Fjold,

First, I would never travel 8000 miles on a big dollar hunt with only one rifle, ESPECIALLY since I am left-handed (if you think it's tough to find LH rifles here, wait until you need one in Africa ).
On three of my four safaris, I had a .30-06 and a .375. On the last trip, I brought a .375 and the .470 Capstick. I don't know what you think you're saving by bringing just one rifle, but you are risking having to use a borrowed righty rifle if something happens to that one rifle.

Second, shots aren't all that long in Africa, particularly in most places buffalo are hunted. In woodland savanna, 200yds. is a long shot; in riverine bush, 100yds. is a long shot.

George

Fjold,
a guy going by the moniker 'slingster' used the .376 steyr for buff a few years back, I believe. Do a search for .376 steyr and slingster, you'll pull up a lot of info.
Frank Sauer

George, When I go I will bring my DG rifle and a 300WSM for back up on plains game. But sure as there are flies in Africa if I'm carrying a 458 I will see a duiker with 8" horns standing out in the middle of an empty field 300 yards from the nearest cover. I'd love to have something shooting 230 - 300 grain bullets, sighted in at 200 yards and not dropping 3 feet at 300 yards.





Jim, when you get the load for your Steyr set, let me know what kind of velocity (length barrel?) you actually get.



Thanks

Frank

Fjold,

When GSI was still importing the Steyr rifles they collected hunting stories. They were up to 9 Alaskan bears taken with the .376 Steyr, and counting when I last talked with them. As far as I know no Cape buff taken yet, but I expect to fix that in August '05.

I will be using Mike Brady's 300 grain North Fork bullets. The factory Hornady bullets are too soft. (I learned that shooting a big eland in the shoulder.) I expect to get 2,500 fps MV. That should be plenty enough, as I expect to shoot well under 100 yards.

jim

Frank,

That is Eric Ching, and I checked with him before posting. He shoots a Scout with a 19" barrel, and I use the ProHunter with 20" barrel. Eric worked up some loads with the 300 grain Woodleigh bullets at 2,320 fps. He was going to use it for buff, but bought a 470 NE double gun and used that instead. He and I have both shot eland with the .376.

I especially like the low apparent recoil with the .376 for ladies and younger shooters. (Me too!)

jim

Fjold,

Have one of the 'trackers' carry your light rifle.

George

Eric,
I barely top 2500, in a load that i deem to be safe, in a 25" barrel... i've been to nearly 2600, and it was WAY too much...

as those in the secret ultra cool 376 club know, the 376 can be loaded to factory loads of a 375... and, if 100 fps slower, at about the same pressure.

i love mine.. making another soon.

since the ruger is already a mag, though, 416 taylor is a better/cheaper choice

jeffe

Thanks guys. I'm also thinking of recoil and what I'm used to shooting. The largest rifle I shot regularily until a couple of years ago was a 308 now the 7 mag and 300 WSM feel normal to me but this is another step up to 375 and I think that 458 is more of a leap than a step.

Eric, I read your article on shooting the 376 Steyr that you published in African Hunter (I think) a few years back and that raised my curiousity. I never knew if you had used it on buff though so I was asking for more information.

I emailed Larry at www.SuperiorAmmo.com and he says that he doesn't load for 375 Taylor and the 416 Taylor uses 458 Win Mag headstamped brass.

Of course a 375 Styr will kill a Cape buffalo and with little trouble just like a 375 H&H or a 9.3x62...

The M-70 in 375 H&H is a great choice...Try some of Northforks cup points and remember Woodleigh makes a 350 gr. bullet at a tad over 2400 FPS and that puts the old 375 H&H in the pound seats with the 416...

Good luck with your new acquisition.

Now could you please provide more pictures of the girl in the blue tank top!