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I have always had some type of 375 on each safari. Most of the times I find it in my hands and use it in place of a planned to use heavier more appropriate caliber rifle.
So I have stopped fighting it and that will propably be my heavy from now on. I can't imagine me hunting anything above a buffalo from here on out. Some of my trips will be trips will probably be family driven affairs so I imagine heavy helping of plains game will be in order. Some will be to just enjoy Africa.
So now I have bolts, single shots, and doubles in 375 caliber rifles that I have decided will be my main rifle. I have to admit that now that I have added a double in 375 caliber that this has really gotten me excited to go back hopefully next summer. I have used the 375 solid and a lot of small animals and love it. Now with a soft and solid ready at the go without needing to work a bolt to expel a soft for a solid has me quite excited.
The beauty of the 375 is that it pairs with about anything. I have been using it with the 308 Winchester lately and for me does well
While a rifle in 375 would be a great one rifle gun I know I could never take just one as I am a gun nut but I could see a day where a double rifle in a smaller takedown case would allow a simpler experience on a safari and I might look to do that type of hunt.

So what is your one rifle or cartridge that gets you worked up for Africa or does the rifle matter to your experience?
For me the rifle is a big part of the experience.

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30 caliber magnum for long pokes, I'd say.

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I'm planning on going over there and and will bring a 30/06 or a 7 mag.

But no way I will go without a 375 H&H.




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Hope to be back hunting the dark continent this September for the 3rd time. Buffalo and plains game are on the menu. I will be taking my 375 H&H just as I have on my previous 2 trips over. This time just as last the 375 H&H will be the only rifle I take.

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I could stick with the .375,especially if I was going for lion and buffalo ( though I would use a 404 or 458 on the buffalo as I've only seen one, and he was OMG BIG,ha) I've been on 4 plains game hunts. I used my Mod 700 Classic 35 Whelen AI(250X) and 375 (270 failsafe for one warthog just for grins)in '96 (one hunt) , the 300 and 340, 338 mags in 98 (for two hunts, SA & Namibia mine was a too light 340W that ruined its scope so I used the other guys in my hunts rifles), then back to my 35 Whelen AI and 200X for one hunt in 2002 (made a 347yd shot on a Black Wildebeast with it too and a zebra at 250). I can honestly say that my 35 Whelen AI can and has done it all for me. I love them all, ha, but that old Whelen ( with Barnes bullets mind you) is a solid killer...just as good as any medium up to 350yds. I had a lion and a buffalo hunt fall through...so disappointed, I could have had an excuse for a nice 404 Jeffery! I had one built in 2001, but had an eye surgery (unrelated to recoil,ha) that messed me up. I do use a brake on my Whelen in its light, synthetic stock.I've owned several 375s...Winchester Mod 70, Remington 700 BDL SS, Remington 700 Classic and my favorite...a Whitworth Express. My nect faveorite was that Mod 700 BDL SS. Very light, but not too light, just right for the mountains. The Whitworth was perfect and very nostalgic for me. I gave all those rifles away to Missionary friends of mine, they are still in service. But my Whelen will be put in my casket when time comes...dang kids can't appreciate it, ha.

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blaser, there is no question that the 375 H&H Magnum is traditionally one of the most, if not THE most respected basic African calibers. And yes, "the rifle" is part of the excitement, in my view.

John Pondoro Taylor cited it as the best choice for a first/main/general purpose African rifle, capable of taking any game on the dark continent. Others, including Jack O'Connor and Col. Townsend Whelen, agreed with Taylor. Many others. That would be enough for me, and actually, it is enough for me. (I would say anyone who prefers the 375 Ruger is welcome to it, they are ballistically practically identical).

I prefer a bolt gun for general purpose riflery. I tried a Ruger Hawkeye and wasn't happy with the cracks that appeared at the wrist of the stock after a couple of boxes of ammo, so I sold it and tried a Winchester Model 70 375 H&H, and the light stock kicked the bejabbers out of my cheek, so I sold that one, then I bought a Kimber Caprivi 375 H&H and that rifle is the bee's knees as far as I'm concerned. It fits me well for length and height of comb, is well-balanced, has a flawless controlled-round feed action, and is just heavy enough to help manage the recoil without being so heavy I can't carry it for 5 hours on a buffalo stalk in the heat several days in a row, and still be able to shoot it comfortably when the stalk was successful.

If I decided to take a second rifle to Africa, the only purpose I can think of that the 375 doesn't excel at is as a "stopping rifle". For stopping DG, I would prefer a large bore double rifle, .450 NE or .470 Rigby, or perhaps .458 Lott. The latter is not exactly a double gun caliber, I know, but it can be if you have enough money to pay the gunmaker.


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I have always taken my .375 H&H and my .416 Rem.

Pretty much use the .416 for buffalo and the .375 for everything else.

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375 H&H Model 70 w 300gr Seift A Frames:
1. Buffalo @ 25 yards
2. Kudu # 350+

next question. smile


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I have used the 416 Remington to take buffalo but I have also taken a 470 double that was in the truck when I happened upon a buffalo with a 375 in my hands. That is what really got me to thinking about using a 375 caliber rifle of some flavor as my main safari rifle. I have used the 375 H&H with the 270 TSX to take shots at 350 yards in the Eastern Cape while the 470 was at home. I found for me I didn't need a stopping rifle, I needed a rifle I could shoot more often. So the 470 is gone and is now replaced by a 375 VC double which I believe will fit my needs going forward better. If I want I can take this double and a bolt in 375 H&H or Weatherby. But my mindset now is to mate the 375 VC double up with a smaller cartridge, especially maybe a 303 next time or even 7x57 especially since I will be taking more family type trips.
My Africa rifle battery has to justify its spot in the safe now. Traditional stopping rifle calibers have a place but if it does me no good if they are too specialized to take each trip. Also the last few years of ammo and reloading component issues might also be helping to drive me to simplify what calibers I intend to keep stocked up on.

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I have taken elephant, hippo, and buffalo (2 each) with both a .375 and a .458 plus one lion with the .375. If I ever go after such dangerous game again, I will take only the .375. I will probably not take a backup rifle.

If I go again for plains game only I will probably take my .300 Wby again, though I am thinking it would be nice to hunt some with a 6.5x54 MS model of 1903 with iron sights. A 30-06 or equivalent would be adequate for all plains game, IMHO, and also for leopard.

I prefer bolt actions with moderate powered scopes. It is often difficult or impossible to mount a scope on a double or to maintain regulation with one. Some doubles are dangerous because they can discharge if you drop them on the buttstock. Besides, my "muscle memory" makes operating a bolt routine.

If I go again for plains game only I will probably take my .300 Wby again, though I am thinking it would be nice to hunt some with a 6.5x54 MS model of 1903 with iron sights.


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30-06 + 375 is extremely hard to beat in Africa.


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I do believe I'll pack my 375 model 70 and my 257 weatherby


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My outfitter recommend a 300 WM for my hunt as currently not hunting any of the big 5. Told him I own a 308 & 375, He recommended the 375 as might have to shoot thru a lot of brush and that round does not easy turn. He is concerned about long shots thats why the 300 WM, so I just I will see what happens with the 375 on a long shot. As long as I have my 375 going to see if he has any buff to shoot, at DSC he said none were big enough yet, but hoping to take a look.

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The 270 gr TSX has worked well for me way out there

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Originally Posted by BMT
30-06 + 375 is extremely hard to beat in Africa.


I would rather leave the 30-06 at home and just take the .375, if dangerous game is in the offing. You never know what you'll encounter while hunting something small with the 30-06.

We found my second elephant basically by accident. An hour later I shot it with a .375.


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+1 on the 270 in .375. Similar trajectory to the 30-06 180. The longest shots I made with one was just over 300 yards on Blue Wildebeest and Black Wildebeest. It was sighted in for 100 yards. I held at the top of the shoulder and hit the hearts.


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Well, the rifle matters greatly to a certified gun nut. So does cartridge matter to most gun nuts and to those who have drunk from the well of African tales of hunting big and dangerous game.

As I have said before and currently in another thread, the 375 H&H is never out of place on an African Safari and that includes the plains game.

I took a Blaser 30-06 with a 375 H&H scoped barrel. I started and ended with the 375 and realized as many others have previously, it is one of the world's closely perfect compromises in any human endeavor.

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BlaserGuy, the 375 VC caliber is awesome...something on the order of a 375 RUM or 378 Wby, but in a double rifle. If you wanted to up the ante, load it with 350gr bullets for more insurance on Buff.

PS: If you change you mind and have an R93, a guy I know is selling a Safari barrel in 416 Rem with sights and magazine for $900 :-)

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The last three trips to Africa I just brought my 375 H&H, it just makes life a lot simpler.


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"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."

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I'll be taking my Winchester model 70 in 375 to Namibia next year. I haven't decided on what my 2nd will be yet, I have thought about my model 70 fwt 270 just for stuff like Impala, Spring buck etc and use the 375 on everything else.

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