more than the .375H&H?

[Craig]

I have never hunted in Africa but hope to be able to someday. I recently purchased a .375H&H Magnum after doing a lot of research on that particular rifle. Having fired it at the range I am very impressed with the accuracy and solid punch it delivers while recoil is really no worse than a .338WinMag or a stoked up .300WinMag. I have read many stories of game up to and including Cape Buffalo and elephant being reliably taken with the .375H&H. So my question is this: is anything heavier really necessary?

[GF.]

JMO, the rifles that you take to someplace like Africa should never be the rifles that you 'need', but rather the ones you really want a chance to hunt with while you're there.

For some that would be their tried & true favorite, such as Herne's .270, and for others it could be a whole battery, with a particular rifle dedicated to each species that the hunter is after (though I understand there are some limitations on just how large a collection you bring into the country....).

Personally, if I were going there to chase anything that might chase me back, I'd be looking at a double rifle in a chambering that has some history and folklore associated with it - not because that's necessary, or even that it's necessarily the 'best' choice, but because - speaking only for myself - hunting dangerous game with anything but a large-bore double rifle would miss the whole point of the exercise. A die-hard bolt-action man might well call me a fool for using anything other than a .375 H&H, and somebody else would wonder why we were having the debate when the only 'intelligent' choice is - of course - an 1896 Winchester in .405, just like teddy Roosevelt used on one of his trips over there.


I think the .375 has you pretty well covered from a legal and practical standpoint, so the question is, is that the rifle you have 'in hand' when you're daydreaming about the trip?

[rimrock]

http://www.safaripress.com/cart.php

get a copy of this book and read thru the info provided by one of the few guys to kill hundreds of large African game animals with both old British , and modern rifle calibers ...
experience that can never be duplicated again due to several reasons
yes there is a darn good reason for the 416 rigby,458 lott etc.

[Indy]

In my opinion, the .458s are much more effective than the .375, not on the game but on the hunter's peace of mind. When you think about it, a good solid in a .375 will penetrate as far as a heavier one in .458 and the extra energy does not appear to me what kills a 13,000 pound elephant.

that said, I will continue to use a .458 on elephant and buffalo and use the .375 on lighter game.

[tim416]

The .375 is a great caliber for a one gun safari. It is capable of reaching out for longer range shots on plains game and capable of taking dangerous game if needed. The law in most African countries requires the use of nothing less than a .375 for dangerous game.
If you are looking to buy a strictly dangerous game gun you might consider one of the .416's, 458's. I prefer the Lott in the .458
If you go this route you will want to take an additional gun on safari for the plains game species. Anyting along the lines of 30-06, .300 mag. etc.
My choice for two gun safaris for fifteen years has been a .416 Taylor with 400 gr. bullets and 30-06 with 180 gr.

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Craig,
Unless you are planning on taking any dangerous game, the 375 wil be more than enough. If you are only looking at plains game, then anything from 308 Win will do. If you need any specific questions answered, drop me a pm. But, I myself own a 375 and all my backup work is done with that.

All the best
Marius Goosen
KMG Hunting Safaris
http://www.huntsafaris.co.za
info@huntsafaris.co.za

[Hi Ball]

Now my take on this subject is that the .375H&H is fine for a 1st Safari and using it on plains game! I myself want more than a 300 grain bullet hunting anything termed dangerous. I want a bigger and heavier bullet for starters and that leaves out the .375H&H caliber, it's a good backup rifle perhaps but not my cup of tea going after anything dangerous other than "Crock's" ok.

The .458 Win mag or the .458-LOTT are more to my liking to put it bluntly. I also like the model 70 Winchester rifle with all those bells and whistles on the rifle. Those being the "control round fed magazine" Big Claw Extractor, 3 Position Safety. My newest big bore African rifle is in the .475-Caliber built on a blown out .375H&H case. The original .470-Capstick was develope from this parent case, we just took it a bit further with the rimmer and mine holds about 5 more grains of powder. It is built on a .375H&H action with a Kriger heavy barrel, it's since had the muzzle brake removed and the 26 inch barrel has been cut down to just around the 23 inch marker. The rifle shoots a 600 grain bullet at a velocity of 2175fps or the 500 grain bullet at 2350fps with no pressure signs using IMR-4320 power at 94 grains of powder.

[Hi Ball]

Well I wish to let others know, that my .470-Capstick with a .474 diameter- 600 grain bullet, does 2250 ft per second and uses 90 grains of IMR-4320 powder to do so, the kinetic energy is 6750-lbs at the muzzle with a 600 grain bullet! Now the same rifle using a 500 grain bullet, does an honest 2380 fps using 93 grains of IMR-4320 powder at 6400-lbs of energy.

[Twanger]

Well I wish to let others know, that my .470-Capstick with a .474 diameter- 600 grain bullet, does 2250 ft per second and uses 90 grains of IMR-4320 powder to do so, the kinetic energy is 6750-lbs at the muzzle with a 600 grain bullet! Now the same rifle using a 500 grain bullet, does an honest 2380 fps using 93 grains of IMR-4320 powder at 6400-lbs of energy.

Kills at one end, and maims at the other! Sounds like a beast!

[Hi Ball]

Twanger I will admit, it is not a .270 Winchester by any means! I do believe it is not as bad when one faces something that could eat you up or stomp you into the ground. I think the nerves come into play somewhat and it takes the edge of the felt recoil. However, sitting at a bench would certainly bring about an big headache in about 3 shots fired, if you don't have a Past Recoil Pad on and the muzzle brake on the barrel.

This rifle does Max out at those figures above and I have still not got all the prep work on the loads done as yet, it takes time to do this with a larger kicking rifle. It is all I really need for a DGR to have hunting. The rifle will end up weighing 10.5 pounds and deliver some 87 pounds of recoil with a 600 grain bullet, 72 with a 500 grain bullet.

[Indy]

In May, 2011, I went to Zimbabwe, intending to take a .458 and a .375. the .458 developed a problem 4 days before my departure, so I shot everything with the .375 using North Fork 300 grain bullets, softs and solids. With this I killed:

1. One lion, one shot through chest, left a big exit hole.

2. One 52# bull elephant, one solid bullet went through both shoulders. Three finishing and insurance shots after bull fell down.

3. One bull buffalo, soft point bullet hit spinal shoulder junction at 65 yards. Bang, flop, death bellow. Four insurance shots until bull put its head down.

4. Hippo for bait--does not count as I brained it while it was in the water.

5. One zebra and three impala for bait, one shot each.

From this experience I have modified my opinion and think the .375 is adequate for any dangerous game. The only difference between it on this safari and my .458 on an earlier safari was from bullet placement, not rifle power.