A new plains game rifle

[Cally]

As a fellow Brit I feel your pain!! If it is any consolation I am heading to South Africa before long and am taking my .375 H&H as a plains game rifle with the 250g TTSX that you mention, my loads give a velocity of 2860fps which should be fairly flat shooting and effective. If you are going to only be shooting plains game I would have thought the .300 Win Mag would be more useful as it could be used for stalking in the UK as well. The .338 is a good round but it’s quite similar to the .375 and 9.3.
Personally, my thought is if you have a .375 you already have one of the most versatile rifles that you can literally use the hunt everything with from Duiker to bull Elephant. What are you hoping to gain?

Thanks. What had really set me thinking was the insistence from, the Outfitter that I should not bring a 375 H & H. It just set me thinking about whether I actually needed it.

My local force will not condition 300 Win Mag for UK use. I have tried that already!

 

[Firebird]

I shoot a .375 with 235 tsx bullets and find it to be quite pleasant on my end-positively lethal on the other.
But I do love My .300 wm and several other smaller calibers as well.
I don’t think you will go Wrong owning your big gun and a smaller plains game rifle and keeping up the practice with both will definitely keep you shooting well

 

[Scandihunter]

I think the 8.5x55 would be ideal for what I want. It is ammunition availability that concerns me. I spoke to someone who used one as a hire rifle in both Spain and South Africa last year, so might be getting more popular. From what I can see it looks very similar to a 338-06.

My idea with the 338 Win Mag was that I could load it to match an 8x55 or 338-06 (or any of the older medium bores) but with the flexibility that if my ammunition goes missing, I am more likely to be able to find an alternative in Africa.

Ammunition availability is somewhat limited but increasing with Hornady loading an ECX and Norma has launched it’s Jaktmatch in the cartridge. But most likely still a European cartridge and availability in Africa is probably scarce. I do not handload myself, but is in the process of getting a professional to load fo me. It will be a load of 210gr TTSX primarily for wild boar, moose, and driven hunts.

Very nice to learn that the cartridge is used in loaner rifles in S Africa and Spain! It is increasingly popular in Scandinavia.

 

[samson7x]

I’d roll with what you have. If you’re set on a new gun, I’d go with 300wm or 30-06. I used a camp 30-06 on my first PG safari and it did fine on animals up to kudu size.

 

[Jhsmith]

A Ruger No1 in 30-06 would be ideal.

I have four 30-06s in bolt action rifles.
Heaven help me if I start looking at single shots in 30-06!

 

[meigsbucks]

Welcome to AH.
The .338 mags are some of my favorite rounds. However, you already have a .375 which fills the same niche as the .338 win mag for PG. A .30/06, 7mm Rem mag or .300 Win mag would be my choices to couple with your .375, leaning toward the .300.

 

[Rare Breed]

I am considering buying a new plains game rifle.

I used a hired 375 H & H on my first trip a few years ago. Great PH, his advice was for anything in Africa, just use a 375 H & H with 300 grain bullets and know your rifle well.

I have subsequently been back a couple of times to other locations. On my last trip, 3 years ago, I took my own moderated .375. I had a comment from the outfitter to bring the rifle if I liked it, but it wasn't really needed for what we were hunting (cull eland and wildebeeste). The PH later made a comment that he hadn't seen a client with a 375 at that property before. He had no issue though.

I have just booked another trip for 2026 with a different outfitter, who again has suggested that my 375 is too big and has suggested I use a camp rifle or bring something smaller instead.

Personally, I don't have an issue with it. It has been completely satisfactory and with a sound moderator, is very pleasant to shoot. I have come to the conclusion that I am unlikely to ever be able to afford to hunt dangerous game and am wondering about either homeloading a 250 grain TTSX to a moderate velocity and persevering against the advice of the outfitter, or swapping the 375 for a plains game focused rifle.

If I do swap it, I was thinking of either a 338 win mag downloaded slightly (250gr TTSX at 2,500 fps) or a 9.3x62. My thought is that the 9.3x62 is very similar to what I have now. I spoken to my local firearms licencing department, who will grant a 300 win mag or a 9.3x62 with no issue. I was told there is a presumption against a 338 win mag, as it is too similar to a 338 lapua (I know...) .

Another issue I have is that whatever I buy, it will have to use copper bullets, as lead will be illegal very soon in England. My thought was that the 338 win mag might be better, as it has a higher velocity.

I used my 404 Jeffery on plains game and took two at 300 yards which speaks for the rifle not me given I am but an average shot. There is no such thing as too much gun. If you want another rifle just to get one the following are all great PG calibers: 275/7x57, 30-06, 300 WM, 338

 

[Beck]

8x68S, .300 Win/Weatherby - one of those three would be my choice

 

[Cally]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have never personally understood how going out with multiple rifles works. I have always just set off with one rifle and a plan, which sometimes changes! I think taking two rifles would just add complications for me!

I have often admired the Bergstutzens though.

 

[Mauser78]

The locals dont use big guns for PG.
when I first started using a 375 in Sa the farms where I hunt also frowned, but now if there is difficult shot only me, or someone with my rifle is allowed to take the shot. I shoot 230gr bullets normally but it it is the go combination on our guns now. If you can shoot it comfortably, use it. Maybe load a lighter bullet for longer ranges.
I was on a farm where the previous group of hunters had the same rifle, but did not feel comfortable with shots over 80 meters. So it is up to you. I hunt up to 300 meters with my 375 H&H, and never had a problem after the first hunt on that farm, the 2nd time around the owners love my gun.

 

[RedTag]

.300 H&H Magnum!

How could the UK say no to that?