S.A. Plains Game gun.....

Ardent said:
Can't scream a higher recommendation for that Model 70 Alaskan, irons on a traveling rifle are indispensable in my opinion. Also, big Model 70 fan here...
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And this is a part of the reason for my post. Tried to order one today and they said I may take a year to get one.
 
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Unfortunately, those that rely on iron sights as a back up rarely practice enough with them to be proficient. The chance of wounding an animal increases exponentially. Truthfully, if something happens to your scope on the way there, the PH will undoubtedly have a rifle you can use. Unless you plan on shooting several hundred rounds with the iron sights before you go, I wouldn't worry about it. If you do plan on shooting that much then you will have a serviceable 100 yard rifle but I think I'd still opt for a scoped back up from the PH.
 
If you took something that you would cheerfully use on elk, in any and all conditions, angles and ranges you can imagine you would do just fine. There's nothing to be gained by odd-ball or rare cartridges, or novelty weapons.

A .300 Win would be a good choice, as would a .338. Personally, I typically end up using a .375 H&H for everything due partly to a lack of imagination.


And partly because of an over active one.;)
 
I see that as a very small, and enjoyable, effort to have a completely redundant second sighting system. Both my trips I hunted iron sights only and didn't even pack scopes, they're more than up to the task, will do Feb's hunt over irons too I suspect. Quite frankly I just don't like scopes for Africa. Granted that's a peculiar take.

Pretty easy to be competent on irons, not that tough and it's really no different than shooting a rifle any other way, be it scoped, red dotted, etc. Best view of the African hunting show going, too. :)

As for cartridges, I share Doglegs affliction.
 
I wasn't implying that you couldn't become proficient with iron sights....just saying that few do, especially when they are just a back up sight on a rifle. It's little more than a false sense of security to many.
 
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First hunt I used. 9.3x62, second a 30-06, my son used a 308. Third hunt I used a 416 Rigby. Anything 30-06 and up will do if you do your part. Most of my shots where under 100 yards, this was in the bush in Limpopo. Other areas maybe different.
 
Limpopo is fairly tight cover, which shortens up the range considerably. In many ways its easier to pop a 3-400 yard animal in the open than to thread a bullet through a thicket, but some PHs take a powerful amount of persuading.

On my Oct trip I'm taking a .458 and a .300 Ultra complete with Mark 4 and M1 turrets. That's about as non traditional as you can get, but should be perfect for braining a croc while not giving up anything in more normal situations.
 
There is certainly nothing wrong with the .375 H&H or even the Ruger IF you're familiar enough with it and shoot it well. Not everyone can. I find myself having the same affliction of late, when in doubt, take the .375. #1 son used his Ruger African for his plains game hunt and was 100% successful and even made some pretty long shots with it. He used 260 ABs and rolled pretty much everything including an ancient Eland. Again no dangerous game on the ticket but he just loves his 375 so I said why not.
Ardent...wait till your eyes are my age and see how you still like irons.......Oh to be young again !!!
 
sheephunter said:
I wasn't implying that you couldn't become proficient with iron sights....just saying that few do, especially when they are just a back up sight on a rifle. It's little more than a false sense of security to many.
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Yeah I agree with you also, although with a little practise those open sights can be useful out to 200m which is ok for the bigger species, the small stuff na uh .

I think the 300 win mag is the sensible option, although ive never been or looked into it too much.
Eland an such are big critters, comparing to a Big Elk is pretty spot on, some with bigger bones though !

good thread, cheers

wl
 
I would think about it this way... what will you hunt and where will you hunt it ?

Not all plainsgame hunts are alike, will it be small antelope, wildebeest, zebra, eland or possibly a wide range of these ? Will it be bushveldt hunting or will you be hunting open plains or mountains ?

If you can shoot it well a .375 (ruger or H&H) or 338 win mag will do it all. 9.3x62 is great for all species as well but you may want something flatter shooting if you are hunting open plains. As long as eland and Zebra are not on the list even your .270 would be adequate, although some would see it as marginal for oryx. .300 win mag is an incredibly popular all around cartridge in most parts of africa, it will handle all non dangerous game at all reasonable ranges.

Personally I chose a .375 H&H, but mostly because that specific rifle fits me well and I shoot it well.

At the end of the day all of your possible choices will do the job, just pick the rifle you shoot the best. You may have only a split second to make a shot on the trophy of a lifetime, so you should have a rifle that you are comfortable with, shoot well, and handles as if it is an extension of your own body. As long as it is powerful enough for the game and the distance at which you are shooting the chambering doesn't matter.
 
Waterfowler said:
I really don't have anything that will do it. Pumps and levers and 270 bolts. Like I said, I need a moose gun anyways.

I did see a nice Sauer 202 in 9.62 today and thought of you though!!!!!!!!!
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I've been twice and shot all my plains game from Impala to Eland with my Model 70 270 Win and 150 grain Nosler Partitions. Good shot placement is way more important than calibre.

I had open sights and QD scope mounts but never had any need to use the open sights.

Hugh
 
ever thought of writing all this down, Do you have a book in you?

c-fbmi said:
You don't need a 338 for plains game a 300 is perfect and ammo is available every where in SA. Very little plains game hunting will be up close or in the thick so sights are just an annoying add on. I always take a spare scope all set up in identical rings and sighted in, in case of an accident and my scope gets damaged.
Bolt action for sure and practice right out to 400 mtrs if you can. Most places in SA get hunted up to 200 days a year and the game gets quite spooky, long range capability can really up your odds on good trophies. I personally use a 300 Wby in a 700 Rem stainless with a 3-9 Zeiss Diavari and 200 gn Parts or lately Accubonds. I've taken everything from 20 lb Suni to 2000 lb Eland with it and not found myself ever needing more. I personally like the extra reach and power of the 300s over the 308 or '06 but both are still a fine choice, if you're a little recoil shy, and have worked for many years on these hunts. Most PHs I know who carry a rifle on these hunts will likely be using either a 308 or '06, so what does that tell ya.
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It sounds like you don't have the rifle yet.
Go to tradex and get a zastava in 9.3 or 300wm. If you get the 9.3 get about 5 boxes of privy for it at $31 a box. This rifle has good iron sights. It takes bases for The FN mauser.
I have not had the experience that most of the have had but I did not find plains game any harder to kill than an elk. It took a 300RUM and a 25-06. The only thing that required a follow up was a springbok that I hit about 4 inches too far back (gut shot). It was about 300 yes and walking at the time.
There vitals are a lot further ahead than North American game.
Good luck
Neil
 
Bring the rifle you shoot best if caliber is not a huge concern. I'd do .270 win, .30-06, .338 win mag or .375 H&H. But I'd make sure I was damn good with it beforehand. I'd also read as much as I could about the animals.
 
I Lived there for 40 years of my life, hunted for 28 of those years - so I speak from experience ......

A venerable 30.06 will kill everything up to and including Eland! If you want to be classy take a CZ 550 full stock in 7x57 or 9.3x62.

You really don't need a magnum cartridge - most South Africans shoot .308's or 30.06's to be honest.

If you are going to the Bushveldt load heavy (200gr) in 30.06 or 250gr barnes tsx in 9.3x62 if you hunting in the Eastern Cape or Natal use the 7x57.
 
A South African doctor of my acquaintance, who grew up on a ranch there and might be considered a passionate hunter, was smitten with 210 gr bullets (Partitions?) in the .338 Winchester. That was his favorite rifle and load, and he shot more game there in a year than many of us would over a lifetime. I'm of the opinion that the 210 is a tad light for caliber, but then I won't pretend to know what Kobus knows.
 
The bullet is probably the most important factor. Stout construction ensures penetration on larger antelopes and prevents excessive damage to the skins of the smaller and more delicate targets of opportunity (don't shoot a ballistic tip out of a 300WM into a duiker and expect to do a full mount). I shot my impala, baboon and civet in Zimbabwe using 300gr solids out of the New King. Easy for the taxidermist. Ordinarily I wouldn't do so but by the end of the hunt camp was low on software and I was saving the last couple in case of Kudu or bushbuck. To hat end, there is no replacement for displacement. The 375 and 416 make exit wound sized holes without even expanding.

And remember, the 416 Rigby isn't a magnum. Food for thought.
 
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Everytime I visit a friend of mine ,I get to admire his plains game trophy's. Five of them,all taken with one shot from an 1885 Winchester clone in 45-70, ....with an MVA mid range vernier site mounted.

When he un-cased his choise of guns he said the PH was very sceptical to the point of being downright offended. They had never seen or heard of the 45-70 in that camp. By the end of the hunt 4 out of the five guides/PH's wanted to buy the gun!!

Not meant as an advise option for the OP, just an interesting bit of info.
 
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