Plaas Gewere (Farm Rifle)

Alexandro Faria

AH enthusiast
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Messages
324
Reaction score
358
Location
Pretoria
Media
20
Articles
8
Hunting reports
Africa
1
Member of
SA wingshooters, GOSA,
Hunted
RSA, Namibia, Botswana
Okay, so I have been gone for a while in an attempt to learn by means of practical experience… I am slightly ashamed to say that I have only made small inroads. What follows are my lessons and frustrations:

1) For heavy duty hunting, I have found my sweetspot, seeing as I will never intentionally hunt elephant: 1) .375 H&H in a beautiful bolt action (good old 25" barrel) 2) 500/416… still a dream, but not too far away, I hope. Personally, I would love one in a double falling block (drool… pitch a tent…)

2) For clays and wingshooting, I have used a bruno, lanber and an ancient AYA 20 bore… This has taught me many things: a) You don't need a "new"/expensive shotgun to shoot well b) I really enjoy competing with and beating men shooting with $4000 guns when using my beat up little lanber (+- $500) c) I'm about as close to finding a replacement for my lanber as I was 6 months ago. It's driving me mad and honestly I think I need help.

3) Now, (I won't admit this anywhere else but the forum) I have a little, dark secret… I have found myself dreaming of something I, nor anyone else,probably has or ever will own: A 16 bore (sxs) paradox (3" chambers, of course). I have been spending a lot of time on the farm lately and a 6 pound gun I can use on guineas and francolin as well as pigs and the occasional impala (with buckshot and slugs) would be great.

4) I never thought I would, but I need a trekking rifle… Hiking up and down mountains with a relatively heavy .375 after something like a vaal rheebok is not fun, in any way, shape or form. Thus, I'm still hung up on the 6.5x55 in a #1. She'll be used on smaller game, drawing the line at black wildebeest/red hartebeest. The main idea is to load 120-130gr rounds at about 2800-3000ft/s.

5)Lastly, my bakkie needs a plaas gun which will also be my training rifle. Thinking of a bolt action with a suppressor (sling and scope as well, of course), but I'm not too sure on caliber, if I'm honest. This will basically serve the same purpose as the 16 bore, but at further distances. So, game birds, the occasional pig, a duiker or 2 and impala. So, as before, opinions are welcome. I know it's a huge spread, but I really just want to be driving around with the shotgun and 1 other rifle; I really don't plan on shooting anything large while working.

So, there it all is. I hope anyone that reads this enjoys my ramblings.

God bless you all!
 
.243W. A vanguard will do.
 
handguns are wonderful,gets the job done nicely.
 
How about a nice drilling to ride in the bakkie? You would be SOL on the suppressor but it would get you down to one gun and the cool factor of a drilling is undeniable! This reminds me to search for a drilling of my own!
 
.243W. A vanguard will do.
+1
243win is underrated in my opinion.
can be had in some ultralight versions with synthetic stocks, easy to carry, no worries about dings and scratches. can be suppressed.
pretty much perfect.
 
5)Lastly, my bakkie needs a plaas gun which will also be my training rifle. Thinking of a bolt action with a suppressor (sling and scope as well, of course), but I'm not too sure on caliber, if I'm honest. This will basically serve the same purpose as the 16 bore, but at further distances. So, game birds, the occasional pig, a duiker or 2 and impala. So, as before, opinions are welcome. I know it's a huge spread, but I really just want to be driving around with the shotgun and 1 other rifle; I really don't plan on shooting anything large while working.
If the 6.5 won't also fulfil this role, then a 308 would be ideal. Cheaper ammo than a 243 (in SA) and ample knockdown power if you need to put something out of its misery. Very cheap to keep fed while practising on the range!
A 223 might also cover the bases, other than it's marginal on pigs and larger game.

A left-field option would be a lever gun but that probably rules out the silencer. A 30-30 would be ideal but not so common here, so you'd probably be looking at a 357 mag.
 
I will go for a .223 ! I personally have one that i use as my Bakkie gun and it just an amazing little calibre, cheap to run and very accurate up to what ever range you want to shoot. No recoil and with a silencer it will be excellent. Have a look at the CZ 527 ebony edition in .223 rem
 
To all who took the time to reply, I really appreciate the input! I'm pretty settled on the .243 win, I think it's the logical choice under the circumstances. Just hoping any guineas that are shot don't explode, but hopefully I can find some loads that are accurate enough for me to go for head shots, when available. Otherwise, I think it's time to start reloading any way.

On the shotgun front, I had another look at the 525 sporting and I quite like it. Seems a little ungainly, but the alternative (the sp1) just feels like a toy to me and the LOP is short. So I think I will take on the browning as soon as I have a buyer for my lanber. At a $1700 for one barely used, I don't think I am going to do much better. just need to get myself a few extended chokes and a new trigger blade.

In closing, I think I will get myself a .357 revolver sometime in the future, when finances allow.
 
To all who took the time to reply, I really appreciate the input! I'm pretty settled on the .243 win, I think it's the logical choice under the circumstances. Just hoping any guineas that are shot don't explode, but hopefully I can find some loads that are accurate enough for me to go for head shots, when available. Otherwise, I think it's time to start reloading any way.

On the shotgun front, I had another look at the 525 sporting and I quite like it. Seems a little ungainly, but the alternative (the sp1) just feels like a toy to me and the LOP is short. So I think I will take on the browning as soon as I have a buyer for my lanber. At a $1700 for one barely used, I don't think I am going to do much better. just need to get myself a few extended chokes and a new trigger blade.

In closing, I think I will get myself a .357 revolver sometime in the future, when finances allow.
Good choice on the 243win, i have used softs on guineas and spurwing quite unsuccessfully. I bought some S&B solids and they work very well. If you are reloading, load some solids up.
I too have a 357mag, a Ruger, that i carry whenever i am on the road, you better be ready to haul that heavy thing around... the only drawback is the weight.
The bark and bite definitely can be worth it though.
 
@PeteG
Thanks for the input! Think I will be doing just that. A box of each in the cubby should do it!
I must be honest and say I have never really found the .243 satisfactory- too much speed in bushveld and not enough weight over distance (not saying it isn't a killer, just saying the rounds dance a little too much in the wind).
This is exactly the reason I have been apprehensive to get on.

I can imagine that the 357 mag carries some serious weight! I've always been a little more drawn to revolvers, I kind feel like less can go wrong with them. On the other hand, you have 6-8 shots to get it right, after that, you're in trouble. I'm obviously referring to self-defense here. On the other hand, I feel like a hit with the 357 will definitely mess up your day. Make the first one count.
 
I was also going to suggest the .223 but you mentioned pigs and Impala, which leaves the .223 as an 'ethical head shot only' option. No problem for springbok but Impala are a little tougher.

I recall the first survey many years ago of African PH's conducted by a certain US author for the best two and three rifles to bring on a Safari. The .243W got a lot of mentions as a 'camp gun'. The next survey suffered from calibre creep and I wondered if game had gotten tougher !? I think by the 2nd survey safaris had gotten shorter and the time to hunt and possibly give up harder shots had diminished. It also contained more celebrity PH's.

The Vanguard is a great cost effective option.
 
Glad your back posting! A 243 would be a nice addition.
 
25-06 would be a nice option, specially if you reload.
 
Along with the .357 mag revolver you should get yourself a Blaser BD14. It is a bock drilling that comes with a 20ga. on top, the lower barrel in either .22 Hornet or .222 Remington. and the intermediate barrel in a range of calibers from 6.5x55 up to 9.3x74 and the barrels are easily adjustable for regulating, what more could you ask for.:sneaky:(y)
 
Take a good look at a BRNO Combination gun. Shotgun on the top rifle on the bottom. Mine is 12 Ga. over a
7 x 65R. That way you can shoot just about whatever shows up.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,614
Messages
1,131,156
Members
92,669
Latest member
WillieBurk
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top