Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa name the 5 most famous Africa caliber's

<BR> By Famous I mean, 1,Famous= numbers and variety of game taken for "How" long ?<P> #2, Calibers that "stand out" due to the "importance of the era" in which they were used. For instance, The Ivory era, or the Post WWll boom, or perhaps "used on famous safari's". This could add to a cartridges stature.<P> There can be a lot of reason's why a caliber could be included. Sheer number's of game killed isnt the only factor but it could be one of them. There is a "romance factor" also, some cartridges just scream "Africa",like a black powder cartridge maybe.<P> I guess the final criteria would be "The "5" cartidges that have caused the most impact, notoriety, and change on hunting the continent , SINCED, the age of patched ball".<P> I will leave it to the more learned to state their 5 picks, and why. But I will say one of mine now, The 7X57 Mauser and K. Bell's Ivory hunting. Can anyone doubt the impact and notoriety he made with that little round? at the time he did it?...................10

10 point, FWIW, here's my selection.<P>458 Win Mag.<P>375 H&H.<P>7X57 M<P>303 Enfield.<P>30.06<P>Could add the smaller quarter bores and of course the ole 270 too, but I think the list will stand. badger.<P>------------------<BR>Gun control is good bullet placement.....

The .450 Nitro was one of the first to go "smokeless" and was widely accepted. Then the 450 caliber was outlawed in sudan and thruough stupid mistakes also canceld the use in the rest of Africa. This brought on a aflurry of new calibers to fill the gap. Those that were popular and survived the test of time and still hold our interest, is.<BR>The .470 Nitro .404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby, and .375 H&H<BR>These are my pick for the five. If you go back to Black Powder days then things would of course change to larger calibers<BR>George

numbers of game killed, not counting machine gun rounds....<P>7x57, .303,.30-06,.375 H&H, I think are almost unarguable, the last is beyond my knowledge, but just because it was so widely celebrated, if not used, the .600 Nitro Express. In reality, I think Mr. Hoffman;s choice of the .416 rigby might be the last one.

This is a very difficult question to answer, especially given your wide choice of criteria.<P>Offhand, I would suggest;<P>7x57<BR>.303 Enfield<BR>.375 H&H<BR>.416 Rigby<BR>.470 Nitro<P>The first two extremely popular in the early days, the latter three being both very popular, but also possessing the "African Mystique".<P>If we look at the last 50 years and popularity/game taken, we would have to include the 30-06 and 9.3x64.<P>Steve

<P> Badger I considered the 458 Win but there has always been an element of disatisfaction with it concerning its performance with the 500 grn bullets, the shooting of which, it was widely touted for when it first came out.<P> I still hear performance grumbles about the round. I know a guy who has one, yes ive shot it, and its a bear. I was going to throw the .416 Rem out ; Tho comparatively new it seem's to have "set a standard" for performance and shootability for many shooter's. In other words the round appears to be the most, that "the most", can handle. Being a "standard" seem's to be a short road to greatness.<P> It appears the .416 Rigby still has the "romance" going for it, as in those Beautiful Brit doubles.<P> I am leaning to the .303 also. All it did was feed and defend an African empire. From what I gather the .404 Jefferey's claim to fame was its wide use by game Dept.'s. No doubt many a truw harrowing tale is spun about the .404J. I remember reading, while in Africa, about a "Game-man" that had many a "settleing of accounts" with his .404 on marauding wildlife. I forget his name but it was great reading.<P> Whats the tale behind the .450 Nitro George ?............10

6.5 MS<BR>7X57 (257 Rigby)<BR>9.2X62<BR>375 H&H<BR>404 Jeffery<P>Perry

For the "numbers of game taken" criteria, you should probably add the AK-47 to the list. I understand it has been a favorite in certain circles since some of the political unpleasantness began a few years back. Aedes

They are (to me), in no specific order:<P>9.3X62<BR>7X57<BR>303<BR>375 H&H<BR>458 Win mag<P>Honorable mentions: 8X57, 300H&H, 30-06, 404 Jeffrey.<P>Cheers<P>pete

The "all time" 5:<P>303 British<P>450 Nitro(s)<P>318 Westley Richard Accelerated Express<P>375 Holland and Holland<P>416 Rigby<P>A different slant, local hunters of old;<P>577/450 Martini<P>7x57 Mauser<P>9,3x62<P>303 British<P>7,9x57 / 8x57<P>And again, this time ito game control:<P>404 Jefferies<P>416 Rigby<P>458 Win Mag<P>9,3x62 Mauser<P>7,62 Nato

My opinion-<BR>9.3 X 62<BR>450 x 31/2<BR>318 Westly Richards<BR>404 Jeffery<BR>416 Rigby

10point<BR>The 450 Nitro was the first smokeless powder rifle using steel (FMJ) bullets that set the hunting world on it ear. It was the death nell for the old BP rifles using lead slugs and balls. It may be the most important in the lot. The reason we have the .470 .465, 475#2 476 etc was because of the banning of the 450 calibers.<BR>George<BR>P.S. I consider the 458 to be a late comer to be included in your criteria.<BR><p>[This message has been edited by George Hoffman (edited April 12, 2001).]

Just a shot in the dark here, but these are what I think of when I hear AFRICA<P>1.577 Nitro Express<BR>2.450 Nitro Express<BR>3.375 H&H Magnum<BR>4.303 British<BR>5.7mm Mauser (7x57)<P>Just my opinion,,BEARHUNTER

<BR> Peter whats the history of the .318 Westley Express?.......thanx.........Rick

Hi Rick,<P>The 318 Westley Richards fired a 250gr bullet (330� diameter) at about 2400 fps. It was introduced in 1909 and was hailed by many as the ideal plains game rifle for all antelope species. Most Westley Richard rifles chambered in this caliber were built as light sporters on Mauser 98 actions with the nice racy and slim lines typical of English rifles in that era. Simply put it�s a classic for African hunting; big bullets at medium velocities that penetrate like hell which had many of the old hands using it on lion, buff and elephant alike.<P>John Pondoro Taylor rated it as the most popular and widely used British medium bore for African game. He also went to say that it would drive it�s long 250gr solid through the entire length of an elephant (some penetration). Karamojo Bell used one and rated it as the best bullet for killing elephant as it is not easily deflected. When paired with a 416 Rigby, it was seen as an �ideal� combo in magazine rifle form. <P>Unfortunately, it is pretty much obsolete these days with the best substitute being the 338-06 and the 338 Sabi, both of which come close to duplicating the ballistics and are also rated as near perfect for plains game - by those in the know . <P>RSA�s local hunting writer, Gregor Woods, rates the 318 Westley Richards as the best caliber for all antelope in bush veldt conditions. <P>I came across a beautiful cased and take-down original 318 Westley Richards at Parow Arms in Cape Town � it was going for R25000.00 which compared to off the shelf rifles retailing at R3000.00, made it seem heck of an expensive. I passed it up because of price and the scarcity of ammo / dies / reloading components. A year later, I bumped into an old-pro who had retired from Mozambique, he had dies, bullets and plenty of brass that he was happy to donate to a good cause as his rifle had been �appropriated by the authorities� in Mozambique. I am still kicking myself for not taking that rifle in Cape Town. <P>Regards,<BR><P>------------------<BR>Peter V<BR>Shafa Safaris<BR><A HREF="http://www.shafa.net/" TARGET=_blank>Shafa Safaris</A>

O.K., I'll bite -- how does the .375 H&H stay off someone's (ANYONE'S) list?

I'll go along with these posts with one exception...The 416 Rigby never was popular and very few ever saw service in Africa...It is more popular today than ever...<P>the 9.3x62, 7x57, 375 H&H, 404 Jefferys, and the 303 were the early standards...In the few doubles that existed the 450 and 450-400 where popular..Keep in mind that a lot of thoes game Dept. rifles found there way into African homes....<P>------------------<BR>Ray Atkinson<BR>atkinsonhunting.com<BR>208-326-4120

I'm probably one of the most ignorant on Africana, but of the rounds that make me think, Africa, this would be the list:<P>375 H&H<BR>404 Jeffrey<BR>505 Gibbs<BR>470 NE<BR>577 NE<P>I put much more on the nostalgia bent then on numbers of game killed. When I think of Africa, I think of big guns, and dangerous critters. There is no doubt that the small bore poachers rifles over the decades have claimed many more animals then the classic hunting rifles, not to mention the farmers rifle.<P>That said, the small bores don't make me think of a safari. If you imagine a felt lined, leather covered wood case with the name of Holland and Holland or other makers on the outside, what type of rifle would be housed inside?

I'm afraid it would be somebody else's, s*#t!! <p>[This message has been edited by Loud Cloud (edited May 23, 2001).]

Please put up with my ignorance. But is there a reason the 460 Weatherby's not been mentioned. I've always been under the impression that, that cartridge was designed specifically for Africa.<P>Can't see Africa in my near future, but just curious.<P>Phil