Gobbler256
Well-Known Member
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
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Heading to Africa…what rifle do I take?
- Thread starter Trappernewt
- Start date
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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
Well-Known Member
That would be true for dangerous game!!
yukonal
Active Member
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.
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.
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
Well-Known Member
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!
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!
Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Rather impressive, indeed.
@Trappernewt you mentioned suppressor. On first safari we traveled through Newark. Had PH buy a suppressor threaded 5/8x24 from EuroOptic Africa about $300 so my wife could use, simply left it. Now we fly through Texas or Georgia with our suppressors.
Hmmmm, I'll have to look into that. Planning Africa for 2026.
Typically the countries over there could care less. Maybe it's to bring it back into the US since they are so heavily regulated here.
Thanks.
TontoDean
Active Member
Ridgewalker is right! Africa captures your soul. You WILL go back. Believe me.
My dream was to go to Africa just once. Been there 3 times and will go again as soon as funds permit.
My dream was to go to Africa just once. Been there 3 times and will go again as soon as funds permit.
I hear the same a lot. But I have other exotic hunting trips I want to do as well now that I'm financially able to. But at my age I may not make it back to Africa after doing the others that I want to do.
Headed there myself in June and taking a 30 Nosler with 199 Hammers, suppressed. I shoot a lot with a RRS tripod that clips onto the arca plate on my Manners stock. I wonder if this will work vs the standard sticks that you see everyone using? It clips in really quick and the handle on the bottom of the tripod allows quick acquisition of any target. Its very steady and I find it balances the rifle perfectly.
I don't think you could go wrong with any of the popular 30's.
I don't think you could go wrong with any of the popular 30's.
