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Heading to Africa…what rifle do I take?
- Thread starter Trappernewt
- Start date
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Went to South Africa in 2023 - I just rented a rifle from the PH. Howa 3006, Zeiss scope, suppressed. Harvested the plains game 85 yards to 250 yards.
My son and I went a few years back. Largest annimal for me was Very Large Zebra. For him was a Very Large Hartebeest. Smallest was spingbok.
We took 300WBY with 200 grn AB and PT bullets. Everything was hard to find back then, so it is what we could find in the market.
For the bigger game, it was perfect. One shot one kill. For the little ones was too much. Still one shot one kill, but one springbok was half blown off. Your "host/PH/guide" would be the best one to recomment rifle and cartridge, but you were given a lot of sound advice here.
Critical for me and my son, practice shooting off tripod and sticks, both standing up, laying down, or sitting. Practice quick target acquisition and shooting. It will be on of your best hunting experiences.
We took 300WBY with 200 grn AB and PT bullets. Everything was hard to find back then, so it is what we could find in the market.
For the bigger game, it was perfect. One shot one kill. For the little ones was too much. Still one shot one kill, but one springbok was half blown off. Your "host/PH/guide" would be the best one to recomment rifle and cartridge, but you were given a lot of sound advice here.
Critical for me and my son, practice shooting off tripod and sticks, both standing up, laying down, or sitting. Practice quick target acquisition and shooting. It will be on of your best hunting experiences.
30 nos would be my choice out of the ones you listed. Assuming you are confident and competent with it. 2nd choice would be the 280ai! I've never been to Africa bit I can only imagine what it could turn into having to track something in the bush out there. For that reason I'd want a tad more horsepower.
African animals are not like White Tail. They are a lot stronger and can go a long way even with Boileroom shots. Jill and I went several times to take Kudu, Gemsbuk, Wildebeest, Blesbuk,, Zebra, Warthog, Bushbuk, & Baboon also had opportunity to take Eland (they are BIG) but didn't. Take something with knockdown power and also flat shooting. we took .325WSM, .270WSM, .25WSSM. Used Nosler AB bullets. Good luck and enjoy a LIFETIME HUNT!!!!!
Your 280AI, 30 Nosler and 6.5PRC will be a very good combination. Pick good bullets (Nosler AB or SGK).
Try to put TRACKING Device on your Rifles Gun Cases!!!!! We almost had our Rifles Stolen at the Airport in Johannesburg by baggage handlers....
Ricky C
Well-Known Member
Hey, I've only been to Africa one time, we went to Namibia. I took my 300 Wby and my daughter had a 7-08. I had some over 300 yard shots. We hunted in the mountains and in the kalihari desert. Kudu was shot at 385. I did use the 7-08 on the ostrich and the springbok. I shot the 300 a bunch and my daughter shot the 7-08 a bunch too to get ready. I even built a thumb hole stock to fit her. We practiced off shooting sticks we made out of bamboo sticks. It helped us a lot. Definitely take a gun you are comfortable with.
Take Care
Take Care
The PH mentioned several times they had rifles available. I just didn't feel comfortable especially for my wife to go there and expect to hunt with a rifle neither one of us had shouldered before. And I'm stupidly sentimental about things so I'll be able to look at whatever rifle I take in the safe in 5 years and say to myself "I shot a this or that in Africa with that gun.
I am a frim believer in taking your own rifle.
It is more paper work and effort to take your own. Use a rifle import and clearing service and it will make things much easier. Well worth the cost. Some rental rifles at certain outfits are quality and well maintained, other outfits the rentals I saw were trash.
The reason African Game has a reputation for being tough and hard to kill is most hunters shoot them in entirely the wrong place. They are not built anything like the game you are used to. Behind the shoulder will miss most of the vitals.
If you look at the 2 Kudu pictures below you can see how very different the front leg structure is. What looks like shoulder and scapula on the outside is actually muscle. If you shoot them behind the apparent shoulder there is a good chance you won't even hit lungs. You need to shoot them way further forward than we are used to. Pull up pictures of all the game you will hunt and print them to study.
The reason African Game has a reputation for being tough and hard to kill is most hunters shoot them in entirely the wrong place. They are not built anything like the game you are used to. Behind the shoulder will miss most of the vitals.
If you look at the 2 Kudu pictures below you can see how very different the front leg structure is. What looks like shoulder and scapula on the outside is actually muscle. If you shoot them behind the apparent shoulder there is a good chance you won't even hit lungs. You need to shoot them way further forward than we are used to. Pull up pictures of all the game you will hunt and print them to study.
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Laguna Freak
Well-Known Member
7-08 for your #1 shooter. All shooters need to have confidence. If I was you, both Nosler's but prolly the .28 up first with the .30 on deck. Unless you get a buffalo in your sights, then it's all .30 and shoot more when the sucker is in the dirt. FWIW; in your circumstance I am a proponent of a family back up shooter on every shot when on "once in a lifetime hunts", if opportunity permits. You both need a back up rifle too. I'd load all of them with Swift A Frame or in the alternative Nosler Partition. No point d|kn around with long range bullets. Though I'd bet your money that the mono's would be DRT!
You know, what with sheddin' petals and all at high impact velocity with most shots inside of 300 yds.
Most all loads for my rifles are setup for some flavor of Berger. Except the 30 Nosler and its Hammer Hunters.
