Mediums that perform

[Bush Buck]

I am one of those bad guys who has no use for anything between .300 Win and .375. I love hu ting Africa and just think it better to hunt with the .375 if something bigger is warranted.

I understand this point of view.

I enjoy learning about and loading for medium bores but so far I have not hunted with anything between 300 and 375.
The 375 is very versatile - especially for a handloader.

For my hunting, a medium bore less potent than 375 H&H only makes sense If it’s slimmer, lighter and handier than my 375.

 

[BeeMaa]

For my hunting, a medium bore less potent than 375 H&H only makes sense If it’s slimmer, lighter and handier than my 375.

How heavy is your 375? I'd think with scope, sling and ammo recoil should be manageable around 10# or so.

 

[WAB]

I understand this point of view.

I enjoy learning about and loading for medium bores but so far I have not hunted with anything between 300 and 375.
The 375 is very versatile - especially for a handloader.

For my hunting, a medium bore less potent than 375 H&H only makes sense If it’s slimmer, lighter and handier than my 375.

That is the big difference between my .375 H&H and 9.3x62. The 9.3 is slimmer, lighter, and appears to be just as potent in the field.

 

[Bush Buck]

How heavy is your 375? I'd think with scope, sling and ammo recoil should be manageable around 10# or so.

My 375 is less than 10 pounds and a great hunting rifle. That’s why the other mediums haven’t been hunted yet.

For me, searching for the perfect Eland tracking rifle is a fun pursuit between hunts.
For example, my Ruger 9.3x62 is slimmer, lighter and handles like a bird gun -this could be nice on long tracks.

It‘s not about need. I think mediums are fun.

 

[Andrew62]

Lots of great choices to choose from, for me, when I travel to Africa, I take a caliber that if my luggage does not make the trip, they will have ammo there that I can use. namely .375H&H. Out of my 16 African trips, on 4 occasions, my luggage arrived from 1 day to 9 days late.

 

[MS 9x56]

I currently own and hunt with the following mediums: 35 rem, 358 winchester, 350 legend, 9x 56 MS, 35 Whelen and 9.3x62. The biggest differences I see from 30 calibers is more DRT shots, more copious and shorter blood trails95% exit holes and much less blood shot meat.

 

[yamoon]

I only hunt North American so I have grown quite fond of 8x57 both the js and the j or is and i. I feel it has ample power for any North American game except for big brownies and their relatives. I acquired a MS 1910 9.5x57. I haven’t had time to work up a load for it. The steel butt plate may be a bit brutal on a 7 pound 4 ounce rifle.
Mike

 

[MS 9x56]

I only hunt North American so I have grown quite fond of 8x57 both the js and the j or is and i. I feel it has ample power for any North American game except for big brownies and their relatives. I acquired a MS 1910 9.5x57. I haven’t had time to work up a load for it. The steel butt plate may be a bit brutal on a 7 pound 4 ounce rifle.
Mike

Recoil is stout but not onerous. A slip on limbsaver recoils pad will help a lot. Get a load worked up and get the old girl back in the fields and woods where she belongs. I guarantee it will warm your soul.

 

[MS 9x56]

Says the man who pushes the 35W past 3000 fps.

Still not a magnum.

 

[C.W. Richter]

'Have hunted Africa with the .338-06 and don't recommend it (for PG.) Several others do, but that's their choice. My son collected much camp meat using a 30-06 and 220 gr (higher SD/BC bullets than comparable in .338 w/ same cartridge/bullet weight as it's longer/trimmer) and it performed much better. 'Hunted much with larger-cased .338s and then those 250 gr bullets are right at home. With the largest .338s and 300 gr bullets, one could hunt Buffalo in countries that allow it (1,000 ft-lbs more energy than a .375 and much flatter shooting on longer PG shots.) No complaints with the 375-if setup properly, it's a do-it-all (PG/DG) cartridge. If hunting PG in a DG area, it's wise to have that 375 (or Hot 338). I believe the 8mm, the 338-06 and 35 W cartridges are nearly identical. They can work, using the heaviest-for-caliber bullets, but I'd like more steam (shot placement is ultra-critical if you do decide on one of these, and limiting range which is typically not a problem on most safaris.) 'Once shot a wildebeest at 275 yds off of a cliff in Zim, and we watched it run for miles (perfect shot placement.) My conclusion is that anything big in an 06 or Mauser case effectively runs out of steam for quick African kills at 150ish yards (depending upon species hunted.) Go bigger or go .375! African PG are def not NA or Euro deer/elk-they are constructed much tougher to withstand predator attacks...I do love my 7mm M and 338-06, but the latter is best suited for more thin-skinned game at home. The improved Mauser i may bring to Africa sometime, as akin to my 30-06 comment above, it too has fantastic ballistics (SD/BC) in 175ish gr for better penetration and flatter shooting. Whatever you decide on (sans the 375-nearly any of the lighter 260-270 gr and up will perform well on PG,) use heavy-for-caliber bullets and don't take shots beyond the effective range (energy) of that particular round. Enjoy!! By now, I'm thinking you've made your decision. How did it work out for you?

 

[K95]

No one has mentioned the 8x68s. It’s a great medium bore. Power wise similar to the 338 win mag but shoots a bit flatter. I have hunted Alaska twice with it taking Dall , caribou, moose and brown bear, all one shot kills. If your after something that you probably won’t find in camp the 8 x68s won’t disappoint.

 

[JvW]

No bets on the .318 Westley Richards, I see. Perhaps understandable as it is relegated to obscurity these days. I used mine quite a bit on African game up to the size of wildebeest. It is one of the more efficient cartridges out there! Everything that got hit by that 250-grain Woodleigh soft just folded up with a tunnel through it!

It's a pity the .318 hasn't been revived. It punches above its weight as a cartridge and I would have no qualms to shoot a buffalo with a .318 under ideal conditions where I could pick my shot carefully.

 

[jnmullins]

The only medium bore I have taken any game with is my 375, although I have a 35 Whelen AI and an 8x57 as well. The 375 was very effective on a 200+lb feral hog. A 260gr Partition through the shoulders dropped her in her tracks as she ran crossing in front of me.

 

[Scott CWO]

I'm a fan of the .338 WM and I think that the .340 Weatherby Magnum may be the ultimate mid-bore, but I don't have one.

Everyone who is even thinking about hunting Africa needs a .375 H&H, so I'm not addressing that.

I bought a stainless/synthetic .338 WM many years ago in case the opportunity to hunt coastal Alaska comes along. It hasn't yet, but I'm willing to entertain all offers!

Let’s go!

 

[IvW]

9.3x62mm or 9.3x74R

 

[Black Fly]

I really love the 9.3's and 35's. I've had quite a few of each. I've driven down magnum lane for a lot of miles, but after more than 60 years hunting, I've eased off the throttle. If we are talking the over 30 and under 375 crowd, in my world where I don't shoot at big game beyond 250 yards,the old 8x57 is my go to.
It's a whole lot less romp and stomp on the backend. It can be built light to carry and still be pleasant to shoot, yet carries enough clout for anything short of buffalo, elephants and their like, even with cup and core bullets.
One of my 8x57's, an R version, spent its first 50 years on a Boer farm in Africa. Somewhere i have the original owners list of game shot with it. Along with an amazing list of antelope, he collected more than 40 leopards with it. I have some of both his soft point and solid loads.
An overlooked cartridge that is a reliable performer.
Bfly

 

[Doug Hamilton]

No bets on the .318 Westley Richards, I see. Perhaps understandable as it is relegated to obscurity these days. I used mine quite a bit on African game up to the size of wildebeest. It is one of the more efficient cartridges out there! Everything that got hit by that 250-grain Woodleigh soft just folded up with a tunnel through it!

It's a pity the .318 hasn't been revived. It punches above its weight as a cartridge and I would have no qualms to shoot a buffalo with a .318 under ideal conditions where I could pick my shot carefully.

Sounds like a .338-06, except that ammunition and components are much harder to come by. Don't see the .318 WR coming back anytime soon.

 

[Bush Buck]

I currently own and hunt with the following mediums: 35 rem, 358 winchester, 350 legend, 9x 56 MS, 35 Whelen and 9.3x62. The biggest differences I see from 30 calibers is more DRT shots, more copious and shorter blood trails95% exit holes and much less blood shot meat.

I'm curious how many others have seen this difference?

In my experience, switching from a 30-06 to a 375 H&H dramatically shortened the distance big game traveled after the shot. This occurred even when the 375 was loaded with 250 grain bullets at 9.3x62 velocities.
I've seen it enough times now that I hesitate to use 30 caliber for anything bigger than deer ( even though I still believe that the 30-06 is a perfectly satisfactory big game cartridge ).

If you have noticed this difference - quicker kills, shorter runs - at what caliber did it start for you?

 

[freefall]

I'm curious how many others have seen this difference?

In my experience, switching from a 30-06 to a 375 H&H dramatically shortened the distance big game traveled after the shot. This occurred even when the 375 was loaded with 250 grain bullets at 9.3x62 velocities.
I've seen it enough times now that I hesitate to use 30 caliber for anything bigger than deer ( even though I still believe that the 30-06 is a perfectly satisfactory big game cartridge ).

If you have noticed this difference - quicker kills, shorter runs - at what caliber did it start for you?

.358 Win

 

[Safari Dave]

Let’s go!

I missed the deadline to apply for coastal grizzlies!


Maybe 2024...


Can a nonresident hunt with a resident, or do I need to hire a guide?