Your Ideal African Battery

[postoak]

Or rather batteries, one set for plains game only:

1 rifle:

2 rifle:

3 rifle:

A second set for dangerous game only:

1 rifle:

2 rifle:

3 rifle:

(or more if you think it a good idea)

Could you hunt everything in Africa with just a .375 H&H?

[postoak]

I can't believe no responses, so far. All the African hunters must have been lost when we moved to this new server!

So, I'll play with myself ( ).

Plains game only:

1 rifle: 300 WM

2 rifles: .270 WSM and .375 H&H

3 rifles: .223, .270 WSM, and .375 H&H

Dangerous Game only:

1 rifle: .416 of some kind

2 rifle: .375 H&H and a .458 Lott (really, for leopard, I'd like just a .300 WM, if it were legal)

[Pat Hurley]

Postoak ----- When I went to the Selous in Tanzania I used a Winchester Model 70 Safari Classic in .416 rem for Buffalo. On the plains game I used a .358 STA in Model 70 Winchester. I loaded 270 grain North Fork bullets for the .358 STA and 370 grain North Fork softs and solids for the .416 Rem. both served me well, when I go back I will use the same. Good shooting.

[postoak]

I just read the minimum for leopard is 7mm, so like I said, my dangerous game battery would be a .300 WM and a .416 mag of some sort (probably the Ruger).

[Hi Ball]

I don't really think nor believe I need 3 different rifle calibers to accomplish my goals on another African Safari. However, I'll play the game and tell you what I would take if having to do so.

#1. model 70 Winchester in .338 Win Mag, shooting 225 grn TBBC.

#2. model 70 Winchester in .416 Remington Mag, 400 grn Swift A Frames

#3. model 70 Winchester in .475 Mag, 500 grn Woodlieghs

[Wismon]

How about:

7x57
9.3x62
.404 Jeffery

You couldn't get too much more classically African than that. Load up or down as appropriate.

Or take a .458 Win Mag with various levels of loading, i.e. a fast 350 gr bullet for plains game and a slowish 450 gr or 500 gr loading for the big stuff. I guess. I don't know...

[postoak]

Well, I gave you the option of 1, 2, or 3 rifles, but let's stay with 3, cause it's more interesting.

I gotta admit I've never even heard of a .475 magnum. Apparently it's a wildcat; actually more than one.

I like the ballistics, it would certainly solve any putative weakness that the .458 WM has.

.457 Ackley Magnum: 600 grain bullet at MV of 2250 fps.

That same article says that it isn't as powerful as the .475 H&H, but I couldn't find those ballistics.

Which do you have Hi-Ball?

[postoak]

Okay my 3 rifle all-game battery would be:

.25-06
.338 WM
.458 Lott

[postoak]

Actually, I would substitute the .35 Whelen for the .338 WM. This is based on some email discussion I've had with outfitters. Their emphasis is always on a large diameter bullet, rather than sheer power, for plains game. They also emphasis the use of premium bullets to assure penetration. But .30-06 capacity cartridges have enough oomph in their opinion -- no need for magnums.

[Bwana416]

Plains game:
Weatherby Mk V in .240 Wby for animal under 100# body mass
Model 70 in .270 for most anything from 100-300# body mass
Model 70 in .338 WinMag for any non-dangerous game OVER 300# body mass.

Dangerous Game:

Light: Model 70 in .338 WinMag.
Medium: Ruger 77 magnum in .375 H&H
Heavy: tough
with good backup: .416 Rigby (Ruger 77 Magnum)
backup and REALLY large game: Ruger 77 in .458 Lott.

No way no how:
.460 Weatherby, .416 Weatherby, .458 Win Mag.

-Ray