Does anyone here know about any cases of hunters using handguns to hunt African game -- particularly the Big 5? Don't know if it is even legal in any African countries where there are caliber minimums. If you know of any cases, what were they shooting and with what did they hunt (firearm/caliber)?

While searching sites after buying a FA 454 there is a guy who has at least one if not more videos of african hunting. He is using a 454 FA with NO scope. I think it has something to do with Whiplash????? Was gonna buy it, never got around to it. A search in that direction could lead you somewhere.

I took a FA 454 and two Contenders in 309 & 375 JDJ to South Africa two years ago. My hunting partner took his Ruger 454, a 375/284 XP-100 and an Encore in 416 Taylor. He shot a lion and a cape buff with the 416 in the same day. I hunted plains game. Our PHs were a bit skeptical at first, but felt more at ease when they saw we could put our animals down quickly.

Pictures of Lynn Thompson and the Andersons are on the Freedom Arms' website. These guys used the 454 to take record book members of the big 5.
Check it out at the trophies section of www.freedomarms.com
Also John Taffin talks about handguns in Africa in his books, as well as showing a few pictures of Thompson with his cape buffalo.

Those that say huning the big 5 with a 45-70 is a "stunt" should love this topic.

I hunt with hanguns, and while I have never shot any of the big 5 with one, I feel confident that a 475 or even a hot 45 colt with appropriate bullets would take all manner of game, dangerous or not, cleanly if the shooter does his part.

David

I would be interested in the video of the Handgun hunt if anybody knows where/what it is.

I beleive its only legal in south africa on private hunting preserves

Check out my site it has a number of articles on handgun hunting in Africa. Also have a look at Mark Hampton's last two columns. Generally South Africa is easier than any other country but things can change rapidly sometimes. Zambia, Botswana (I think) & Zimbabwe also allow the use of handguns but often requires special government permits which can be rather difficult to obtain and need to be approached on a case by case basis. I would suggest working this out with your PH well ahead of any trip but to RSA. RSA's law changed a couple years ago and now "technically" you can only bring in one handgun as they have started enforcing the other "new" laws. We'll have to wait and see till next season if they are enforcing the one gun limit.

With respect to DG, some countries specify a 375 H&H as the min. others specifiy a ft/lbs of energy figure and other still just say a min cal of .375. It all depends on where you are hunting.

I'm going again in July '04 with Bobby Hansen Safaris if you're interested drop me a line. He has guided a number of handgun hunters and is a great ph.

Here are a few links for convenience but there are some other articles posted that I did't list.

Plains Game
Buffalo Hunt
Eland Hunt
44 Review with zebra & wildebeest