Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa 6.5 Swede for Plains Game

Never been to Africa, so take my advice with that caveat! In considering a backup for your -06, consider which rifle you are most familiar and are completely comfortable with. Shot placement is paramount wherever you hunt, followed by projectile performance. Another factor to consider is ammo availability in case the airline misplaces your ammo. .30-06, .270 and 7x57 should be available locally (from what I've read); the Swede and .280 may be a little harder to find. I have no experience with the Swede, but love my Sako 75 Finnlight in .260 Rem. The soft recoil makes really threading the needle with shot placement a joy!

Kevin--funny thing is I have a NIB 75 Sako in 260 and have been on the fence about selling it since I got the Swede. Originally I was going to take a Ruger Alaskan in 375 or a Ruger African in 9.3x62 but I tore the tendon off my left elbow and it hurts to shoot both of those rifles. The 280 is getting the nod because it has a Leupold VX-R 4-12 on it. I should be fine with the 06
I'm just realizing I have way too many guns!

Had a 75 Greywolf w/6.5-20x for testing, put first 2 of 3 shots into the same hole at 200 yds, 2 or 3 groups....

Reloads, but I was impressed, out the box, save turning down the trigger.

I'm going next year. I'm going to go .300 WSM and not sure of back up. I was debating 7 mag, but I really want to take a 6.5 caliber rifle or 7mm. Creedmoor or 7-08. Something light and accurate. My PH buddy said 30 cal is preferred. I'll speak a little more with him before I show up with smaller calibers, even though I know I can kill any planes game with a 6.5 or 7mm....

Took a 30-06 and .260 to Zim for plains game and the .260 did great. Going back to Namibia for plains game - taking the same combination.

Well, the OP said his trip was going to be in May, so we should be hopefully hearing how things went. I suspect that both his '06 and .280 acquitted themselves adequately.

I tend to be in "Africa cartridges start at .30"" camp. It has nothing to do with the mythical difficulty of putting them down, but more with the psychology of taking $1500 shots. The rule on the hunts I have taken is "if it bleeds, you pay"--a lost animal costs you your trophy fee, just as if it had been recovered. I don't know about the rest of you, but that makes me anxious--I am not the kind of guy that would bet my buddies $100 or $500 that I would make a particular shot at the range, but trophy hunting in Africa is essentially a more expensive version of that. In addition, a lost animal can also mean that you don't get a second chance, if there is not another available on permit to your outfitter.

So I did what I could to minimize my risk of failure--practicing off of sticks, practicing quick second shots, using premium bullets and big cartridges, throttled down on speed. All these mean I am more likely to get a good first shot, maybe even a second hole, and hopefully an exit wound and its help in tracking.

I would love to take a 6.5x55 or a 7x57 on a cull hunt, but when a big trophy fee is in play, I like to bring my loaded dice.

U708--I haven't left yet (5/26), neither the 06 or 280 shot particularly well so I'm taking a Sako A7 in 270 and a Kimber Montana in 7-08. I had some health issues recently and my shooting has gone to hell! If I was going by myself I would have postponed the trip but my buddy who is going with me is 65 and also has a bunch of health issues and I don't want him going alone! I hope it works out!

Well, I wish you the best and apparently like all loonies you have plenty of rifles to choose among. I am sure they will both work fine, when called upon. Just hold low and forward, and don't feel pressured to take a shot that you are not comfortable with.

U708--thanks for the kind words! I booked this trip a long time ago and saved for about a year and a half to go on this trip, I wish the conditions were better but I'm going and I'm going to have a great time with a very good friend! If I kill game or not I'm glad I'm here to enjoy it! Thanks again.

Just a heads-up:The .260 would be illegal for most larger plains game in Namibia. Minimum caliber is 7MM. which translates to a .277 or 270 Winchester. Bring a 270 Win and have lots of fun out there!