Classic plains game rifles and cartridges

[wvfred]

I would also consider a used Dakota in the calibers mentioned. A good used example can be found at about the top of your budget.

 

[AZDAVE]

7x57
303 British
30/06
300H&H
9.3x62

 

[JT68]

Taking a Weatherby Mark V Hunter in .308 Win.

 

[HuntingGold]

Two articles you should read while on your personal quest for the proper period rifle.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/harry-selby-s-rifles/https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/no-ordinary-rifle/

 

[dchamp]

Namibia, used to be German South West Africa. So it seems to me German calibers, 7x57, 8x57, 8x68s and 9.3x62 would be in order for the region you are planning to hunt.

My sons and I have been to Namibia only twice. My yougest son took all of his game with a 8x57 and 160gr TTSX and oldest son used a 9.3x62 with 250gr TTSX. Longest shot was 300yds on a Wildeteest with the 9.3x62. I used a 8mmRem Mag first trip and 375H&H second trip.

For my next hunting adventure in Africa,TBD, I plan on using a .375H&H for DG and a 8x68s for PG.

The only problem with the calibers listed above is that factory ammo is slim and anemic here in the U.S. Therefore handloading will give you the best results.

If I remember right 7mm is the smallest caliber allowed for PG legally. You might check that with your PH.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

7MM REM MAG. Suppressed if you are recoil sensitive. I’ve Taken a lot of PG with it up to Eland. Plenty of Elk too…

I used a 7MM REM MAG on my recent NZ hunt where I took 10 animals, including 3 bruiser Red Stags and a 450’ish yard shot on a Chamois…

Probably will be my next LH custom build…

 

[375Ruger416]

Two excellent articles. A couple of noteworthy points!

Harry Selby had his own son take his first buffalo with a 30/06 and 220 gr bullet - and killed it with one shot!

Second, ‘Harry never used a scope on his .416, but did use them on his light rifles in his later years, and he strongly recommended them for clients. “If you’re going to try and kill an animal, try and kill it cleanly. There’s no doubt about it, you are more accurate with a scope.”’

Third, ‘I was curious about Harry’s recommendations to clients. “A lot would depend on what they’re after,” he says. “If they wanted everything from impala to elephant, I’d say start off with something like a .270 Win. or 7 mm Rem. Mag., then a .338 Win. Mag. or a .375 H&H Mag., and then if you were a magazine man I’d say a .416, and if you were a double man the .450s and .470s are all so similar, really, there’s not much difference between them. For a one-rifle safari, the .375 H&H Mag. is the only choice. No finer cartridge has ever been developed.”’ That is high praise, and I’ve already got a 375.

But I still want a 416…

 

[BFaucett]

Two articles you should read while on your personal quest for the proper period rifle.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/harry-selby-s-rifles/https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/no-ordinary-rifle/

Separated / corrected URLs:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/harry-selby-s-rifles/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/no-ordinary-rifle/

Cheers! Bob F.

 

[375Ruger416]

Separated / corrected URLs:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/harry-selby-s-rifles/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/no-ordinary-rifle/

Cheers! Bob F.

I just checked - a 220 gr 30 cal bullet has a sectional density of 0.331. For comparison a 400 gr 416 is 0.330 and a 300 gr 375 is 0.305 and 350 gr an astonishing 0.356.

 

[BFaucett]

7MM REM MAG. Suppressed if you are recoil sensitive. I’ve Taken a lot of PG with it up to Eland. Plenty of Elk too…

I used a 7MM REM MAG on my recent NZ hunt where I took 10 animals, including 3 bruiser Red Stags and a 450’ish yard shot on a Chamois…

Probably will be my next LH custom build…

From post #1 by the OP:

"Here are some of my requirements. A wood stock, chambered in a cartridge pre 1960, capable of the majority of PG ..."​

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/classic-plains-game-rifles-and-cartridges.99832/


The 7mm Rem Mag was introduced by Remington in 1962.

The .300 Win Mag was introduced by Winchester in 1963.

.264 Win Mag - 1958
.338 Win Mag - 1958
.458 Win Mag - 1956

Bob F.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I just checked - a 220 gr 30 cal bullet has a sectional density of 0.331. For comparison a 400 gr 416 is 0.330 and a 300 gr 375 is 0.305 and 350 gr an astonishing 0.356.

I have loaded and used 350 Grain Barnes TSX in my .375H&H. I do use custom loaded 300 Grain Barnes TSX in my .375 H&H too…

 

[Ontario Hunter]

From post #1 by the OP:

"Here are some of my requirements. A wood stock, chambered in a cartridge pre 1960, capable of the majority of PG ..."​

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/classic-plains-game-rifles-and-cartridges.99832/


The 7mm Rem Mag was introduced by Remington in 1962.

The .300 Win Mag was introduced by Winchester in 1963.

.264 Win Mag - 1958
.338 Win Mag - 1958
.458 Win Mag - 1956

Bob F.

I have always considered myself "neoclassical" and I was born in 1952. Most in my age group consider "classic" hunting rifles as any design developed before 1940 (i.e. WWII). And "classic" hunting calibers would be those developed before 1914 (WWI). Thus, anything with Ruger or Weatherby name doesn't fit. Remington Model 30 would make the grade but not Model 700. Winchester Model 70 pre-1964 would fit because the basic design only underwent minor modifications after introduction in the 1930s (primarily moving safety lever from top to side of bolt shroud). Of course, 98 Mauser in all its clones and variations would be "classic" by that definition. The design was perfected in 1898. 1903 Springfield qualifies for same reason. Marlin or Savage from that era rarely made an appearance in Africa. Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1903-1910 and it's model specific calibers would be classic for sure.

 

[375Ruger416]

I have loaded and used 350 Grain Barnes TSX in my .375H&H. I do use custom loaded 300 Grain Barnes TSX in my .375 H&H too…

I don’t reload, but found a custom reloader here in Canada and asked him to load me up some North Fork Semi spitzer and flat point solids in 350 gr if he can find them, otherwise 300 gr for my 375. Would be happy with Aframes/Breakaway solids in either weight too, but will see what he can find.

Will report back for other Canadians if all goes well, or if it doesn’t .

 

[csmiffy]

270, 303 (soft spot). 7x57, 8x57 and 3006. Why so much money? You could pick up a worn out parker hale and get it rebarreled and bedded and have it shooting thumbtacks at a hundy.
A couple of years back I got a tidy little sporterised czech mauser 8x57 with a stepped barrel, dies and burris insert rings and bases for 400 kiwi.
After initial rushed sighting in I gave the crown a quick polish and skim bedded it. To be fair it didn't do much and I suspected the initial groups were just how I did it.
the Geco 185grs are doing 1 1/2 group at a hundy. Taken a couple of deer with it. Barrel is something funny like 23 1/2".
I did have to swap out the magazine follower but that's another story.
The price I paid is probably 200US equivalent.
And even though I don't want to give the stock a hiding in the bush if it does get scratched up it's not worth crying about.
Definitely be happy to take it on safari

 

[Frontier3006]

I am also scheduled for my first plains game hunt in September of this year. I faced the same dilemma. My solution was to find a vintage Interarms Musketeer FN Mauser, made in Belgium, I bought the rifle for $400. I ordered an octagon barrel from McGowan. I saved 20 percent by buying during their year end sale. I found a piece of good wood on eBay of all places for $200. A stock maker is going to duplicate the original stock with my new wood. I have my local and talented gunsmith putting it together for me. He is retrofitting a model 70 style locking safety. All said I should squeak under the $3,500 mark and still have a few hundred dollar bills to put toward glass. Old commercial Mauser are available out there at inexpensive prices. Good luck!

 

[lkydvl]

You can buy a true classic, pre 64 70 in 30-06 for around 1K depending on condition. It's all you'd need for plains game with any number of good bullets. I used exactly that last year and will take the same rifle this year using the same Barnes TTSX bullets.

 

[ftrovato]

Howdy all. I am currently on the hunt for a dedicated PG rifle for my fist trip to Namibia in 2027. I am a mountain hunter, mainly mule deer and elk. So all of my rifle set ups are modern styled, newer chamberings lighter weight and a lot of carbon fiber and plastic. I am wanting a classic rifle to take to Africa, something worthy of being passed off through the generations to continue making those memories. I know similar questions have been asked both nothing specific to what I am after. Let's be honest also, the only thing more fun than buying a new gun is debating the best gun!

Here are some of my requirements. A wood stock, chambered in a cartridge pre 1960, capable of the majority of PG (I will likel put a 22 hornet or similar together for the tiny 10), properly head stamped brass must be available factory loaded ammunition is not a requirement, a bolt that locks on safe, and sub $3500 for the rifle not including optic. Unfortunately I am in the wrong tax bracket for a new Mauser or Rigby. New rifles I am currently looking at are the Sako 90 series in 6.5x55 or 30-06, Ruger Hawkeye Africa in 270 or 35 whelen, Winchester M70 in 270 280 rem or 30-06, and the Weatherby Mark V in 257 weatherby mag. I have also been looking online and at local gun shows for either a ruger or winchester in 7x57 or some sort of 300 H&H but have not found one I fancy, yet. I am open to other considerations for rifles and chambering to look into. I am also open to building a rifle if someone has recommendations for a gunsmith who specializes in classic style rifles.

I know that any of my current hunting rifles would work for what I intend to do but that isn't the point. Africa has always been romanticized to me from the writings of a bygone era. I want something that capitalizes on the nostalgia of wild Africa. Please feel free to bring up your favorite cartridge I may have overlooked and make suggestions on rifles worth looking into!

300 H&H is very nostalgic. They show up online regularly. I picked up this Belgian Mauser last year.

 

[csmiffy]

300 H&H is very nostalgic. They show up online regularly. I picked up this Belgian Mauser last year.

View attachment 739775

Wish I saw stuff like that here. I'm sure there is but not a lot that comes up for sale.

 

[ftrovato]

Wish I saw stuff like that here. I'm sure there is but not a lot that comes up for sale.

Sorry I missed that you're not in US or Europe.

 

[csmiffy]

Sorry I missed that you're not in US or Europe.

Don't be. It is what it is. Nice to see what's out there