If I could only have one, it would be the .338wm. For your friends specific need, the .300wm is the real choice because ammo is almost as available as the 06.

If I was just going to shoot plains game in Afrika, I would probably select either a 7x64 Brenneke. or a 9.3x62. Good ammo is commonly available for both. Both will kill plains game including lion & leopard rather well in chosen circumstances (and with another shooter standing back-up), though I wouldn't use the 7x64 on Buff unless I had a dead-certain shot of my choosing and HAD to shoot the animal.

BUT, to answer your specific question, if I could only have ONE large medium bore rifle, for use throughout the whole world, it would be the .375 H&H. There are other cartridges which will do most of the time and for which you can find ammo most places, but for a situation where I had to be able to find ammo anywhere and shoot anything that popped up, with easily tolerated recoil, it'd be the old .375 H&H....

For a rifle in the .375 H&H, any "name brand" CRF would probably do, but a genuine Magnum Mauser fitted up by John Rigby's about 1930-'35 would be my ideal. While we're at it, toss in a best quality oak and leather motor case with a removable, leather-cornered, canvas cover.

If he needs a poll to know what to do he's not a rifle nut, probably doesn't shoot much and would be best off with something that kick's less like a 270, 308 or 30-06. Me, I'd take any of these three without hesitation.

The rifle's listed in the poll KICK TOO MUCH for a casual shooter.

My choice would be and is the .338 Win due to the lesser weight of the rifle and essentially equal performance (of the best loads) with the .375 H&H. I choose the .338 and have done for 37 years for most of my hunting in western Canada due to it's stellar performance and "packability".

Sounds like a great job for a 35Whelen. But if factory ammunition availability is his prime consideration then the 338WM stands out.
Cheers...
Con

ramrod340,

My vote, of the cartridges you listed:

First choice: .338 Win Mag
Second choice: .300 Win Mag

My reasoning:

(1) "He will only be hunting plains type game."
(2) "hunt and travel in Africa, Australia and New Zealand."
(3) "He wants to take one rifle on the trip"
(4) "wants something that he can buy ammo for there if need be. "

I don't know how available the WSMs are in southern Africa. I suspect not widely available yet. (I could be wrong.)

-Bob F.

For no apparent reason other than I have on, I choose the 9.3x62

They are fun to shoot and forgiving to reload.

My vote is for the .300 Win Mag if he'll be shooting an "off the shelf" rifle and factory ammo. The reasons being; ammo is readily available, in a wide selction I might add, and most shooters can handle the recoil without too much problem.

A 180 or 200gr "premium" bullet (take your pick) out of the .300 Win Mag should fit the bill nicely...

My vote was for the 300 Win. Mag (but tomorrow I might change my mind to the 338!!). chambered in the model 70. The super grade is a real nice rifle.....and also would have enough weight that recoil shouldn't be an issue.

I have a model 70 in 300 Win Mag that has been to all the places he wants to hunt and has been much more than adequate on anything I pointed it at.

Hawkeye47

quote:

My vote was for the 300 Win. Mag (but tomorrow I might change my mind to the 338!!).

That is basically what I told him but in reverse. I know he has been to Africa before he has a cape buffalo as well as a water buffalo in his office. So he must have some heavy recoil rifles. I repaired cracks in a 7mmmag as well as a 300Wby.(made a deal he fix my heart valve I would fix his stocks LOL) He gave the 300Wby to his son. I know he doesn't handload.

I think he was more asking about the WSM version vs the old tried and true. On that I told him that I was not that impressed with my dealing with the new WSMs. But, that I knew a whole lot of people with more experience that would be more than happy to share their opinion.

Between the 300 Win. Mag. and 338 Win. Mag. cartridges, I've taken over ten score of big game in many states and several foreign countries. They are my favorite hunting cartridges, period. Of the two, and especially considering the hunts I have planned for the future, I'd take the 338 Win. Mag. as my one and only big game rifle for the balance of my hunting career..........

AD

First choice .375 H&H mauser leupold scope, second choice pre 64 M70 .300H&H leupold scope, third choice Sako 7 mm Rem mag leupold scope.

Under those conditions I would choose a 30.06. Not because I think it's the best but because it's available almost everywhere.

quote:

what would your rifle choice be.

The M-70 of course.

If he already owns a 7mag, he can load it with partition 175's and be good. If he wants a new rifle then probably say the 300 mag as well. I'm kind of Jones'n it for a Sako so that may be a good choice.

1st Choice = 375 H&H
2nd Choice = 30-06
3rd Choice = All of the above!

.338 would be the clear choice and in the Model 70 for me. Got no use for the short mags, and although the 300 win is good if I could only take 1 rifle I would take the .338 over any others on the list...tj3006

My choice 1 - .375 H&H - No 2 - .338 WM - No 3 - 30-06 - No 4 - .300 WM

Roland

'06.

IV

I would choose the 338 in a Model 70, but wouldn't complain if I had to take a 300 Win Mag instead.

I'll predict he'll play Hell finding WSM ammunition in Africa, Australia or NZ also.

No 30-06. If your in the Sth Pacific you might as well chase Rusa in New Caledonia. I believe most French colonies, current or past still restrict military calibers.
Cheers...
Con

OTHER= .300 H&H!!!!

.338 WM.

Without a doubt: .338 in M70 Supergrade. Do everything caliber in a fine, classic rifle. With a quality scope and the right loads, I would hunt everything that walks except elephant.

I am not an experienced African traveler, and the areas I have traveled aren't really known for hunting. All northern desert countries for the most part. So my insight into ammo availability there is guessing at best. Thoughts are that 7.62x39 and 308 are the most commonly available ammo though, followed by 30-06. All the sporting rounds fall somewhere below these I suspect, but a couple of other older military rounds might suprise me.

That said if I was counting on ammo availbility on the local economy, those would be be my first choice unless I heard differently from my outfitter. I really don't quite understand this round and round arguement on ammo in Africa to be honest, if I had as much dollars one the line for a high dollar hunt as most do, I would make sure I mailed or Fedexed ammo to my outfitter months in advance, and verify it was there, then I would still bring some in the gun baggage. Very small cost to prevent disaster on a high dollar hunt in my mind.

I voted for other, I dislike 3 out your 4 choices of cartridges and why your thinking WSM 's and ammo availability simply confuses me, do you really think that is common ammo in Africa? Your best choice is the 338 Win Mag. What I would carry is either a 30-06 or one of my favorite 30-338's, but if I had a 300 H&H I would sub out the wildcat I think, Second gun would be carry a 375 H&H. Only other choices would be either a 9.3x62 or a 404 Jeffrey, although I suspect ammo availability on the 404 wouldn't be much better than my wildcat 30, which I expect is non existant.

But again if your really worried about local ammo, bring a 308, and make sure it will fire military ball ammo, that is a pretty much guaranteed ammo source. otherwise make preparations and bring what you want.

Of what you poasted, the 338 would be the best. A 375 H&H would be better, but if not in the cards, the 338. The 300 win mag would be a second, and the 30-06 is always a good chooice. Just tell him to live with the 375 and all will be good.

Boddington did a great write up on the 325 WSM this month.
Sounds like it would do very well on a plains game hunt

McCray, you would lose your prediction! Those arseholes at Winchester Australia MAKE the dealers take WSM and WSSM, or they will not supply your ammo orders, for the other stuff! The 300 WSM is just as available (if not more so) as the 300WM.
Dunno about Africa or NZ but he will have NO problems getting WSM ammo here in OZ. Most dealers will be VERY happy to sell him as much as he wants, just so they can shift the stuff.
Having said that, I'd take the 338WM. It's worked for me for the past 15 years, and I see no reason to change.

Cheers, Dave.

338 win of course.


cheers cc

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
No 30-06. If your in the Sth Pacific you might as well chase Rusa in New Caledonia. I believe most French colonies, current or past still restrict military calibers.
Cheers...
Con

Question... since the 300 WM is one round used by marine sniper teams is the 300 WM a "military round?"

quote:

why your thinking WSM 's and ammo availability simply confuses me, do you really think that is common ammo in Africa?

Well that is part of the purpose of the poll. He asked me and I had NO CLUE if the wsm were available. So I figured since several posters lived in the various places and hunted there they could fill us in. I did tell him I was not happy with my experience with the 300wsm.

His reply to some of the suggestions and questions. He already has a Dakota in 375 H&H. Took it with him last time. While he knows it would work he wants to fill the gap caused by giving his 300Wby to his son, he wants something that would shoot a touch flatter and since he is going through several countries and numerous airports he has some concern about the rifle not making it back. Seems it was lost for almost 2 weeks on his last return trip. Bottomline he wants a new gun.

If Africa is ever to be on the agenda ... a .375 H&H would be my choice.

Otherwise an 8.5 pound .338 Win Mag with scope on a nice CRF action is ideal. Fit it with a McMillan stock, QR mounts and good iron sights. Load it down a little for deer, pigs, and black bear. Run as per normal for everything else.

quote:

Bottomline he wants a new gun.

Ahhh, I see now, that makes it clearer. Although if he had a 300 Weatherby and liked it, and there is one in the family, it makes sense to add another. That way the reloading chores are minimized.

In any case a 30 mag of some flavor is warranted I think, he already has a 375 and that gives him the least overlap.

I don't nor ever will like the 300 Win, long story and doesn't matter; me I would look into a 30-338 or 308 Norma, or a 300 H&H. But if he said he wanted another 300 Weatherby, it would make perfect sense as to why he would consider that option.

Traveling through several countries adds a nasty twist I suspect. Lots of local little officals to deal with and I suspect hassle is written all over that. The 308 option sounds better all the time.

Me I would buy what I want and deal with the logistics. I would seriously consider adding the 9.3x62 to the down select list though, and a plain vanilla 30-06, with both 180 gr and some 220 or 250 gr loads is probably a safe as could be. Federal is making some new HE rounds for the 06 and it is clipping at the 30 mags heels with those loads, and in a pinch 30-06 ammo is probably a very good caliber to go looking for.

I fall into the rifle first, caliber second crowd, my choice would be first find a rifle I liked, I would have some flex on the chambering, and several would be suitable. Allen's advice on the 338 Win mag is solid stuff, he has hunted africa a lot, and a old Model 70 Alaskan would certainly fill that bill. A well made mauser 98 in a 30-06 would likely be easier to find though, no muss no fuss.

Cheers,

I chose the 300 Win Mag because thats my favorite rifle next to that I choose my 338 RUM.

"Finding" old Mod. 70 Alaskans in .338 is easy, the hard part is PAYING for them! But, I still have not found a factory rifle that works better here in B.C. or a chambering, either.

I have had three of the .300 H&Hs and these old 70s will shoot bugholes in that chambering, but, the 250-.338 bullets simply seem to hit game harder and make me feel better where dangerous animals might bite my butt. Recoil can be dealt with by good pads and regular practice.

All the cartridges you listed probably kick too hard for a guy who has to ask this kind of question. From what's on your list, I'd take a 300 WM in a CRF M-70, but I think the 270/30-06 is a far better choice. Either way, this guy should drive up to Chadick's at 119 E. Moore Ave in Terrell and look at some rifles. They'll have something pretty by a top maker, and he'll have time to get familiar with it before he goes hunting. He can also try Champlin Arms in Enid, OK. Or he can tell the good folks at each place what he's looking for and they can call him when it comes in.


Okie John

If he sticks to plains game only, I'd recommend the .30-06, but if there is a remote chance that he catches the Buffalo bug, he should go with a .375 H&H Mag. and not pass up an opportunity that he may later regret.

“Hunting is like photography, the perfect shot only comes around once, so you need to be ready when the action happens…†By myself, today

quote:

If he sticks to plains game only, I'd recommend the .30-06, but if there is a remote chance that he catches the Buffalo bug, he should go with a .375 H&H Mag. and not pass up an opportunity that he may later regret.

I'd vote for one of each.