Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Plains Game rifle choice

Looking at plains game, gemsbok in particular. Probably Namibia. Something about those gemsbok... Never hunted Africa before. I'm most interested in gemsbok, kudu, wildebeest and warthog. Gemsbok topping the list. Way ahead of everything else.

Normally I hunt with a 30-06 & 165 gr Noslers, I have shot three black bear with my 375 H&H Ruger Number One, just because I enjoy the heck out of that rifle. With the 375 I have only hunted with the 260 gr Accubond, and have been very impressed. The 30-06 though hasn't disappointed. It's brought me antelope, mule deer, black bear, elk, wolf and grizzly. I've used both the 165's and the 200 gr Nosler Partitions.

My Rem 700 30-06 has a 6x Leupold (36mm version) and the 375 Number One has an older 3x Leupold. Both are sighted-in at 200 yards.

Thoughts on which rifle I ought to take? They've both been successful and frankly, I don't have a favorite between them. The 30-06 is a little more accurate, but both are just fine in that department.

Thanks, Guy

Having been three time, and taken all you are after with my 8x57, I would say whatever you shoot best. Either would work.

I agree. Either should serve you well. I have been there twice and toted a Remington 700 in .338 Win Mag. I have no regrets but either of your favorites will work.
donsm70

Your 30-06 will suffice.

Nothing wrong with 375 though.

I'm on my second trip using 168 Barnes in my 300WSM.

I have been around 24 times.

Remember that you will be shooting multiple times a day. I have taken many folks on their first trips. I have never seen anyone using a 375 or 338 maintain their shooting ability over the course of a seven to ten day trip. In NA you may shoot a couple of shots a week. Not so on a plains game hunt. NOTE: the guys I took were not participants on this forum.

A 30/06 with a 165-168 monolithic bullet is perfect. Complete penetration helps with tracking and recovery. I have used a 270 with 130’s and never had a problem on anything, including Eland, so your 30/06 will be just fine. If you insist on Partitions then use 180 or 200 grain bullets. The shots will be within 275 yards.

I have used the 6-36 two or three times. Worked well but I have a slight preference for a 3x9. A fixed 3x isn’t enough.

What RinB said....that’s about as good as it gets for advice and backed up by tons of experience.

For my two plains game trips my .325 with 200 grain aframes and 180 grain TSX works just grand.

Namibia is wonderful gemsbok are way cool. Don’t ignore the red hartebeest or the Hartman’s zebra.

yup.....pretty sage advice.....the.30-06 is still the best thing a going.....add ammo availability and you have it in spades.

Thanks guys - sometimes I wonder why I own a 375, other than it's a cool cartridge and I shoot the rifle well.

The ol' 30-06 seems to do everything I ask.

Regards, Guy

That's a LOT of trips to Africa! Outstanding!

Thanks.

Guy

yep, discussion over

The 375 is for your 2nd trip for cape buffalo!

And +3 on what RinB said!

I've been hunting all my life and I'm 71 years old and you guys make me feel so inadequate. I've only hunted outside Texas once or twice in my life. I've hunted Whitetail and hogs mostly. But I'd give my left Testicle to go on one plains game hunt. The only thing I have to add here is in my limited experience the .30-06 can do it all and the .270 isn't far behind. Now I don't think i'd take it after elephant or Buff, but there was a guy I've read about that didn't do bad with a lowly 7x57 so if you did your homework an 06 would do it in a pinch. Y'all keep talkin' and I'll keep listening. This is as interesting as it gets.

Nothing interesting about it, the 30-06 is plain old boring effective.

The .30-06 won't just "do in a pinch" on plains game, it will flat do.

May not have shot as many plains game animals as RinB (who I know well), but have been month-long cull/meat hunters with a lot of other people, so have witnessed far more hunters in action (and cartridges, and bullets) than just those used by me. In general, the .30-06 is more effective than larger cartridges (even with such "antique" bullets as the Nosler Partition) because it doesn't normally result in a flinch during a 10-14 day safari, unlike harder-kicking cartridges. Here ist should be mentioned that you probably won't be shooting just at game, but also "check-shooting" the rifle every 2-3 days, to make sure the scope is still on after bouncing around in a Land Cruiser.

Have hunted with people who can shoot harder-kicking rounds consistently on such a safari, but they are in the minority. Finn Aagaard was of the same opinion, estimating that only about a third of his clients could consistently shoot .300 magnums accurately. Part of the reason is that the typical safari client tends to be older, because that's when they can afford it, and consequently may not be quite as recoil-resistant as they were when younger.

There's another factor: Cartridges harder-kicking than the .30-06 also tend to be tougher on scopes. Have seen plenty of previously reliable scopes, costing up to well over $1000, fail on a safari, not just because of bouncing around in a Land Cruiser but because the rifles they were on really hadn't been shot all that much beforehand. This was because the rifles kicked a little too much for their owners to really practice--which also means really proving the scope.

Take them both.

I had great luck with the 30-06 and 165 grain monos on plains game. Nothing required a second shot or went very far. The 30-06 was one that our PHs really liked to see in camp. There was also a guy in camp that brought a 257 Weatherby loaded with partitions. He shot gemsbok, zebra, wildebeest without trouble. I can't imagine having an issue with a 30-06 and partitions for the game you listed.

You can stop right there,,,

I built my 300 H&H because of the historical factor and to pair with my 375 H&H. I do not load it to 300 magnum levels, more to 30-06 plus P levels.

Mule Deer is spot on about shooting, practice and testing equipment.

On my first trip to Africa I shot hundreds of rounds In my 300 H&H, 9.3x64 Brenneke, and 375 H&H. I took the 300 and the 180gr TTSX worked perfectly at a sedate 2900 fps and the PH stated to "not change a thing".

My second trip to Africa, I shot close to 600 rounds through my 375 H&H and 404 Jeffery.

You are confident in your 30-06 and 165 partitions. My only advice is to shoot it a bunch before you go. The combo will work, the only failure could be a scope going bad, or the nut squeezing the trigger.

The scope issue can be worked out before hand by shooting a bunch and taking a spare along on your trip. The nut squeezing the trigger......that is all up to you.

I will echo what others have said about PH's being happy to see a 30-06 come out of a case during "sight in" (mostly a way of checking the capability of the hunter). They had lots of stories about hunters who couldn't hit schidt with their magnums.

You guys are great, thank you.

Ya, the 30-06 and I get along real well. And I do shoot a lot, pretty much weekly, all year. Love going up to the gun club & ringing steel with my hunting rifles. Such a hoot. We've got steel at 300, 450, 500 & 600 yards. I haven't pushed the 30-06 rifle beyond 450 yet, but shoot the farther targets with target rifles.

Standing at 300 yds with the 30-06 a couple of years ago:


Prone practice from my hunting pack. Have shot a few critters while resting that rifle on that pack:


Am thinking that I'll set up a second scope, already zeroed, and ready to get popped onto the rifle, just in case.

The 30-06 has been great on game here, I figured that you hunters who have experienced Africa would tell me it was fine for over there too. Thanks for the confirmation. Mostly I hunt mule deer, and spice it up with pronghorn, black bear or elk now and then, all spot and stalk.

Regards, Guy

Although I myself have no personal experience with African game, a guy I used to work with went to South Africa a few years back. He didn't take any of his rifles. He rented one from the outfitter. He used a Blaser 30/06 with plain Jane green box 165 grain Remington Corelokt ammo. He's a very good shot and shot 15 animals with 17 shots (no misses) including a 1200-1400 pound Eland with one shot. I think he shot his Zebra twice, and an Impala twice.

Ron

I would take the 06. NO REASON for a 375 for Plains Game. Also I would not even think about going to Namibia without shooting a Hartman Mt. Zebra!!!

I think you are more than good to go. Just remember to post pics of your trip.

Find out what your PH uses for shooting sticks also. Then use them in your practice sessions. Whether it be sticks, bog pod, primos trigger stick etc.

that old 30-06 is just hard to beat ammo is easy to find all over the world,06`s are accurate,plenty power at longer ranges ,the most important thing is good scope mounts , good brand scope ,maybe bed the rifle if its wood but just use a 30-06.

You are more than ready with that rifle/cartridge combo. Don't know many folks who've shot much past 200 yards over there. I do have one kill at 352 yards, with a 375 H&H, whose ballistics are almost identical to the 06...

+1

Really can not go wrong with either of those two plus a good “handful” of others. I took a Blaser R92 with both those two barrels — the ‘06 and the 375 — to do the plains game. I started with the 375 and my 270-gr TSX handload, had a ball with it, and never did switch to the ‘06 for which I had a 168-gr TSX hand-load and which was my intention.. Both are great.

Good idea on the second scope. My sons Leupold went south on the first trip...was on his .325. Ended up using my 8x57 for the remainder of our trip. We did take an extra after that,,,but didn`t use it...thank goodness.
Good Luck

Certainly take a spare scope, I do not see irons on your 30-06.

On African plains game hunts I've used two 7mm Rem mags, a .375 RUM, and a .300 Weatherby. All worked great.

On my first trip to South Africa, I took a 7mm RM shooting 140 grain Ballistic tip bullets. It easily made one shot kills on all of the animals that the OP listed, plus a few more.

I took my .375 RUM shooting 300 grain TSX bullets and a different 7mm RM shooting 160 grain Accubonds on my second trip. I used the .375 RUM for buffalo and bushbuck in Zimbabwe, and both rifles for PG on farms in South Africa's Free State and Kwa-Zulu Natal. One of my PH's in KZN, who also had a 7 mm RM, was continually impressed with the internal damage that the 160 grain Accubonds did on the animals that I shot with them.

My third African hunt was to the Eastern Cape of South Africa just for plains game. I hunted 5 different farms or conservancies on that trip, shooting my .375 RUM and 270 grain TSX bullets. This combination was more than adequate for some little critters like a Jackal, a couple of Steenboks, and a Vaal Rhebok, and it also had no difficulty making a one shot kill on a Gemsbok at 348 yards, which is the longest shot that I've ever killed an animal at.
I did borrow a .308 Win shooting FMJ bullets from one of the outfitters for my Cape Grysbok.

I took my .300 Weatherby shooting 168 grain TSX bullets on my fourth African hunt that was in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This combination worked great on a variety of PG from Klipspringer to Sable. I also loaded some 150 grain FMJ bullets for some smaller animals that I wanted, and I borrowed a .22 LR from my PH for a Caracal.

My last two trips to Africa were to Mozambique, and for both trips I took my .300 Weatherby shooting 168 grain TTSX bullets.

I would only change to 180 Partitions. Not because I think they will be better per se, only because I’ve always thought about getting an -06 and shooting them. Just seems right! But a 165 Partition or a 168 TTSX would still have me smiling.

FWIW, I’ve shot one (don’t laugh..) Gemsbok with a 160 mono and it died right quick.

Another vote for the '06 and Partitions...I have killed everything on your list with a .30-06...and for that matter Ive killed everything on your list with a 7x57 as well.

The '06 will not let you down!


Your constant practice shooting is excellent, your idea of packing a spare scope is excellent. I dont know what you are used to, but in the bush ( Namibia...been 6 times...) you need a 100 yard zero.....I repeat, 100 yards.


Told one tyro that and he insisted on having his .300 RUM 3 inches high at 200....it cost him a $1600 trophy fee on a poorly shot waterbuck...

Yeah, a hundred yard zero. Typical flat brushy view straight ahead in most areas; so much so that where there was a tree of sufficient stature, the PH climbed it for a view down into the pockets ahead for game.

capital one bank near my location

I disagree on the zero. Use what you use here. Don't change just for Africa. Know your rifle and load and you will not have any issues.

Pretty universally brushy and flat. My longest shot, a greater kudu was probably about 175 yards while the closest of the bunch was a warthog at about thirty. I see no advantage myself of long zero when one can almost always get fairly close, sometimes very close — we were within 15 yards of a couple of eland as big as a barn door and I couldn't see more than a square foot of hide — still with no shot.

The only place where I could regularly see to any distance was up north on the Etosha salt pan.

Use the trip as an excuse to get a "tweener" 9,3X62. 250gr AccuBonds would be your friend.

(and take the '06 also)

I've been to Namibia several times now myself. I agree with Ingwe......100 yd zero is perfect.

Will just add that one of my good friends used the 100-yard zero on his one safari, on a ranch in Namibia where both Ingwe and I have hunted. He was using a .30-06 with, as I recall, 180 Partitions--but one of his opportunities was at 300 yards. This can happen even in flat thornveld, and because he assumed no shot would even be as long as 200 yards, had no idea where to hold. (And neither did his PH, because believe it or not, many PH's are not all that sophisticated about rifles.)

Everything turned out all right, but I would advise whatever sight-in distance you're used to here. Which means not assuming anythingabout the distances you might shoot, or anything else. It is YOUR hunt, not anybody else's--including the PH. Have run into a number of PH's who assume they can "judge" the range better than a laser rangefinder.

Well, for instance, a 180-gr Nosler Part from a 30/06 at 2800 fps zeroed at 100 yd, is about a 3.5” down at 200 — no problem at all — and about -13” at 300. That’s “a foot” hold-over at three hundred, if need be; not undoable at all with that rare long shot. But of course, a guy has to shoot at home, know that and be prepared for it.

On the other hand it’s easy to shoot too high on a gemsbok the way it is due to those long spinous processes without thinking “remember, hold a little low now” because of that 3” high midrange POI.

Anyway, more than one way to get it done. Have a great time!

I was in Namibia a decade ago and did fine on Gemsbok, Zebra and Kudu with a 30-06 pushing 180 Nosler Parts.
I dream about going back for Eland, and would take a 375HH for that, but might do just as well with the first platform. Enjoy!

When I was in Namibia, the PH kept asking me to range distances for him. I automatically did it for my hunting partner.

In Zambia, my PH had a rangefinder and we both ranged and confirmed distance when needed.

Out of those two trips, farthest shot was 235 yards, closest is 40.

I would really like to get back over there and chase a big ol' eland, and big kudu bulls. Can't get enough of those kudu bulls.

Re sighting in, for a few decades the 30-06's I've used have been sighted-in at 200 yards. Seems to have worked out just fine.

I figure I'll just keep it the same. Why mess with success?

I do like that idea of practicing with whatever shooting sticks are used. I've never used shooting sticks from standing, but it seems to be a regular practice in Africa. I like that! Anything to steady the shot.

Guy

Know where the bullet is relative to scope LOS. Helps to thread through small holes in brush.

Amen to hunting Kudu!

Some PH's may use a second shooting stick under your elbow (?) to steady your shot even more. I suggest you getting Craig Boddingtons book "SAFARI RIFLES II."

I agree. Here is my “grey ghost.” Not that I care that much but this guy was at 58”. Beautiful, elegant animals. This was the most open area in the Namib brush I was in.



Like was discussed, quite a fair number of cartridges will work. As I had read about the yuge 375 during my younger years, I chose it and hunted and shot it a lot incl on this trip. I love this old cartridge which is even more flexible today; ‘course same is true of the 30/06.

I went to Namibia two years ago. I hunted mostly in the Mountain's, very open country. I used a 7mm RM with 140 Barns TTSX sighted in for 300 yards. I shot 8 animals and the ranges were from 50 - 327 yards. I live out West and am used to shooting across canyons. There was NO WAY to get closer on my longest shot!!! They were headed out of the Concession.

Very nice "ghost". My son has one from our 2nd trip. Beautiful and elegant is right. His shoulder mount is something to see.

Awesome bull George. Love the pic. I've shot 4 I think, largest being 55" x 53". I'll never forget the spot, the stalk, or the shot.

I've been to RSA once, killed 3 animals with a Kimber Montana 7-08 and 120 grain Barnes TTSX (impala, warthog and bleskok) and a kudu and gemsbok with a Sako A7S in 270 Win shooting 156 grain Hammerheads. I did feel a little under gunned with the 7-08. I had elbow issues and couldn't take the recoil of my Rugers in 375 and 35 Whelen. All the other guys in camp were shooting 30-06's and 180's. Agree with the hundred yard zero, my longest shot was 156 yards. Nice Mountain Rifle.

The 30-06 will do all you need.
Always has, always will

It is a bad idea to zero your PG rifle for an excessive distance but I am convinced it is equally silly to zero for 100 yards.

Zero either at 200 or for a maximum mid-range of 2.5” which occurs at about 140 yards with something going 2700-2800. Either is good. Then you are good for holding on meat out to 250 or so. Don’t do something that requires re-thinking established habits.

Silly? 🤔

Zero at 200 yards makes perfect sense to e.....all my guns are so arranged.

Exactly!

Nearly every rifle I have has the same 2 inches high at 100 yards zero. From 223 to 416 Remington. The only ones with different zeros are 7STW and 300 Weatherby that get 1.5" @ 100 yards.

People overthink [bleep] and get themselves in trouble.

Go with what you know!

tend to agree with this line of thinking

Kuda and Impala for me are the best. Been over the pond twice last time was for a month. Started reading about Africa when I was 8 started saving when I was 18 went first time at 57 next time I went for a month. Shot everything with a 375HH which I had shot over 1500 times off sticks before I went. Only 1 animal was shot twice. Your 30-06 will be just fine. I took a 375HH because to me it was Africa and I needed it for Cape Buffalo. Best trophy of my life was a 19.5" Bushbuck. I have it full body mounted.
I didn't need the 375 for everything but I also took a 12ga. O?U for birds and I shot enough to be very comfortable with it.
Life long dream come true.

My most recent trip there was to Namibia for some hunting, fishing and touring last year. Many years ago I bought a pretty mint FN Supreme 30-06 for a song whilst living in Houston where few Mauser's sold IME and Weatherby's and Sako did... I mounted a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10X on it and loaded up some old Speer 180 gr bullets and took it to the range to learn it was an MOA rifle. I threw it in the safe and there it sat for 15 years until last year. I have never owned a 30-06 prior and last year I decided to take it to Namibia. Yes it was a bit heavier than what I normally hunt with but the 168 gr Barnes TSX just flat azz worked. Tough mountainous area that offered likely my most difficult hunt for mountain zebra well into the mountains. Zebra, kudu, gemsbuck, springbuck and cheetah dropped at the shot. It was sighted dead on at 200 yards. As stated above, it just works.

After a few previous safaris, in 2002 I finally took a .30-06 on a 2-week trip to RSA that included some extensive culling as well a trophies. Had seen plenty of other cartridges used on plains game before then, from the 7x57 to .375 H&H, along with the .30-06, but had never used the .30-06 myself, and many hunters believe that unless you personally pull the trigger, observational experience doesn't count.

Gun writers generally have some sort of agenda behind what rifles they use, whether field-testing something new, filling a gap in their experience, or "proving" a theory. In this instance it really wasn't revolutionary, but to demonstrate that most hunters really don't need some special rifle to hunt Africa. More hunters believed they did back then than now, but some still do. So I took a .30-06 that (as my friend Brian Pearce put it) as "plain vanilla as possible." It was a Remington 700 factory rifle with a 3-9x scope, and the handloads used 180-grain Nosler Partitions at around 2750 fps.

The hunting was spread out over several hundred miles in both the North Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, and the country varied from the wide-open plains of the Karoo to steep timbered hills to thick streamside bush. Among other animals I got a Rowland Ward springbok at 250 yards, a decent Cape bushbuck at 80 (about as far as could be seen where we hunted), and a very good Cape kudu at 360, standing straight above me on a very steep hilliside--all shot through the shoulders so they dropped right there. It also took a bunch of culls, mostly springbok but some other animals as well, and worked fine on them too, whether head-shooting springbok or, when that wasn't realistic, through the ribs well behind the shoulder--which dropped them quickly too, thanks to the "soft" front end of the Partition opening easily even on 80-pound animals. The vanilla rifle worked pretty well!

John, are you considering retiring? That statement is very true, but for a gun writer to say that is heresy. How will gun companies be able to sell more rifles and ammunition companies be able to sell all the latest newest and greatest ammunition when a knowledgeable and respected gun writer states that a plain vanilla rifle chambered in a 100+ year old cartridge is all a hunter needs for most hunting?

A .30/06 and a .375 (or .416) is all anyone needed 100 + years ago and the same holds true today.

JB calls it like he sees it, not playing to the grandstands...

There are enough gunwriters out there. feeling the need/pressure to be pimping wares.

Some don't need to...

Besides, hunters perform best with equipment they're comfortable with.

The old '06 will kill a lot more stuff than it gets credit for. New bullets and new powders make the old hoss even more lethal.

For big stuff, the .375 H&H can speak for itself. And, there are better components for it, as well.

DF

That's one thing I really appreciate about JB, his candor and honesty. I subscribe to his "no speccial rifle" theory as well. My 20 yrd old Tikka 7mag went with me every time.

Cascade has a 375 H&H or two, those go with Africa like Lions and Zebras, I'd have to take one along.

Ya, much as I like & respect my 30-06... The 375 bug is biting.

Just loaded up 50 practice cartridges earlier today, 270 gr Hornady RNSP's going about 2700 fps via RE-15. I do like that load. Took three bears with the 260 gr Nosler Accubond over RE-15, but... Kinda hording those remarkable bullets.

Practicing at 300 yards, maybe three years ago, with the 375 Number One. Love ringing that gong! Especially with the 375's...


The 30-06 makes a lot more sense, but if not for Africa & Alaska... Why do I own one (or two) ?

Guy

Now You're getting it Guy. I took one I bought here off BSA, when I go back, so will it.

[The 30-06 makes a lot more sense, but if not for Africa & Alaska... Why do I own one (or two) ?

Guy
[/quote]

Exactly. I took my friend a Winchester 70 SS/synthetic Safari Express, .375 H&H on my first visit/hunts with him in 1996. I took a supply of the then available Winchester factory load of the 270gr Failsafe, and some of the same in components. I used it on a warthog ( just to be doing it) that was running at 50yds, hit him through the hips and killed him instantly! ha. Later, in 1998 and again in 2002, I went with some friend and in addition to our own rifles ( 300WM/180 xbt; 338WM/200x; 340W/210xbt; and two other .375s ( a Whitworth Express and a Remington 700 BDL/SS-270 Failsafes too) we used his Mod 70 .375. Zebra, Waterbuck, Red hartebeest, Wart Hogs, Blesbuck, Impala, Blue & Black Wildebeast---all fell to the 270 Failsafe. In '98 we also drove over after a SA hunt to Aroab, Namibia. The big dunes ( with camelthorn tress and scrub) were almost perfectly a half mile apart with "short sage brush looking, though thorn covered, stuff in the floor of the "valley". Though game was seen far off, none of our shots were over about 380yds. Most averaged around 200yds, just due to the way we hunted. We could shoot further, but if you didn't know your rifle and the wind...you wound him you bought him! That's why I like the tougher bullets ( though I admittedly would use the Barnes 168 TTSX in the 30-06 as fast as I could get it) like Partitions, so I could take an animal I really wanted from a less than perfect shot angle. whether first shot or finishing shot, that's $$$, ha. So take both in a 2 rifle case, a spare is always nice. But take that pretty bolt .375 H&H you have, its the perfect place for it! I sighted my rifles anywhere from a 1-2" high at 100 and shot them out ( and measured real drop) out to 500 before going over. In effect, the same way I do here, ha. You won't have a lot of time on most of the game as they will be moving, in a herd milling around, or bat crap crazy wild! ha. But you simply "have to go".

buffybr,

Actually, I semi-retired this year--if you can all its that. Signed up for Social Security the first year they couldn't deduct anything if it made "too much money otherwise, which allowed me to drop my lowest-paying magazine market, which was about half my work-load in "paper" magazines.

But still am committed to doing at least a couple dozen paper-magazine articles a year, as well as a few dozen on the Internet. Oh, and a book every other year, due the slave-driving CEO of riflesandrecipes.com. So am not exactly retired yet, though do plan on fishing a LOT more....

As to the 30/06 making a lot more sense for PG — well, not really. If you can shoot the 375, like it, take it. I can say, IMO, you are for certain not over gunned on gemsbok, zebra, wildebeest, or eland with the old H&H. It’s not a matter of other cartridges not doing it — they can. But the 375 is hardly ever inappropriate. Even for the dainty impala and others of its ilk, it usually doesn’t produce excessive damage like some of the newer whiz-bang kids can.

John, I can heartily recommend (even partial) retirement having just completely done so in January though I am also enjoying chronic low back pain now and just found out I’m severely hypothyroid. One of the body’s master glands going off-grid brings about various and sundry, subtle enjoyments besides the usual, normal old-age stuff.

Enjoy that fishing!

George,

Am very sorry to hear about your physical problems. Have been pretty lucky so far!

My experience concerning the .30-06 and .375 is the opposite of yours, not only due to my personal experience with both cartridges (have used the .375 even more than the .30-06 in Africa, on one safari as my "light" rifle), but because of my opportunity to watch MANY other hunters in action.

Most do not handle much more recoil than the .30-06 well, especially over the course of a 10+ day safari. Have found the .30-06 (and similar recoiling cartridges) far more effective overall, because (again) most hunters shoot them better. And a good .30-06 bullet in the right place beats a .375 bullet in the wrong place, by a wide margin. Have seen plenty of examples of both.

John - I'm going to be brave and see if my old shoulder still tolerates the 375 Number One, 'cause it's such a cool rifle.

If not.. the 30-06 will get the nod. That danged Remington is a great rifle for a hunter. Accurate. Powerful enough. Easy to use. Reliable... And very successful in the game fields.

The 375 is major league cool though. And in the past I've shot it pretty danged well. I seem to be aging faster than the rifle. We will see.

Guy

Cascade,
You know you can take and enjoy both. In fact, that is what I think you should do. You enjoy, and have history with both rifles. Create some more history, in Africa.

Guy,

You could take both, as somebody has already suggested. It's more of a PITA, even if you use a take-down case suitable for two rifles. (Yes, the No. 1 will fit in one if you remove the buttstock. Just need the appropriate screwdrivers.)

As to bringing both, yes it would be a hassle to tote two rifles and I probably wouldn’t have but for the Blaser R93 modular system I had at the time which made it really easy.

John, my latter condition is “easily” treated with medications; that is, compared with many other issues which might befall somebody so I’m not feeling too sorry for myself. Glad to hear you are doing well.

Guy, for whatever reason my old brain didn't connect the dots with your new handle... As you know Ive used both quite a bit in Namibia for the game you mentioned. PM me if you have any specific questions, but you've got enough experience on the trigger with both to do well with either one.....and you'll enjoy either one. FWIW I found the basic Hornady 270 grain spire point to be as near to perfect on largish plains game as you're going to get in the .375

Africa and a 375 go together, your 30-06 may be more appropriate. Flip a coin. Two guns are a hassel especially if you are going to multiple countries on the way back. If anything the size of Eland are larger is on the ticket then the 375 would get the nod.

Late last year a friend went to So. Africa. Even with a house full of guns he elected to not take his own over there, and use theirs instead. The rifle they supplied was an '06 with suppressor shooting factory 180gr Sierras. He was also after plains game and shot many animals from warthog size, up to about 900lbs. All were one shot kills and all but one went completely through.

Pro-Hunters or GameKings?

That's a really nice option. Attractive. No travel hassles with the rifle, etc.

I haven't seen ol' JJ Hack post in quite a while, but I remember that he kept a pair of nice Winchester Model 70's over there for his clients, one in 30-06, the other in 375 H&H.

I think I'd enjoy hunting with my rifle more, but... I like rifles in general. Using a nicely set up rifle like the suppressed 30-06 you mention would be just peachy.

Thanks for the thought.

Guy

Thank you lord for keeping this thread and Forum, "Creedmoor Free"...

I wasn't told.

My friend didn't want to mess with sending guns all the way to SA. But after the 7 day hunt, he and wife spent another 7 or so days watching animals in a preserve. I was thinking they'd have him using a .375 or something similar, but that '06 was the outfitter's own custom Husqvarna. And it was perfect.

LOL!

Well, being you mentioned it....



DF

Have spent considerable time in Africa with a number of PH's, and have spent considerable time talking with them. (There were at least 6 on a month-long cull hunt in 2007.) One of the questions I always ask is what they advise for plains-game clients--and what rifles they load/rent, of any. The .30-06 and 7mm Remington Magnum have been the only chamberings I recall in rental/loan rifles, and the .375 H&H for dangerous game.

However, Finn Aagaard usually rented a .270 Winchester for clients who didn't bring their own "light" rifles. His estimate, of I recall correctly, is that only about a third of his clients could shoot any .300 magnum to be effective on plains game.

I went to the Karoo in 2017.
Same story as your buddy, hunting for 7 days but "in country for 15".
I rented a Sako .308 that harvested over 30 animals on a cull and trophy hunt.
Worked great on wildebeest, hartebeest, blesbok, springbok and kudu.
No problems.

In less than 3 weeks I head to Namibia, Zim & Botswana for 3 weeks,
(I figure why fly all those hours and not spend a little more time looking around in a few countries).

Anyway, I'm renting again. PH asked what caliber I preferred....".308 would be fine".

Not.

Was enformed that the "smallest" available was .300 win.
Oh.

Ok.
I guess the kudu and gemsbok are huge.
It'll work out, but I sold my .300 SAUM for a reason.

The practical solution is to use what the PH has, but I envy the good old days when Roy Weatherby or Elmer Keith would hunt for a month or more with a veritable arsenal of rifles. Sometimes six or eight. Weatherby did one hunt with every caliber they had at the time. Jack O'Conner had a funny comment after talking to Elmer Keith who was preparing for his first African hunt and spouting off about 577 this and 450/400 that and O'Conner said" that and two bits will get you a cup of coffee." (A pre-inflation cup).

Tejano,

When did Elmer Keith take 6-8 rifles to Africa? I have read his writings about his two times in Africa, and don't recall him taking more than two rifles on either hunt, ans that was on his first trip, described extensively in his book SAFARI (and yes I have a copy). On the other safari I believe he only brought a big double, but used a borrowed .375 H&H for some smaller stuff,

Roy Weatherby and his companions did use several Weatherby rifles.

Have spent as long as a month in Africa on cull hunts, using up to three rifles personally, and accompanying companions where they used rifles chambered for more than 6-8 cartridges, and a far wider variety of bullets than Keith, O'Connor or Weatherby.

Craig Boddington has spent far more time in Africa than Keith and O'Connor combined, sometimes 2-3 months in one year to several countries.

There is theory and reality. Taking a single rifle is manageable and not terribly inconvenient. Taking two rifles increases the difficulty about 4x. Three rifles, well have seen it done by one guy...his decision negatively impacted all of his traveling companions.

All you need is a rifle that is reliable enough to fire 20-30 cartridges. You are not going to invade a small colony of wildebeest or engage in combat with a herd of zebra.

Since the majority of the Afrikaners I hung with in SA were Biltong Hunters or Cullers, they were big on "head shots". The same as our wild game cullers in the Hill country of Texas/Exotic Ranches do. The cullers/wild game shooters I met near leakey all used the 22-250/55gr, all head shooters. So the 6.5 Creedmoor (which subject comes up) would seem to me to be a "natural" for the same purpose. Easy to shoot, accurate, and affordable ammo for the non-Professionals who don't handload. Same as the .308 does there. Not many Americans who go on trophy hunts "head shoot anything", ha. No, it's a "fun adventure"...use a rifle that you love, have a history with, something that's more than "just a tool". Just use Barnes (:)) and shoot them right. But best of all...have fun! Life is short....

John,
My limited experience (3 trips) yielded pretty much the same answers you received. My first PH had .308, 30-06 and .22 hornet as his main rental rifles. The second PH had a 7mm-08, and a 300WM (suppressed) for rental. Both had .375 H&H for the big stuff.

From what I've seen/read in the past few years is that now nearly every outfitter's rifle has suppressors for a variety of reasons - easy recoil for all shooters no matter the size of cartridge, along with the reduction of noise in spooking game.

With a 180 grain bullet at 2900 FPS you're not full Magnum, but your comfortable Magnum. You're still 150-200 FPS above a .30-06, and it's not loosening your dentures. To me that's an ideal load.

I would lean this direction but for insurance I would load up some 235 grain Speers or any good 250 grain bullet as a lower recoil back up, maybe just load them till they shoot to the same point of impact as your primary load. A good 250 like the Swift will cover all the plains game if you wanted to only have one load and I can feel the difference betweed them and a full power 300 grain load as far as recoil is concerned.

I would also see if the PH has a camp rifle just in case. I forget which PH it was but for a two gun choice they recommended the 243 and a 375. Some would even use the 243 for baited leopard. At least three of the PH's in Boddingtons Safari Rifles book picked this combo. The only thing is don't shoot so many practice rounds you develop a flinch. Maybe stop every ten shots or so and do a couple of dry firing rounds to double check. It seems some days recoil affects me more than others and if that happens stop and shoot a rimfire or something low recoil. Hunting jack rabbits with a 22 shooting off shooting sticks is great practice. The 375 works pretty well on Jacks too.

Good evidnece here on the Fire that a .460 Wby works well, too...

DF

May have been wrong on that one. It was based on that conversation he had with Jack OConner prior to his first African trip and a photo of him with about 5 or 6 double rifles so he may only have been contemplating taking several at that time. The photo may have been from after both African trips not sure.

I think Weatherby went with Elgin Gates on one trip and the combined total number of rifles looked like enough for a small military platoon.

Roy went on his first safari with some friends, and everybody was using Weatherby rifles! There were some interesting revelations, especially on Roy's part about the "magic" of super high velocity that didn't quite match up with his previous notions. His journal was printed in Weatherby, the Man, The Gun, the Legend by Grits and Tom Gresham. It's well worth buying a copy just to read the journals, but its also a very fine chronicle of the Weatherby story.

Haven't read all 4 pages, but must recount the Harry Selby "rifle" - a Rem. 721 in 30-06 - push feed too. Selby wrote (Mar. 2012 Rifleman) that the rifle was responsible for hundreds of African plains game and an occasional "bad boy". Mounted on it was a "high quality" 4x Redfield.
Unfortunately, there was no mention of bullet style or weight but probably nothing too flashy.

Since my primary hunting rifle is a 30-06 Rem 700 with a 6x scope, I like what you've just written about Selby's rifle.

Mine has only taken pronghorn, deer, elk, black bear, grizzly and wolf so far. I think it deserves a trip to Africa.

Regards, Guy