You Are Headed to Africa on Safari. Which Big Game Rifle Do You Buy?

[Kynoch]

You are headed to African in 9 months on safari. You have a shotgun, a 30-caliber rifle and a sidearm all ready to go but you don't own a big game rifle. If you had the following choices, which would you choose?

 

[Gordon]

CZ in .375 H&H and you would really have the right tool.:banghead:

 

[dubya450]

If i had an extra 5 grand to spend i would get a Kimber Caprivi Special Edition in 375h&h. Thats a big if though..

 

[finnwolf64]

I'd just take my CZ .375 H&H. I'd also forget the sidearm.
For plains game a 30-06 will work well, but so will a .375 H&H.
For dangerous game such as cape buffalo, lion & elephant a .375 H&H will do the job. If you are worried about the stopping power of a .375 H&H don't be, as a huge number of dangerous game has been taken with this cartridge. Your PH will also be there as back up with something large.

 

[Bio-Chem]

the largest thing you can shoot accurately and want to practice with enough without developing a massive flinch. i can't imagine a 458 matches that one. im going 375

 

[Salmoneye]

Marlin .444 Safari Grade

The "Safari Grade 444 Stage II": COL 2.750; This modification is suitable for heavy weight, long barreled Marlins, and develops world class power, that, with the right bullet can take anything that walks the earth. The 405 grain bullet at 2150 fps develops 4158 ft lbs, with a Thorniley of 236 and a Taylor of 54. The 300 grain bullet at 2500 fps and 4164 ft lbs, develops a Thorniley of 203 and a Taylor of 46. This modification will ideally require a .550 nose to crimp length bullet (although it will shoot others), and as I said in a previous posting, Marshall Stanton of Beartooth Bullets is working on that project now.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/444-marlin/62750-safari-grade-444-conclusion.html

 

[Manny]

Ruger M77 in 9.3x62 topped with a good quality 1.5-6x42 scope. No "Big 5" for me, no money or desire. The classic 9.3x62 would do for the game I would go after without beating the snot out of me. I'd also have a great rifle to use when I got back home, not a safe queen that'd get little use.

 

[BigBoreFan]

For style I'd do either of these

Since Africa is pie in the sky anyway I may as well dream big about the rifles too.


http://bradshawgunandrifle.com/Farquharson_Double_Rifle_1B.php



http://www.csmcspecials.com/Fuchs_Magnificent_double_rifle_bolt_action_repeate_p/20528.htm

 

[Andrew Leigh]

A .375 with a Mauser action, you won't want any troubles with cycling the bolt and failing to eject or pick up a round. Good shot placement and your are good to go with the CZ. I would get lots of practice in, especially with open sights and at ranges up to 100yds. You will shoot over sticks as very few PH's want to russle around the brush looking for wounded animals. If you load then develope a load with premium bullets.

The .375 is a great antelope rifle as well. It has a bit more punch than the 9.3 so it would get my vote.

It would help if you more specific and your target species.

That .460 Weatherby Magnum is evil. You could develope a flinch in no time with that puppy. It has about 4.5X the recoil of a 30-06 with 180gr. bullets. This is a picture of a friends buffalo shot for rations. This view shows the entrance wound ...... this is a .450 Rigby loaded near as dammit to the .460 Weatherby specs in terms of bullet weigh and speed.

 

[T.R.]

I'd take a 30-06 and rent a big bore from the PH. Buying a big bore for one trip seems like a costly investment with very limited use here in USA.

TR

 

[conhntr]

375!

 

[jmr40]

Winchester or Ruger, but in 375. That is plenty for a hunter. The guide might prefer the bigger 458 as a stopper if things go bad.

 

[loadedround]

My choice of an all around rifle would also be the old 375 H&H Mag. My choice of rifle would be the one I own and that's a Ruger Model 77 MK ll African.

 

[TurtlePhish]

I'd be incredibly happy with a Winchester Model 70 in .375H&H.

 

[Robert]

Of the ones listed, the Winchester. If left to my own choice a 375H&H, a 404 Jeffery or a good double in something like 470NE.

 

[mavracer]

I don't want a 458 and the rifle I'd prefer isn't on your list so It would be a random draw for me from your list. If I had my choice it's gonna be a Ruger 77 tropical in 416 Rigby.

 

[skywalkrNCSU]

I'd take a 30-06 and rent a big bore from the PH. Buying a big bore for one trip seems like a costly investment with very limited use here in USA.

TR

But that gives you the excuse to find a way to use it again

 

[ironhead7544]

Since you want a .458, the CZ in my choice.

 

[CraigC]

Of those listed, I chose the CZ. However, the Ruger Magnum MKII's are beautifully made, almost custom grade rifles and I would choose a .416Rigby. The most comfortable rifle I've ever shouldered was a $3700 custom shop model 70 .375H&H. It was almost as if it was fitted to me. I would also be tempted by a Ruger No. 1 in .450/.400 or 9.3x74R. Depending on what I was after.

I'm planning on doing a plains game hunt sometime in the next few years and my Winchester 1895 .405WCF loaded with 300gr Woodleigh's will be the star of that show. Along with my custom Ruger Bisley .44Mag loaded with 330's@1350fps or 355's@1250fps.

I'd take a 30-06 and rent a big bore from the PH.

If I needed a big bore, I sure as hell wouldn't go forth with a rifle I hadn't just spent at least six months getting intimately acquainted with.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Get/use one that you are familiar with. Heard a story of some guy going after something that could kill you and was using an unfamiliar to him BRNO with tang safety. That particular safety when forward is on "safe". He got stomped or chewed to death after numerous attempts to fire his safetied weapon.

 

[Patocazador]

What game are you after? If it's just plains game your .30 cal. with premium bullets will work fine. If it's Cape buffalo anything from .375 H&H up will work. If it's rhino or elephant you've got enough money to buy them all.

 

[tomrkba]

I'd probably just take a plain old lever action rifle in 45/70 topped with a low power 1-4x variable optic. I'd load up with hard cast bullets between 300-500 grains depending upon the game.

 

[Art Eatman]

FWIW: As near as I can gather from reading, the .458 Winchester seems to be marginal. Not quite enough velocity for its diameter to give as much penetration as the professional hunters want.

There is a derivation of that cartridge which has a case which is a bit longer, and provides another 200 or 300 ft/sec. It's regarded as more desirable.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

You would not be allowed to use it on larger game. When entering dangerous game terratory the minimum would be a .375 as although you might not be actively hunting big game but it may elect to have a go at you. I would not be happy with 45/70 at half the muzzle energy of a .375.

It is not always about what you are hunting but what calibre could protect you if youy run into a bad tempered Buffalo.

 

[Andrew Leigh]

Standard issue for a Kruger Park Ranger is a .458. Some elect to walk with their own rifles, my friend is a ranger and walks with the .450 Rigby with open sights, he faces animals all the time and does not have a backup PH so he needs stopping power.

With a PH a .375 should be fine.