I have to buy a new hunting rifle

[MJB]

I'm set with my gun and calibers for most BG hunting in North America with my .270

So before I pass I've got a few Africa hunts and a grizzly I want to hunt before I'm dead.

Most guns I'm looking at are in the wby mag calibers. Want a caliber that won't kill me too badly.....I have the 300 ultra mag but it's not what I need

Something more versatile and just a little above the 300WM

[Sir Toast]

I would think the 300 WM would be an ideal cartridge.

Maybe the 8mm? Another great cartridge.

[tsmithson]

Recently picked up the Weatherby Arroyo MK V in 338-378 for larger game.

[HigsB]

Have you looked into the 375 H&H magnum?

[Mesa Defense]

I know it might be a bit bigger than your thinking, but I love my .460 WBY Mag. Can easily load down a bit. Great for big creatures.

[sacrvrrat]

I would stick with the 300 wm personally, others that come to mind are .375 H&H and 30 nosler. If you are taking dangerous game Africa hunting then that is a whole other class that starts with the 375 and goes up from there.


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[waveslayer]

You will want the 30 PRC. Less recoil then the 300WM better ballistics over it as well.

Win win.

Competes closely with 300Norma range

That would be the all around caliber to use for hunting. I break all my rifles for hunting so recoil isn't an issue.

Check out the 30 PRC

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[FishnHunt]

I’ve just picked up sauer in 9.3x62 and it’s a thumper. Proven and well recognized in Africa .
The sauer has Great stock (not the pad) and action that’s is smooth as tikka but feel likes it’s on rails. As in solid operation.
You can find cheap ammo for plinking if need to or get the premium stuff to hunt.
I’m going to reload. Ramshot powder data says some impressive numbers.
Just bought 250 grain accubonds at SPS.
250 grain at 2650.
300 grain up to 2500.

[edgerly779]

375 hh

[JackEllis]

If you're going to Africa for dangerous game, I;d agree that the minimum is a .375 H&H.

If you're going for just plains game, meaning kudu, eland, oryx and zebra, I took all of mine with a .30-06. If you want some insurance, a .300 wm would be better.

For hunting, I want very common calibers I can find anywhere, because if I run out or my ammunition gets "lost" on the way, I want to be able to easily replace it.

I'm pretty sure my friends in Alaska hunt bear with a .375.

If you need some recommendations for who to hunt with in Africa, PM me and I'll be happy to share what I know.

[Bull Elk]

Last week I watched a video of an African hunter killing an elephant and buffalo with a 30-06. Two shots each, with the second shot a finishing shot. Not that I am recommending a 30-06 as I've never hunted African game, but it sure works fine on elk and neither the elephant or buffalo complained one bit.

[lewdogg21]

If he said DG game in africa, I guess I missed it.

I've got a model 70, 338 win mag in the safe for the same exact reasons.

[tsmithson]

The Weatherby 338-378 is 100 ft per sec faster then the Lapua. Some might consider it for long range use also. I’ve read that for some of the larger plains game in Africa they (PG) recommend the 338 to help put it down faster. I have been considering going to Africa but the killing of whites in SA has put a damper on my dreams for now.

[NapalmCheese]

I'd approach it this way:

If I KNEW I was going for DG in Africa I'd pick up something that was definitely up for the task, I'd probably go .416 Rigby and leave the .375's alone.

If I THOUGHT I might someday probably maybe go to Africa and just wanted to pick up a gun that would be up to the task IF I ever went, I'd lean towards .375 Ruger or H&H. Maybe 9.3x62 (not accepted everywhere in Africa).

If I knew I was never going to go to Africa and just wanted something solid for North America that was heavier hitting than a .30-06, I'd pick up a .338 WM, 8mm Mag, 35 Whelen, or 9.3x62.

[sigstroker]

Depends on what kinda critter you want to blast. Then you find bullets that are made for the job first, then look for ammo with those bullets. Also, depending on what critters, some countries have a minimum caliber. A .338 Blitzenhammer won't do you any good if the country and game regs specify a minimum .375.

[ivanimal]

I hunted South Africa last year. Everything we hunted was within the 300 win mag capabilities. I would suggest a lighter caliber for some species. Unless you plan on hunting Black Death or Elephant 300 WM will be enough rifle..............................

[codypaint77]

The go to rifle in early Africa was the:

9.3x62

It's becoming popular was again. You can buy a nice used Husqvarna.



Hunting rifles:

Open ranges any scoped rifle
Thick forest like here in Idaho, I like using my iron sites 45-70 with Barnes bullets (reloads).

[BillyGoatCrawler]

Originally Posted by codypaint77

Thick forest like here in Idaho, I like using my iron sites 45-70 with Barnes bullets (reloads).

Please go over here and post your load data and experience! I have 300 grain TSXs that I need to develop. Haven't got around to it yet.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=1491276

[MJB]

Yes I will be going back to Africa to hunt the water buffalo one more time. Last time I used a .577 with a 13lbs gun it just pushes..... It was fun to shoot a +700gr bullet once! Domed him and he was drt its a 12ga bullet.
That's when I learned why you shoot standing up in Africa.


I will also do a grizzly hunt or 3 before I can't and I have a few other hunts where 400-600yds may be as close as we can get to the big boys.

The collection of guns I can choose from have lots of Mark 5's and Sako's to choose from. I love the smoothness of the action on the 5's. But the sako is well designed.

I'm thinking maybe 300wyb mag over the 300wm if I get a Mark 5 there is also a 340 wby mag & I think a 338wby mag. Now in sako I think I saw a few wby mag calibers.

Any thoughts?

[tmuller]

Originally Posted by MJB

The collection of guns I can choose from have lots of Mark 5's and Sako's to choose from. I love the smoothness of the action on the 5's. But the sako is well designed.

I'm thinking maybe 300wyb mag over the 300wm if I get a Mark 5 there is also a 340 wby mag & I think a 338wby mag. Now in sako I think I saw a few wby mag calibers.

Any thoughts?

I'm never going to Africa again but...my thoughts...I love my Mark V...338wby mag would be my choice.

[FishnHunt]

338 wby? You mean 338-378?
Because 340 weatherby is a response to the 338 win.

[pennstater]

Originally Posted by HigsB

Have you looked into the 375 H&H magnum?

^^^^^THIS!^^^ End of search.

[RandyD]

The .300 Win. Mag. has been my caliber of choice and I have been hunting with it, since the early 70's. I would be comfortable in using it for grizzly hunting. I also lived in South Africa for a year, and the .300 Win. Mag. was a very popular big game round in that country.

[180ls1]

Originally Posted by MJB

Yes I will be going back to Africa to hunt the water buffalo one more time. Last time I used a .577 with a 13lbs gun it just pushes..... It was fun to shoot a +700gr bullet once! Domed him and he was drt its a 12ga bullet.
That's when I learned why you shoot standing up in Africa.


I will also do a grizzly hunt or 3 before I can't and I have a few other hunts where 400-600yds may be as close as we can get to the big boys.

The collection of guns I can choose from have lots of Mark 5's and Sako's to choose from. I love the smoothness of the action on the 5's. But the sako is well designed.

I'm thinking maybe 300wyb mag over the 300wm if I get a Mark 5 there is also a 340 wby mag & I think a 338wby mag. Now in sako I think I saw a few wby mag calibers.

Any thoughts?

I think you just want to buy a new gun lol.

Why cant you just back off a little on the 300 ultra until you find a comfortable round? The 300wby will have almost identical recoil as the ultra.

[MJB]

My ultra is a cheap setup so I can upgrade now and wanted to see what's up......I appreciate the input!

[JagerDog]

I think you need a nice double rifle in something Nitro.

Or a 375 H&H. Like Fjold says: "One rifle, one planet".

[middleofnowhere]

I’ve been using 30-06 and .308 Win my whole life, i chose 30 Nosler as my new “do all” North America rifle. I really like it, but I honestly don’t see that much of an improvement over a 300 win, other than lack of belt on the case.

My cousin just bought a 338 Lapua that I am going to load for, so I may have to get one of those as well. The step up to a .338 bullet would allow 300 grain projectiles. I never hear much about 338 LM used in Africa.

The big safari rifles intrigue me too, I’m just not at that budget yet.

[blueman]

The 375 H&H is hard to argue against for the hunts you specified. It would compliment your 270 Win on a mixed safari hunt in Africa and would be more than sufficient for a Grizzly hunt. There are a variety of loads available ranging from 235 grain up to 300 plus grain depending on the animal and distance you are hunting.

[DirtyDave]

338 Win Mag

[Don@Tahoe]

Ever since Divernhunter suggested I chamber a 338-06 I've built three of them, you may want to look at the ballistics compared to the 338 win mag, there's so little difference it's negligible, but a huge difference in recoil, this round is a real pleasure to shoot, it's strictly hand loads as there are no factory loads available that I'm aware of, shot an elk last season and was super impressed, I would take this cartridge any where....

[tsmithson]

The 338-378 is 100 FPS faster then the Lapua.
It is the go between 300’s and all the elephant loads.

[Bull Elk]

Come on.......all you need is a .22!

[elk hunter]

Your .300 RUM with the right bullets is plenty gun for most anything you might want to shoot. I don't know if it's legal in Africa but if a 30-06 will do it I'm sure the ultra can to.

[elk hunter]

Originally Posted by Don@Tahoe

Ever since Divernhunter suggested I chamber a 338-06 I've built three of them, you may want to look at the ballistics compared to the 338 win mag, there's so little difference it's negligible, but a huge difference in recoil, this round is a real pleasure to shoot, it's strictly hand loads as there are no factory loads available that I'm aware of, shot an elk last season and was super impressed, I would take this cartridge any where....

.338-06 is a good one, I have a .338 Federal and really like it ,everything has been a one shot kill. I recently bought a Remington 7600 pump in .308 Win and wish they had chambered in the .338 Fed. or a 358 Win.

[Fjold]

Why is this even a discussion?