Cape Buffalo Hunt-Bring or Rent a rifle?

[Ridge Runner]

I wore the same Kuiu pants and merino wool shirt for 17 straight days. Home to home. It really wasn’t that bad

LMAO.....17 days in the same clothes? ....been there, done that.......only you thought it wasn't that bad. All Others within 100 feet of you had a different opinion....your 10 day deodorant ran out 151 days ago.

Whenever we would return from a "walk through the park" we would clean and reorganize our gear then hit the showers to scrub the "crud" off our body and then put on clean, fresh, clothes, before a bit of "relaxation". Our previously worn uniforms would be standing up on their own and the odor was so bad in the barracks.... hazmat was required to get near our previously worn uniforms to collect them up for burning... yeah the washing machines could stand the stench. Ok, maybe a hint of over exaggerated; Nah... actually truth is stranger than fiction.

AaaHhh, for the days of old, when men were bold, women were women, and the sheep were very nervous. LMFAO. at the memories.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

When I bowhunted I took a bow case with that stuff. But I’ve done 2 trips to Botswana after elephant and 2 multi week international trips with my wife with nothing but an 1800 cubic inch backpack which I carried on. It’s so much easier than checking stuff and worrying about whether it made it.

I hunted snow sheep in Russia in 2018. My rifle made it but nothing else. I wore the same Kuiu pants and merino wool shirt for 17 straight days. Home to home. It really wasn’t that bad

No thank you.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

To me both owning and taking a rifle to Africa gives me great pleasure being part of the entire experience. Having said that I can see if you are only hunting PG where that might be easier. However hunting DG to me would be like The Ghost and The Darkness movie about taking someone else’s weapon…I want to completely know my rifle and be comfortable with it versus using a camp gun I am not familiar with

I learned my lesson about 50 years ago. I was at a buddies house and he wanted to make a quick afternoon hunt. He volunteered to lend me a rifle. Of course I jumped a good buck, had trouble finding him in the scope, then couldn't get the safety off. Didn't get the buck. I'e never used anyone else's gun on a hunt since then.

 

[grand veneur]

While I also prefer hunting with my own rifles, and have done it so many times worldwide, looking back at how complicated traveling with a rifle has become, I am considering the option Rent a rifle more often in the future.

I have hunted buffalo three times in Africa by using borrowed weapons: twice caliber 375 H&H Magnum and once caliber 416 Remington Magnum. I had no complaints about the quality of the rifles and I was able to take down buffalo with them. Therefore, I would continue to try to hunt buffalo and even elephants with borrowed weapons in the future, if it were not the caliber issue. Most of the available rifles are caliber 375 H&H Magnum, which is not exactly my preferred caliber class for buffalo hunting and certainly not for elephant hunting. For this reason I will most likely hunt elephants with an own big bore rifle.

The initial question was Cape Buffalo Hunt-Bring or Rent a Rifle? and my answer would be to a beginner in buffalo hunting who does not own a suitable rifle, first try to rent a rifle for this purpose and only purchase a suitable one if he plan to repeat this hunt regularly. Anyone who hunts regularly needs a own rifle, even if they is willing to use a rented one occasionally, because suitable rifle for hunting big game are not always available in all camps.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

There is a great satisfaction in hunting with your own rifle and keeping it.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

There is a great satisfaction in hunting with your own rifle and keeping it.

Absolutely.

 

[Andrew62]

I learned my lesson about 50 years ago. I was at a buddies house and he wanted to make a quick afternoon hunt. He volunteered to lend me a rifle. Of course I jumped a good buck, had trouble finding him in the scope, then couldn't get the safety off. Didn't get the buck. I'e never used anyone else's gun on a hunt since then.

You make a good point, of my African hunts, 2 times I rented a gun because I was only doing a cull hunt, so it didn't really matter. But even on those, I missed animals simply because I did not know the rifle. And what is the point in buying a nice rifle, invest in a quality scope, then leave it at home?

Per your question, for me personally, there is just no way I would ever take a DG hunt and borrow a rifle.

 

[mark-hunter]

One theoretical question.
So, when reading various literature on rifles and recoil the standard wisdom is this:

30-06 is versatile caliber known to have recoil on the upper acceptable limit for average shooter.

Next thing o DG guns, various authorized literature says:
375 is versatile DG caliber known to have recoil manageable or acceptable for average shooter.

These to are not alligned. Math does not match.

There is a difference between recoil between the two.

Question is following.
How a would be first time DG hunter (or first time buffalo hunter) who is used to shoot his 30-06, be ready and proficient enough to shoot at least 375 H&H, on his first buffalo hunt, on rental rifle?

Recoil comparison:
Cartridge Recoil (ft·lbf) Recoil (Joules)
.30-06 Springfield (180 gr) ≈ 20 ft·lbf ≈ 27 J
.375 H&H Magnum (300 gr) ≈ 40–45 ft·lbf ≈ 54–61 J

The difference in recoil is double!

His training would then be one or two shots at target in the camp.
There is a high risk of flinch involved. Its not like swapping 30-06 with 270 win or 308 win.

My progress to recoil managment was like this:
Started hunting with 308 win
Switched to 30-06 spr.
Got interested in driven boar hunts - tried 9.3 from a friend, switched to 9.3x62 as I found recoil tolerable.
Planned first safari with 375 HH rental, but before trained with 9.3 on the range.

Then I made first PG safari with my own rifle in 375 (eland) then went on buffalo with my own 375.
On my next DG safari, due to travel concerns, I hunted with 416 rental gun, but till I actually tried 416 on the range in camp, I was really concerned about flinch and recoil. I did not know what to expect.

Difference in recoil 375 / 416 is following:

Cartridge	Recoil energy (J)	Recoil energy (ft·lb)	Recoil velocity (m/s)
.375 H&H (300 gr @ 2550 fps)	54.8 J	40.4 ft·lb	5.18 m/s
.416 Rigby (400 gr @ 2400 fps)	79.1 J	58.3 ft·lb	5.90 m/s

So, if going on a first buffalo hunt, with rental rifle, the answer is - it is possible under condition you are adaptable to various rifles, you know in advance what rifle and caliber you will shoot, and be certain you can handle this rifle with expected recoil.

But training options at home, are not same everywhere - options to train in some countries are limited, to none at all.
It is hard to get to rifle in DG caliber just to train.
In some European countries, virtually impossible!

This will bring high level of luck, and gamble to the first time DG hunter with rental rifle in Africa

 

[Flbt]

One theoretical question.
So, when reading various literature on rifles and recoil the standard wisdom is this:

30-06 is versatile caliber known to have recoil on the upper acceptable limit for average shooter.

Next thing o DG guns, various authorized literature says:
375 is versatile DG caliber known to have recoil manageable or acceptable for average shooter.

These to are not alligned. Math does not match.

There is a difference between recoil between the two.

Question is following.
How a would be first time DG hunter (or first time buffalo hunter) who is used to shoot his 30-06, be ready and proficient enough to shoot at least 375 H&H, on his first buffalo hunt, on rental rifle?

Recoil comparison:
Cartridge Recoil (ft·lbf) Recoil (Joules)
.30-06 Springfield (180 gr) ≈ 20 ft·lbf ≈ 27 J
.375 H&H Magnum (300 gr) ≈ 40–45 ft·lbf ≈ 54–61 J

The difference in recoil is double!

His training would then be one or two shots at target in the camp.
There is a high risk of flinch involved. Its not like swapping 30-06 with 270 win or 308 win.

My progress to recoil managment was like this:
Started hunting with 308 win
Switched to 30-06 spr.
Got interested in driven boar hunts - tried 9.3 from a friend, switched to 9.3x62 as I found recoil tolerable.
Planned first safari with 375 HH rental, but before trained with 9.3 on the range.

Then I made first PG safari with my own rifle in 375 (eland) then went on buffalo with my own 375.
On my next DG safari, due to travel concerns, I hunted with 416 rental gun, but till I actually tried 416 on the range in camp, I was really concerned about flinch and recoil. I did not know what to expect.

Difference in recoil 375 / 416 is following:

Cartridge	Recoil energy (J)	Recoil energy (ft·lb)	Recoil velocity (m/s)
.375 H&H (300 gr @ 2550 fps)	54.8 J	40.4 ft·lb	5.18 m/s
.416 Rigby (400 gr @ 2400 fps)	79.1 J	58.3 ft·lb	5.90 m/s

So, if going on a first buffalo hunt, with rental rifle, the answer is - it is possible under condition you are adaptable to various rifles, you know in advance what rifle and caliber you will shoot, and be certain you can handle this rifle with expected recoil.

But training options at home, are not same everywhere - options to train in some countries are limited, to none at all.
It is hard to get to rifle in DG caliber just to train.
In some European countries, virtually impossible!

This will bring high level of luck, and gamble to the first time DG hunter with rental rifle in Africa

I don’t know how much alike the recoil will feel. But a shotgun with heavy loads do kick a bit.
I believe you can get up in to the 50 flbs of recoil with a 12 ga

 

[mark-hunter]

Hmmm, hard do say

I don’t know how much alike the recoil will feel. But a shotgun with heavy loads do kick a bit.
I believe you can get up in to the 50 flbs of recoil with a 12 ga

I run the calculations, you are almost correct. 15 foot pounds difference.

But, must be 3-1/2 gauge, not a trap gun. With cumulative training and effect could be acceptable, like 15 shots of 3-1/2 GA, to simulate 10 shots of 375 H&H.

12/89 - 12=3-1/2 GA (1-oz slug @ 1600 fps, 8.0 lb shotgun)
≈ 40.5 J (≈ 29.9 ft·lb)

.375 H&H (300 gr @ 2550 fps, 9.0 lb rifle)
54.8 J (≈ 40.4 ft·lb) — (this is the .375 value used for comparison)

I personally use a little trick on myself when trying an unknown rifle for first time.
I try to imagine I am shooting 22lr, and have a shot to surprise me.

 

[Flbt]

Hmmm, hard do say

I run the calculations, you are almost correct. 15 foot pounds difference.

But, must be 3-1/2 gauge, not a trap gun. With cumulative training and effect could be acceptable, like 15 shots of 3-1/2 GA, to simulate 10 shots of 375 H&H.

12/89 - 12=3-1/2 GA (1-oz slug @ 1600 fps, 8.0 lb shotgun)
≈ 40.5 J (≈ 29.9 ft·lb)

.375 H&H (300 gr @ 2550 fps, 9.0 lb rifle)
54.8 J (≈ 40.4 ft·lb) — (this is the .375 value used for comparison)

I personally use a little trick on myself when trying an unknown rifle for first time.
I try to imagine I am shooting 22lr, and have a shot to surprise me.

I looked at a recoil list for the shotguns the buckshot they said was getting to 56 ft lbs of recoil.
And you can use light riot type guns to get the weight down and the recoil up.
Or some light weight single shot.

I just don’t know how the feel will be shotgun slow and low pressure.
I honestly don’t know because until my shoulder got bad I really did not pay much attention to recoil out of shotguns even the 3 1/2 12 or 10.

 

[375Fox]

Hmmm, hard do say

I run the calculations, you are almost correct. 15 foot pounds difference.

But, must be 3-1/2 gauge, not a trap gun. With cumulative training and effect could be acceptable, like 15 shots of 3-1/2 GA, to simulate 10 shots of 375 H&H.

12/89 - 12=3-1/2 GA (1-oz slug @ 1600 fps, 8.0 lb shotgun)
≈ 40.5 J (≈ 29.9 ft·lb)

.375 H&H (300 gr @ 2550 fps, 9.0 lb rifle)
54.8 J (≈ 40.4 ft·lb) — (this is the .375 value used for comparison)

I personally use a little trick on myself when trying an unknown rifle for first time.
I try to imagine I am shooting 22lr, and have a shot to surprise me.

Squeezing a trigger is all mental. The idea of recoil exposure with a shotgun to prepare for DG cartridges is a waste of time to me and just beating yourself up for no reason. The recoil velocity of a shotgun is significantly slower than a rifle, so it will not feel the same. The stock designs are also different. If a hunter wants to prepare for a rental rifle the best way would be to shoot different rifles that belong to different friends before your hunt, hopefully a few won’t fit you all that well. Practice squeezing the trigger on dry fire and have your friend load a few empties unknown to you to see how you squeeze the trigger and follow through when you think it’s a live round. The way you squeeze the trigger and follow through will determine where the bullet goes. The recoil on a rental rifle unfortunately just is what it is.

 

[grand veneur]

You make a good point, of my African hunts, 2 times I rented a gun because I was only doing a cull hunt, so it didn't really matter. But even on those, I missed animals simply because I did not know the rifle. And what is the point in buying a nice rifle, invest in a quality scope, then leave it at home?

Per your question, for me personally, there is just no way I would ever take a DG hunt and borrow a rifle.

I try to use my own rifles whenever possible, which I have done in most cases, but sometimes there was a reason to use a rented rifle and therefore I don't reject it in all cases. Anyone who regularly hunts buffalo, or wants to do it, needs their own rifle for that purpose, especially because they cannot always rent one. Of course, you don't buy something like that just to leave it at home, although there are plenty of cases where the expensive luxury toy stay in the gun-safe while something completely different is used in the field. A gunmaker in Germany said that more than the half of his expensive luxury big bore rifles never sees Africa, at least not in its final shape at delivery.

 

[trperk1]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I have decided my next African hunt to be a CB in Moz or Zim, and I have a question: Should I be dead set on buying a rifle for said hunt? Or should I just rent a rifle in camp?

My reasoning for wanting to rent a rifle is that spending thousands for a .375/.416 that I will only get to use a handful of times, as well as spending hundreds on ammo, doesn't seem too economically savvy. However, I know how useful it is to get some practice in with said rifles above so I can hit the ground running in camp.

Would love some suggestions/advice.

Thanks

If you're properly prepared you'll use the new rifles a few times a week for months leading up to your safari. Then when the moment of truth comes, you'll have one less thing to worry about.

You could of course buy one of the many used rifles on this forum and then re-sale it when you return. You'll recoup most your money that way.

 

[Tbitty]

I generally prefer to rent rifles for overseas travel hunts. I did a buff hunt earlier this year and used their .375 HH - partially because I dont own a legal caliber for DG, but more because its just one less thing for me to worry about.

Any quality outfitter will have reliable/quality firearms because they want you to be successful. I own and have shot a wide variety of rifle brands/models/platforms/actions/sights, and am comfortable picking up damn near anything. As long as the rifle is capable, Im good with it.

Ask in advance what they offer for gun model, sight type, and action - if you can use those then you don't need to buy a new rifle.

 

[spike.t]

Rent one. Show up to camp with only a backpack and they’ll love you

I have taken a bow twice. I’ve rented a rifle twice. And I’m renting next year for Cape buffalo. I do enjoy the hassle free travel of no checked bags and no rifle or bow.

Out of interest why will they love you......?

 

[Doug Hamilton]

There is a great satisfaction in hunting with your own rifle and keeping it.

Yes there is. I do not hunt in countries if I can not bring my own rifles. I got a Whitworth Express in .458 WM. Later I got an identical Mark X action and barreled it in .300 WM. Both actions have been outfitted with Timney triggers, M70 type safeties and smoothed. I do.not hunt in NA with the .458 but I have take to buffalo bulls with it, and taken a good variety of game in Africa, the US and Canada with the .300. As you said, there is great satisfaction in using and keeping your own rifles.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I have decided my next African hunt to be a CB in Moz or Zim, and I have a question: Should I be dead set on buying a rifle for said hunt? Or should I just rent a rifle in camp?

My reasoning for wanting to rent a rifle is that spending thousands for a .375/.416 that I will only get to use a handful of times, as well as spending hundreds on ammo, doesn't seem too economically savvy. However, I know how useful it is to get some practice in with said rifles above so I can hit the ground running in camp.

Would love some suggestions/advice.

Thanks

Personally speaking I would never use anyone else's rifle on a dangerous game hunt just meeting them.

As many have said buy a economically affordable RELIABLE 375. I have a 416 Rem mag I use for lion hunting and maybe elephant. You don't need a 416 to kill a buffalo. I've killed 2 bulls with my 375. One dropped instantly the other ran 30 yards. I can't imagine showing up on a hunt chasing free range CB with a firearm I'm not familiar. The feel of action and looking through that scope for a few practice rounds in camp? Nah.

Traveling to Africa with a firearm isn't a big deal. IMO Delta is the most friendly US airline when it comes to firearms. So you're going to need a 375, legal minimum, a good quality scope. It doesn't have to be a 2k $ last minute low light gathering scope. But something of quality to handle the recoil of your gun. Ammo to practice, pelican rifle case and you're on your way. I'd invest in this equipment.

Remember you can shoot 260-270 grain bullets out of a 375 H&H. That's suitable for elk and bears. I never thought I'd ever hunt elk but have gone on elk hunts in Utah when I can get a tag.

Good luck.

 

[Lancaster]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I have decided my next African hunt to be a CB in Moz or Zim, and I have a question: Should I be dead set on buying a rifle for said hunt? Or should I just rent a rifle in camp?

My reasoning for wanting to rent a rifle is that spending thousands for a .375/.416 that I will only get to use a handful of times, as well as spending hundreds on ammo, doesn't seem too economically savvy. However, I know how useful it is to get some practice in with said rifles above so I can hit the ground running in camp.

Would love some suggestions/advice.

Thanks

Where are you based?

 

[coreydb]

Renting is common sense because the hunt is expensive, or if this hunt is a "one and done" experience. That said, if you fully intend to commit to hunting African game, then buying a DG caliber rifle like .375H&H is certainly something to consider.