First time on plains game

[Pepbo234]

I'm sure this has been discussed time and time again, but here it goes. I am planning on my first Africa trip next year, for plains game and hopefully a buff. My question is rifle/caliber/bullet on the plains game. There is so much hearsay and b* out there that I'm second guessing my pick. For my buff I have no questions, I'm taking a 404 Jeff. Plains game I have options. I have a 300 win that I shoot well, and loves 180 ttsx. I have a 338 win that I also shoot well, loves 225 tsx and a frames. Am I on the right track? I certainly don't need a 375 for an elk sized antelope?

 

[BRICKBURN]

300 win mag 180 ttsx. DONE

 

[Pepbo234]

300 win mag 180 ttsx. DONE

Thank you for the input.

 

[BeeMaa]

300 win mag 180 ttsx. DONE

He added Buffalo at the end of his PG list...

Bolt action 375H&H with low power scope in QD rings and 300 grain Swift A-Frames or Barnes TSX. Now you are done.

Or stick with your 404J. I prefer to travel light with just one rifle.

 

[Pepbo234]

He added Buffalo at the end of his PG list...

Bolt action 375H&H with low power scope in QD rings and 300 grain Swift A-Frames or Barnes TSX. Now you are done.

Or stick with your 404J. I prefer to travel light with just one rifle.

I've given that thought as well. Seems like a 375 with 300s for the buff and maybe 250-270 for the plains? I just really like that Jeffrey, it shoots wonderfully, and I already have it. My pH is saying 300yds is possible depending on rains, which is why I was looking at flatter shooting magnums.

 

[BeeMaa]

I've given that thought as well. Seems like a 375 with 300s for the buff and maybe 250-270 for the plains? I just really like that Jeffrey, it shoots wonderfully, and I already have it. My pH is saying 300yds is possible depending on rains, which is why I was looking at flatter shooting magnums.

If you are seriously thinking about taking 300 yard shots, stick with your 300WM and the TTSX and bring the 404J for the Buffalo. Having a PH that would green light a 300 yard shot is more of an exception than a rule. Most will limit their clients to 100 yards or less, unless they are very confident in the ability of the hunter. You should have the hunt you want, just make sure you can do your part because paying for one drop of blood with no trophy is REAL.

IMO - Murphy's Law applies. When you have your 300WM on a stalk and are 2 miles away from the bakkie (that has your 404J)...that's when the monster Dugga Boy will show up. Obviously the choice is yours, but having an upcoming safari is a damn good reason to justify another rifle.

As for the 2 different bullets...once again, I keep it simple with just one bullet weight per caliber. Maybe take 10 solids that shoot to the same POI as the softs for use on the T10 or if your PH tells you to load them. My rifle shoots the 300 grain TSX, Swift A-Frame and the Woodleigh Hydro within an inch of each other at 100 yards. Certainly enough for minute-of-buffalo accuracy if I do my part.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Take your .338 Winchester Magnum if you have an eland on the menu. And use the 250Gr Barnes TSX.

Your .300 Winchester Magnum will also work on eland, if you can swap the 180Gr Barnes TSX with the 200Gr Barnes TSX.

 

[Pepbo234]

If you are seriously thinking about taking 300 yard shots, stick with your 300WM and the TTSX and bring the 404J for the Buffalo.

IMO - Murphy's Law applies. When you have your 300WM in hand and are 2 miles away from the bakkie that has your 404J in it...that's when the monster Dugga Boy will show up. Obviously the choice is yours, but having an upcoming safari is a damn good reason to justify another rifle. Best of luck with it.

A 375 would make a nice addition...

 

[Pepbo234]

Take your .338 Winchester Magnum if you have an eland on the menu. And use the 250Gr Barnes TSX.

Noted. I'll have to cook up some 250grain loads if that's the way to go

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Noted. I'll have to cook up some 250grain loads if that's the way to go

Your .300 Winchester Magnum will also work on eland, if you can swap the 180Gr Barnes TSX with the 200Gr Barnes TSX.

 

[PARA45]

Take one rifle, take the 375 H&H with 300 grs TSX and call it a day. This is good medicine for PG & buffalo. Last month, I hunted the Eastern Cape, and took one rifle in 375 H&H. Shot everything with this rifle, from Warthogs, Bushbuck to Buffalo & a Lioness. Don't over think it.

 

[Scott CWO]

I'm sure this has been discussed time and time again, but here it goes. I am planning on my first Africa trip next year, for plains game and hopefully a buff. My question is rifle/caliber/bullet on the plains game. There is so much hearsay and b* out there that I'm second guessing my pick. For my buff I have no questions, I'm taking a 404 Jeff. Plains game I have options. I have a 300 win that I shoot well, and loves 180 ttsx. I have a 338 win that I also shoot well, loves 225 tsx and a frames. Am I on the right track? I certainly don't need a 375 for an elk sized antelope?

Your .338 WM with 225 grain A-Frames would be perfect. The 250 grain bullets don’t fly as flat and the 225 grain is perfect for large plains game. I have used this load several times in Africa and NA out to 300-400 yards but most of your shots will be much closer. Using the .404 for buffalo is great.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Your .338 WM with 225 grain A-Frames would be perfect. The 250 grain bullets don’t fly as flat and the 225 grain is perfect for large plains game. I have used this load several times in Africa and NA out to 300-400 yards but most of your shots will be much closer. Using the .404 for buffalo is great.

Scott, is the 225Gr okay for eland too ?

 

[BeeMaa]

Take one rifle, take the 375 H&H with 300 grs TSX and call it a day. This is good medicine for PG & buffalo. Last month, I hunted the Eastern Cape, and took one rifle in 375 H&H. Shot everything with this rifle, from Warthogs, Bushbuck to Buffalo & a Lioness. Don't over think it.

Exactly. Here is a little reading material...
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/the-king.53155/

 

[Art Lambart II]

I'm a fan of mid-bore rifles so I'd take the 338.

 

[Tom Leoni]

If your PH said 300 yards max it means you'd be shooting at rather moderate distances. You don't really need a "flat-shooting cartridge" as in something you'd use in Utah for cross-canyon shots. Every single caliber you've listed has sufficient range to cover that.

If you're set against taking more than one rifle (which is fun--why not?), take one rifle and stick to one load so you don't have to re-zero. This is the only "important" point in my post. I'm biased towards the .375 H&H, but again every cartridge you've listed will work. If buffalo is on the menu, take your .404, make sure you shoot it well and don't give it another thought. But stick to one load per rifle.

Just give a second chance to the idea of a two-rifle safari. Part of the pleasure, at least for me, is to enjoy your collection while making the memories of a lifetime. My advice: take whatever you think will make you happier when you think back on your first safari.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Noted. I'll have to cook up some 250grain loads if that's the way to go

300wm with 180gr ttsx is perfect for all normal game
whack the buff with your 404 and enjoy the hunt. stop stressing about this
take the 2 guns you shoot well, if you were mu client i would be happy with these 2

regards

 

[Scott CWO]

Scott, is the 225Gr okay for eland too ?

Yes, I have had no problems with the 225 grain on elk, eland, brown bears and moose.

 

[Doug3006]

Hi Pepbo. IMO everything gets easier (and less expensive) the fewer guns you take. The easiest option, but least satisfying for me, is to use a camp gun. I prefer to use my own. The next easiest option, and what I plan on doing from now on, is to take just one rifle. Since Buffalo are on the menu, a .375 or .404 will be fine as a one-gun option. If you’re determined to take 2, my vote is the .404 and the .300.

 

[Red Leg]

I am a one rifle one load guy. It is almost guaranteed that somewhere sometime you will be standing in front of the fill in the blank of a lifetime with the wrong rifle or the right rifle and the wrong ammunition. For me, that is a quality 300 gr bullet from a .375. I have never had to pass a shot because of range with it. HOWEVER, you already have a .404. If you aren't going to use it for a buffalo, when are you going to use it? In your case, I would bring the .404 and a dedicated PG rifle. A 180 gr bullet from a .300 is hard to beat in that role.