Hello Bwana Man,
Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.
I can honestly say that I do know how you feel.
Because, I was born and raised in Los Angeles, until around age 14 or 15.
Then, my family moved to Sacramento.
After high school, I just kept moving north (Colusa, Gridley, Chico, etc.) until finally digging a tunnel under the wall and escaping from Soviet California.
I made it all the way to Alaska and I’m an old geezer now so, the KGB has hopefully forgotten about me at this stage.
That was a tic over 40 years ago.
Blah blah blah and whatever……
Anyway, as for African rifles and cartridges go, many “main stream” calibers beginning at about 7x57 caliber …. (and / or the strangely popular 7mm-08, LoL), up through and including my favorite - the .375 H&H can serve you extremely well on almost (almost) all non dangerous species, pretty much world wide, including Africa.
On that thought, provided you don’t use too light / fast / fragile of a bullet then, if you shoot whatever rifle well, (again = 7x57 and up) it will put animals in the salt with reliable consistency.
I say “almost” because heavy game (eland, N. American bison, Asian buffaloes and perhaps freakishly large swine) IMO, should not be hunted with what we often refer to as “deer calibers”.
For me personally, these huge animals are better taken with cartridges beginning about at .33 caliber / 250 grain bullet leaving the muzzle around 2400 feet per second, bare bones minimum.
And again, I like the .375 H&H best, so that all non-dangerous game, including the huge ones can be taken swiftly, inflicting minimal suffering in the process.
As others have mentioned already, the .375 will also suit you as a client, on much of the world’s dangerous game as well, including but not limited to, African buffalo, N. American grizzly bear, African lion and the list goes on.
It is a bit much for leopard (lightening fast and super dangerous animal but not especially huge of body) and this caliber is probably a bit light for elephant.
However, with the right bullet, fired into just the right place, the .375 H&H works well enough.
Plus it shoots as flat as a .30-06, for longer shots on non-dangerous game that, live in the wide open spaces.
Not in any order of preference, these are a few of my somewhat favorite cartridges for non-dangerous game, world wide:
7x57 Mauser - 160 grain
7mm Remington Magnum - 160 and 175 gr.
.30-06 - 180, 200 and 220 gr.
.300 H&H - (same bullets).
8x57 Mauser - 196 gr.
The above cartridges are well suited for animals weighing up to around 350 to 400 pounds, approximately.
Below are cartridges well suited for all non-dangerous game, world wide, even the huge ones:
.338-06 - 250 gr.
.338 Winchester - 250 gr.
.35 Whelen - 225 and 250 gr.
9.3x62 Mauser - 286 gr.
And I already rambled enough about the .375 H&H being the best of the best for what I hunt with it.
Honorable mention goes to the 6.5x55 Mauser cartridge with 140 to 160 grain bullets, when hunting N. American deer, pronghorn and similar sized hooved game.
It’d be a real peach for “deer size” African impala, reedbok, warthog and many other similar sized African critters.
However, many PH’s there do not recommend cartridges under 7mm for arriving clients and I respect that.
Besides, just my luck, I’d be carrying my little 6.5 and stumble across a 2,000 pound bull eland in thick bush (Murphy’s Law is alive and well).
Rant Over.
Glad you joined.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.
