African Rifle pictures added page 5
- Thread starter bobjoe
- Start date
I'll never hunt Africa but doesn't Ruger make a CRF in the Ruger 375 and they once made a special model for the 375 H&H? I have no experience with the rifle but one thing I like is that the bolt is one piece. I've read unsubstantiated reports of brazed handles breaking off. Now that would ruin your day in lion country.
I did own a 375 in a Ruger No1 many years ago. One of those guns I still kick mtself over selling. With handloading it is an incredibly versatile rifle round. 235gr Speers mid-range for deer and 300gr Nosler Partition for the big stuff. Today there are more excellent bullet choices. The Swift A-frame series would tempt me in your shoes. Obviously I'm fond of the partition concept.
I did own a 375 in a Ruger No1 many years ago. One of those guns I still kick mtself over selling. With handloading it is an incredibly versatile rifle round. 235gr Speers mid-range for deer and 300gr Nosler Partition for the big stuff. Today there are more excellent bullet choices. The Swift A-frame series would tempt me in your shoes. Obviously I'm fond of the partition concept.
- Location
- In the Badlands of Alberta
Not sure about any Brown Bears being in Canada yet. Might have to settle for a Kodiak instead to shoulder at this time. If you like the feel,you can always order a Brown Bear. But they're about a G-note or so more than the CZ,unless you go with a Safari Classic.
Africa
I have hunted plains game 5 times in 6 countries and the last couple of times I am finding shots getting longer and game getting spookier. I have taken all species of plains game with 300 win and Wby and can tell you you don't need anything larger for them. I also wouldn't worry about sights, they are of little or no value for the type of shooting you'll be doing in SA on a mixed bag plains hunt. If you are worried about scope damage, I take a spare scope already set up in rings and sighted in. I have never needed it, but all one need do it swap it out and fire a couple shots to check zero and you're back hunting.You absolutely do not need a .375 for plains game or even your 338 for that matter, but you have the 338 just work up some good stiff 200 gn loads and be prepared to shoot 300+ mtrs as it is sometimes required. For this type of hunting a .375 is actually a bit of a handicap, (let me explain before all you .375 lovers crucify me) A light rifle is more suited as you can do a lot of walking and hill climbing and you may wish to make a 400 mtr poke on an exception Kudu you can't get closer to, it happens. Yes the 375 will do it, but I like something a little faster, flatter and lighter. Now I like an excuse to buy a new rifle as much as anybody, but if you're doing strictly plains game no buff or hippo or bigger, you do not need a .375. One of the most popular calibres over there for light game is the old '06, just about every PH I've hunted with has an "06 or a 308 for the light stuff. The other factor is the heat and carrying a 9 or 10 lb 375 around in 120 deg heat becomes tiresome real fast, take it from an aging, not so great shape African veteran, the lighter the rifle the better!!!
Calibre is of much less importance than bullet quality, I cannot emphesize this enough, Partition, TSX , A-frames, don't cheap out on your bullets. You show up there with one of the previously mentioned bullets and your impression on your PH will go up 4 notches, I guarantee it.
Anyway that's my experience and 2 cents for what its worth.
Douglas
PS I have taken something in excess of 75 african animals
I have hunted plains game 5 times in 6 countries and the last couple of times I am finding shots getting longer and game getting spookier. I have taken all species of plains game with 300 win and Wby and can tell you you don't need anything larger for them. I also wouldn't worry about sights, they are of little or no value for the type of shooting you'll be doing in SA on a mixed bag plains hunt. If you are worried about scope damage, I take a spare scope already set up in rings and sighted in. I have never needed it, but all one need do it swap it out and fire a couple shots to check zero and you're back hunting.You absolutely do not need a .375 for plains game or even your 338 for that matter, but you have the 338 just work up some good stiff 200 gn loads and be prepared to shoot 300+ mtrs as it is sometimes required. For this type of hunting a .375 is actually a bit of a handicap, (let me explain before all you .375 lovers crucify me) A light rifle is more suited as you can do a lot of walking and hill climbing and you may wish to make a 400 mtr poke on an exception Kudu you can't get closer to, it happens. Yes the 375 will do it, but I like something a little faster, flatter and lighter. Now I like an excuse to buy a new rifle as much as anybody, but if you're doing strictly plains game no buff or hippo or bigger, you do not need a .375. One of the most popular calibres over there for light game is the old '06, just about every PH I've hunted with has an "06 or a 308 for the light stuff. The other factor is the heat and carrying a 9 or 10 lb 375 around in 120 deg heat becomes tiresome real fast, take it from an aging, not so great shape African veteran, the lighter the rifle the better!!!
Calibre is of much less importance than bullet quality, I cannot emphesize this enough, Partition, TSX , A-frames, don't cheap out on your bullets. You show up there with one of the previously mentioned bullets and your impression on your PH will go up 4 notches, I guarantee it.
Anyway that's my experience and 2 cents for what its worth.
Douglas
PS I have taken something in excess of 75 african animals
ben hunchak I was looking at a 45-70 and a 458 never put much though into a lott but I think that would be alot more gun than I need in this case. An 1886 would be a nice addition though....
Woodbeef I thought that the Kodiak was different dimentions. I guess I will have to look into it. As for them being in Canada I noticed that Epps has a couple in 338 listed but no 375.
c-fbmi That is some great info. As for my 338 I do already hunt using a 225 ttsx and it's going about 2900 fps. Dropped my elk this year at 300 yards with out much issue. I do spend the money on good bullets. I am also very confident with the rifle and I have shot out to a mile with it at tigrr shoot in Sept.
As I have said I am in the planning stage and for some reason if I end up having the $$ and come across something big I want to/can shoot IE buffalo or lion it would be nice to have it as an option.
Woodbeef I thought that the Kodiak was different dimentions. I guess I will have to look into it. As for them being in Canada I noticed that Epps has a couple in 338 listed but no 375.
c-fbmi That is some great info. As for my 338 I do already hunt using a 225 ttsx and it's going about 2900 fps. Dropped my elk this year at 300 yards with out much issue. I do spend the money on good bullets. I am also very confident with the rifle and I have shot out to a mile with it at tigrr shoot in Sept.
As I have said I am in the planning stage and for some reason if I end up having the $$ and come across something big I want to/can shoot IE buffalo or lion it would be nice to have it as an option.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Given the experience and confidence you have with this rifle, it sounds to me like your .338 is the one you should consider. I pulled out a back issue of Man Magnum magazine to see where you could purchase ammo, or have your host purchase it for you. Here's a few to consider:
The Powder Keg
email ecoafik@global.co.za
Rosenthal Guns
arosenthalcape@wol.co.za
Formalito
www. formalito.co.za
email info@formalito.co.za
Guns & Bows
email mark@gunsbows.co.za.
I've bragged up the terminal performance of South Africa's Rhino bullets from time to time, and I believe they make factory ammo now. Contact Kobus at rhbullet@mweb.co.za.
longbranch*
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria,BC.
bobjoe
I like your 338 formula, I wouldn't even look for another rifle. You will not find your cartridge choice lacking on anything up to and including eland or lion. Confidence in your rifle and familiarity is more important than anything else. Save your new gun money and add another animal or two to your trophy list. That would be my advice.
As far as adding a buff or lion to a plains game hunt, I can almost guarantee it won't happen. The daily rates jump 2-3 times for dangerous game compared to plains game. None of the PH's I've hunted with could allow such a change up, also chances are hunting plains game in SA your PH may not even be lisenced for dangerous game, thus he could not allow a shot at big game. All African countries I've hunted are very strict as to the line between big game (dangerous) and plains game, you can book a buff or lion hunt and shoot all the plains game you want but never the other way around regardless of what caliber you're packing. There is also the problem of permits depending on country, and quotas, all of which must be pre-booked on all dangerous game hunts that I know of, and it's getting tighter and tighter every year. Unfortunately gone are the days of whacking 1/2 doz buff at one go !!!
Douglas
PS With airline and ammo restictions it's best to go with 1 rifle these days, if at all possible.
I like your 338 formula, I wouldn't even look for another rifle. You will not find your cartridge choice lacking on anything up to and including eland or lion. Confidence in your rifle and familiarity is more important than anything else. Save your new gun money and add another animal or two to your trophy list. That would be my advice.
As far as adding a buff or lion to a plains game hunt, I can almost guarantee it won't happen. The daily rates jump 2-3 times for dangerous game compared to plains game. None of the PH's I've hunted with could allow such a change up, also chances are hunting plains game in SA your PH may not even be lisenced for dangerous game, thus he could not allow a shot at big game. All African countries I've hunted are very strict as to the line between big game (dangerous) and plains game, you can book a buff or lion hunt and shoot all the plains game you want but never the other way around regardless of what caliber you're packing. There is also the problem of permits depending on country, and quotas, all of which must be pre-booked on all dangerous game hunts that I know of, and it's getting tighter and tighter every year. Unfortunately gone are the days of whacking 1/2 doz buff at one go !!!
Douglas
PS With airline and ammo restictions it's best to go with 1 rifle these days, if at all possible.
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Dogleg
No, not the firearms themselves, I think SA allows up to 5, but the 5 Kg limit on ammo really limits you if one of the rifles is a Lott or .470 or even the .375. The last trip I did to SA we hunted for 28 days, myself and my 9 year old son and 5 Kg ain't very much ammo for a 28 day hunt !! Especially when you bang away at rabbits and jackals and springhares and baboons, you know, all the fun stuff. Of course at 9, my son's stuff all went under my paper work so we couldn't even split it and get 10 Kg of ammo. SA allows 200 rds per firearm so that is no issue, it's the friggin' airlines that are screwing it all up !!
Douglas
No, not the firearms themselves, I think SA allows up to 5, but the 5 Kg limit on ammo really limits you if one of the rifles is a Lott or .470 or even the .375. The last trip I did to SA we hunted for 28 days, myself and my 9 year old son and 5 Kg ain't very much ammo for a 28 day hunt !! Especially when you bang away at rabbits and jackals and springhares and baboons, you know, all the fun stuff. Of course at 9, my son's stuff all went under my paper work so we couldn't even split it and get 10 Kg of ammo. SA allows 200 rds per firearm so that is no issue, it's the friggin' airlines that are screwing it all up !!
Douglas
The only time I wonder about the amount of ammo being enough is with a couple of big guns and softs and solids for both. I would spend hours trying in determine the perfect mix, just to get there and shoot 1/4 of it.
Lately life has got a lot simpler, since I've lost interest in solids for anything other than elephant and the elephant hunts are farther apart than anticipated. I've used my wife's 5 kg alottment before, which just left more ammo to give away.It will help for Australia though.
Lately life has got a lot simpler, since I've lost interest in solids for anything other than elephant and the elephant hunts are farther apart than anticipated. I've used my wife's 5 kg alottment before, which just left more ammo to give away.It will help for Australia though.
""since I've lost interest in solids for anything other than elephant""
So if I showed up on a Cape Buff hunt with just DGX or TSX bullets, the PH wouldnt send me home? I have heard they want half solids and half expanding but I tend to agree with you on a big, premuim bullet replacing the requested solids. And then shoot everything with it from antelope to buffalo
So if I showed up on a Cape Buff hunt with just DGX or TSX bullets, the PH wouldnt send me home? I have heard they want half solids and half expanding but I tend to agree with you on a big, premuim bullet replacing the requested solids. And then shoot everything with it from antelope to buffalo
You'll find as many PHs now that suggest all softs as soft and solid combinations. I started with one soft over a mag full of solids, then went to 2 softs and finally to none but with a couple in the belt pouch. I don't miss them.
If they can't agree, I'll do what I believe, based on what I have already done. Nobody is going to send the guy paying the bills home.
hahaha good one -- "Nobody is going to send the guy paying the bills home" - thats funny cause its true
The times my ammo didnt arrive or I needed more, I found a way to get some more to use. You can find 8x68S and 470 in nowhere west Africa, but not in (almost anywhere) west Canada.
The times my ammo didnt arrive or I needed more, I found a way to get some more to use. You can find 8x68S and 470 in nowhere west Africa, but not in (almost anywhere) west Canada.
Buckmastr
When you decide on an outfit to book with, you'll have plenty of conversations with their reps and PH's and they will let you know what they like to see. The DGX has almost no following in Africa, too new I guess, but last trip all I took was .375 with 270gn TSX PH was tickled with the combo. Took 2 big bull hippos with head shots and a crock behind the smile and performance was as expected, outstanding !! PH's don't require solids on buff anymore if you're shooting TSX or A-frame, for sure, and maybe a couple others.
So has this evolved from plains game to include buff as well? Cause that's a whole new ball game as far as rifles and loads go.
When you decide on an outfit to book with, you'll have plenty of conversations with their reps and PH's and they will let you know what they like to see. The DGX has almost no following in Africa, too new I guess, but last trip all I took was .375 with 270gn TSX PH was tickled with the combo. Took 2 big bull hippos with head shots and a crock behind the smile and performance was as expected, outstanding !! PH's don't require solids on buff anymore if you're shooting TSX or A-frame, for sure, and maybe a couple others.
So has this evolved from plains game to include buff as well? Cause that's a whole new ball game as far as rifles and loads go.
On a plains game hunt you could easily just take whatever you would be happy with for a elk hunt. A good all round elk rifle, not some close range specialty cult item and not some 15 pound longrange monstrousity. If you like your .338 you'd do great with that. Or a .300. Or a 30-06. Or a lot of things.I usually just end up useing a .375 for nearly everything and feel pretty good about it.You never know what's around the next corner, and with the Three Seven Five it doesn't matter much.
Load some good bullets and shoot that rifle from field positions until it feels like part of you If you can do that in front of people to raise the pressure a bit that's good too. In Africa every shot you take is the equivilent of betting somewhere between several hundred and several thousand dollars on the outcome in front of a sceptical audience. Know your abilities and stay within them. By the same token don't let anyone sell you short, PHs automatically assume that everyone is a poor shot.
Load some good bullets and shoot that rifle from field positions until it feels like part of you If you can do that in front of people to raise the pressure a bit that's good too. In Africa every shot you take is the equivilent of betting somewhere between several hundred and several thousand dollars on the outcome in front of a sceptical audience. Know your abilities and stay within them. By the same token don't let anyone sell you short, PHs automatically assume that everyone is a poor shot.
It hasent evolved to a buffalo hunt yet but that is something I would like to do. It does come down to money. I am single and I'm sure the spending habits will change once my status changes. That being said I don't know if I will get a second chance to go over there or not. So if I have the money I would like to be able to do it all with one. Plus in a years time who knows if I will have any rifling left in my 338.
I am leaving the options open at this point which is why I am asking about these rifles. Besides who doesn't want a big boomer?
I am leaving the options open at this point which is why I am asking about these rifles. Besides who doesn't want a big boomer?
