One rifle to Africa

[Art Eatman]

Correction on .45-70: Rich Lucibella shot 3 Cape buffalo on a trip to Africa. He used both Garret and Buffalo Bore loads to do so. He said the Buffalo Bore was by far the better performer. (From a comment elsewhere.)

Art

 

[H&Hhunter]

Doc,
The .45-70 is a fine choice with the correct ammunition. I perfer a .458 Lott or a .375 or even .470 NE for one reason and one reason only.

I can purchsae Ammo in country If I need to. Especially for the .458 lott ,.375 and I've found .470 NE to available as well. I don't know that .45-70 is very available on the continent.

As far as Rich's .45-70 trip and buffalo he went to RSA last summer with Ashley of AO sights and they did a lever gun plains game hunt with grerat success. Ashley shot his custom marlin in .500 Alaskan and they killed game past 150 yards on occasion with no problems.

But keep in mind that these two guys are lever gun ghost ring fanatics.

 

[cratz2]

Thanks again for the additional replies.

Yeah... I will definately be taking a bolt gun, scoped. Dangerous game is not, I repeat, NOT on the agenda whatsoever! I think if I just decide that kudu and zebra are off limits, then something like 6.5x55, 270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag should work just fine. Again, my primary concern, at least at this point, is getting something my wife can shoot and not be afraid of. She's shot my 700ADL in 270 and my heavy 7mm Rem Mag and didn't shy away from those. I'd hate to go undergunned but the success I've read about with the heavier loads in 6.5x55 make me look to it though I've never had one and I'm comfortable with a .270 Winchester forwards and backwards.

Still, if a BAR in 338 Win Mag doesn't have much more recoil than a my light 270, that might be an option. But then I question the reliability of a semi auto. Or maybe I should just take a BAR in 338 and a bolt gun in 270.

Can you tell I'm becoming a worrywart on this whole Africa thing?

 

[Preacherman]

Bear in mind that most African countries won't allow you to bring a semi-auto rifle into the country - security risk, and all that sort of thing. Certainly this is the case in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Bolt or lever (or double) are the only options available.

 

[cratz2]

Well, I guess that clears that up pretty quickly.

The more I talk with folks, the more recommend something in 338 or 35 caliber. Was looking at one of those new Model 600... calling them the 673. Not crazy about the light colored stock but I guess I could strip it and finish it in something like translucent black.

Is .350 Rem Mag ammo readily available in many African countries? Since that is a concern as well.

 

[Preacherman]

I've never seen .350 Rem. Mag. ammo commercially stocked in South Africa, or any of the neighboring countries. IIRC, when Jeff Cooper went out there with his "Lion Scout" in that caliber, he took his own ammo. with him (he shoots handloads anyway...). You'll find .303 British, .308, some (limited bullet selection) .30-'06, .375 H&H are the freely available rounds: some others (e.g. 7mm. Rem. Mag., .270, .300 Win. Mag.) are available but you might have to look around for a decent selection. I'd advise you to take along as much as you're allowed of your own ammunition, and don't trust to local suppliers if it's anything other than the list I gave above.

 

[BusMaster007]

2005.
Some guys go to Africa; I MIGHT get to Disneyland! (...kids, you know...)

cratz2,

At least you've got a couple of years to mull this over.
I'm reading this thread with great interest.
I don't know if my list of 'stuff' will assist you or not, but I'll throw it out. I tried to cover any hunting in North America with my choices.
It looks like if I ever get past Disneyland, I might be able to hunt Africa, too!
The WIFE will be happy to know that I've gotten all the rifles I'll ever need.
My current 'hunting battery' consists of:

.284/7mm Rem. Mag. - Remington 700 BDL & Browning BAR MkII Safari/BOSS-CR.
.30-06 Govt. - I say, "OTT SIX" - Remington 7400 Synthetic Carbine.
.338 Win. Mag. - Remington 700 BDL-DM.
.45-70 Govt. - Marlin 1895 'SS' full-size rifle.

I have ALWAYS wanted a .375 H&H, and I'm going to trade/sell off my .338 Win. Mag. because it was a compromise to begin with and it reminds me of an ex-friend who I was always at odds with over the two cartridges...he the .338, and I the .375 proponents.
I'm going to get a Remington 700 BDL of some sort in .375 H&H, everyone elses opinions of the rifle and cartridge be, uh, 'darned'.

The way I set the guns up:

700/7mm in a Bell&Carlson Thumbhole Sporter Stock.
Leupold 4.5-14x40 matte; Redfield JR rings/base.
Very comfortable to shoot this gun.

BAR/7mm in a Bell&Carlson stock.
Leupold 4.5-14x40, blue; Millett 'engraved rings' and 1-pc. base.
This is also very comfortable because of the gas operation, but, it sounds like you won't be able to take one to Africa.

.30-06 Carbine is in a Bell&Carlson stock. (current setup)
Redfield 2-7 Widefield Lo-Pro matte; Redfield JR rings/base.
Great little rifle. Accurate. Reliable. Not too bad on recoil, either.

.338 Win.Mag. is either blue/wood or blue/synthetic stock.
Redifield 1.75-5x20, blue. Redfield JR rings/base, blue.
Shoots NICE. Accurate. Reliable. Isn't a .375 H&H...

.45-70 Lever Action is standard issue, so far.
It's getting the .338's scope, and it yielded the 2-7 to the Carbine; Redfield JR base/bottom screw rings, blue.
Will be using a DRC large lever loop and WWG Bear Proof ejector.
The Buffalo Bore Ammo will have to be used in this gun, just because!

When I replace the .338 with the .375 H&H, I plan to put it into a Hogue Full Bedding Block stock and use some 'Tactical' rings and base to help with the power-to-weight ratio.
The scope is yet to be determined, but I'll probably go either Leupold or NIKON. Tactical, that is. A Tactical .375 H&H sounds like a helluva lotta fun to me!

Good Luck with your decision making process. I hope you find the 7mm Rem.Mag. is a good choice for both of you if you're only taking one rifle to 'the Continent'.

 

[H&Hhunter]

One thing to remeber guys,
It ain't the bringing it with you part that worries me. I can pack enough ammo to start a small war.

It's the oh S#$% my duffel bag with the ammo got lost in route. That's when your .350 rem mag just became a boat anchor in Africa. Or your .460 G&A for that matter as long as we're talking about J.C.

BusMaster,
I totally agree with your .375 thinking. But a dangerous game cartridge in a push feed action!!??? That's akin to having the most awsome 4-wheel drive vehical on the planet and putting street slicks on it for tires. Come to light son, controlled feed mauser type action is the zen of dangerous game hunting.


I love the looks of that little kevlar stocked 20" Remington .375H&H available in your better sporting goods stores. But the fact that it has a push feed action and a trigger block verses a sear block safety makes it much like that really good looking super model after you just found out she/he is actually named George.

Looks like the real thing but it just ain't going to do the job you wanted it to.

 

[BusMaster007]

IF I should make it to Africa and find out at the crucial moment my date is named 'George', my PH better damn well have a 'BETTY' in HIS hands!!!

 

[cratz2]

Thanks for the detailed response BM.

Not knowing anything about the subject other than second hand info which, while better than nothing, ins't to be taked as gospel but when multiple sources agree with my common sense, it I sort of view the contenders like this:

.243, .25-06, and even .308, .270 and .280 are cartridges that I consider to be the lighter rifle of a two rifle battery.

The .338 Win Mag, any of the Ultra Mags and the .375 H&H and any of the .416s are in a recoil category that I just don't know that I would be comfortable with and I really doubt my wife would be willing to work up to. The .35 Whelen and .350 Rem Mag, while they seem to do a lot with relatively little fanfare, are still pushing into that category and the hot-loaded .45-70s are just as bad if not worse than many of the others.

So that pretty much leaves the .30-06 and the 7mm Rem and .300 Win Mags (and related short mags if you prefer) as the glaringly obvious choices for a one rifle trip. I have a heavy barreled 7mm Mag and I want to get a .300 WSM from Savage as soon as they offer the AccuTrigger in the standard weight rifles so the .30-06 seems to get the biggest nod here. My wife can handle the .270 pretty well and it's a 700ADL synthetic that's definately on the light side. I plan on picking up a CZ550, maybe the Mannlicher version. They make that in a .30-06 and certainly is a bit heavier than the 700ADL which will help a bit. Plus, I'll be on the lookout for a nice reasonably-priced custom built Mauser in 30-06. I've seen a few lately including one built on a VZ-24 action that seemed nice and well done but a bit on the high side at about $800. Maybe with some nicer wood or metal in perfect condition, but this one was pretty banged up. And for whatever reason, I'd rather bang the rifle up myself. Definately leaning towards a control-feed rifle and probably something like a Kahles or Swarovski 1.5-6x42 scope or even a fixed 6x42... something a bit smaller than my Zeiss 2.5-10x... that's a pretty big heavy scope which goes fine on a heavy barrel rifle, but just seems too big to be lugging all over the darn place.

I think, in general, that if someone is fairly comfortable with the .270 Winchester, the .30-06 shouldn't be too much of a stretch with a bit of practice. Pretty much everything points me in the direction of the .30-06... A couple recommendations in person, several on this thread, Craig Boddington's advice and my own reasonably sound common sense that strongly agrees with Jeff Cooper. Ammo sounds pretty available should it come to that and there are near infinite sources of quality factory loaded ammo in addition to my friend that reloads a few cartridges for me. And most importantly of all... I've managed to live my entire life without ever owning a 30-06! How is that even possible?

In all honesty, observation is our (at least her) primary goal and reason for the trip. I think she has visions of seeing a leopard taking an antelope and then struggling against a few hyena as the sun sets... I've told her that scenario is pretty unlikely but the trip is her dream. Ideally of course, game will be taken and brought back (along with feeding some folks with the meat). I'd like to take an impala and a blue wildebeest but an excellent nyala is what I would be most specifically after. And my wife has mentioned the sable and orex as game that would be tops on her list. Anything else just for the experience would be fine but these are the ones we are, respectively, most after.

Of course, I still have plenty of time to unmake my mind again. The 6.5x55 is still calling me and with good bullets, it comes pretty well recommend if on the light side of some of the larger antelope.

 

[JShirley]

cratz,

I'm 5'6" and less than 155 lbs. I have a Rem 700 .35 Whelen, and it doesn't beat me up much.

John