Two rifle battery for plains game

Dbrown4183

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I am going on a 12 day hunt in South Africa with Blue Cliff safaris in May 2019. I am bringing my .416 Rigby for the Eland, Zebra and Blue Wildebeest and .300 Win Mag. for everything else on my list or that presents itself. To be honest the Eland is my only real desire and then whatever else Africa provides me a shot at. I have never been before and will be going with my son. I am getting very confused by totally different opinions about which bullet types to use. I reload and will be doing so for this trip. I just want to come to some sort of conclusion so i can come up with loads and practice, practice, practice with the loads i will be using on the hunt to be ready. I am concerned with too much expansion in the .300 win mag and not enough in the .416 Rigby. Any thoughts or advice?
 
I agree with Hearties. My only eland was taken with a .300 win mag. My kids and I have taken 3 zebras with a .30-06 and my 9 year old daughter took two wildebeests with a silenced .308. (report on my second safari to come, just got back yesterday). If you want to bring the rigby, go for it but not because of the animals on your list, just bring it because you want to shoot it. As for bullet types, just stick with the tried and true that just about everyone can agree with. Swift, Nosler, Woodleigh, Barnes. I actually used the hornady gmx bullet and had great results, but not everyone likes them. Whatever shoots better out of your gun. Good luck.
 
Agree also, a 300 is enough! I use Barnes TSX in 180 grain. I’ve used that combination on 2 Safaris with flawless results.
 
We hunted Eland, Zebra, Oryx in Namibia recently. 4 of us used calibers 30-06, 7-08 and 270. No problem with any animals.
Mzrkcz
 
Any .308 is marginal for eland, that being said, you can make it work. I'd suggest loading the .300 with 180-220gr monos and not stress any further. Go quality and you won't be disappointed. Id suggest the Barnes TSX or anything similar... Sorry that I can't be of more help, not too sure on american brands.

Using the .416 will give you piece of mind and I feel that is more than fair. Also, it's awesome taking a classic to hunt a classic. I see they have buffalo as well, nothing like having having a big stick to make you feel a little more comfortable with things. 410gr conventional will be more than appropriate, enjoy!
 
If you want to take the Rigby just because you want to thats enough reason. Plenty guys take a rifle for that one time trip just because. Other than weight of a bigger case, no big deal to want to blood both. Frankly everyone could take a 30-06 but how boring would that be?

As for bullets? Nothing on your list is bullet proof and frankly just about anything will work. Confident good shooting and shot placement rules the day in the end. I've had terrific performance with Swift A frames across several chamberings and a fair sample size. TSX is a great idea, just haven't got around to them myself on enough hunts, but happy with limited experience.
 
I agree with the above, just take the .300WinMag and it will cover you for any of the plains game with 180-200gr bullets.
A .416 is not a guarantee of a kill just because it's bigger. A .300 in the right place will kill faster then a .416 in the wrong place.
Perhaps consider taking a shotgun for some wing shooting instead and mix your hunting up a little?
 
180 gr TSX or Swift A-Frame will deal with anything on your list. If you hunt the eland traditionally, it will likely be a long stern chase as you try to walk him down. You could learn to hate that .416 half way through a hike like that. (y) The other likelihood is that you will see the - fill in the blank trophy of a lifetime - on the next ridgeline while lugging the .416. An absolutely makeable long poke with the .300 suddenly becomes iffy with the .416. All that said, and you want to take the .416, have had it. It's your safari. I have gone exactly the opposite direction in my African hunting. Lighter and simpler seems an ever better decision. A single rifle and a single all purpose load is my concept of the ideal "battery." If buffalo are on the dance card it is my .375 and a 300 gr A-Frame or TSX. If it is purely PG, the rifle will be a .30 of some form, .338, or 9.3.
 
I am going on a 12 day hunt in South Africa with Blue Cliff safaris in May 2019. I am bringing my .416 Rigby for the Eland, Zebra and Blue Wildebeest and .300 Win Mag. for everything else on my list or that presents itself. To be honest the Eland is my only real desire and then whatever else Africa provides me a shot at. I have never been before and will be going with my son. I am getting very confused by totally different opinions about which bullet types to use. I reload and will be doing so for this trip. I just want to come to some sort of conclusion so i can come up with loads and practice, practice, practice with the loads i will be using on the hunt to be ready. I am concerned with too much expansion in the .300 win mag and not enough in the .416 Rigby. Any thoughts or advice?
Thank you all for the replies! I am taking the Rigby more because i want to then need to but the advice on another opportunity presenting itself while carrying it is very well received. I feel confident shooting both but will certainly reconsider.
 
My dad and I just returned for Africa and he took his 404 Jeffery just for Eland and a 35 Whelen for everything else. He used a 400 grain “A-Frame” at 2350 fps, his Eland took one step backwards and dropped, the bullet was recovered just under the skin on the opposite side. IMHO the Eland does not get the respect they deserve, at 2000 pounds with endurance for days I would prefer a 338 or larger and your 416 certainly fits the bill.

@Red Leg makes a great point if you are going hunt Eland on foot you may come to hate our 416. My 416 Rigby weighs 11-1/2 pounds, I would need to practice carrying that much weight on my shoulder for several month before I would chase Eland thru the bush.

For the 300 WM I highly recommend the 200 TBBC @ 2700fps or greater but depending on how far you plan on shooting you may want to use a 180 grain Barnes or a Federal Trophy Bonded Tipped.

Good luck and lets us know what you decide.
 
I love both of your caliber choices, BUT if I was just hunting plains game the 300WM would be in my hands all the time
 
Pick one rifle and learn how to shoot it well, with maybe two different bullets for different size game....on second thought, just one bullet and practice a lot!
 
I did a lot of crawling for my Zebra and Gemsbok. Between walking for Eland and crawling for Zebra you may only want the handier rifle.

Having said that, consider the 350gr Tsx for your 416 and I think you have a very cool choice for the hunt:)

Best thing? No wrong choice here!:cool:
 
I am going on a 12 day hunt in South Africa with Blue Cliff safaris in May 2019. I am bringing my .416 Rigby for the Eland, Zebra and Blue Wildebeest and .300 Win Mag. for everything else on my list or that presents itself. To be honest the Eland is my only real desire and then whatever else Africa provides me a shot at. I have never been before and will be going with my son. I am getting very confused by totally different opinions about which bullet types to use. I reload and will be doing so for this trip. I just want to come to some sort of conclusion so i can come up with loads and practice, practice, practice with the loads i will be using on the hunt to be ready. I am concerned with too much expansion in the .300 win mag and not enough in the .416 Rigby. Any thoughts or advice?

You also mention going with your son, will you be sharing the 300 Winmag or will he be taking his own rifle? You may want to consider the 300 WinMag and a smaller cartridge or caliber to take some of the smaller antelope.

In regards to bullets, the 300 WinMag 180 gr TBBC Tipped is a very good performer as well as the mono metals (pick one, Peregrine, Barnes, Hornady etc). I used a 165 Peregrine at 2842fps from my -06 and fully penetrated both shoulders of a Waterbuck a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t go heavier than a 180gr mono in a 300 WinMag, they will penetrate more than enough and allow you to keep the velocity above 2900. Location is everything, put it in the kill zone and you will have your animal.

Not to harp on Peregrine too much, but you may want to consider them if you plan on practicing what you are shooting. They make a solid copper bullet at a much reduced cost that behaves exactly like the expanding copper bullet they offer.

As has been mentioned, Swift, Woodleigh or other bonded bullets will also work well.

Edge
 
DONT OVERTHINK IT! Take your rifles and good bullets and you will be fine.....
 
300 mag. may be the best all round plains game rifle.
 
I took a .30/06 and .338 RUM to Namibia last month for a PG hunt. I didn't NEED take two rifles but wanted to. I had never shot anything with the .338 RUM, so I wanted to use it. But I also took the '06 because it could be used on everything and ammo is available everywhere.
I had planned on using the .338 for eland and a gemsbok, but the '06 for everything else. When it was all done, I used the .338 on seven head and the '06 on five.
It is your hunt, take what YOU want.
Hearties' point about one rifle does simplify things. If I was going again and didn't have a "need" to use a rifle I hadn't used before, I'd only take one that could do it all.
Either one of your choices could do it all. In the .416, I'd stoke it with 350gr Barnes TTSX and either 180gr Barnes or Swifts or a 200gr Swift in your .300.
 
I am going on a 12 day hunt in South Africa with Blue Cliff safaris in May 2019. I am bringing my .416 Rigby for the Eland, Zebra and Blue Wildebeest and .300 Win Mag. for everything else on my list or that presents itself. To be honest the Eland is my only real desire and then whatever else Africa provides me a shot at. I have never been before and will be going with my son. I am getting very confused by totally different opinions about which bullet types to use. I reload and will be doing so for this trip. I just want to come to some sort of conclusion so i can come up with loads and practice, practice, practice with the loads i will be using on the hunt to be ready. I am concerned with too much expansion in the .300 win mag and not enough in the .416 Rigby. Any thoughts or advice?

Get some 200 gr Swift A frames for your 300 WM and be done with it.

You will have no over expansion issues and will have more than enough gun for your eland.

You only need one rifle for this hunt and the 300 WM would be the best choice.
 
I would take your choise of rifles , it is your hunt and if you enjoy shooting them good for you. I also took 2 rifles on my recent hunt in Namibia. I took my 30-06 with 180 grn RWS ammo for Eland and Oryx. I also took my 243:eek: I know many of you will be thinking oh my god whats he doing. However I took 2 baboons (one was 300 yards), a Warthog and an Oryx. The Oryx was 190 yards dropped stone dead to a Sierra 85 grn Gameking ,neck shot. As always bullet placement is paramount.
The one golden rule for Africa is don't take new untried kit spend lots of range time with whatever rifles you take. Have a great hunt.
MarkCZ
 

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