Gentlemen

If you should have one shotgun for Africa, what would be the best to get sbs, O/U or auto

I guess that it not will be used on birds and small game but even on other types of game

What would you choose and why

Don't be shy

/ JOHAN

Winchester 101 pigeon grade 12 ga, 3 inch chambers, 27 inch barrels, screw in chokes, enough wt to lower recoil concerns for hot barrel dove shooting.

If I was actually planning on trying to stop or shoot a Leopard with a shotgun (which I would never voluntarily plan on) then I might choose a s/s with double triggers, if I was used to them. But for me, I am as certain as I can be that my 101 will shoot another shot, so I would use it.

Johan:

The semi auto is negated purely by the fact that it's not legal in some african countries such as the RSA.

I'm then assuming you are using your shotgun for bird hunting, in that case it would be the same choice as you would have for "upland" grouse or pheasent shooting as you would do anywhere in the world. Or doves and pigeons. So a plain 2 3/4 would suffice with 26 inch barrels.

So that leaves you with the choice between O/U and S/S.

3 Inch chambers? Well thats overkill in most instances and finding 3 inch shells in africa is a bind ( understanding thatwe still hunt with lead shot and we dont need to kill geese at the distances we do here in North america with steel )

I further assume we are also negating clay sports of all kinds as the guns we use are quite specific to the type of sport ( trap / olympic trench etc)

As i'm a classic fan I use classic S/S and load light loads cause some of my guns have old damascus barrels.

I took a Remingtion 870 pump with 2 3/4 inch chambers 28" barrel with modified choke. Used "pheasant" loads to take guina (sp?) fowl. Did a great job!

Alf, this post brings up another question, what bore is easiest to come by in South Africa,it appears to me from reading it would be 12,but with you ability to use lead shot is the 16 or even the 20 used on birds? Do you know if a 10 or even an 8 can be used?

Capstick liked and carried the Model 12. I should think it'd suffice, if it ain't outlawed someplace.

Tikka 512
you may bring with you a pair of rifle barrels in beloved 9,3x74R or a combintation 12/7x65R or just 12/222 for smal game and naturally 12/12 in 3 inch chambering. all in one
danny

Hey guys, remember 86% of all Phs injuries come from leopards...Most I believe carry shotguns on followups...But I would use a shotgun with minimum
3in OOO buck Nickle plated or 3.5in. nickle plated but wait till he is in point blank range..
Don't know how that heavy shot is for hardness but that might even be better for up close and personal...My Ph used 416Rem as leopard medicine.
Charlie, I like definately double triggers...

Mike

Alf:

I don't know where or who you hunt with in South Africa, but I just returned from some duck/goose hunting down there and I was around a couple of different groups of South Africans shooting geese. Forget 3 inch shells, they needed anti-aircraft batteries considering the ranges they shoot at geese. So that "we don't need 3 inch shells" may be true for you, but not for where I was hunting. Jumping them on dams is entirely different, of course, and not within my definition of sport. I was a model of restraint with my 3 inch lead shells from my South African PH, so they are not impossible to obtain.

/

Alf:

I agree completely about skybusting even though I have been known to extend the normal shotgun ranges a bit. The groups I was referring to were mostly "city" guys from Joberg and, like some of the "city" guys from anywhere, they shot and acted like they didn't have a clue, because, of course, they didn't. But it was frustrating for those who were around them. I moved a good distance away from them as soon as I figured their program out.

I can't comment on general shotshell availability in SA, but it seems to be better than in the past according to my PH. The 3 inch shells I was shooting were American, Federals. How he got them, I don't know. Like most shotgunners, the vast majority of my shooting is done with light 2 3/4 inch shells, I only use 3 inchers or 3 1/2s (steel) for ducks and geese, and mostly geese.

Last year, I used a Rem 870, 12 gauge, 2 3/4" to take everything from doves to a wounded leopard. I would not take a gun that you are afraid to get scratched or dinged up. All the travel on the plane and vehicles can be hard on the finish or blueing.