Plains Game rifle choice... Am I crazy???

KMG Hunting Safaris said:
Fin, what area will you be hunting? If Limpopo, then sure, the 375 will work, but in the Eastern Cape, no. You will need something with a better ballistic coefficient than the .375 bullet. If you were hunting down South, my vote would have gone to the .300Win as you are often required to shoot across valleys and mountain faces.
Enjoy the planning, and we look forward to the awesome photos!

Take Care,
Marius Goosen
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Agree 100% with Marius
 
I used the 300 Ruger compact magnum with 180 grain nosler partition to take everything from springbok to eland. They were handload to a little over 2800 fps. I will have to admit these 30 caliber short mags. don't have anything over a good handload from the 30-06 but the Ruger with the 20in barrel was really nice and handy.
 
Speaking to the title of this post, we are all somewhat crazy on this forum, so asking this group if you are crazy is somewhat like asking the inmates to guard the asylum!
 
First it is your safari so take the rifle that excites you and that you will treasure the memories for your lifetime. the advice here that you should shoot a 375 before you buy one is very valid. The recoil level from a 308 to a 375 is a major jump up in felt recoil. You want to take a rifle that you shoot WELL. a 308 in the boiler room vs a 375 in the guts will bring the animal down every time. My favorite bolt gun is a Bruno 602 375, but have shot more african game with my 9.3x62 than my 375. The 375's are a handloader friend you can load everything from 235-350gr bullets, you can tailor a bullet for what ever you plan on hunting. So if you decide to buy a 375 practice with it till it is as familiar to you as your 308, that you know your range limitations off sticks, listen to your PH and have a great trip. You will start planning your second safari about day 3 of of your first one and you will need a 375 or bigger for the second one for sure. Enjoy the time planning and have a great trip!!!
 
Have you considered the 9.3x62 Mauser? It was the all-round calibre of Africa prior to the .375HH came along, and has been around a year longer than the .30/06. It's a short actioned rifle, and with the 286gr bullet - that made it's reputation - gives the 375HH a good run for it's money for wallop, with way less felt recoil (about the same as the '06 IMO). It's also cheaper to reload, and it neatly tops out in velocity for a solid .40 calibre and upwards to step in and take over. It's an ideal calibre for everything up to eland, leopard and (I think) is still "grandfathered" in some countries for DG: some PHs (such as Kevin Robertson) still use it as a client's buffalo rifle.
 
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the 375 is a great gun as dave says. very versatile.
plains game requires a versatile rifle, as it varies so much.
should it have a little more recoil than desired, the 9.3x62is always worth consideration, as timbo suggests.
either would be well paired with a 7mm for the smaller species.
bruce.
 
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AB2506 said:
Never ask if you are crazy! The answer just might be YES!

If you are set on the 375 Ruger, the African would be my choice. I recently purchased one for our SCI Chapter Banquet/Auction. Never having handled one, I did not realize what a sweet rifle it is. Very nice. I would go with the African. It is beautiful, handles nice, and the sights are great.
Click to expand...

You’re not crazy if you think you are!

Still think the 375 if s magnificent cartridge but feel for the game being hunted that are smaller caliber would be more suited. I suggest the 300 win mag or 338 win mag.
 
MT_Fin said:
In the meantime it would be good medicine on bears and elk I’m thinking.
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Excellent for elk. And in Montana you may be glad you have a .375 instead of a .308 if you stumble upon something dangerous!
 
Fin:

I too am taking my first safari this fall, but, I'm taking a different perspective. To be blunt, you]re looking for an excuse to purchase a 375H&H, which is fine. At the same time you have to be realistic. On your list of animals I didn't see an Eland mentioned. THe Eland is the only plainsgame that would justify a 375 H&H. All the other antelope can be had with your generic Elk rifle. I'm taking a 270WSM for the bulk of my hunting. I'm also taking a 338 Federal and the only reason is for my Eland. All the other animals can be taken with a 30-06 without issue. They don't need a 375 H&H or even 300 Win Mag.

That being said, if you need an excuse to purchase a new rifle, Africa is a great reason to go shopping. Personally speaking, I've shot my 270WSM for years and am very comfortable with it. At the end of the day we all know bullet placement is what matters and I can achieve that with my 270WSM. I'm leaving my 375 H&H at home because I don't need it. The 338Federal will be enough rifle to get the job done.

Enjoy your hunt and enjoy the months spent planning and organizing for it, I am!
 
Michael Dean said:
Fin:

I too am taking my first safari this fall, but, I'm taking a different perspective. To be blunt, you]re looking for an excuse to purchase a 375H&H, which is fine. At the same time you have to be realistic. On your list of animals I didn't see an Eland mentioned. THe Eland is the only plainsgame that would justify a 375 H&H. All the other antelope can be had with your generic Elk rifle. I'm taking a 270WSM for the bulk of my hunting. I'm also taking a 338 Federal and the only reason is for my Eland. All the other animals can be taken with a 30-06 without issue. They don't need a 375 H&H or even 300 Win Mag.

That being said, if you need an excuse to purchase a new rifle, Africa is a great reason to go shopping. Personally speaking, I've shot my 270WSM for years and am very comfortable with it. At the end of the day we all know bullet placement is what matters and I can achieve that with my 270WSM. I'm leaving my 375 H&H at home because I don't need it. The 338Federal will be enough rifle to get the job done.

Enjoy your hunt and enjoy the months spent planning and organizing for it, I am!
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That’s true, no doubt, but it’ll be a long while before DG are on the menu, so it’s the only real excuse to buy a 375...........
 
MT_Fin said:
That’s true, no doubt, but it’ll be a long while before DG are on the menu, so it’s the only real excuse to buy a 375...........
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Unless you decide to add a cow buffalo to your plains game hunt. You still get to a hunt a buff and it’s cheaper...
 
I personally shoot a 7mm-08 Remington, custom rifle from Hill Country Rifles, for plains game.
140 grain Trophy Nosler Accubonds. No problems to at least 200 yards. Retired my .30-06----getting to be a recoil wimp in my old age.
Doc Lightning
 
My wife and I will be on our first PG hunt this August I am taking my 06 and she is going to tote her 260 rem with 140 gr rounds.

JD
 
375 ruger is a exelent calibre. I am on my second one. A hawkeye african but owned a howa before. Shot many kudu,warthog eland, bluewildebeest and even impala with my first 375 ruger. Exceptional eland and blue wildebeest caliber! Just stay away from the older hornady dgx factory ammo(non bonded). Had a few problems with that bullet.
 
Hi fellows!!
Sorry, but I only dream with travel to Africa hahaha... BUt.. I have friends who travel and hunt here and my question is:
The .308 does the work? Several friends uses this bullet in Africa for the plain game... (all kind of antellopes, zebras, warthog)
What do you mind?
 
Marcos Rodriguez said:
Hi fellows!!
Sorry, but I only dream with travel to Africa hahaha... BUt.. I have friends who travel and hunt here and my question is:
The .308 does the work? Several friends uses this bullet in Africa for the plain game... (all kind of antellopes, zebras, warthog)
What do you mind?
Click to expand...

As long as you keep your shots under 250 yards the 308 will work fine. THe 308 is simply a 30-06 case shortened.
 
Marcos Rodriguez said:
Hi fellows!!
Sorry, but I only dream with travel to Africa hahaha... BUt.. I have friends who travel and hunt here and my question is:
The .308 does the work? Several friends uses this bullet in Africa for the plain game... (all kind of antellopes, zebras, warthog)
What do you mind?
Click to expand...
308 is a very common round in Namibia and South Africa and very effective within normal shooting range o. The difference between it and a 30-06 is negligible and I used a 30-06 with 168 grain Barnes TTSX bullets for plains game in Namibia on two trips without a problem. Smallest game was springbok, largest was zebra and kudu. All very dead. If using lead core bullets go up to a 180 grain bonded bullet like a Swift Scirocco or Norma Oryx.
Good hunting.
 
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