Hunting with black rifles in Africa

308W

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Hello to averybody,

I have got just a curiosity, what about semiauto "black rifles" like AR 10/15 or AK, for hunting in Africa, are them used or not?

Pro and cons?

What about your hunting experiences with them?

Thank you for your answers.
 
308W - Welcome to AH!

You need to specify the country, because the laws vary.
That said, I would plan on taking a bolt action or break action rifle.
A semi-auto may be "legal" for you to hunt with, but answering the questions about it may be more trouble than it's worth.
Another good source of information is RiflePermits.com
Good luck.
 
Where the semiauto are permited, are the black rifles used?
 
I know of no African nation where a semi-auto in battle rifle guize would be welcomed. Even if you somehow had permission for a semi-auto hunting rifle, the second the case was opened for inspection you would be in for a level of attention that would at best be unpleasant and certainly lengthy.

Several years ago, one of the NRA pubs ran a story about some guy who took a specially made single shot “AR platform” rifle to South Africa or Zim and got away with it. The point of which I can not imagine.

Someone here may have other, newer information, but I wouldn’t think about it.
 
As was previously stated, no semiautos in Africa.
 
These are the guys carrying "black" guns in Africa.

Screen Shot 2018-11-11 at 07.50.01.png



Screen Shot 2018-11-11 at 07.53.12.png
 
You can own a “black” gun in South Africa, I have a SIG M400 rifle, but here they are for sporting use only and illegal to hunt with.

Here is my sporting rifle:

D09C24DC-457C-48CF-8035-BAA5CCCAACAA.jpeg
 
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Good gun SIG
Sporting and self defence too.
 
Good gun SIG
Sporting and self defence too.

We aren’t permitted to use a semi auto rifle for self defense so sporting only!
We can license one self defense weapon, either a handgun or shotgun.

I would much rather go hunting with my CZ 550 than my SIG even were it legal.
 
I would much rather go hunting with my CZ 550 than my SIG even were it legal.
After the enjoyable 22lr there is the 223R, both can do a lot around the world!
Even if they are not "African calibers".
 
We may own semi-auto rifles in SA for the purpose of sport shooting, hunting or business. The later typically applies to private security firms.

To own a fire-arm in SA we need to have a so called competency certificate for the type of weapon, of which 4 categories exist, nl

1. Rifle
2. Handgun
3. Shotgun
4. Carbine/ Self loading rifle.

To own the SLR, you have to have the competency, as well as belong to an accredited association to obtain “dedicated hunter” or “dedicated sport shooter” status.

The term hunting becomes blurred as per every province’s nature concervation ordinance. They typically specify a list of prohibited hunting methods, of which one is using a firearm capable of discharging more than two consecutive shots without reloading.

The above thus makes it illegal to hunt with a SLR. However, the list of prohibited methods of hunting is followed by a list of exemptions, for eg. If the landowner uses the weapon to cull or for the controll of vermin or non-game animals. Examples here in KZN are bushpig, black backed jackall and non indigenous game like Fallow deer.

To try and bring a black gun through a African border and police check would be looking for lots and lots of red tape though.

Of course the above mentioned phrase in the ordinance has a glitch or two in as well, as a double-action revolver, drilling or, in certain instances, a semi auto shotgun is legal to hunt with.
 
After the enjoyable 22lr there is the 223R, both can do a lot around the world!
Even if they are not "African calibers".

Both great calibers for sure and I own bolt guns in .22 and .223 and love shooting both.
But all my hunting is larger plains game for meat and so I use my .375
You could use a .308 or 6.5 chambered Semi for hunting plains game but with all the legal hassles here a bolt gun makes more sense.
 
Thank you Dewald for your detailed informations.
 
Both great calibers for sure and I own bolt guns in .22 and .223 and love shooting both.
But all my hunting is larger plains game for meat and so I use my .375
You could use a .308 or 6.5 chambered Semi for hunting plains game but with all the legal hassles here a bolt gun makes more sense.
I hope you will have the opportunity use them for hunting too.
The .375 is the all around in Africa, I think indispensable.

Bolt and parallel guns looks like the only way for hunting there.
 
what advantage does a black gun have over a bolt?
better accuracy?
better trigger?
better balanced?
more reliable?
good choice of chamberings?
i don't think so.
bruce.
 
what advantage does a black gun have over a bolt?
better accuracy?
better trigger?
better balanced?
more reliable?
good choice of chamberings?
i don't think so.
bruce.

I am a bolt gun guy but I have had a few black guns built recently for varmint control. Coyotes on my farm, night hog hunts on farms south of me. I would have agreed with you but some of these guns will embarrass many of my bolt guns. I have a recent build in 6.5 Grendel that is unreal. 18” polygonally rifled bbl, match trigger, nightforce 4-14x SHV and armasight thermal. That rifle will put 5 shots in 1/2” all day long. I recently shot a 2” group off the bipod at 300. I will always go to my bolt guns and single shots for serious hunts, but I’ve learned not to sneer at the black guns. They’re deadly.
 

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