I have a 375 H&H and am wondering about a second medium bore rifle for Africa. 300 win mag 338 win mag or 300 ultra mag.. Any suggestions. I want to hunt all plains game from duiker to eiland.

308 win. or any other standard handloaded cartridge

I chose a 375H&H and a 7MM Rem mag and was very happy with the results.

You may not need a second medium bore. The 375H&H can do it all!
Peter.

The 300 H&H is THE classic match to a 375H&H!!!

I have always taken two rifles and spare scopes. Just doesn't make sense to have an equipment problem that diminishes a hunt.

Two ways to go ... 1) if you are going to hunt dangerous game on some other safari, I'd suggest .416 of some kind. On a plains game safari take ammo loaded with 350 gr Barnes TSXs. If for dangerous game take the correct ammo (400 gr softs or solids).

2) If you are NEVER going to go for dangerous dame, I would take either a .338 Win Mag or a 9,3x62. I prefer to have a rifle that will pretty well work on bad things if one of them decides to make life very interesting.

The first is going to be a 416 plus caliber thumper and the second can be anything less. Probably not less than a 270 winchester.

quote:

Originally posted by WORLDHUNTER1:
I chose a 375H&H and a 7MM Rem mag and was very happy with the results.

quote:

Originally posted by 900 SS:
308 win. or any other standard handloaded cartridge

Dittos!

375 H&H and 300 H&H. The perfect match!

-30-06 and 375 H&H Magnum for example.

I wish luck you.

Oscar.

quote:

I want to hunt all plains game from duiker to eiland.

I took two guns.....and didn't do too badly.....I took a .300 H&H and a lever gun .25-20.

The H&H worked nicely on Kudu and Gemsbok sized critters while the .25-20 did the trick on the tiny ten (dik dik, Duiket, steenbok, etc) and I left the .375 H&H home.....

If I was planning a return trip I'd go with a .30-06 and a .223.

Since you already have the .375 you probably will want to use it.....but IMO I made the right decision in leaving mine home!

...333Jeffery & .416Rigby

I really don't see why you'd need another rifle (except for spare), but of those mentioned I'd go with the .300 WM or .338 WM.

The .338 is so "close" to the .375 that I'd probably choose the .300 - perhaps a more shootable option, too.

For that matter, if you intend not to hunt DG, the .300 or .338 will be plenty for one rifle, too!

- Lars/Finland

quote:

Originally posted by RaySendero:
The 300 H&H is THE classic match to a 375H&H!!!

+1

This is a dilema I am still trying to resolve.

I leave June 12 for my first safari ever. 14 days in the NW province fo Sa. All plains game (budget will not support DG).

My primary rifle will be a Sauer 90 in 8x68S.

What i can not decide on is my spare.

Choices are:

257 Roberts AI (not sure I can get this in without proper headstamps though)
6.5x55
7mm mauser
7mm mag
308 Styer Scout
308 Savage 99
30/06
338/06 AI (not sure I can get this in without proper headstamps though)
358 Win in a Savage 99
9.3x62
375 H&H
416 Taylor

I have been kicking this iover and over for a few months now. I cannto come to a decision.

Top candidates are the 6.5x55, the 30/06 and the 9.3x62.

My .416 Remington and .358 STA served me well in the Selous for Buffalo and plains game. The toughness of the plains game impressed me greatly. Good shooting.

Another .375H&H or a .30-06

quote:

Originally posted by JabaliHunter:
Another .375H&H or a .30-06

3rd vote for that combo here. It's what I have chosen to use.

Larry Gibson

Since you aren't hunting any dangerous game, I think its better traveling with only one rifle. The less unnecessary stuff, the better. If you don't want to shoot the 375 at the smaller game and definitely want a second rifle, I'd bring something significantly smaller than a 300 or 338 Mag. I'd go with a 7x57, a 6.5x55, or something like that.

If you like the 300 WM, it could serve well as your one and only rifle for everything up to eland.

IMO a nice 7x57 would be a great choice.I know Finn Aagaard would agree.An article he wrote years back in "All Around Rifles" sold me on the 7x57.

When we hunt PG together, my wife is using her 6.5x55.

It's been a nice option for me when I wanted to use something other than my 9.3x62, so I consider it a good back up option.

Of course, I also like the .30-06.

When we go on safari I take my 375 and my wife takes her 308. She lets me use the 308 on the small stuff and since it is a Kimber, it is much lighter and handier than my 375. She has used it on zebra but I prefer the 375 for that size game and bigger. If not hunting with my wife, I take only the 375. It is just less hassle and weight to travel with one gun.

quote:

Originally posted by JabaliHunter:
Another .375H&H or a .30-06

I thought in some countries you couldn't bring 2 rifles of the same caliber? I swear I've read that before.

Of your choices, I'd go with the 300 Win Mag. The 375 will have nearly the same trajectory....so you're just carrying 2 rifles that shoot the same, just with different weight bullets. The 300 will give you the ability to stretch out a bit IF needed, depending on where you are hunting. Plus from what I gather, 300 Win ammo is just as easy to find as 375 and 30-06, not as much so with the 338

With a 375 on board, you can go pretty light with the 2nd rifle, as you'll be using it for Springbok, Duikers, and the like. Kudu, Wildebeast, and Eland are the game of the 375 if you're carrying one.

7X57 or a 300 H&H if you handload and are a fan of the classics.

270, 30-06 or 300 Win Mag if you shoot factory ammo.

I'd let the anticipated shooting conditions dictate what I bring for a light rifle. Some areas (and some game) mean you're going to do some long range shooting. If that's the case, I'd bring one of the 300 Mags. Bushveld country means you can comfortably use a 7X57, 30-06 or 338-06 (or any other medium bore).

For my light rifle, I've used a 270, 300 H&H, 300 Win Mag and a 338 Win Mag. If I had to pick just one, I'd use a 300 H&H with 200 gr bullets.

Take the Savage 99 in 308-talk about cool factor- and 308 ammo should be avaiable anywhere there is ammo.

SSR

Depends on what your goal is. If you want rifles for specialized purposes I'd say get something lighter a .30 something; If you worry about Bwanna Murphy showing up take a secong 375 if the country allows it(some do some don't), or get a 9.3 of some sort.

6.5x55, I love the 6.5's very capable round!

Safari in SA and Botswana I took my Blaser R93 375H&H and my Beretta Mato in 338 WM
Business partner took Kimber Caprivi in 375HH
and Sako in 300 WM. Both smaller calibers got used more and never felt under gunned.

quote:

Originally posted by RaySendero:
The 300 H&H is THE classic match to a 375H&H!!!

+1 but lacking a 300 H&H a .30-06 will do.

Were I leaving today on my first ever African safari for plains game, it would be an easy decision-.30-06 with 168 TSX and .375H&H with 270 TSX. But since eland is on the menu, is their a caliber or energy requirement for it? If so, you might take a second gun that's on the larger size.

Have a great hunt!

LWD

I think you should take the 358 win in the savage 99

My two gun battery is 416 rigby single shot an a 300 win mag in a model 70

My two gun battery when there are no DG around is a 300 Win Mag and 416 Rem Mag. The 416 is a back up and never came out of the case as the 300 did a great job on everything from Springbok to Eland.

quote:

Originally posted by WORLDHUNTER1:
I chose a 375H&H and a 7MM Rem mag and was very happy with the results.

An excellent combination.

If I were going back for non-dangerous game, and if I were taking along a second rifle in addition to a .375H&H, I would choose something seriously fun and different, and not necessarily totally practical and efficient. I would probably take a lever action .45-70 or perhaps a Sharps replica...or maybe an older, classic Mannlicher-Schoenauer with an aperture sight.

Yes, I am wearing my nomex jumpsuit right now.

John

the 6.5 Swede.

Rich

For plains game I'd pair my 375 with a 6.5x55.

For plains game I have always taken a .300 Weatherby and a .340 Weatherby. However, I have not shot the very small African animals.

Heym 88 in .470 Nitro and a Mauser 98 in .318 Westley Richards (but that´s only a dream...)