Plains game cartridges

I used a .270 with PowerPoints on Baboon, Impala, and a Warthog in Botswana, and did not feel under gunned. It was a bit of a different circumstance than a planned hunt, which you have the opportunity to plan.

I'd bring a .30-06 with Barnes 165gr. or a Swift 180 gr., unless you like lots of recoil for no good reason. A .300 WM or .338 WM if you feel that the Wildebeast and Zebra are going to charge you.
 
My trip to Zim in Sept I used camp rifles. Partly because of ease of my first international travel. I wanted no hassles. In saying that I did luck out I had my choice of two .375hh. A blaser and a model 70. The blaser had a very short LOA so the Winchester it was. A great rifle. Shot my Dugga boy and kudu with the .375.

My other couple plainsgame I took with a 7X57. Nice old Brno. But If zebra and wildebeest are targets I’d have no problem recommending the .300 or .375hh.

.300 was a pretty popular caliber I seen while over there. I ran into spent hulls twice in .300wm
 
375 H&H, all the way. When I bought a 375 it made all my other rifles “obsolete “ I used 260 or 270gr for plains game, and the 300grainers for dangerous game.
 
What about a hornady 350g if it's good for the intended us. Possible quick release scope rings and two different scopes for different loads
 
My girlfriend and I are going to SA in June. She is shooting a 30-06, and using Barnes Vor-tx ammo, with the 150 TTSX. She shoots it very, very well. I am shooting my semi-custom Rem 700 in 338-06. I will be shooting handloads with either the 200 grain Accubond, or the 210 grain Partition. The NP is 100 fps slower, but more accurate....both loads are right at MOA. Both rifles are Outfitter approved. We leave on 21 June....very excited.

MS
 
MuleyStalker,

Regarding your 338-06 ammo, not sure what countries you will be travelling in but some in Africa require the headstamp on the ammo to match the caliber on the rifle, even only when being transported through them.

Ted
 
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Why not? said:
MuleyStalker,

Regarding your 338-06 ammo, not sure what countries you will be travelling in but some in Africa require the headstamp on the ammo to match the caliber on the rifle, even only when being transported through them.

Ted
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Hey, Ted. I already thought of that, and I have Weatherby brass that is headstamped 338-06.

MS
 
Realistically if i were buyin a Rifle for Plains game, 338 Winchester Magnum, loaded with say 250grainer Woodleighs........would be high on my list in a Wood stocked rifle as it would likely be riding in the backseat of a Jeep anyway...


0therwise im not really sure...so many options which would be adequate
 
brybenn said:
Ive read and re read john pondoros book of african cartridges and im still no closer to deciding on a plains game rifle.
Warthog
Zebra
Oryx
Black wildebeest
Blue wildebeest
Impala
Baboons
The main list of what i want. Maybe some smaller add ons. Im bringing my trusted 458wm for buffalo and have no issue using it for more but id like a flatter shooting round as well. My thoughts are
3006
300wm
375hh
All common. All capable. Which would you choose?
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Since you mention Taylor............ His favorite light rifle was the .300 H&H, often with 150s. "Pure dynamite" was how he described it. Interesting that the name that is always trotted out by fans of the big bores just happened to prefer the fastest 30 caliber of his day. He did point out that the Americans had a faster loading that he hadn't used but since the longest shot of his life was 239 yards he wasn't sure what the advantage was.

The H&H loading of the day was identical to the factory speeds of a 30-06 today.
 
I shot a couple Impala, a Blesbuck, Duiker, Warthog all with a .270 150g bullet. All shots from 75-250 yards and no more than 50 yard tracking job.

Shot a Wildebeest with a .300winmag 180g and I thought I missed, found blood after 50 yards then found it down another 50 yards from that, double lung.
My friend also shot a 58" Kudu with a .270
If I was to do it again I'd likely just take another .270 for plains game, 300winmag would be second choice
 
Dogleg said:
Since you mention Taylor............ His favorite light rifle was the .300 H&H, often with 150s. "Pure dynamite" was how he described it. Interesting that the name that is always trotted out by fans of the big bores just happened to prefer the fastest 30 caliber of his day. He did point out that the Americans had a faster loading that he hadn't used but since the longest shot of his life was 239 yards he wasn't sure what the advantage was.

The H&H loading of the day was identical to the factory speeds of a 30-06 today.
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Thats kinda what i was thinking. I have a 300wm and im usually in ownership of a 3006 at least once or twice a year. Love the caliber but never seem to hold on to hold on to them. Recoill doesnt bother me and id have no issues using my 458 for more than buffalo but id like a back up of my own just in case. I dont own a 375hh yet but its something ive been putting off only because im working on a 416 taylor which im not planning to take over seas due to brass and ammo concerns. I still have lots of time to plan and play.
 
Dogleg said:
brybenn said:
400gr ppsn woodliegh at 2400fps and 500gr woodliegh round nose. I do have some 500gr solids but havent worked a load up for them yet. Im planning on using softs anyway[/QUOTE]

Good plan. Solids suck.
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Do you prefer roundnose or ppsn types? I havent taken game yet with the woodleighs but the ppsn 400gr shoot surprisingly flat and group tight. 0 at 100 im only 6" low at 225 yards so id be holding on fur for everything on my list and from what ive been told 150 yards is a far shot.
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The warthog is really the only trophy im really wanting to be big and ugly. Im fine with a decent representative of each other speices. Even a smaller set of horns from a cape buf will look massive next to a southern ontario whitetail rack lol
 
brybenn said:
Dogleg said:
Do you prefer roundnose or ppsn types? I havent taken game yet with the woodleighs but the ppsn 400gr shoot surprisingly flat and group tight. 0 at 100 im only 6" low at 225 yards so id be holding on fur for everything on my list and from what ive been told 150 yards is a far shot.
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Mostly pointed. Those big bullets slow down fast, first one to turn into a 45/70 loses. My favorite .458 bullet is the 450 grain A-Frame, hands down.
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