I have tried both ways. Been on safari 5 times.
DG hunt, I tried both ways. Rental and owned rifle.
I vote for owned rifle.
There are two classes of DG rifle.
375 HH, and everything else.
375 is for everything and everywhere. You can use it at home.
416 and all others are for DG.
Buy 375.
When hunting DG, first shot is the one that counts. Train with your rifle, prepare proper bullet, go there, and have no surprises.
Rental rifle, means shooting a DG animal, with unknown weapon. And you must be certain you will be able to place first shot in proper place. Unknown weapon, means also unknown aiming system, iron sights, scope, red dot.
I hunted 2 times with my rifle, 3 times with rental rifle.
In three times of hunting with rental rifle, Of those three times, on the end, I hunted with rifles I did not plan to hunt with, because those were available.
When hunting DG, in my view, you must make everything in advance, to your advantage before the hunt. Because during the hunt, many things can go wrong after the first shot.
Next weak point in rental rifles, can be unknown ammo you will get.
Bullet can fail. I have seen rental rifles with bullets not of best quality. Do not expect in Africa every camp will have premium ammo for the job.
And about half of this forum is discussing what is best ammo for... Buffalo, elephant, hyppo and so on.
Ammunition is the weakest point in choosing an option to hunt with rental rifle.
Finally, buy rifle, sell the rifle. Zero loss.
Many forum members passed that route. Buy, train, train ,train, go hunting DG, keep hunting, and when no more hunting is in perspective, sell the rifle.
Why not to bring your rifle? One reason only:
Eventual complicated travel and gun clearance on arrival. Option - Go to gun friendly country, and hunt there with your rifle.
