Minimum standards

[Fordy]

Gday

Been working through a few things & one I understand province’s & countries have different rules/standards than ea other on minimum bullet weights , some energy requirements , might even be some that use things like minimum sectional density numbers etc?


Does anyone have information on
1/
is there a single place where the information on the minimum standards are found

2/
Or is it multiple places & need to be specific to the province/country

Eg a 375cal with 300 gr bullet as minimum for DG so a 416 cal shooting a 300 gr bullet covers this as the 300 gr is the minimum standard

anything else anyone knows or links would be appreciated thanks in advance

Cheers

 

[375Fox]

I think you’ll have a difficult time finding one source that’s accurate. There’s a lot of conflicting information. The simple answer is a 375 H&H (or larger) with 300 gr bullet won’t be questioned ever. It’s really up to the PH and whatever they are comfortable with. The only time minimum cartridge standard would come into play is in the event of an incident. Plenty of buffalo have been killed with lesser cartridges with game scout present. As far as lighter bullets in a larger cartridge, there isn’t a game department in Africa with a chronograph to verify velocity for energy calculation or would have the ambition to do so.

 

[BRICKBURN]

A few sources.

A source for various provincial ordinances and regulations.
https://phasa.co.za/p90/legislation/provincial-ordinances-and-proclamations.html

Namibia
https://www.napha-namibia.com/legal

Mocambique
https://www.amos.co.mz/regulamento.html

 

[Rule 303]

I would add that a light for calibre bullet in a DG rifle is not a wise option. say a 300grain 416 cal bullet will more than likely not be constructed as well as a 400 grain bullet. One is for heavy built animals the other for lighter built animals.

This is a generalisation and there may well be lighter for cal bullets that are made tough.

 

[Fordy]

Thanks fox
I’m covering my bases as it’s the incident that concerns me as we are testing some different projectiles that on the weight side are extremely light eg 196 to 226 gr 375 cal & 360 gr in .510 cal that have been showing extremely good results which in Aussie I have no issue whatsoever putting any of those into any of our critters legally but Africa is a different beast as legally it’s what I want to cover for which I did in Mozambique recently
South Africa we have also covered the minimum 300 gr weight part on DG as I understand it & one we have also covered a 416 cal 301 gr projectile about to be put into rhino where the 292 gr we shied away from as my understanding is that is below the standards I can find ( I will check out @BRICKBURN post as that’s great information sir thankyou )
So the 292 won’t be used although based off what I’ve seen it will be more than adequate ( time will tell on more tests ) so the 301 gr won’t get anyone in trouble if the worse case occurs

That’s why I’m looking for the minimum standards as still want to do a few things with these bullets & while I can gather a lot of data here in Aussie on buff , camels , horses, scrubbies etc it’s just not the same as rhino & elephant imo although a good level of knowledge can be obtained from our critters the truth comes from the rhino & elephant ( cape buff no worries it compares well to our critters in Aussie )

Hope that all makes sense

Cheers

 

[Fordy]

Gday rule 303

I would add that a light for calibre bullet in a DG rifle is not a wise option. say a 300grain 416 cal bullet will more than likely not be constructed as well as a 400 grain bullet. One is for heavy built animals the other for lighter built animals.

I would agree with this above

This is a generalisation and there may well be lighter for cal bullets that are made tough.

Thanks for the generalisation as what we are doing is staying within known limits of a projectiles ability while reducing the recoil substantially while gaining better & more consistency in the wound channels & straightline ability that is second to none
Basically think of a big bullets ability surpassed in a lightweight class

I don’t say that lightly as so far it’s proven itself to be the case in .375 & .510 cal & now we are moving to the 6.5&30 cal along with a .416 cal that’s about to hit the African continent

For clarity I’m not a bullet maker or on seller as I’m just a dumb farmer that loves to explore terminal ballistics & lucky to have friends who share the same passion/ outlook of wanting a better bullet than we currently have & one that together we have found some interesting things out & yet still more to understand although that’s probably left for others to do as I’m hanging up my metal detector & measuring tapes soon ( although I’ve been doing that for a few years now lol )

A separate thread would be better I think and if I do one or not ? I just don’t know as my writing skills are crap & one a bloke I was extremely lucky to rub shoulders with that has become a good friend is better qualified/experienced than me so he would be better suited than me but he has a lot on his plate @ present so I guess im going to leave you somewhat hanging although it maybe something that doesn’t interest you @ all which is cool as im not here to sell anything I am just trying to stop anyone getting in trouble as per my post above to @375Fox

cheers from the apple isle

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The only thing I could find in South African Eastern Cape provincial regulation is it's up to the "MEC" (Member of Executive Council [provincial premier's cabinet]) to set standards for rifles and calibers used for hunting.

Section 74: "The MEC must make regulations regarding the use of certain fire-arms [sic] and ammunition for the hunting of wild animals."

That's it. Apparently the Eastern Cape safari business is still waiting for a regulation for minimum firearms/ammo to be made. I'm wondering which of the MECs would be responsible: tourism, sport, or farming? Not surprising the issue is still up in the air. From what I'm reading in Wikipedia the province's MEC seems to be in a perpetual state of flux (I'm being kind). Minimum standards is probably not a question the operators there are anxious to have answered. Sometimes a state of sublime self-regulation is better than a government regulation imposed by individuals who don't have clue (e.g. the last round of Canadian gun control regs and just about anything the Australian govt has done re guns).

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The only thing I could find in South African Eastern Cape provincial regulation is it's up to the "MEC" (Member of Executive Council [provincial premier's cabinet]) to set standards for rifles and calibers used for hunting.

Section 74: "The MEC must make regulations regarding the use of certain fire-arms [sic] and ammunition for the hunting of wild animals."

That's it. Apparently the Eastern Cape safari business is still waiting for a regulation for minimum firearms/ammo to be made. I'm wondering which of the MECs would be responsible: tourism, sport, or farming? Not surprising the issue is still up in the air. From what I'm reading in Wikipedia the province's MEC seems to be in a perpetual state of flux (I'm being kind). Minimum standards is probably not a question the operators there are anxious to have answered. Sometimes a state of sublime self-regulation is better than a government regulation imposed by individuals who don't have clue (e.g. the last round of Canadian gun control regs and just about anything the Australian govt has done re guns).

Edit: The Eastern Cape MEC for economic development and tourism is responsible for regulating hunting. A proclamation from him/her dated 2025 did modify several regulations (e.g. hunting with lights and with dogs for certain species) but did not address Section 74 ambiguity re the use of "certain firearms and ammunition" for hunting "wild animals."

 

[Fordy]

Thanks Ontario I appreciate it
Cheers