Africa, caliber choices?
- Thread starter Jay
- Start date
Depends what size plains game you want to hunt. Not much left over of a Springbuck, Duiker, Steenbok, Bushbuck, Impala and Blesbuck once you've hit it at fairly close range with a 375 H&H or a 7mm Mag.....
I go back home to hunt often, and a 30-06/308/7x64/7x57 is plenty enough for everything except Buffalo, Elephant, Hippo etc. But then I do love shooting my 375 H&H.
I go back home to hunt often, and a 30-06/308/7x64/7x57 is plenty enough for everything except Buffalo, Elephant, Hippo etc. But then I do love shooting my 375 H&H.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Good question, I did all my African hunting with .375 H&H over several trips. Couple of the big five including a Zim dugga and then the usual plains game. I’d either one rifle it with the .375, or go .416 / 7mm.
375 H&H all the way......, will do the job for everything. 300gr for the buff and 260gr for plains game. In my rifle those two weights shot virtually to the same point at 100m. Also depends where you'll be hunting, if you're going to the plains, and shooting past 150m perhaps the 7mm might be worth it. Enjoy.
This!
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The .416 will do it all, the .375 will do it all, the 7mm won't. When you are carrying the 7mm, where will your larger rifle be? If you're expecting a shot at an impala, but a lion comes out of the long grass, its probably better to have the appropriate rifle in your hands. If you do take a light rifle, have the help carry it, while you carry the larger one.
KMG Canada
CGN Regular
- Location
- Alfred, Ontario
Jay, you have to tell us what is on the plains game list? I use both my .375 and .416 routinely. You need one to deal with the buff, but you could go a lot lighter with the second rifle calibre if small plains game is on the list. However if I had to answer the question with the info at hand it would be the .416 backed up with the .375 which I would also use for the plains game.
My vote would be for the 375. But, nothing wrong with the 7mm for any plains game. I was amazed at how many times I saw guides and rangers carrying a 270win as their "Do-All" rifle.
And yes, I know some countries often have minimum calibre restrictions for dangerous game but there seems to be a fair bit of leeway on using lighter cartridges even for the big animals. And, seeing so many 270s in Africa speaks volumes for the cartridge's performance.
And yes, I know some countries often have minimum calibre restrictions for dangerous game but there seems to be a fair bit of leeway on using lighter cartridges even for the big animals. And, seeing so many 270s in Africa speaks volumes for the cartridge's performance.
Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The .270Win or Win Short Magnum's flat trajectory with plenty of knock-down power at long range? Oh,yeah! It's always about the size of the game and the range of the kill shot,never about the country where it's located.
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
I’m watching this thread with serious intent....just saying! I say a .40 and a 7 mm or .30 cal, or a mid bore and use the PH’s .40..
Bring the 416 and you are good.
The gun is good for all. Don't sweat about "too big for a plain's game".
Shoot your buff, lion, kudu..they will all die.
My biggest regret (although not overwhelming) was shooting a kudu with the Rigby with 400 gr TSX. They tended to act as solids.
The Nosler partitions are a better choice for the light skin game and the large cats.
The gun is good for all. Don't sweat about "too big for a plain's game".
Shoot your buff, lion, kudu..they will all die.
My biggest regret (although not overwhelming) was shooting a kudu with the Rigby with 400 gr TSX. They tended to act as solids.
The Nosler partitions are a better choice for the light skin game and the large cats.
Another thing to consider is your optics. Don't handicap your self with low power optics on both rifles. I would use a 3-9 on the 375 to be able to make use of it if the terrain proves to be more open then you expect. And some plains game is pretty small as well.
When I used a 375 on a plains game hunt, I used a 1.5-5 and felt I needed more scope then I had. I removed that scope when I got home and put on a 3-9.
When I used a 375 on a plains game hunt, I used a 1.5-5 and felt I needed more scope then I had. I removed that scope when I got home and put on a 3-9.
