Classic Safari Cartridges

what is your opinion of the classic safari cartridges and why?

Hi Harrison,

Nothing says Africa more than the following few:

Bolt action:
416 Rigby & 404 along With the 375 H & H

Double Rifles:
450 NE - 470 NE - 500 NE - 577 NE & 600 NE

While there are many more out there that have been used in India and Africa these about cover the best know African rounds developed and used.

the ones that worked a hundred plus years ago are still here and work just as well now as they did then. the first rifle i bought specifically for hunting was a .416 rigby and i suppose that is the main reason i like the classic calibres. if i had lived in the usa then i would most likely have had a different outlook on calibre choices, but maybe not as plenty on here from the usa like the classics . i have in the classics .416 rigby, .350 rigby, .275 rigby, .470 nitro, .500 jeff, 9.3x62 and 9,3x74r. i do also have some modern calibres .223 rem, 7.62x39, .300 win mag, .308 win and .458 lott

What about a 300 H&H?

I am +1 with Jaco on the .300 H&H Because in repeaters for it usually feed reliably and are usually very accurate plus, for long shots in open geography it shoots plenty flat with 180 grain spitzers for most PG animals.
I used same on my first Safari (180 gr Nosler Partitions @ a little over 2800 fps / 4x Zeiss scope) and sacked 12 animals with perfect satisfaction in Namibia.

Likewise the following are ones that I like very much:
9.3x62
.375 H&H
.404 Jeffery
.416 Rigby
.450/400 NE
and also most of the many cartridges above .40 caliber designed prior to WW-II and a bit tedious to list in their entirety for hunting heavy game in the Tropics....Because they all deliver heavy / blunt shaped / high sectional density bullets, without unbearable recoil.

When I say "most" I am not fond of the .600 Nitro as the one I fired was so heavy that although I could hit the target well with it, the rifle itself was so heavy that there is no way I could ever carry it all day long and still be in any condition to handle it swiftly and properly.

I have never fired a .577 Nitro but I will guess the rifles for same are also a bit too heavy for a mere mortal like myself to carry all day long without becoming too fatigued to use it properly.

+1 for the 300 H&H. That's one cartridge that was as used extensively in North America as it was Africa. Way to go Jaco....one of my favorite cartridges.

A 404 Jeffery
318 Westley Richards
7x57 Mauser / 275 Rigby

That would do it for me.

gotta be the 275 Rigby and the 450 NE for me

.318WR, .300 H&H, .375H&H, .416RIGBY, 404Jeffrey, 450,470 and 500NE.

My choice.

yeah but Harrison also wants to know your opinion and why you like them. not just lists of what you all have, want or like

spike.t said:

the ones that worked a hundred plus years ago are still here and work just as well now as they did then.

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Would you say that with today's bullets and powders, they work even better?

I would love to have a nice classic bolt Mauser in 404 or 416...and a double in 470 or 450 NE. But I will have to settle taking my two Ruger Number 1 rifles in 300 H&H and 375 H&H.

I like to say "never hunt with a cartridge younger than you". I could also say ideally (for the uber-traditionalist anyway) never hunt with a rifle younger than you!

I have never owned a rifle (yet) that is older than me, but I sure hope to some day.

tarbe said:

Would you say that with today's bullets and powders, they work even better?

I would love to have a nice classic bolt Mauser in 404 or 416...and a double in 470 or 450 NE. But I will have to settle taking my two Ruger Number 1 rifles in 300 H&H and 375 H&H.

I like to say "never hunt with a cartridge younger than you". I could also say ideally (for the uber-traditionalist anyway) never hunt with a rifle younger than you!

I have never owned a rifle (yet) that is older than me, but I sure hope to some day.

Click to expand...

A rifle older than me.... that would have to be a museum piece

I'm going to go with a single caliber - .375 H&H. The reason is simple. It will handle anything in Africa from a dik dik to an elephant. I'm also very comfortable with it from very close to what I consider a considerable distance. There are definitely rifles that are better for specific situations, but I just don't personally think that there is anything that is as good "across the board."

That also probably explains why I love my .30-06 here in the states. Imust just like the "do everything" rifle.

Royal27 said:

I'm going to go with a single caliber - .375 H&H. The reason is simple. It will handle anything in Africa from a dik dik to an elephant. I'm also very comfortable with it from very close to what I consider a considerable distance. There are definitely rifles that are better for specific situations, but I just don't personally think that there is anything that is as good "across the board."

That also probably explains why I love my .30-06 here in the states. Imust just like the "do everything" rifle.

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I cannot disagree with a single word above.

The ironic thing is, after nearly 50 years of acute gunnutitis, I have never owned a 30-06!

My records indicate I have handloaded 504 rounds of 30-06 ammo for various friend's rifles....but that is as close as I have come to the cartridge!

I am currently on my third .375 H&H though...and have put a little over 1,500 rounds through them.


Tim

tarbe said:

I cannot disagree with a single word above.

The ironic thing is, after nearly 50 years of acute gunnutitis, I have never owned a 30-06!

My records indicate I have handloaded 504 rounds of 30-06 ammo for various friend's rifles....but that is as close as I have come to the cartridge!

I am currently on my third .375 H&H though...and have put a little over 1,500 rounds through them.


Tim

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I got my .30-06 for Christmas when I was 14. My father asked my grandfather for advice on what caliber to get me and my grandfather told him to get me the .30-06 and that I'd be set for anything in the states. That's pretty much spot on.

That's a lot of ammo for a cartridge you've never owned!

Royal27 said:

That's a lot of ammo for a cartridge you've never owned!

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3,403 .308 Winchesters!

7,885 45 ACP, 6,941 44 Magnum, 5,021 45 Colt....and on it goes. All by hand on a single-stage press.

The analytical in me likes to keep records. Typical German! Isn't that what got the East Germans in trouble?

spike.t said:

yeah but Harrison also wants to know your opinion and why you like them. not just lists of what you all have, want or like

Click to expand...

+1.

I own the 30-06, 7x57, 9.3x62, 375H&H. I would consider each manageable to shoot. It is harder to find ammo for the 7x57 and 9.3x62.

It's interesting to me that the Mecca of hunting, Africa, is the one hunting area where the classics are not only appreciated but are still considered the absolute best for taking game from little bitty dik-diks to some of the largest and most dangerous animals on earth. On the other hand, gun writers in the U.S., since day one, have made a fair percentage of their annual income by sparking the annual debate of "What is the best deer cartridge?" Truth is, any cartridge from a .223 to a .458 works well for a 150 pound non-aggressive animal.
My votes: ultra classics in bold type
.243 Winchester
6.5x54 MS
7x57
7x64
.308 Winchester
30/06
.300 H&H
.300 Win Mag
.303 British
8x57
.318 Westley Richards
.350 Rigby
360 No2
9.3x62
9.3x74R
.375 H&H Magnum
450/400 3"
450/400 3 1/4"
404 Jeffery
416 rigby
425 Westley Richards
450 Nitro Express
450 No2
458 Winchester Magnum
and so on up the power/bore scale.

sorry steve but i think the .458 win is a bit of a new comer myself......