African Hunters Heads Up!

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bangerboom

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Hello guys,gals

I am faced with a certain dilema, I've finally convinced myself to go on an African plains game safari and not exactly sure what I should be reloading.

I've been told for standard plains game my .300 win mag will suffice so I figured I'd work with my gun.

The gun, a Sako laminated stock, in .300 win mag sporting a leupold 1.75-6 X 33mm Vari X III and harris bi-pod.

First question to anyone in the know, is allthough this setup shoots well 1" moa at 100 yards, I'm not comfortable with the magnification of the vitals target too much beyond that. So should I up size my scope?? If so by how much?

How far should I be expected shoot? Most game I've hunted here at home have been taken well under 100 yards.


Next major issue, Is ammo selection. I've pretty much shot failsafe 180 gr since I've owned this gun. Really accurate and hold together like a german tank but I'm thinking the energy transfer could be improved a bit.

I was thinking either the 200 gr hotcors, A-frames or accubonds.

What do you guys think? I mean How much tougher than a moose is a dam antelope anyway? :redface:



BangerBoom
 
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First thing is find out if they will let you even take handloaded ammo into their country. I have read on many occasions you have to use factory ammo or even buy it there upon arrival!
Best to try and check with a guide where you are going to hunt.

I'd love to go to the Dark Continent and am envious of you! Have a great time!
Noel
 
I have yet to meet an agent that can tell the difference between a factory load and a "home brewed" one. And if one does, I'm sure he'd understand the reason people reload, so he'll let you go...
Just grab an ol' box of ammo and shove your reloads in there. Fell uncertain? just mail a Lee handloader to the outfitter a moth before and have some powder ... wherever you can legally put it...

one word of caution... since you use a "magnum" take a good look at powders that have a low sensitivity to temperature changes... afterall, you don't have a big a** claw to extract that suck shell.
 
Your rig should be fine, but if it were me I'd want a 3-9x40, partly for the slightly higher magnification, but mostly for the bigger objective. And congrats! You damned well better take some pics and post them here...

Edit to add: check out the 180 grain Barnes TSX. Just as tough as the failsafe, but they have a much better reputation for opening up at 'real world' velocities, and they just tear through bones and muscles. They've also been easy to load for (at least in my rifles).
 
Bangerboom,
Your .300 is a good and very popular choice. Use hard bullets like your Failsafes, Barnes TSXs, A-frames and shoot at the shoulder, not behind it. Most African antelope have their vitals a lot farther forward and lower than Canadian hunters are used to. I would say that Gemsbuck and Wildebeeste are a hell of a lot tougher than any moose. Zebra are famous for keeping going as well.
Range can vary a lot depending where you go, but the average tends to be short. I had a 300 yard shot at a gemsbuck and a 200 at a zebra but under 100 is more common. You pay the same trophy fees on animals that are wounded as those that are killed, so you are in effect betting from several hundred to several thousand dollars on every shot you take. No pressure, but short looks better than long.;) In most cases if you lose an animal it also means that you are done with that species as well.
You may find a time when your bipod comes in handy, but I never did. Offhand or standing with shooting sticks is more common. I took a couple animals from sitting, but that's a favorite position of mine so is second nature.
Where are you heading?
Dogleg
 
I'm headed to south Africa this summer with my son for plains game. He will be shooting a 30-06 with 168 gr TSX handloads and I will be shooting my 300 winmag with same(unless I find a nie 35 whelen).
Most people report distances are not that long, viturally all shots under 200 yards for the reasons dogleg mentioned earlier.
 
Check out the African Hunter Forum at http://209.221.146.133/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
and also Jim Hackiewiecz' (god, that's hard to type correctly early in the morning!) website at huntingadventures.net Lots of good info there. He's also the moderator for the Africa forum of Graybeard Outdoors. Jim likes the 30-06 with 165gr Interbonds; also a fan of the 35 Whelen.

:) Stuart
 
A couple of questions are in order here - What country do you plan to hunt, and what species do you wish to collect? If duiker and impala are going to be representative, probably a .243 would suffice, but if wildebeeste, sable , kudo, and eland are in the mix I think your .300 is about right, and I would handload 240 gr Woodleighs if you can find them. I would not take more than one bullet style, but if you feel the need, then perhaps some 220's in both softs and solids. Long range shooting is seldom a requirement of African shooting, although the possibility should not be dismissed. If you will be hunting near dangerous game perhaps a .375 would be a better choice.

You will need permits from any country you transit for your rifle(s) through. So if you go through Amsterdam call the Dutch Consulate, or the Brits or the Germans, how ever your route takes you. This includes the US, if your flight from your point of departure lands in the States, you baggage will be unloaded, and you will have to go through security at that airport, and you will need a transit permit for the guns. I found travel agents were unhelpful and unknowledgeable in this respect. I ended up leaving my rifle at home, and I'm still a bit grumpy over that, but that was better than having it confiscated by some brain dead bureaucrat.

Get the strongest gun case on the planet! When we arrived in Dar es Salaam there was an unhappy looking American hunter who was looking at the corner of his double layered gun-trunk which had been torn out.

I think you will be OK for reloaded ammo, but the head stamp on the cartridges must match the cambering stamped on the barrel. Wildcats are probably a bad idea. If you can arrange to take your ammo in factory boxes that may help, although I saw plenty of MTM ammo boxes over there.
 
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Thanks for the great info guys,

I am thinking of heading to the northern part of South Africa,

So you guys think I'd be better off with a 180 as opposed to the 200 gr.? Distance vs. Walop.

Also few of you have mentioned that my failsafe are good. I've read most plains game don't really bleed to death, apperantly they don't have much blood at all. A large antelope 500-600 pounds such as a Kudu/ Eland only carries 2-3 cups, of blood (assume that would transelate to 500- 750 ml). So the ideal round would have to transfer as much energy/shock trauma as possible.

Thats why I was second guessing my failsafes, although I really like the ballistics, I have had real small and clean "shoot throughs" on game such as deer when bone was avoided during broadsided vital shots. Mind you I have seen one blow a whole the size of a golf ball as an entry wound through the breast plate of a whitetail standing front and centre at about 100 yards.

They seem to perform well when bone is thrown in the mix. As mentioned the shoulder is the ideal shot? I just hope my natural tendency to shoot a little further back and low doesn't take over.

The whole thing about paying for wounded game is true and in some areas they also charge 50 percent of the trophy fee for clean misses. :eek: (no pressure) That could get expensive if you have one to many coffees one morning!..lol

Ideally I want something that I could chuck centre mass and that will detonate on impact!:D

Maybe the Accubond if I cant get a decent load to pattern tight out to 200 yards. I guess on account of the tall grass I should put in some practice with some stix, they will probably come in handy. To be quite honest I consider myself a decent shot but freehand at 100 yards plus while trying to contain my excitement and my bladder,s contents aint gonna work for me. I already know it.


cheers,

Bangerboom
 
The .300 mag is a very good choice. I had used a .300 weatherby with 180 gr accubonds and balistic tips, with a 6.5-20 vari-iii , made some very long shots (which were sometimes the best that one could bet) , but over all a shorter scope would have been better. I believe that if you have a scope with other guide marks like the Boone and Crockett reticile and you understand your rifle -- a low / medium variable is perfect in South Africa. 6.5X was just too much for a 20 yard snap shot at a small antlope, but when you have the time to set up, ...well those long shots are just plain good fun to make.

I found the accubonds to be the best choice for the larger species, including gemsbuck and eland, but even then, as was suggested, aim point of shoulder or forward, the critters there have vitals more forward. It may take 2 shots with the .300 size of bullet with the big guys - -be aware of that and keep shooting. I admit that it is easy to admire the shot and the animal, but as one fellow said -- you pay if you loose the animal and you are not meat hunting. It is hard to break our moose / deer / elk hunting pasts. Shoot it dead however you have to.

Most shots willbe between 50 -150 yds. However, some may be the ass end shot and you a tough bullet to drive throught the animal.

A wildebeast is called a a poor man's cape buffalo for a reason -- they can be incrediably tough if you dont bring them down quick. The ballistic tip will not suffice for the gemsbuck, wildebeast, or even zebra -- unless it is a perfect heart / lung shot through the ribs. I found myself using the ballistic tips for the lighter antelopes such as impala, hartebeast, duiker, etc, and the accubond for the bigger boys. One perfect shoulder shot on a wildebeast at 150 yds caused the critter to flip over, but he was up and running in a flash -- took another 3 miles of running and chasing through the thorney bushes to finally put 2 500 gr .470 into it -- one from behind and the other finishing the critter. So dont underestimate the first shot -- hit it good and you wont be running!

Dont over think it though, a good tough bullet from a well practiced rifle is all you need. One guy there shot a lion with a .308 180 gr partition and did just fine -- he was well backed up though!

I also agree with the rifle case selection. I had a high end aluminum case -- ended up so bent and battered it was hard to believe that an airline can do that. I switched to a SKB case (plastic with rubber bumpers) and was extremely happy.

I am envious -- it is the best!
 
Mostly in africa you won't shoot much past 150yards, unless you are hunting the desert/semi-desert regions,
your 300 will be fine with 180gr bullets.
I suggest you take another rifle with just incase something happens to your 300 while you are there.
Anything 270 win and up
My personal choice would be a 7x57 with 160gr bullets or a 30/06 with 180's but when i lived there I hunted with a 270 and used 150gr bullets for everything from wharthog up to wildebeest.
Enjoy the trip
 
I went last spring took my 300win shot 16 head of game with 2oo gr tsx only my eland & zebra required more than one bullet shots were quite longish where I hunted. in my opinion a 200gr bullet is the optimum weight for all larger game than deer .Have fun you'll love it.
 
BangerBoom,


Quote:
Also few of you have mentioned that my failsafe are good. I've read most plains game don't really bleed to death, apperantly they don't have much blood at all. A large antelope 500-600 pounds such as a Kudu/ Eland only carries 2-3 cups, of blood (assume that would transelate to 500- 750 ml).

I'd say you got some bad info. Antelope have every bit as much blood in them as any other mammal the same size. Death from a bullet wound is seldom from bleeding to death, but from shutting down the oxygen supply to the brain.
A kudu is about the size of a spike elk, but an eland is enormous. Weight of a mature bull can be anywhere from 1500-2000 pounds. You could probably gut an eland, then hide a Kudubull inside it.:D Neither have much of a reputation for being tough though. A lot of what we perceive as toughness is actually just different behavior after a hit. An animal is capable of running for 30 seconds or so with no lungs left. Herd animals will spend that time heading for the horizon with the rest if it can stand. Break a shoulder and it will spend it's last moments on it's side kicking. It saves a lot of suspense, when you see your animal go down. I shot a gemsbuck through both lungs with a 375 H&H only to have it run 1/4 mile or so. There was a great deal more suspense than I needed before I found it dead at the end of a meager blood-trail. A similar hit on a wildebeeste had it go farther. That one had big chunks of lungs in a heavy blood trail to follow.
Will you be hunting in Limpopo? I'll be there again next July for a week before going to Zimbabwe for another 8 days. You'll never be able to look at Canadian hunting the same way, ever again!:D
 
In terms of a back up gun, I do have a 7mm Rem Mag, I just may set up the
7mm with a 4-12 X 40mm for longerish (150m-250m) shots and keep my 1.75-6 X33mm on the 300 win mag for closer (150m and under) and heavier game (Wildebeest, Eland, Zebra, Kudu) with the 200 gr'ers ready to go.

Tony d those 200 gr tsx sound pretty good any good loads you might want to share. Also anything for .308" 200 gr. accubond, partition would also be welcome.


Thx for the tips,

BangerBoom
 
I can't help but think that 6X is plenty. Did I mention that 6X is plenty. My main hunting rifle wears an FX II 6X36 Leupold and have had the thing out past 400yds without a worry in the world.

06wt3.jpg
 
I think your going to find any of the premium stuff upward of 180 will work on the kudu and eland, so naturally ok on the smaller stuff to. When your picking that scope you dont want to get to over board with the low end magnification and sacrifice that 40 yd dense cover shot. The greater kudu is called grey ghost for a reason you know. I had some stand and watch us go right by. Their very good at that.. All my stuff was reloaded. bird shot, lott,win mag. I brought the 458 win mag light loads to use in the lott while pig hunting. Where a person would run into a problem with any ammo is when he's going through the police service booth with his paper work, guns, ammo,etc, and as their checking you out they find your ammo wont chamber in one of your guns. See their big gov. thing over there is limiting the amount of guns and ammo. They dont want it comming in from unregulated sources. What I'm saying is if your ammo dont fit your gun, you be answering questions as to just what that ammo's doing with you. As for a second gun make it a shotty. Theres no shortage of secondary guns to use if in need. Your PH,guide,etc...Theres a back up around,there has to be for the guy who dont wanta bring a gun period...The shooty is great over there, cause most places you go the guinea fowl hunting is great,its free, and the camp cook will kiss you for em. You bring her 10 of those over your stay she wont take a tip at the end....I dont remember where and when your going, but if in SA you want to start working on your form 520,,(REMEMBER BLACK INK).and bring two of the same pens with you. I'm sure you have found a sample of a completed 520 already but if not email me and I'll see if I cant find something. When you get there and your standing at the line to get your 520 form,guns,ammo checked there are ladies walking the line pre checking your 520....Now naturally I cant tell you how everybody will be, but the ol gal that did our line of 150 or so guys was dividing us into 3 seperate lines...lead line> Those who basically had it perfect.mid line> Those who werent perfect but with her help could maybe clean it up in the time the line made it to the police. Back of the line>Boobs who had a mess or hadnt even tried..Most of the middle and back of line were rich boys who went wherever when ever.Its nice to be at the head of that line and be sitting in your outfitters wheels 15 minutes after your plane landed....I know I've bored everybody to death with this pic, but while your there and their trying to get the trophy proped up a certain way, and get you 5 feet behind while appearing to be close to it to make it look bigger and all that self promoting stuff, which you cant blame them for,they gotta make a living, but bring lots of film and a good quality point and shoot so you can get some A-naturals with you and the locals, cause when its all done those are what counts
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You can certainly tell the fellow on the right is pure zulu culture. Always that proud upright stance

africa017.jpg


Bring a ton of hard candy for to hand out constantly or just leave a 1 kilo bag open on the dinning room table(see if it lasts 10 minutes). Dont ever try to substitute it as a tip. Its money and nothing else these people want/need. The ph and guide are different stories. Gadgets are not easily or cheaply come by there. For example I traded a 425$ range finder off for a 1200$ trophy fee
 
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Very informative post Blidside, great pics as well! Any plans on heading back in the future? I see you are smiling so you must have been having a good time :D
 
crazy_davey said:
Very informative post Blidside, great pics as well! Any plans on heading back in the future? I see you are smiling so you must have been having a good time :D
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Kids started 4 years of university eating about 3 safaris a year..I would say by the time that is over africa will no longer be do-able the way africa is nice to do. The way flight laws are changing. Africa is changing politically almost daily. I would say if you want to go on a good ol african teddy roosevelt style safari you'd best hump yourself over within the next 5 yrs or so. Not to say you wont be able to go after that, but my safari includes a picture with MY gun, and the trophies on MY wall..In the not so distant future that might not be the way,so I wouldnt care to do it..To go on a big guided hunt anywhere and have it be 99%+ good memories with no or minimal glitches as you know is very seldom cause you've basically put every facit of it out of your direct control. However my safari did go exactly that way. I'm going to leave that just as it is:D
 
blindside said:
Kids started 4 years of university eating about 3 safaris a year....
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I've never heard the cost of raising kids described quite that way! :) :)

Excellent post with lots of information. I'd be interested in info on this "Form 520". Presumably it is the required SA firearms importation form? I'd also be curious to know how you recommend flying; I've been told to absolutely avoid going through Britain with guns, for instance. Maybe better to fly via the US?

:) Stuart
 
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