African Battery

NoStepOnSnek

NoStepOnSnek

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I have a buffalo/plains game hunt coming up next year split between Free State and Limpopo. Figured I’d discuss my battery and see what yall thought

Buffalo Gun:
Ruger No.1 458 Win Mag
450 Grain North Fork SS/CPS combo
Trijicon 1-6
Shooting softball sized groups off sticks at 50 yards with SS/CPS mixed group

Plains Game:
Ruger No.1 30-06 or 7x57
Both topped with a Leupold 1-4
Trying to find the preferred round for both still
30-06 does not like 180gr Oryx
7x57 doesn’t like the 140 gr I ran through it
Also have to decide which one to take

Open for any ammo suggestions and to see what yall are running these days
 
You’re good to go. Hold your water on the buffalo. I shoot the 180g Barnes TSX. Might try them in your rifles.
 
And if you one and only shot at your buffalo is the last day at 70-80 yards where you have to thread a shot through a four-inch opening in the brush? A softball sized group at fifty yards would seem better described as a pattern. Assuming the SS is accurate, I would make that my choice, sight my rifle in at 100 yards, and go kill a buffalo. I do just that with TSX or A Frames.
 
I’d talk to your outfitter about expected plains game shot distances. I think you’ll want something more than a 4x scope for 200-300 yards. Plenty of good factory ammo options for 30/06. Federal trophy bonded tip or terminal ascent, barnes TSX/TTSX, Nosler Accubond.
 
The North Fork 450 SS is the only bullet you will need. They penetrate like mad so you won’t need the solids. Mine was also out of a 458 wm st about 2400 fps it went over 45” to 50” at expanded diameter of .879” the bullet weighed 436 grains. Talk about performance. I would sight that bullet in at 100 and you should have a better group than that. I realize you are shooting off sticks but shoot that thing off a bench for a few rounds to get a good zero and get confident. The only variable should be you when your nerves are up. The equipment should be proofed before you go. I assume you are hand loading it yourself? AA2230 or exterminator powder gets those going well.
 
Great battery, almost identical to mine: a .30-06 and a .458 Lott.

In my .30-06 I'm running either the 168gr Federal Trophy Bonded Tip or the 180gr Barnes TTSX. Both have performed very well, but if I were heading to Africa I'd be loading the 180gr Barnes. It's a tough, reliable bullet that gives excellent penetration and weight retention on larger plains game.
 
NoStepOnSnek said:
I have a buffalo/plains game hunt coming up next year split between Free State and Limpopo. Figured I’d discuss my battery and see what yall thought

Buffalo Gun:
Ruger No.1 458 Win Mag
450 Grain North Fork SS/CPS combo
Trijicon 1-6
Shooting softball sized groups off sticks at 50 yards with SS/CPS mixed group

Plains Game:
Ruger No.1 30-06 or 7x57
Both topped with a Leupold 1-4
Trying to find the preferred round for both still
30-06 does not like 180gr Oryx
7x57 doesn’t like the 140 gr I ran through it
Also have to decide which one to take

Open for any ammo suggestions and to see what yall are running these days
Click to expand...
am liking your plains game gun a lot. But I would consider increasing your buff gun power to a 458 Lott. Then make sure your PH has a serious stopping gun, like a 470 double or a 500 something.
 
Dont over think it. The 458 win mag with North Fork SS is perfect for buffalo. And a 30-06 with pretty much any 180 gr bonded bullet is good for plainsgame up to eland with well placed shots. I have a 458 lott and 30-06. I use cup and core bullets in the range of 180 to 220 gr for smaller plainsgame. I have filmed a huge eland bull shot with 180 gr Remington CoreLokt and it dropped at the shot. I used a fixed 4x scope for years and I am comfortable with reasonable length shots. And if you are trying to thread a shot through a small window of twigs, you are taking a risky shot. You need to know the range to the twigs + your trajectory because your 30-06 bullet will have a 4" trajectory variance over 200 m assuming a 100 m zero.

I think you are in good shape with those 2 rifles, you just need to find a suitable bullet for either your 30-06 or 7mm.
 
I like your choices of Ruger No.1’s. My No.1 is chambered .416 Rigby and I’ve safaried with it for plains game loaded with Woodleigh 340 gr. I wouldn’t hesitate to load my No.1 with 410 gr and tackle buff. Is your 7x57 throated long enough for the 175 gr and does it have the twist to stabilize the heavier bullets?
 
Other than working on accuracy and discussing your rifle platform with your PH, I think you are pretty good.

Make sure you are proficient at reloading quickly and shooting from sticks. Most of this can be done using snap caps to save money on practice ammo.
 
Schüler Jumbo said:
I like your choices of Ruger No.1’s. My No.1 is chambered .416 Rigby and I’ve safaried with it for plains game loaded with Woodleigh 340 gr. I wouldn’t hesitate to load my No.1 with 410 gr and tackle buff. Is your 7x57 throated long enough for the 175 gr and does it have the twist to stabilize the heavier bullets?
Click to expand...
My Ruger Hawkeye M77 in 275 Rigby (7x57) shoots 175 grain Swift A-Frames really well. Lower FPS than the 140 grains. I assume the barrels are the same but don't know this definitively.
 
Another fan of the #1. I shoot a 450gr Barnes TSX out of my #1 Lott. It will go with me for my next buffalo.
For plains game, I had great success with 180gr Barnes TSX in the .30/06.
I’ve been working with 160gr Swift AF’s out of a 7mm-08. I tested them against the 160gr Nosler AB, 150gr Swift Sciracco and 140gr Barnes TSX and the AF gives the best penetration. The Sciracco and Barnes are about tied with the AB just behind. All would be suitable.
 
For buff you’re good.

The Free State is mostly open country, so the 06 running an accurate, high quality 165/8gr is perfect. (E.g. Swift Scirocco, TTSX, Accubond, Partition, Terminal Ascent etc.)
The same combo works just as well for game up to and including eland in Limpopo.

If you want to use the 7x57, look at premium bullets in the 140 or 150gr class.
 
Heading to Limpopo in 2027 for Buff, Nyala, Sable and Black Wildebeest.
Taking .416 REM Mag shooting 400 gr. Swift A-Frame for the buff and maybe the Sable.
Taking 7mm Weatherby Mag shooting either 160 gr. or 175 gr. Swift A-Frame for the plains game. I have to work up loads for the 7 mag and see which bullet the rifle likes.
If all else fails I have Barnes TSX FB in the same weight bullets and can use them if needed.
Going to be a good time getting ready for the hunt.
 
Schüler Jumbo said:
I like your choices of Ruger No.1’s. My No.1 is chambered .416 Rigby and I’ve safaried with it for plains game loaded with Woodleigh 340 gr. I wouldn’t hesitate to load my No.1 with 410 gr and tackle buff. Is your 7x57 throated long enough for the 175 gr and does it have the twist to stabilize the heavier bullets?
Click to expand...
From what I’ve found online the twist rate should be 1:8.75. I have some 175 gr ordered to try out, so ill find out here in a few days
 
batteries-africa.png

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought you meant something completely different. My bad.
 
Very good setup.

In my 7x57mm Mauser Churchill Gun Makers Model Deluxe, I’m currently using Sellier & Bellot 173Gr SPCE soft points.

In my .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Remington Model 700, I’m currently using Nosler 300Gr AccuBonds and Federal Premium 300Gr Trophy Bonded Sledgehammer Solids.
 
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