Heading to Africa…what rifle do I take?

[Gobbler256]

Who's doubting the PH. He suggested my wife's 7mm-08 is plenty so that's what she is taking. I don't have a 7mm-08 that fits me so I am asking what I should take that I have.

Any caliber you're comfortable with. If you hunting plains game a .308, 7-08, 270 Win, 30.06 all will do the job and ammo is easy to carry

 

[Lymey]

Wife and I are heading to South Africa in late April. Will be hunting the usual…Wildebeest, kudu, warthog, springbuck, blesbuck, waterbuck. No super large animals. My question is what rifle to take. The outfitter says my wife's 7mm-08 is plenty and the rifle fits her perfect so that's what she wants to use. I was thinking a 280AI or 28 nosler. I also have a 30 Nosler and 6.5 PRC. I THINK THE 300 ultra mag is a little much. Never having gone I can't decide and there are so many choices lol. I have heard these dark continent critters are TOUGH.

They are tough. The first one that I shot was a Gemsbuck at around 90 yards. I put a 210gr Accubond tight behind the shoulder when he was broadside for a double lung pass through. He ran off with rest of the herd and we found him the next day over 2 miles from where I had taken the shot. Tough? Beyond tough. After that, I shot seven more plains animals using a high shoulder hold and none went more than 20 yards, including a 1600 pound Eland. All were one shot kills. Don't worry about ruining any meat like I was, you can't bring it home with you and the locals don't care what shape it's in. Any of the rounds you mentioned will kill anything you may encounter. Good luck and have a blast.

 

[Gobbler256]

IIRC I read a long while back that the African Outfitters prefer you to have a Controlled Feed Action vs. a Push Feed Action because of reliability in feeding a round. This was with dangerous game in mind.
I just did a quick search and found https://chuckhawks.com/controlled_push_feed.htm where he does mention Africa.

That would be true for dangerous game!!

 

[yukonal]

Newt, take the one you have most confidence in. You don't need a cannon for plains game. It seems, everybody's experiences are a little different.

My wife and I killed 12 animals with my straight 284 WIN, and 180 Berger Hunting VLD's. Biggest was an 1800# Eland at 200. He went 22 steps. A few of the others were a Large Kudu at 405. 15 steps. Zebra at 485. One of my Wildebeest's at 620. All one shot kills.

You get the point. Take your favorite rifle.

 

[Mike D Texas]

Yes, that is what I did. I added my suppressor to my CBP 4457 and obtained permission from the ATF via ATF Form 5320.20 to travel to RSA with my suppressor.

Why did you have to fill out a 5320.20, that's normally for SBR/SBS/DD. Not normally required for a suppressor.

 

[PlumberEd]

Why did you have to fill out a 5320.20, that's normally for SBR/SBS/DD. Not normally required for a suppressor.

My understanding is you need it to travel internationally.

 

[ridgewalker]

JMO, but after 4 trips I highly recommend buying the book "Perfect Shot Africa" by Dr Kevin Robertson. Full of excellent info on cartridges, game, where to shoot, etc. Talk to your PH about cartridge recommendations. Standard cartridges, 308, 30-06, 7mm REM Mag, 300 WM, etc are much easier to find there if your ammo box disappears. I took a 300 WM my first trip, then came home and bought a 375 H&H for one gun safaris. It served me well from duiker to Cape buffalo using Barnes bullets (several PHes recommended). In between were lions, eland, sable, warthogs, kudu, zebra (everyone needs a zebra rug!) and many more fun stalks.
Practice standing off sticks. The way it goes is you will be following your tracker and PH by a couple of steps. They spot the game and set up the sticks. You move up resting your rifle on the sticks aim and shoot. Immediately reload and prepare for a follow-up whether the game is down or not. This is all in less than 10 seconds, so practice by setting up your sticks, sling your rifle and step back a couple of steps. Then the count starts.
Warning! Africa is highly addictive! My plan was to return every time I got the funds together, but the Covid hit followed by old man health issues. Now Africa is just another fleeting dream.
I am envious of your trip! Wishing you a great hunt!