biggest animals I have shot - Buffalo and Giraffe. On all hunts I took along my 30.06 as backup but mostly carried the .375 every day. PH Rich Tabor suggested I could use the .375 for all any any game which is wofth thinking about. Next time I may pack just the .375. I love sbooting it on the hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by eyeman:
I’m going on safari in Mozambique in August and just curious as to what caliber. I’m shooting croc and Cape buffalo and some plains game. Thanks

Is this your first safari?

Really a hard question to answer. One must assume that you’re the “average” man, whoever he may be. I suppose most would just recommend a .375 H&H Mag. and lots of practice. One could do far worse.

375 will do you proud- almost more important then the caliber is a good scope especially as you are shooting a croc!

What everyone else says and for croc you need that gun shooting golf balls at a 100 yards. Lots of really good second hand options for the .375

Buzz could you expand on your views on scopes please .

Mark

I suggest that the emphasis should be on bullet choice for the buffalo. North Fork, Cutting Edge Bullets and Swift A-Frame are my favourites. I know nothing about crocs.

quote:

Originally posted by mark smith:
Buzz could you expand on your views on scopes please .

Mark

He means accurate shooting.

As on a croc one needs to be able to hit the brain, and some crocs are shot at relatively long range.

Longest one I shot was 216 meters - measured after the shot, as I screwed up.

I misjudged the distance, and my shot went a bit low.

Hitting the croc in the throat.

He went into the water, but could not stay down as he was drowning, came up and I shot him again.

It is quite exciting following wounded crocs in deep water.

I heard a story of a hunter shooting one, and it went under.

The whole gang - PH, client, trackers, went into the water walking side by side looking for it.

They did.

Someone stepped on the croc, which was not dead.

The person who stepped on the croc levitated so fast, and walked on water back to the river bank.

So did everyone else.

The croc was never seen again.

I wish I was there, it would have made a great movie.

quote:

Originally posted by mark smith:
Buzz could you expand on your views on scopes please .

Mark

What do PHs know about scopes?

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by mark smith:
Buzz could you expand on your views on scopes please .

Mark

What do PHs know about scopes?

Well, the two professional hunters I hunt with know as much about rifles and scopes as I do, and that is saying something.

Roy is a well known gunsmith and rifle builder.

Alan asked if he could build a rifle one time he was here, and he did.

You doubting Buzz's knowledge is well founded.

Any professional hunter wearing a bikini does leave a bit of doubt in my mind!

The photos of him posted here a while back were something else!

But, I would like to add, we might cut him some slack.

Some of his clients use Blasers!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by mark smith:
Buzz could you expand on your views on scopes please .

Mark

What do PHs know about scopes?

Well, the two professional hunters I hunt with know as much about rifles and scopes as I do, and that is saying something.

Roy is a well known gunsmith and rifle builder.

Alan asked if he could build a rifle one time he was here, and he did.

You doubting Buzz's knowledge is well founded.

Any professional hunter wearing a bikini does leave a bit of doubt in my mind!

The photos of him posted here a while back were something else!

But, I would like to add, we might cut him some slack.

Some of his clients use Blasers!

Last person I would ask about my rifle is my ph. I did the first time I went to Africa. He bitched about the Blaser and I ended up getting a cz just like the one he used. The cz is a great rifle but needed custom work by Wayne at ahr.

The Blaser is the perfect client rifle - super safe, accurate and reliable.

The ph did get shot in his foot by a client using a rifle with a match trigger. It was not a Blaser and he still bitches about blasers. I just don’t listen to his advice anymore

Mike

Blaser owners do not need advice!

They need to be locked in in a mental hospital

I think the gun question has been adequately answered, and the .375 advice is good. Two other things to bear in mind: (1) get lots of range time in with the gun before you travel, and (2) stick with the classics. Sometimes in Africa your ammo may arrive a few days after you do. .375 H&H, no problem. .375 Ruger, big problem.

I have been hunting Africa since the early 80’s.

And apart from the first safari, I have been using my own wildcats.

Never had problems my guns or ammo not making it.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have been hunting Africa since the early 80’s.

And apart from the first safari, I have been using my own wildcats.

Never had problems my guns or ammo not making it.

Saeed, you know, of course, that now you are doomed!

I have never lost anything important either. But I do confess to being a little more nervous these days, now that they force you to pack your ammunition in yet another separate piece of checked luggage.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have been hunting Africa since the early 80’s.

And apart from the first safari, I have been using my own wildcats.

Never had problems my guns or ammo not making it.

i ve seen more lost luggages in Canada for hunters than in my time in CAR ....

If you can, I'd bring 2 rifles. A 416 or 458 makes better Buff medicine than a 375, but big bores are not conducive to hitting a golf ball at 100 yards or more. A 30-06 or 300 Mag with a 3-10 or 4.5-14 power scope would do well on the Croc.

Four safaris so far. Before the first one in 2011 I was able to shoot both a 375 and a 416 Rem. in both rifles with muzzle brakes and rifles without. I am a major wimp regarding recoil and I could not tell the difference in the two calibers (but I knew I wanted a muzzle brake). Went to Lex Webernick (Rifles, Inc). Many posters on AR own his rifles. He advised me that whatever the 375 can do the 416 Rem will do with more authority. I have found that to be true. Took my 7mm Rem Mag on the first safari for plains game. Decided after that I wanted a 300 Win Mag, which Lex also built for me. The 300 has become my most favorite rifle. It will shoot Barnes Factory ammo less than 1/2 inch MOA. On the subsequent three safaris no less than six PH's that have handled my rifles have told me that in their opinion my two rifle battery is perfect for everything in Africa. Just my $.02.

I vote for 470 NE getting some play on other threads. Classic and effective

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I have been hunting Africa since the early 80’s.

And apart from the first safari, I have been using my own wildcats.

Never had problems my guns or ammo not making it.

On my second safari my gun did not show up in Bulawayo when I landed. My ammunition in my suitcase was there but my gun case didn't make it.
The airline just said, "come back tomorrow". My PH was scrambling since I shoot left handed. Luckily, the gun showed up on the next day's flight.

Thanks. I’ve shot a458lott, but I’m not sure between a 375 and the 458. I have been before, but want a 300 for croc. Just wondering about the buff

30-06 and 375 H&H if you want two rifles. 375 H&H or 416 Rem Mag if you want to take just one. I would choose the 375 in case your ammo does not make it with you. 375 cartridges can be found most anywhere. Same with 30-06

quote:

Originally posted by Ongwe:
For a first safari that includes dangerous game, the answer is nearly always 375.

This is never a wrong answer.

+1

I was in Mozambique last year. Sometimes you will need quite long range and precision shot. I think 375 HH is good enough.