Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa only can have one- 30/06 or 375 holland and holland

for N american whitetail and a trip to africa perhaps someday

30-06 Everyday ending in Y

30-06. I think one rifle for everything is BS. If I can afford a trip anywhere that I'd need anything bigger than 30-06 a 2nd rifle will be pocket change.

For PG the 30/06 is perfect, save the money on the second rifle and I can get you more trophies instead.

Truth and wisdom here!

I call BS.

Many of us who have gone to Africa did it on a shoestring, and the cost of another rifle with associated government fees and permits means one less animal on the hunt.

Except for dangerous game, a 30-06 is a great one-rifle choice.

But.....
If DG is going to be on the menu a 375 is the perfect all rounder. And even though I love the old -06, a 375 can do anything an -06 can do, granted with a bit more kick and powder.

Yeah, a 30-06 and 375 H&H will work quite nicely for these things you speak of...

If you don't listen to this advice, you'll wish you had....

Mostly N. American WT's with a perhaps an African trip, the '06 is a no brainer. I have a great .375 H&H, but wouldn't want to be using it exclusively for WT's and such.

With the '06 suitable for most everything, I'd sure go with it and if a bigger gun was needed in Africa, I'd borrow one from the PH.

That old "only can have one" idea is enough to cause bad dreams and severe anxiety...

I can't be thinking such thoughts.

DF

my brother-in-law is a gunsmith. he said his job is based upon people buying and building what they want vs. what they need.

he said if everyone bought a basic .22 and a 30-06 based upon their hunting "needs" vs "wants" he would be out of business.

granted if you want the dangerous game of africa that isn't going to hold true but I think I would just go with a nice 30-06 and borrow a rifle if I decided I wanted to shoot something bigger in africa

Get the .375 H&H.

I don't know? Wisconsin has some HUGE Dangerous whitetails! LOL

These questions make me shake my head when I see every bodies suggestions without knowing much more. But based on what we do know I'd likely suggest the 06.

That said if you are going to reload & you can only have one. My choice would be the 375H&H as it has been for me since 1996. I've hunted everything from rock chucks to elk with it and enjoyed every outing. Could I have done it with a 30-06 sure. But I'd always wanted a 375H&H so I got one. Had 30-06's in the past plus a bunch of other rifles in other chambering. But I never kept them and used them as much as I have the 375H&H. It's a real fun cartridge to hunt with if you want too. For me the long HUNTING history of the 375H&H as being "The All Round Hunting Cartridge" drew me to this fantastic round.

I guess you need to look at what you want. Do you want to lug a rifle that weighs in around 7 to 8 pounds (06) or 9-1/2 to 10 pounds (375H&H)? Do you want to reload or use factory ammo? All the expert advice given still comes down to what you want. Which ever you choose, shoot it a lot and enjoy it.

Cheers!

BTW: I asked the same question to myself in 1996 with the exception instead of a 30/06 it was a 300H&H.

My plan has always been to buy a .375 if and when Africa came up, then sell it when I got back. I have previously owned several pre 64 Winchester 70s in the caliber, one Browning Safari, and one Mark X. In my opinion, there is no need to tolerate either recoil or rifle weight of a .375 for deer/elk. Just one opinion.

Jack

I'd rather have my 375 H&H in Africa over any other rifle that I own. Bring the rifle that will handle the biggest animal that you have any chance of encountering.

A hearty "Amen" from the back row! I borrowed the outfitters rifle on my first safari, which was in SA....several of the loaners were -06's.

A serious reloader could make a .375 do about anything... But those guns tend to be pretty heavy for general use.

A serious reloader could make a 30-06 do about anything...

A non reloader would just about have to go with the '06. Plenty of ammo options on the dealers shelf for the '06. Not so much for the .375.

IMO,

DF

IF you do not intend to hunt Dangerous Game, then take the 30-06 and live happily.

IF you do intend to hunt DG, then buy a .375 in the same make/model as your '06 some 4 months before going. That will cost you maybe $1200 if you get a Winchester or Remington...Sell it when you get back.

I have a .375 in the safe...and candidly I have no idea why...except one day I do want to hunt Cape Buff. In the meantime it's just a useless hunk of steel...

BLASPHEMY!!
Take that 375 out and use it. BTW mine only weighs a couple of ounces over 9lbs. Not a lightweight but certainly light enough to hunt with regularly.
And I certainly would never hunt DG with a borrowed rifle.

Gonna disagree with you DF.

In a .30/06 I would use a 180 gr bullet of either Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame.

In a .375 H&H it would be a 300 gr in the same choices and a solid from Hornady.

Don't need a bazillion of factory ammo choices,just one bullet weight in each. Remember the KISS method...Keep It Simple Stupid.