Terry Wieland On Shooting
Practically Africa – Real Rifles for Real Hunters

Some months ago, a reader asked why we never write about the common rifles in use in Africa – rifles that Africans use when they go hunting on a regular basis.

His point was that no one hunting in Africa, no matter where or for what, really needs one of the new hyper-velocity cartridges, or the hot short-shorts that deliver the same velocity from less rifle.

“Remember the 7x57?” he asked. “Great cartridge, and every bit as good now as it ever was.”

Our reader was absolutely right. The old Mauser 7x57 (116 years old and counting) was, and is, one of the finest all-around plains game cartridges for Africa. Forget the fact that Karamoja Bell hunted elephants with it; that proves nothing except that Bell was an extraordinary shot with a precise knowledge of elephant anatomy. The 7x57 has probably killed more plains game in southern Africa than any other cartridge, with the possible exception of the .303 British.

For that matter, the .303 is every bit as good as the 7x57, for the same game. In their original loadings, they launched a relatively heavy bullet at relatively modest velocities, penetrated deeply, and killed consistently. There was no magic, no razzle-dazzle; also, no ear-splitting bellow or jarring recoil. Just consistent performance.

Tony Henley, the famous Kenya and Botswana professional hunter, long believed that no rifle for Africa should have a muzzle velocity greater than 2700 feet per second. When Tony advanced that view to me, I was rather puzzled. Later, it made sense. As a cutoff point, 2700 fps is an excellent line. Below that velocity, normal bullets expand but do not disintegrate, and so you get good penetration. When velocity is greater, it means you probably are using a lighter bullet, and one that is more prone to break apart on impact.

That limit allows you to use the following cartridge/bullet combinations: .303 with a 190-grain bullet, 7x57 with a 150-grain, 6.5x55 with 140-grain, .30-06 with 180-grain, and 8x57 with a 180-grain. Every one of those combinations is proved deadly on plains game.

People sometimes wonder about cartridges for the biggest antelope, such as eland. The cartridges mentioned above will do just fine for eland provided the range is not too long, and the bullet is placed properly. This raises two questions, of course. Regarding range, it is not an issue for the vast majority of eland shot today, which are taken under increasingly controlled conditions in South Africa.

If you hunt them where ranges reach out to 400 or 500 metres and it is difficult to get closer, then you may need something on the order of a .340 Weatherby, but that’s a special situation that, these days, occurs one time in a thousand.

The same applies to gemsbok, sable, greater kudu, zebra - any of them can be handled more than adequately inside 200 yards by one of these old military stand-bys.

Regarding the second point – accurate shooting – any shot inside 200 yards will be easier to make, and these rifles with their moderate recoil are vastly easier to shoot consistently well.

Now let’s look at the rifles themselves, because this is probably more important in hunting terms than the ballistics of their cartridges.

Most of the 7x57s in use in southern Africa arrived during the Anglo-Boer War. They were mostly Mauser Model 95s, a modification of the famous Spanish Mauser 93. This is a cock-on-closing bolt action. Since the war took place after the introduction of the Mauser 98, it is not surprising that many different Mauser models showed up in the hands of the Boers, and that many are still lurking in South African farmhouses.

The 7x57 became the mainstay cartridge, not only in South Africa, but also in neighbouring countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. As a result, ammunition is freely available in these countries where one might have difficulty finding such cartridges as the .308 Winchester or 7mm Remington.

Likewise, the .303 British was the cartridge on the Anglo side of the war, and hundreds of thousands of Lee-Enfield rifles were left behind in Africa. Although these were older models, the Lee-Enfield evolved as the rifle of the British Army throughout the 20th century, and later Enfields are common from the Cape to Cairo.

The Lee-Enfield can be cut down, barrel shortened and wooden stock trimmed, to make a very handy and effective hunting rifle. The No. 5 Mark I ‘Jungle Carbine’ is a great little hunting rifle as issued. The action is smooth and the 10-round detachable box magazines are very useful in some circumstances. This cartridge was another favourite of Karamoja Bell, who often used it to brain-shoot elephants. According to some reports, Bell used the .303 more than he did the 7x57.

As issued, of course, neither the Mauser nor the Lee-Enfield had provision for a scope, and mounting one on either rifle is a difficult operation calling for more gunsmithing ability than was generally available in South Africa. Crudely cut down to make them lighter and handier, and with military iron sights, hunters used these rifles to great effect on everything from springbok to eland.

Even today, if one were hunting greater kudu on foot in thornbush, these would be great rigs. Ranges are short – usually 75 to 100 yards at the most. Shots have to be quick, because you will get a glimpse of grey hide and then a blur. So you need to carry the rifle at the ready all the time, like a quail gun, or at the very least in one hand, ready to bring to the shoulder. These rifles, unscoped, carry beautifully this way and more than make up in speed what they might lack in ballistics.

In 2001, I found myself in the mountains near Lesotho, hunting on a ranch. Some eland crossed the line onto the rancher’s property and he asked me to shoot one. The only rifle available was an ancient 7x57 with a grab-bag of ammunition. I guessed at the bullet weight, tried to match half a dozen rounds, and ventured forth. We caught up to the eland, and I dropped one on a mountainside.

Although the mountain valleys were wide and generally grassy, it was no problem to stalk to within decent shooting range, and the 7x57 did the rest. The killing bullet was a 175-grain roundnose, probably idling along at about 2400 fps, and the rifle’s bore, while rusty, was accurate enough.

The third great rifle to be found throughout Africa is the Mauser 98. In its military configuration, chambered for the 8x57, it is every bit as good as a .30-06. The rifle is the last of the Mauser models, with virtually every feature perfected to Paul Mauser’s satisfaction. Because Namibia was a German protectorate until 1918, with German troops and German settlers, the 98 is especially popular there, just as the 7x57 is in South Africa.

First World War lore said the Americans were armed with a target rifle (the Springfield), the British with a battle rifle (the Lee-Enfield), and the Germans with a hunting rifle (the Mauser 98). There is a lot of truth in that, and the Mauser 98 military rifle as it comes out of the box makes a very acceptable hunting rifle. It is not as long or cumbersome as the others, it balances nicely in the hand, and the bolt is quick and easy. On departing game, nothing is faster to the eye than open sights.

Although the .30-06 was never a military round in Africa, it is still very common because many rifles in this calibre were imported over the years and ammunition is widely available. If your outfitter has a camp rifle for client use, it could very well be a .30-06. Of the .30-06 ammunition I have seen on African shop shelves over the years, I would estimate 90 per cent was loaded with 180-grain bullets, and most of the rest with 220s.

Over the years, other cartridges have established good reputations in Africa. The various 6.5mm cartridges (Mauser, Mannlicher) in both military and civilian guise show up from time to time. Not surprisingly, Karamoja Bell also used a 6.5mm rifle extensively, again for brain shots on elephant. And the .308 Winchester has made some inroads in Africa.

When you think of it, even the .375 H&H is really a larger-bore version of the .30-06, delivering a heavy bullet, at modest velocities, with great and dependable penetration.

These are the cartridges that have nothing left to prove in Africa, and will still be taking game there long after many of today’s hot-shot cartridges are but a memory.

Dear Warrior:

Fascinating article.

Thanks for posting it.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

And we should all drive the AMC Pacer.

Remember those?

Great visability, all the power you need, plenty of room, came in a few different styles to meet your needs.

If you really, REALLY needed all-wheel drive - and let's face it, no one really does because modern roads are maintained so well but for those "one in a thousand" situations where it might be helpful - then all you need is the AMC Eagle.

Problem with articles like this it is the same argument that anti's use to limit (insert firearm/ammunition/projectile of choice here). Might start innocently but as soon as anyone in a position of notoriety/fame/power/authority says "all you need", someone picks up and uses it to beat you.

Although I agree with most of the post, folks tend to write as if the Boers, et al, went hunting for their rifles of choice. I mean, had them imported in number. But the truth is they used what was handy and cheap. Emphasis on cheap. When you could buy a milsup and a sack of ammo for a couple of bucks, why spend mega bucks to get something custom. I daresay few of the farmers could even afford the higher grade rifles. As a sidebar, In my misspent youth, I lived not far from a big arms dealer in Alexandria, Va. (for the life of me, I can't recall the name. InterArmsCo maybe) Anyway, I have been in their showroom where they would have garbage cans full of milsup rifles for sale for $5.00 and $10.00. At that time, buying a milsup rifle and bubbaizing it was a much more accepted practice and there was a lot of literature available. As well as after market supplies. So one could say the fame of the various cartridges was as much due to their availability as it was their effectiveness. Not to say that many, many head of BG wasn't killed with the various rifles. I'm also sure that many, many shooters were tallied on the BG's side of the score card due to sticking an inappropriate bullet in an inproper spot.

The magnums were developed to be more positive in their killing of large, dangerous game. A weapon for those that habitually hunted large and dangerous game. The magnum's (that name would come along later) job was to launch a much larger payload at the same velocity of the standard cartridges of the day. (2400-2700fps is a good window) While Bell was collecting ivory with standards cartridges, there was the other fellow that carried what he called "son of a cannon" that gave him a nose bleed everytime he fired it. And you read about the 2 bores and 4 bores and such. There were plenty substancial cartridges available even back then. They just weren't cheap.
Then along came Roy Weatherby and invented kinetic energy. Holding that theory meant that if you took a small for calibre bullet and drove it at warp speed, you didn't have to know how to stalk closer, judge distances, nor even shoot as the bullets were flat as a table top out to 500 yards or so and any hit was sufficient to kill the animal by bursting it's heart. In other words, a box a year, big city cliff dweller could go out and start whanging away at game in the next county with one of these rockets. No practice needed. Then speed, in and of itself, became the goal of every shooter. If your bullet wasn't going 3000fps, it was a dud. And most, if not all, of your contemporary rifle development has been in that direction. And, like some other cartridges, we heard only of the dramtic successes; never the miserable failures. A very positive spin-off has been the revolution in bullet developement however.
Except for the great bears, I daresay that any hunter that knew a bit about stalking and range estimation could successfully hunt NA with a .300 Savage and be well equiped. But just like the fellow that drives a Hummer to and from his job at the 7/11: "An AMC just isn't me." And the arms industry is giving him what he wants.
Since gross indebtedness is a competitive sport in America, and "mine is bigger, better, faster, and cost more" drives many industries, why should the arms industry be any different.

BTW, neat post.

Plezier Mauser - In the Boer War, wealthy burghers' sporters were the terror of the "koppies" (meaning the hills, as the Boers were hiding behind the rocks from a vantage point).

Read the story ... http://www.rifleshootermag.com...fles/plezier_071907/

Warrior

I find that I almost always agree with Weiland. This article is no exception. Whether the Africans used these cartridge/rifle combinations because they were cheap and available does not diminish the fact that they worked. They would not have lasted unless they did the job.

There is always a large gap between what we want and what we need!

465H&H

All you need in NA is a good 30-06. So donate all that excess stuff at your house to someone like me who is less pragmatic and more of a romanticist.

Rich
DRSS

I agree with idaho sharp shooter a 30-06 will kill just about any thing you`ll ever shoot at so any thing else you have I will gladly take off your hands for you i`ve never shot a gun I didn`t like in fact I don`t know if i`ve ever seen a gun I didn`t like

I started w/ an 8x57 sportered GEW 98 as my first hunting rifle. I went through the magnum phase and find myself back were I started. I use 3 rifles for medium game. 6.5x55, 8x57, and 9.3x57. All are Husqvarna rifles the oldest is a 1943 and the newest a 1962. The 7mm rem Mag still goes out when the situation calls for it, but it carries like a 2x4 compared w/ the sleek, balanced Swedes.

Warrior: Thanks for taking the time to write such a fine article. I really enjoyed reading it, and also the responses.

Unlike jpat, I never went on the Magnum kick, although I do own and shoot a 375H&H. I started with the 270 Winchester, and am still shooting it today. If I read and understand Warrior's article correctly, I could shoot 150 Nosler Partitions, and be in the good company he mention's in his story, while still shooting my ol trusty 270.

Jerry

I've read Terry Wieland's, Dangerous game Rifles. It was a very good read.

Jerry,

Just a correction here .... the article mentioned in my 1st posting was written by "Terry Wieland", and the article referred to in my second posting was by one "Richard Venola".

I have written other articles for magazines regarding the use of moderate velocity to keep soft nosed bullets within their threshold strength to gain better bullet performance, i.e.

* more bullet weight retention.
* getting more effective mushrooms without loss of petals, but not over-expanding.
* yielding the best trade-off between penetration and a larger hole through the vitals.
* velocity is just a tool to get the bullet there at range so it can perform within its threshold
* this means there is a place for standard calibers as well as high-velocity magnums.
* the bullet revolution in premium grade bullets of late makes one more flexible - wider operating window.
* expanding monolithics, such as a Barnes-TSX, have the widest operating window for hunting game.
* most standard calibers such as the 7 mm Mauser, 270 Win, 308 Win and 30-06 Spr can be used effctively out to 250 yds.
* Magnums start to come in their own beyond 250 yds.
* Thus your choice all depends on your terrain - horses for courses. That means my 300 H&H also has a place under the sun.

DG hunting with solid bullets is naturally a different scenario.

Warrior

quote:

Originally posted by Warrior:
Terry Wieland On Shooting
Practically Africa – Real Rifles for Real Hunters

Some months ago, a reader asked why we never write about the common rifles in use in Africa – rifles that Africans use when they go hunting on a regular basis.

I agree with the discussion regarding cartridges - old vs new - however the "topic" IMO includes the rifles, perhaps more so than the cartridge they are chambered in. I think it's too narrow in scope to consider the cartridges and ignore the rifles.

I for one would like to read info about the actual rifles that real African hunters use - - that in contrast to the Sports with lots of money to burn, who make a few trips to Africa, set up on bait, or shoot at night, under a spotlight, or from a truck, with their $10,000 custom 419.5 magnum, and take a new rifle each trip, with the perfect wood, and attachments.

The title of this thread is Real Rifles for Real Hunters - Not Real Cartridges for Real Hunters.

KB

Winchester Mod. 70 "Stainless Classic" 30-06, Leupold 3 - 9x 40mm duplex reticle. Not for everything, but for anything in No. America.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Warrior: Thanks for taking the time to write such a fine article. I really enjoyed reading it, and also the responses.

Unlike jpat, I never went on the Magnum kick, although I do own and shoot a 375H&H. I started with the 270 Winchester, and am still shooting it today. If I read and understand Warrior's article correctly, I could shoot 150 Nosler Partitions, and be in the good company he mention's in his story, while still shooting my ol trusty 270.

Jerry

Dittos Jerry, except I bought a 270WSM and a 300WSM without regret, I might add. Oh, and a 338WM.

quote:

The title of this thread is Real Rifles for Real Hunters - Not Real Cartridges for Real Hunters.

Picky picky picky. When you thnk about it, you can't have one without the other.
The Mauser and the 7x57 go togther just like peanut butter and jelly. Lots of people trash the 93 and 95 Mausers but they did the job. On rifle I regret ever selling was a 93 Mauser 7x57 made into a sporter by some little gun shop in England. The lines were similar to a Rigby and even with a scope it was one of the lightest rifles I've ever owned. Everything I shot with that rifle was DRT on the spot.
Sometimes it's the rifle that makes the cartdrige. The Winchester M94 made the 30-30. Could be the 7x57 made the 93 and 95 Mausers.
Paul B.

Don't forget the 9.3x62 which was a common local rifle built on old mauser actions.

I do agree with the article but have one point to make. The locals have access to the game year round. For some of us, a trip to Africa is a once in a lifetime trip. As such, we are probably going to use more gun than is necessary to make sure we don't lose a trophy animal.

I would also add that most will take what they have used and trust. Many will be very similar to the "old faithfuls" in Africa. For plains game Americans are likely to bring over the 7mm-08, 308, and 30-06 which are the American versions of 7x57, 303, and 8x57. They are what's common here in America and what gun companies are producing.

Some people will bring over one of the magnums just to give them the extra confidence on that hunt of a lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by Warrior:
Terry Wieland On Shooting
Practically Africa – Real Rifles for Real Hunters

Some months ago, a reader asked why we never write about the common rifles in use in Africa – rifles that Africans use when they go hunting on a regular basis.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul B:

quote:

The title of this thread is Real Rifles for Real Hunters - Not Real Cartridges for Real Hunters.

Picky picky picky. When you thnk about it, you can't have one without the other.
Paul B.

I know it's picky. It's the old cart before the horse dilemma. I'm just trying to encourage discussion about the rifles used by real Africans, (who live in Africa, not Texas) which is what I thought this thread was about.

Seems that it's too much temptation to dwell on cartridges. I just get tired of the same old stuff - 30-06 vs 8x57, 308 vs 7x57, etc, etc. I want some real and interesting stuff, like someone saying as a matter of fact, real Africans have recently all acquired Blasers for their everday use, and now there is a glut of old classic Mausers for sale there.

KB

"I want some real and interesting stuff, like someone saying as a matter of fact, real Africans have recently all acquired Blasers for their everday use, and now there is a glut of old classic Mausers for sale there."

Don't you wish.
Paul B.

There's probably more subtle and factious implications (several) buried in there somewhere.

KB

I live in neither Africa nor Texas.

7X57 works fine in Tennessee, too.

warrior,

you never have said if you have any financial or business connections with wieland.

Should we take that as a yes, you're in bed together and using this forum to promote that horse's ass...?

Rich

I read somewhere, probably here on AR, that the CZ 550 in both the safari and medium action, depending of cartridge desired, are popular in Africa, for those that live and hunt there, who want a new non-military, non-custom hunting rifle. As I remember, the reasons are because it's CRF, reliable, not expensive, comes in a variety of chamberings, including the beloved 8x57, and 458 Lott, etc., and comes with open sights, and shoots good right out of the box, and better with just a little tweeking.

BTW, I have a 7x57 in the CZ 550 medium, American stock, and it works real well at the range. I haven't shot any game with it yet, since season isn't open, and I just got it all together and sighted in. I doubt that it will ever see Africa.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
warrior, you never have said if you have any financial or business connections with wieland. Should we take that as a yes, you're in bed together and using this forum to promote that horse's ass...? Rich

Sharpshooter,

No Terry is not paying me nor am I promoting him. I think Winchester paid him a handsome amount of money in the settlement, and so believe Terry does not actually need to pay anyone to promote him.

Terry might be an idiot in your mind for whatever reason, but certainly not in my mind. I can only judge Terry on his few articles that I have read. Perhaps when I read his books I might also disagree with him on some points, who knows. That is life, but what I read so far seems in the ball-park.

My posting here on AR about Terry's article is purely for entertainment purposes, and we should be big enough to accommodate various opinions here, as we may just not have all the circumstances and facts in front of us. If there is righful critizism, then so be it - I am not fending for him. I am just taking his articles at face value, as if he is an electric Robot that writes about various aspects.

Warrior

I would have thought the "Article" would have Copyright protection.

quote:

Originally posted by Warrior:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
warrior, you never have said if you have any financial or business connections with wieland. Should we take that as a yes, you're in bed together and using this forum to promote that horse's ass...? Rich

Sharpshooter,

No Terry is not paying me nor am I promoting him. I think Winchester paid him a handsome amount of money in the settlement, and so believe Terry does not actually need to pay anyone to promote him.

Terry might be an idiot in your mind for whatever reason, but certainly not in my mind. I can only judge Terry on his few articles that I have read. Perhaps when I read his books I might also disagree with him on some points, who knows. That is life, but what I read so far seems in the ball-park.

My posting here on AR about Terry's article is purely for entertainment purposes, and we should be big enough to accommodate various opinions here, as we may just not have all the circumstances and facts in front of us. If there is righful critizism, then so be it - I am not fending for him. I am just taking his articles at face value, as if he is an electric Robot that writes about various aspects.

Warrior

Why would Winchester pay Terry Wieland..
I am confused..

Dunno'.

They (Winchester, or actually whatevet it calls its ammunition company) did pay Rick Jamison an "undisclosed amount," though.

Interesting intelletual property case...Info all over the Web, if anyone is interested

Kabluewy:

Here's some stuff from my 375 H&H Model 550 Safari. Best 3 shot group so far, .635, with a 270 Grain, (oh no!) Speer Hot core/81Grains of IMR 4350/2650fps, ES 24. 300 grain Hornady Round Nose best group 1.2" with 58.5grains/IMR3031/2220FPS, ES18. And with 17grains of Unique the 100yd group with a 285 hard cast bullet, was 1.040. Also hard cast bullets, with IMR4064 and a Kapock filler,group about the same as the other loads. With accuracy like this, it is plain to see, why the folks in Africa go for the CZ, and 200yd shots with these jacketed loads are a snap.

Jerry

I had a CZ 550 in 375H&H for a brief while, and really liked it. I shot it some and tested feeding, and found no problems. Someone offered me a lot more money than I paid for it, so I sold it. I would have kept it if I didn't already have a fine custom 375 on a winchester action, which I don't shoot enough. At the time I just needed the money more than another 375, which I wouldn't shoot much anyway, since I actually like the 9.3x62 better for my purposes in Alaska.

IMO, the CZ 550 in 375 H&H is an African rifle, and a really good one. It's fun to handload for, and I like to shoot 2300 fps with 300 gr bullets, and about 2450 fps with 270 gr bullets. It reminds me of my 9.3x62 that way.

KB