Delighted with the discussion that I ve been watching. So here are some thoughts - not gospel. Good thread. Starting with eland and giraffe 375 or 9.3 minimal. Excellent. Softs for Eland and solids for Giraffe. Would thus work great for all plains and can be used with 270 grains for smaller game and more reach One rifle and one load weight. Keep to 300 grains. . H&H may be the 100yr (1912) classic but highly recommend it to my friends going to Africa and then also great for moose, grizzly. Not quite the long range for caribou and elk frequent conditions. The .375 has the same effective hunting trajectory as a .30-06 and 180's. Note: Hunting trajectory, not long range varmint trajectory. Agree with Long Ranger that Wby 378 is also excellent but get rid of the factory muzzle break, bed the action and put on a side ported muzzle break if ok with your Ph. Some won't allow They may allow it but they will hate you and call you rude names in Afrikkanes behind your back.
Here's my rule of thumb for buffalo and elephant: minimal velocity 2150fps (checked with chrono)2250 -2300 ideal with sectional density of minimum .325. The more SD the better but you don't need max velocity or pressure. You need reliability of operation, accuracy and penetration above all else. In addition for buffalo, unless hunting uDagga boys, you need to be careful about wounding a buffalo on the far side - buffalo will often also protect an injured buddy particularly if they are also injured. Correct. Bonded or premium Softs are prefered on Buff. I don't know where the solids for Buff came from, probably American literature. It is better to place a soft correctly rather than follow up with a hail of solids up the arse in the hope they penetrate to the heart and lungs. For elephant, mostly brain shots nowadays, You must be prepared for a heart lung shot as it is a large target. Here a wide dia bullett works best. the same rule applies. Forget Bells 7mm. Thus, a 375 H&H with a heavy round is fine for both - solid for elephant, premium soft for buffalo with second round solid. Manners used this Mozambique for elephants . 416 rigby is also great but check the velocity since some loads are not fast enough WHAT ! probably too fast. and occasion al failure of penetration can occur. Only with 300 or 350 grainers but not with 400, 410 or 450. Capt Solomon culled 4000
elephants with them. The 458 Lott is probably ideal if you can handle the recoil - Winchester is too slow and fails. The older ammo had issues. Modern stuff will work. So idoes often the 470 NE. The bigger ones are more for backup by you Ph but are great - Gibbs 505 if loaded to the rule, jefferies 500 was used by Hunter to take 2000 elephant and never failed as a double. 577 and 600 don't penetrate the brain always but do knock and elephant unconscious for some 20 minutes is a near miss First, if you can handle the recoil of a 577 or 600 and shoot one accurately then you are a Man among Men. They certainly do penetrate to the brain. I have no idea where you got 20 minutes from but there is no way on earth you can put a time on an incident like that.
