Africa-What 3 ?

[patrickjames]

I suppose I will never make it (afford) on a hunt to Africa, but I can dream. I have no desire for an Elephant, but some of the larger animals the size of our Elk's down to a warthog would be cool. Here are the 3 rifles I would take.
1. Marlin 1895 45/70
2. Ruger no.1 300 H&H 6x leupold
3. Ruger no.1 7x57 peep sight

What 3 would you take?

 

[bennettfam]

Nice selection. I might swap out the 1895 for a Barrett .50 for my back-up guy to get me out of touble when I miss with my single-shot Ruger. :wink:

 

[mattsbox99]

I'd just take the 300H&H. One of my co-workers went to Africa last June and got 5 critters including a Blue Wildebeest with a 7x64 Brenneke, which is equal to the .280 Rem.

 

[Rumrunner]

I went in 2009 and only took one gun (plains game only). I took a Ruger 77 Hawkeye in 308win. On my PH's advise I loaded up 180 gr Remington corelokt soft points. My brother used a 77 MKII with Federal factory 180gr soft points. We took Kudu, Gemsbok, Red Haertebeeste, Impala, Spingbok, and Warthog. All 12 animals dropped within eyesight.

If going again I would only take my Ruger No 1 in 45/70. With two of us going and using basically same gu and same ammo if one of the guns or the ammo got lost we would have still been able to hunt.

One suggestion if you ever go, wear your hunting boots on the flight or take in a carry on. You can replace most anything over there, and your PH would likely have a gun to use, but good luck finding boots to fit.

Oh yeah, any of your three would be great. And that 7x57 is beautiful.

 

[Corbi]

How about a:

Stainless Ruger #1H in 375 H&H with a 2.5X8 VX3
Stainless Ruger #1B in 3006 with a 3.5X10 VXIII
and last
Ruger #1 RSI in 243

I'm torn on not taking the 45/70 but you limited the battery to 3.

Corbi

 

[Boxhead]

These three are going in June. Myself and three son's will be hunting and maybe, just maybe my wife will pull the trigger on a wartie. Left to right, a 7x57, 358 Win and 8x57. For only one hunter only one rifle is needed, any more just brings hassle.

 

[BlkHawk73]

There's #1's here in .300 H&H and .405 that would suffice for Africa.

 

[SteveRuger]

Ruger No.1 in 300 H&H Only! It has a Great Track Record down there.

 

[patrickjames]

Boxhead,I really like the 8x57. Any details about it? do you reload for it?

 

[Titleist]

You are usually limited to two rifles. For a one gun plains game hunt I take either a .338 WM, a .375 H&H, or a .375 Ruger.

For a more civilized area like SA I think any .308 caliber rifle shooting 180 or 200 grani bullets at least 2,500 fps would do well.

 

[Bigboreshooter]

I have been fortunate enough to hunt in Africa twice.

In most African hunting, you will be unlikely to encounter shots over 200 yards. Some of that is due to terrain/habitat and some is due to the fact that the PH will want to get you closer to your game.

In Namibia in 1992 I took a Ruger Ultralight 270 and my Mark X 35 Whelen. I used the 270, with 150gr Nosler Partitions, on blesbok and springbok. Springbok hunting is a lot like pronghorn hunting in wide open country. I did have a 300+ yard shot on my springbok with the 270.

I used the 35 Whelen with 250gr Nosler Partitions for warthog, kudu, gemsbok(2), and hartebeest.


When I went back to Zimbabwe in 1997, I had hoped to hunt buffalo and lion. I took my 35 Whelen and a Win M70 in 375 H&H.


I used my 35 Whelen on sable and waterbuck....

Though I didn't get a lion or buffalo, I did get in a lot of shooting with the 375. In addition to taking a hippo, warthog, impala, and tsessebe with it, I also took quite a few bait animals and meat animals for the ranch owner.....mostly kudu cows and impala. I used the 375 to take 9 different animals on the last day of my hunt.

Here's a very good tsessebbe that took THREE 300gr Swift A-Frames through the chest before giving up the ghost.

For most African hunts, you need a deer rifle and an elk rifle. If I were to plan another trip, I'd probably take my M77RSI in 308 and my 35 Whelen.

 

[Boxhead]

Boxhead,I really like the 8x57. Any details about it? do you reload for it?

It is built on an Erfurt Mauser action with a 19" barrel and a nice vintage Redfield receiver sight. It weighs a bit over 6 1/2#. I do load for it and will be using the 180 Ballistic Tip over Hodgdon CFE 223 running at 2600 fps. It is a great little rifle and if I do my part will keep them inside 1 1/2".

 

[seasterl]

The three rifles I bought for a trip to Africa were...

Remington APR 700 7mmRUM
Remington ABR 700 338RUM
Ruger Magnum MkII 416 Rigby (see picture below)

... but I got married and never got to Africa and sold the three rifles for half what I paid for them and never even shot the first two. I think that if I could go now, I'd exchange the fees for the "hunt" for accomodations for my wife to join me, and we'd both take our cameras and zooms lenses.

If I were still single and could do it all over again, I'd buy another Ruger Magnum MkII 416 Rigby as well as a No.1 416 Rigby and have them sighted in with irons but also have low-power optical sights available. The 416 is a do-it-all cartridge when selecting between 300gr and 400gr loads. I would not choose to take anything that requires ammo that might not be availble over there, and I wouldn't worry about using a Barnes 300gr HP on smaller game. I'd keep my confidence in my equipment high and enjoy the time there,... if I could ever go.

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[VAdoublegunner]

A Model 70 in 300 Win Mag if I planned on long shots. Ammo should be easy to find.

I would consider one of my Brownings in 45-70 (1886 or single shot 1885) if I knew I wouldn't lose my handloads or knew I could handload replacements over there, but might worry about suitable loads otherwise. Speaking of lever guns, I sure would like to have a Win/Browning 1895 in 405!!

And probably a Browning BSS in 12 ga. I hear they have some fantastic wingshooting over there.

 

[mooshoo]

that is one super cool mauser!!! I bet that one has high fondle factor!!

 

[RJ556]

Ruger K1A, 6.5x55 Swede
Winchester M70 SS Featherweight, 30-06 Springfield
Ruger M77 African, 9.3x622mm

 

[egl52]

I suppose I will never make it (afford) on a hunt to Africa, but I can dream. I have no desire for an Elephant, but some of the larger animals the size of our Elk's down to a warthog would be cool. Here are the 3 rifles I would take.
1. Marlin 1895 45/70
2. Ruger no.1 300 H&H 6x leupold
3. Ruger no.1 7x57 peep sight

What 3 would you take?

Those are great-looking rifles. I used to have one of those Marlin 1895 Cowboy models, though I had the standard one with the full octagonal barrel, not the half-round like yours. I really liked it and shot 3 deer with it before I sold it, though I doubt I would have taken it to Africa. I'm not speaking from experience here because I've never been to Africa, but I'd prefer something like a 270 or 30-06 in a light rifle and a 375 or 416 in a heavy rifle.

 

[RJ556]

quote="RJ556"]Ruger K1A, 6.5x55 Swede
Winchester M70 SS Featherweight, 30-06 Springfield
Ruger M77 African, 9.3x622mm[/quote]

I want to explain my choices:

Ruger K1A, 6.5x55 Swede, for the small to medium stuff, just because I love the rifle and caliber.

Winchester M70 SS Featherweight, 30-06 Spr., for the bigger medium stuff. This rifle looks and shoots so well and I have confidence in it.

Ruger M77 African, 9.3x62mm, for the bigger stuff, I know it is not big enough for elephant, (which I have not interest in anyway), nor rhino and not legal for buff in many parts of Africa. After having some serious neck surgery, the 9.3 in a 9 pound rifle is about all of the recoil I can comfortably handle.

 

[montegomx70]

Nice selection. I might swap out the 1895 for a Barrett .50 for my back-up guy to get me out of touble when I miss with my single-shot Ruger. :wink:

i am curious what would that barrett would do to african game?i did see what it
can do to a terrorists head.....nasty.

 

[black029]

I'd go all Jack O'Connor on such a trip:
.270, .338 Mag, .416 Mag (although I'd go Remington over Rigby)
But, I doubt in today's safari that 3 guns are needed, unless you are quite wealthy and can afford licenses for the beasties that break the ton barrier.
And I'd rather be a little "over gunned", so I'd leave the .270 home, too.
So, I'd take the advise of Jack's successor, Jim Carmichael, who said if he had one gun to hunt the world, it would be a .338 Mag with 250 grain bullets.
My .338 Ruger from 1974 has given way to a .338 RCM. Fits me better, and doesn't give up much in ballistics.
Just better take a lot of ammo, and hope none of it is lost.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

Ruger 77's in .458WM amd .338WM. Have a .30-06 to round out the trio but can't see the need for the 3rd gun.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

All No.1's.

405 Win

7x57 Mauser

30.06 (No picture)

 

[Kudu m77]

quote="RJ556"]Ruger K1A, 6.5x55 Swede
Winchester M70 SS Featherweight, 30-06 Springfield
Ruger M77 African, 9.3x622mm

I want to explain my choices:

Ruger K1A, 6.5x55 Swede, for the small to medium stuff, just because I love the rifle and caliber.

Winchester M70 SS Featherweight, 30-06 Spr., for the bigger medium stuff. This rifle looks and shoots so well and I have confidence in it.

Ruger M77 African, 9.3x62mm, for the bigger stuff, I know it is not big enough for elephant, (which I have not interest in anyway), nor rhino and not legal for buff in many parts of Africa. After having some serious neck surgery, the 9.3 in a 9 pound rifle is about all of the recoil I can comfortably handle.[/quote]

Hi there

Just some interesting information on the 9.3x62. A few years ago a guy did a study on the 9.3x62 vs the 375 H&H and their performance on elephant. He was part of a group of guys who shot a few hundred elephants for number control in Zambia/Zimbabwe. They even used 30-06 rifles for smaller elephants. He found that the 9.3x62 out penetrated the 375 H&H almost 95% of the time. I guess you wont be allowed to hunt elephant with a 9.3x62 but it has been used probably as much as any other caliber with great success. (Personally I have no desire hunting elephant)

The three I would choose would be my: 6.5x57 Mauser for long shots on Springbok and other small antelope. It has got a long barrel which help velocity for long shots. Then my 30-06 M77, as I think with it's 22'' barrel and good accuracy it gives me more or less the same velocity as a 308 with longer barrel but is easier to carry. The 30-06 will be used for everything, from Red hartebeest to Eland. Ammo is available almost everywhere if it got lost in transit. Finally my dad's 7x57 for bushveld hunting as it has brilliant penetrating power and the cartridge is something special in South-Africa. The 7x57 is the perfect bushveld rifle.

Pieter

 

[RJ556]

Pieter, Thanks for that info about the 9.3x62. I am also a big fan of the 7x57 Mauser.

 

[Black Fly]

I'd take my tang safety Ruger 77's in 30/06 or my 416 Taylor, depending on what I was going to hunt. The only other one that will go would be my old Leopard Gun, an O/U 16/8x57R. It spent most of it's life before coming into my possession in Africa, where it accounted for forty leopards and a bunch of antelope. I'd like to take it back. In reality, only two can go at a time, so it would be the Leopard Gun and one of the others, depending what I was hunting.
Bfly

 

[MClark]

I have been to Africa twice.
Both times I took a Remington 700 in 6.5x284. On the first trip I also took a Husqvarna (FN action) in 9.3x62, used it for most of the hunting. Second trip I took a 460 Weatherby as we were to hunt Buffalo.
Some countries let you bring in 3 guns others 2. For the next trip the plan is to take 3 into South Africa and leave on at the PH’s place when we go into Zimbabwe to hunt buff.
Currently the 3 are a #1 in 450/400 (buff, PH is OK with a single shot. We have hunted with him before), a Winchester 70 custom 270 Win with a scope (under construction) and a Win 70 P64 in 300 H&H with open sights to shoot a zebra. The zebra gun is just because it is a classic rifle and caliber.

You do not want to try to take a BMG into Africa; you will never see it again.

Mark

 

[Ruger1nut]

Number Ones in;
280rem
375 H&H
22 Hornet

Either of the first 2 could do it solo. I just got back and had used a 30-06 and 375 H&H. Both worked perfect

Dave

 

[doccash]

The kind of animals on your licence will dictate the rifles and when I went I couldnot take three. .416 Rigby in a Ruger 77 Express will cover all the bases. A .300 HH is a great light caliber. I had a wonderful time shooting Guineas and Francolin Quail with a .22 when I was there. Such a hassle traveling with firearms now that I would consider using a camp gun if I went again. In any event take a GOOD CAMERA. Dr.C

 

[Heliman]

Let's see, I will never go, but if I did, I would take:

1-H 375 H&H
1-S 300 Win Mag
1-A 7x57

That should do...... Dave

 

[Shotgungibbs]

Hello all. I always enjoy reading what calibers are favorites, and would be used. I was fortunate to get to live a life long dream by going to South Africa in August of 2009. I was able to take: Kudu, Blue Wildebeast, Black Wildebeast, Impala, Springbok, Zebra, Caracal, 2 Gemsbuck and 7 Warthogs. I took my old Ruger 77 R w/tang safety in .270 Winchester (Nosler 130 gr. Partitions) and Leupold 2.5 x 8 scope, and my Ruger 77 mk ll .338 Win. Mag. (Nosler 210 gr. Partitions) and Leupold 2 x 7 scope. I took the Blue Wildebeast with the .270 (that's what I had with me at the time), the Caracal with the PH's .222 Remington and everthing else with the .338. If I can ever get back over there, I'll only take the .338. It's one heck of a thumper on game! The thing to keep in mind about Africa, you have no idea what game animal you're going to come across. You may be hunting Kudu, and come across a beautiful springbok or hunting Impala, and cross paths with Zebra. Of course Warthog are a possibility at anytime!You don't always have time to switch rifles. There are situations where you only have time to chamber a round and shoot off the sticks. My longest shots were the Zebra @ 250 yards and the Impala @ 298 yards. Both animals were ranged with a range finder, and shot off the wood tripod shooting sticks. One last thing, If you ever get the chance, go! I was treated like a king! The food was excellent, the beer was cold, the accomodations were great, and the camp staff's only concern was that you have a great time! It took me 49 years to make it there, and it was everything that I had dreamed it would be and more!