The African 3 gun battery

[Quaticman]

Suppose for a moment that you could go back in time to let's say 1909, and you were invited to accompany TR on his famous 6 month safari throughout what was then British East Africa.
What are your thoughts on a Mauser Model 96 in 6.5 x 55 Swede, a Mauser model 98 in 9.3 x 62 and a fine English double in .500 Nitro Express as a 3 gun battery? Keep in mind this is a full bag safari lasting 6 months during which you very likely would have the opportunity to harvest hundreds of animals ranging from duiker to elephant. What is your preferred 3 gun battery?

 

[spike.t]

Back then slightly more than 3

.22 hornet
2 x rigby 275
1 x rigby .416
1 x 500 or 470 rigby double
1 x Winchester 1897 shotgun for any issues
And another 12 bore shotgun
And a couple of colt 1911
Probably dont fit into the correct year so would come along later....

 

[BeeMaa]

I notice you set this in 1909 and thereby eliminating the possibility of using a 375H&H and the 375R. Very clever.

450/400NE Holland and Holland Royal double rifle
6.5x55 Mauser
12 bore Rigby Rising-Bite SxS

 

[IvW]

3 would never do it for 6 months full bag safari...
22 Hornet
7x57mm/7×57R
9.3x62mm/9.3×74R
404 Jeff/450/400 NE 3"
500 NE 3"
12ga SxS shotgun

 

[IvW]

Back then slightly more than 3

.22 hornet
2 x rigby 275
1 x rigby .416
1 x 500 or 470 rigby double
1 x Winchester 1897 shotgun for any issues
And another 12 bore shotgun
And a couple of colt 1911
Probably dont fit into the correct year so would come along later....

You cannot have a 416 Rigby it did not exist in 1909.....

 

[spike.t]

You cannot have a 416 Rigby it did not exist in 1909.....

That's why I said I would come along later....and neither did the .22 hornet...so take it you coming with me not them....in 1930 when hornet was introduced....could always leave hornet out and go in 1911....or drop the 416 and colts and take a 404 and couple of c96 broomhandles instead.... with one a full auto version...then could go along with them...decisions decisions decisions

 

[IvW]

That's why I said I would come along later....and neither did the .22 hornet...so take it you coming with me not them....in 1930 when hornet was introduced....could always leave hornet out and go in 1911....or drop the 416 and colts and take a 404 and couple of c96 broomhandles instead.... with one a full auto version...then could go along with them...decisions decisions decisions

Oh fu...it lets drop the Hornet and take a 22LR and go hunt....

 

[Cervus elaphus]

You cannot have a 416 Rigby it did not exist in 1909.....

Correct. Both the 404 Jeffery & 425 Westley Richards did so I would put either on the list.

 

[Ravensview]

7x57, 9.3x62, 12 gauge sxs and if an extra colt.45 saa

 

[Shootist43]

Your proposed three gun rifle battery would work just fine. However the need for a good 12 Ga. shotgun would soon become apparent. If the maker of your fine English Double rifle made a set of 12 Ga. shotgun barrels for it, that might have been the way to go.

 

[Red Leg]

Your proposed three gun rifle battery would work just fine. However the need for a good 12 Ga. shotgun would soon become apparent. If the maker of your fine English Double rifle made a set of 12 Ga. shotgun barrels for it, that might have been the way to go.

Make it a paradox and we pick up both a shotgun and a fine lion gun.

 

[spike.t]

Make it a paradox and we pick up both a shotgun and a fine lion gun.

Yup throw one of those in my steamer trunks as well...

 

[WAB]

Oh if we only could! My three gun battery would have been:
- 9.3x62 bolt gun with a receiver peep sight
- 470 nitro express double rifle
- 12 ga paradox gun (double of course)

 

[HWL]

In 1909, I would not go without a M1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer Stutzen in 6,5x54 MS, with a factory mounted Kahles Mignon 4x on a Vienna mount.

The medium rifle would be a M1905 Mannlicher-Schoenauer in 9x56 M-S.

For the real big stuff, a big English double rifle would be appropriate.

But the poor lieutenant of the German Colonial Schutztruppe can't afford any....

So he picks his hammer drilling in .450 3 1/4" NE 12ga,12ga.


HWL

 

[SJN]

Nice choice HWL (Georg) I support your 6.5x54MS loaded with 160Gr roundnose bullets you can take all thin skin game including Lion. Then a hammer drilling in 9,3x74 the smooth bores being either 16g or 12 g. The problem in your era of choice is not caliber choice but bullet construction for taking on the big guys such as Buff and Eli with hi-velocity calibers and the bullets of those day's.
Enjoy your safari!!

 

[HWL]

Nice choice HWL (Georg) I support your 6.5x54MS loaded with 160Gr roundnose bullets you can take all thin skin game including Lion.

...found 110 rounds of Kynoch 160 grainers in an Austrian gun store.

Bought it for 200 €...... hope they are not from 1909 and still go bang....


HWL

 

[double rifle newbie]

12 gauge. lots of uses.
9.3x74r for PG and thin skinned DG
450 nitro express for the big heavies

 

[bowjijohn]

Same as I've got now

9.3 x 62 (I think I can have that - it just gets in at 1905 I think?)
404 Jeff
Double barrelled side by side 12 bore shotty

 

[Tra3]

I wonder how many rounds of ammo were brought on trips like this?

I get a concerned look from my wife when I put 4-5 ammo cans in the vehicle for a weekend trip to the lake cabin. One can only imagine the dozens of cases of ammo brought.

 

[RETD16]

In 1909… How bout
25/20
The new fangled 30/06
500 NE