Best Rifle for Wife’s 1st African Safari?

3rd vote for 6.5 creedmoor!

It will do almost anything a 308 will, with more range, much less recoil, flatter trajectory. Double the energy of a 243 at 500 yards. And better performance at all other ranges as well. But with very similar recoil. Take a serious look at a Ruger Hawkey Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor, the newer ones with the adjustable length of pull.

Then spend some money on a good scope. I have a Swarofski 3.5-18x42 on mine with the ballistic turret. If you don't want to spend that much, look at a Ziess 3-15x42. They are on clearance. Or find a good used one. Keep the scope mounted low or get a cheek pad riser. I think Ruger has one on their web site. Make it fit her and she will be deadly with it.

Lots of factory Ammo available now. If you do decide to use Hornady, for Africa I would (have used) use the 129 grain inter bond. Maybe the newer heavy for caliber long range stuff but i have not shot an animal with that yet. Federal also has out a new long range hunter line.

Not that you need the range normally in Africa, just that the inter loc, sst, and target ammo is likely to be too soft for tough African game. And I've had bad results with GMX in larger calibers so I won't recommend that either.

524 yard shot with 6.5 Creedmoor, notice the hole it made.

Bullet on the left is a 129 grain Hornady Inter Bond out of a 6.5 Creedmoor

I’d consider 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08
Or a 308. My 2 cents.... my daughter that is 10 years old & 55 lbs shoots my 308 & has knocked down game at 100 yards.

@ActionBob, Great shooting. I'm sure some will get their panties all twisted up with a long shot like that but those springbok sure can be spooky. Other than my first trip, I can't remember shooting one closer than 300 meters. That Creedmoor is a great hunting round.
Just a cautionary tale on the Zeiss scopes, Some have turrets with no numbers on them so easy to get lost and lose your sight in reference marks. Want numbers? They need to be sent back along with a check for $75 to get them installed. Even if you don't turn turrets, they're not user friendly. The windage and elevation rotation of the turrets is backwards of 99.9% of the world's scopes, i.e. not analogous to the bottle top mnemonic. On top of that, some are made in Asia.

Like some others I would say a 308.

Hogpatrol said:

@ActionBob, Great shooting. I'm sure some will get their panties all twisted up with a long shot like that but those springbok sure can be spooky. Other than my first trip, I can't remember shooting one closer than 300 meters. That Creedmoor is a great hunting round.
Just a cautionary tale on the Zeiss scopes, Some have turrets with no numbers on them so easy to get lost and lose your sight in reference marks. Want numbers? They need to be sent back along with a check for $75 to get them installed. Even if you don't turn turrets, they're not user friendly. The windage and elevation rotation of the turrets is backwards of 99.9% of the world's scopes, i.e. not analogous to the bottle top mnemonic. On top of that, some are made in Asia.

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That was a follow up shot, and it was getting late. Pretty good spingbuck to not try that one last shot Turned out the first shot had only grazed him, but there was a drop of blood.

Definitely the best shot I ever hope to make standing and off sticks. But having a damned good scope sure helped

Sorry I wasn't clear on the scope. Ziess Conquest HD5 is the way i would go, if not a Swaro.

375 Ruger Fan said:

Shooting off of sticks, the perceived recoil is not nearly as bad as shooting off of a bench. My daughter is in her early 20s and I would have her shoot a bolt action 223 from the bench and then a 270 off of sticks for practice leading up to our safaris. She actually shot a 300 WM on her first safari and did well and then on the second hunt, we used the outfitters 7mm mag with a suppressor. That cut the recoil and report in half and really made it pleasurable to shoot. So if you can go the suppressor route, that's what I would suggest. If not, then a 270, 7x57, 7mm-08 or 308 will work.

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Agree with Ruger 375. I suggest the 370/308/3006.

What caliber rifle does your wife shoot? If she successfully takes deer and or hogs with it, quite likely she'll be able to use the same rifle for PG in Africa. That being said, if your wife has used a more powerful rifle in the past and is not adverse to a little more recoil that opens the door somewhat. Regardless of caliber using a "can" or silencer is the obvious way to go. Shot placement is significantly more important than caliber.

I'd like to throw in my two cents. My wife went with her 308 and did great, one shot drops on Wildebeest and lot's of Impala. That being said once she got home she started looking around and eventually landed on a 6.5 x 55 Swede and I love this round as well. The recoil is truly negligible, the power is exceptional, the history is wonderful and most importantly the round is available!

mallard14 said:

I am taking my wife and son on their first African Plains Game Safari next year and would like to hear what everyone thinks about the best rifle options for them. I want to make sure I don’t get too much gun and create flinching problems but also I want enough gun to handle most plains game.

Thanks

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I agree with 375 Ruger Fan and others that suggest a graduated build up in recoil tolerance. I did the same and my young daughter (standing 42kg in heavy boots!) who now loves my Ruger M77 .30/06 so much she took a superb NT water buffalo trophy with it (using Woodleigh 180gr PSP projectiles). Both my kids have taken African game with this rifle.

I would also suggest letting you wife and son each decide to stop at what calibre they feel most comfortable with, rather than "working them up to" a predetermined larger calibre. They'll shoot far more accurately and comfortably, rather than have little nagging thoughts in the back of their minds about the felt recoil. Also with a mid-range calibre they'll enjoy the hunt all the more by having to work the terrain and weather conditions to maximising the capabilities of the rifle they're using (ie: stalk closer!!)

In my opinion, you can't go far wrong by working them up to using a standard .30/06 Springfield. IMO loaded with a choice bullet (around the 180gr weight?) it makes for an ideal all round plains game calibre with manageable recoil.

Best of luck and I hope you guys enjoy your hunt (don't forget to post up the pics)!!

@mallard14 more range time is the answer to your question. Confidence is the single most important factor to shooting a firearm well and confidence comes from practice. The 6.5's, 308, 7mm-08, 7x57 and 270 are all great calibers for any level of shooter but a 30-06 is better than all of them. If you don't currently own a small bore high power rifle for them to practice with I would recommend one of the 7x57 or 275 Rigby's currently for sale on this site. Craig Boddington wrote a nice article several years ago about about his daughter Brittiny's first Safari. She was not comfortable shooting anything larger than a 7mm-08 for that first hunt and was very successful using it, now as we all know she shoots what ever she likes because she has the confidence to do so.

Good luck with your safari and enjoy the practice with your wife and son.

ActionBob said:

3rd vote for 6.5 creedmoor!

It will do almost anything a 308 will, with more range, much less recoil, flatter trajectory. Double the energy of a 243 at 500 yards. And better performance at all other ranges as well. But with very similar recoil. Take a serious look at a Ruger Hawkey Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor, the newer ones with the adjustable length of pull.

Then spend some money on a good scope. I have a Swarofski 3.5-18x42 on mine with the ballistic turret. If you don't want to spend that much, look at a Ziess 3-15x42. They are on clearance. Or find a good used one. Keep the scope mounted low or get a cheek pad riser. I think Ruger has one on their web site. Make it fit her and she will be deadly with it.

Lots of factory Ammo available now. If you do decide to use Hornady, for Africa I would (have used) use the 129 grain inter bond. Maybe the newer heavy for caliber long range stuff but i have not shot an animal with that yet. Federal also has out a new long range hunter line.

Not that you need the range normally in Africa, just that the inter loc, sst, and target ammo is likely to be too soft for tough African game. And I've had bad results with GMX in larger calibers so I won't recommend that either.

524 yard shot with 6.5 Creedmoor, notice the hole it made.
View attachment 236142
Bullet on the left is a 129 grain Hornady Inter Bond out of a 6.5 Creedmoor
View attachment 236143

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Great shot. That is impressive. Thanks for the great advice.

ActionBob said:

3rd vote for 6.5 creedmoor!

It will do almost anything a 308 will, with more range, much less recoil, flatter trajectory. Double the energy of a 243 at 500 yards. And better performance at all other ranges as well. But with very similar recoil. Take a serious look at a Ruger Hawkey Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor, the newer ones with the adjustable length of pull.

Then spend some money on a good scope. I have a Swarofski 3.5-18x42 on mine with the ballistic turret. If you don't want to spend that much, look at a Ziess 3-15x42. They are on clearance. Or find a good used one. Keep the scope mounted low or get a cheek pad riser. I think Ruger has one on their web site. Make it fit her and she will be deadly with it.

Lots of factory Ammo available now. If you do decide to use Hornady, for Africa I would (have used) use the 129 grain inter bond. Maybe the newer heavy for caliber long range stuff but i have not shot an animal with that yet. Federal also has out a new long range hunter line.

Not that you need the range normally in Africa, just that the inter loc, sst, and target ammo is likely to be too soft for tough African game. And I've had bad results with GMX in larger calibers so I won't recommend that either.

524 yard shot with 6.5 Creedmoor, notice the hole it made.
View attachment 236142
Bullet on the left is a 129 grain Hornady Inter Bond out of a 6.5 Creedmoor
View attachment 236143

Click to expand...

How could I forget the 6.5! I love mine, and I shoot the 143gr ELD-X. Hasn't gone to Africa.....yet!

Honestly a well balanced, fitted, weighted gun, will reduce the recoil, more than the caliber.

There are literally 50 good calibers that would work.

With that said, my wife is a very small frame and my boys are 8 & 4. I’m going to pick up a youth model bolt rifle in 7-08 or .308 this fall. My oldest has killed 3-4 whitetail deer with a .243, but I don’t like the rifle much.

They certainly are more of a pain to carry but nothing mitigates recoil like weight(other than a suppressor). I’ve seen people pair their kids and wives with light weight rifles and the results weren’t great. Not to say it’s the only way but I started my 27 year old daughter in a 7mm-08 that weighed 8.5 lbs with scope. She much preferred shooting it than a friends 6.5 lb .243.

Dwight Beagle said:

They certainly are more of a pain to carry but nothing mitigates recoil like weight(other than a suppressor). I’ve seen people pair their kids and wives with light weight rifles and the results weren’t great. Not to say it’s the only way but I started my 27 year old daughter in a 7mm-08 that weighed 8.5 lbs with scope. She much preferred shooting it than a friends 6.5 lb .243.

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Pick your poison. Either your shoulders and back hurt from lugging around a heavier rifle or your shoulders and head hurt from a larger recoil. Of course it's all still relative and I use both the terms "lugging" and "recoil" in semi-jest. Still at the end of the day that is the trade off. Unless you go for a 6.5 x 55 Swede. Then your golden and the animals will roll over at the mere sight of you while their fellows lament that they did not have the good fortune of being shot with such a wonderful round!

Eventually_Africa said:

Pick your poison. Either your shoulders and back hurt from lugging around a heavier rifle or your shoulders and head hurt from a larger recoil. Of course it's all still relative and I use both the terms "lugging" and "recoil" in semi-jest. Still at the end of the day that is the trade off. Unless you go for a 6.5 x 55 Swede. Then your golden and the animals will roll over at the mere sight of you while their fellows lament that they did not have the good fortune of being shot with such a wonderful round!

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I wouldn’t go that far sensationalizing the 6.5x55, but the animals I’ve shot with mine all had smiles on their faces when they died.

@mallard14 If you want something in 30 cal. The 308 will do great, but consider the venerable old 30-06. It is available in so many different factory loads that it has to be the most versatile cartridge out there.

You can start them off with the reduced recoil loads with 125 grain bullets. Gave my nephew/Godson a Ruger guide gun in 30-06. Along with a leupold VX3 2.5-8 x36 and a box of Hornady 125 grain reduced recoil ammo. He heart shot a deer a couple days later at 200 yards. Knowing how the gun was sighted in, I'm sure he held for a high heart/lung shot but that slower load dropped enough to take her through the heart.

As he is growing he can add stock spacers as it is a man sized gun. And it is plenty stout and heavy for that caliber which also controls recoil a lot. Stainless and laminated so good for about any climate. It also has a nice padded sling to help carry it. I'm looking forward to taking him and it to Africa.

The suppressor recommendations might be practically true, but for Americans, they are really legally dangerous. You get delayed in the wrong airport and you're a state felon with a mandatory minimum sentence. I cannot fathom the risk of a delay at LAX, ORD, LGA, JFK or Reagan where you have to claim your guns due to a screw-up or you have to leave the sanitary side of the TSA area due to a canceled/delayed flight. In most of those regions you're so, so screwed with a Federally legal suppressor in your possession. We can talk about the stupidity of laws in another thread, it's just a real fact to consider. A muzzle brake is a much less legally risky way to address recoil. Better yet, a 7x57 with light loads for practice and then full loads for hunting alleviates the whole issue altogether while meeting minimum caliber requirements for most plains game. (not Eland and Giraffe)

How do you make an American felon in 2 seconds? Take his paper tax stamp for his suppressor away and discard/lose it. Enjoy federal prison. The benefit doesn't outweigh the risks for some at this time. Consider it.

^^^^^^^^^Agree with this 100%^^^^^^^^. Fortunately or unfortunately, my home state bans silencers, full autos and now bump stocks or other devices to increase rate of fire. To me, it's one of those just because you can doesn't mean you should scenarios.

rookhawk said:

The suppressor recommendations might be practically true, but for Americans, they are really legally dangerous. You get delayed in the wrong airport and you're a state felon with a mandatory minimum sentence. I cannot fathom the risk of a delay at LAX, ORD, LGA, JFK or Reagan where you have to claim your guns due to a screw-up or you have to leave the sanitary side of the TSA area due to a canceled/delayed flight. In most of those regions you're so, so screwed with a Federally legal suppressor in your possession. We can talk about the stupidity of laws in another thread, it's just a real fact to consider. A muzzle brake is a much less legally risky way to address recoil. Better yet, a 7x57 with light loads for practice and then full loads for hunting alleviates the whole issue altogether while meeting minimum caliber requirements for most plains game. (not Eland and Giraffe)

How do you make an American felon in 2 seconds? Take his paper tax stamp for his suppressor away and discard/lose it. Enjoy federal prison. The benefit doesn't outweigh the risks for some at this time. Consider it.

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Definitely something to consider. Thanks