9.3x62 vs 338 Lapua for African plains game

Robert said:

One world, one 375H&H!

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lol I like that. GJ, Robert.

"So let me ask this, for everyone that has used the 9.3x62 and/or the 35 Whelen and a .375, is the 375 significantly more in the "kick" department?"


I have a .35 Whelen and a .375 H&H. I don't like recoil, not at all. The .35 Whelen is easy like a .30-06+ while I have to use 235gr. bullets and less powder to be able to handle the .375 H&H.

To me it's like night and day.

338 win mag, other than some "legal concerns" is more than up to the task.
Just get a rifle that "fits" you.
One should being able to hit the "target" while winded and standing on their own hind legs....

The standard 35 Whelen using a 225 TSX, in the lightest rifle, i.e a Mod 700 CDL, will recoil less than a .375 or 9.3 when both are using 270-286gr bullets, respectively. However, it is wash if you take into account the 9.3 will feel so much like the 35 Whelen you couldn't tell. I agree, the 375 H&H is a different creature. It is a wonderful round, I've also used it here in Utah for elk. for that I had a regular Mod 700 BDL SS, with no recoil reduction just a good Decelerator recoil pad. It was a gem! Way less than a 12ga 3" anything! I had a Mod 700 Classic in .375 that needed a muzzlebrake, but I was setting it up for 300gr bullets for buffalo ( which never materialized, ha) The easiest .375s to shoot, and I mean very pleasant were the Mod 70 synthetic SS, CZ 550 and the Whitworth Express. All a tad heavier than a Mod 700, but not too bad. Any of those three are super fun to hunt with. I especially liked the 270gr bullets ( I used the old, now discontinued, Winchester Fail Safe factory ammo in Africa. I used the 235X and the 300 SierraBT here in Utah for both elk and mule deer.
For the 9.3x62, I don't know what happened, I suspect one rifle had bad headspace. Its no biggy if you train yourself to bolt another in if you hear that horrible "click", ha. I never had a problem with but one 338 WM, which was an early 80's Mod 70 that kicked like a demon, OMG style! I used muzzlebrakes on other 338win, 340W, 338RUM. The model 700 CDL comes with a really efficient recoil pad already, no need for anything else, but I can say the same for any 9.3x62 ( very nostalgic, very useful round too!) So, in my short experience, only the 338s and the Mod 700 classic in .375 benefited from a brake. But, I prefer lighter rifles. My favorite scope is the leupold 1.5x5 VIII., even for long shots. A 9x or so is very handy in more open areas, as said, depends on where you go! I hunted in northern South Africa ( Joberg, Pretoria and east of there and southern Namibia ( Aroab) That part of Namibia looks almost like 50 miles west of me, over in Skull Valley, Utah, ha. Only the plants there all have stickers and thorns!

Kinda depends on what plains game. On the light side, any deer cartridge will do fine on most antelope. However, if you're after eland or kudu, you might want a little more.

First thing I'd do is forget the Lapua. It's too much of a lot of what you don't need. There's several .338's that would be good do-all plains game cartridges but the Lapua isn't one of them. Matter of fact, I bought a Ruger .338RCM with this (and elk) in mind. Doesn't quite match the .338WM but basically replicates the .338-06 in a short action, lightweight 20" barreled rifle. Remember, you're going to be doing a lot of walking and not much shooting. I'll be damned if I'd want to carry a 10lb long range rig to make a 200yd shot on impala.

The Lapua would be more comparable to the .416Rigby on top (7lb .338 below).

I'm lucky enough to have gone to RSA twice. I took a 9.3x62 both times as did my hunting partner. The second time the airline lost his luggage for four days. Luckily a local gun store had some 9.3 in stock.

My main suggestion is to get a gun that fits you. I have a .375 H&H with a classic stock that really isn't bad for 10 to 15 rounds per range session. I also have a .416 Remington with a custom MacMillian Bros stock that is shootable all day. Except that even reloads are somewhat expensive. The 9.3 has a Boyd's stock and is very gentle compared to the damage it does down range.

You don't need a cannon to plains game hunt. Take a good deer rifle, premium ammo and an open attitude. AND a lot of camera cards. Remember you're on the other side of the planet. When things go wrong, and they will, shrug your shoulders look at each other and say "TIA". This Is Africa.

Like the man said, the H&H is considered a womans/kids round and a light kicker, in Africa. Americans are wussified for the most part.The 375 will have a nice rolling recoil. The 9.3 will not be bad. The Lapua will be brutal.

CZ makes a 9.3x62 in an American style Kevlar stock with a 20" barrel. It should recoil easier ( come straight back instead of flipping up) than their Mannlicher Old World, which is not bad itself, I gave one to my German descent Son In Law. We both used it on hog. Take a look at both. OR, just use a nice 30-06 and Barnes 168gr TTSX ammo. It will work nicely and you can also find ammo for it over there, along with many others. I personally like the idea of medium calibers on game, especially thick skinned game like a lot of Plains game. Just keep researching, thinking about it, that's 80% of the fun of such a hunt!

I purchased a magnum action from a gent on an online forum and decided to spend what was necessary for a nice rifle over time. Waiting durn near killed me.

I sent my length of pull measurements to MacMillian and asked for a Decelerator recoil pad. The stock is their take on a classic Winchester stock. It was well worth the money I spent on it as was the Douglas barrel but I had to wait to get the barreled action back before I had all the specs to order the stock. None of these companies move fast as you're not buying off the shelf items. :banghead:

A friend has a similar rifle built by a big name gun smith in .338 Winchester magnum that is a pussy cat to shoot and handles like a 20ga shotgun. The .416 doesn't hurt to shoot but physically moves my 240# carcass every time the primer works. IMHO a well designed synthetic stock is worth the money.

All the hunting guides I met in Africa are most happy when a client shows up with a gun that is worn and well used in a caliber that is "sensible". Unless you plan on shooting eland or giraffe a .30-06, .308, or .270 will be appreciated. None of the Weatherby (they call them "Wound der Beast") cartridges is well thought of and muzzle brakes are specially despised. These guys and their staff hear hundreds of rounds fired each year so nice gentle rifles with shooters that know how to use them are welcomed.

Robert said:

My 375H&H comes in right at 10lbs and is a dream to shoot.

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My Talkeetna is right at 9lb fully loaded and it's my favorite hunting rifle by far. As you mentioned, they're not the beasts that many think they are. They offer outstanding accuracy, excellent terminal performance with the right bullet, reasonable recoil and minimal meat damage. Many will cringe at the ultra modern look of my rifle below but I'll soon own a beautiful wood stocked Kimber Caprivi in .458 Lott so it all balances out.

Robert, out of interest, can your Winchester feed empty fired cases from the magazine. I get a kick out of showing off my Talkeetna. It will run through a full magazine of empty cases as fast as I can run the bolt. One of the smoothest rifles/actions I've ever handled.

MCMXI,

I'm not Robert, and my rifle is built on a Montana action. But it will feed empty .416 brass. It's great for dry fire practice.

I like your digi camoed rifle, that design probably confuses the eye pretty well sitting in the bush waiting to ambush game.

.375 JRS is a wildcat cartridge, not a brand of rifle. Stands for gunzine writer Jon R. Sundra who wanted something more modern than the 1912 .375 H&H.
It is most readily made by necking an 8mm Remington Magnum up to .375.

Check with H&Hhunter.
At one time your ammo headstamp had to agree with your rifle's caliber marking.
No wildcats or reformed brass.
Maybe they have quit bothering with that to accommodate crazy Americans.