An all round rifle caliber , for Africa and elsewhere

[FlyGuy]

Big5 aside….

30-06 without question!

Recoil is tolerable for most.

A bonded 165gr cruising at 2800-2900 is plenty medicine for most of the world’s game species.

Step up to a 180gr at 2700, or a 220gr at 2400 to handle the rest.

Ammo is available and reasonably priced.

In terms of total numbers sold, it’s the most popular centre fire hunting cartridge of all time, and for good reason too.

If DG is on the menu, the 375H&H is the only logical choice for the one rifle man.

 

[Letzhunt]

I’ve just been through this and settled on the venerable 30-06 for all of the reasons above and ammo availability. After having my ammo go missing on my last trip to Africa, it was a consideration.

After hearing ammo availability as a reason for a particular cartridge often....this is one of the few times I hear of actual lost ammo. Dan458 can you share your story of your lost ammo? where were you hunting when did it come up missing ...did it ever show up? I custom load for most everything and in the case of my 300 Weatherby I can't use factory ammo due to the short throat in my rifle. It is a fear for me to lose my ammo so I'm curious as to what happened.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

Bullet selection isn't likely as important, along with placement, it is the most important. The bullet does all of the heavy lifting once the rifle has been fired.

A poorly constructed bullet for the game at hand can be a 30 or ever 40 something caliber and it's going to be trouble. Same thing if the bullet is poorly placed, regardless of construction.

If you just wish to add to your rifle collection, so be it. You'll find plenty of enablers here, including myself, to help you along with this. But if you're trying to convince yourself that a .270 won't get the job done, you're just fooling yourself.

A quick look at my Swift manual tells me I can load a 150gr A-Frame to about 2900fps. I'd take that load and hunt any PG with it that I would my .300WM. The only animal to give me some pause is the eland. I would want to be a little more selective on shot opportunity to ensure good shot placement.

If you think Africa is becoming a regular thing for you, I'd be inclined to recommend you jump to a 375HH and have DG covered. It also makes a great PG gun.

 

[gbflyer]

22-250 or 22 Creedmoor with a 7 or 8 twist barrel to handle the 77-80gr bullets. 6mm Creedmoor for 105-115gr bullets. Of course if you lose your ammo in Africa I’d imagine you’ll be out of luck. Hard to beat your 270 for all practical purposes. But, a person always needs another rifle so….

 

[dogcat1]

I have used the following on plains game -
.375 HH
.300 HH
.300WM
7mm Rem Mag
.280 Rem
.243 Win
.270 Win
9.3x62

My next trip will feature a 7x57.

On Dangerous Game -
.375 HH
9.3x62
.416 Rigby

All work if you hit your target correctly.

 

[MarkB]

I say that's really a broad question that has far too many variables, expect many responses with members promoting what they use, like and believe in. There are dozens of calibers that would meet the minimum. 257, 6.5, slower smaller 7mm and 30 cals. These would also be great deer calibers. The most important is put the bullet in the correct spot and use a new good bullet. Not necessarily a heavy for caliber sleek try and hit way out there bullet but one of the proven well constructed kill them quick bullets. With the smaller calibers one may need to wait, pick or pass on shot angles not best or perfect. African PG has a far larger size and toughness variation than any and all our deer.

I do not believe that a 338, 366 or 375 meets your question of minimum caliber. These may be great all round for every thing calibers but they are not the minimum.

I have shot over 100 PG and used my 308 win and 165 accubonds. Hunters beside me have done same with a 6.5 creed. I do think minimum calibers for all PG except eland start at 257, 6.5. 243 even with good 100 or 105 bullets seam small for some 500lb and larger game. Especially with the draw blood and pay rules, trackers are amazing but its easier with a blood trail.

In reality do you want to safari with any minimum caliber?? I like short 20" barreled light rifles, Canadian so no cans allowed. I also like hunting, so 300yds and less is what I like, better is 75 yds and a great stalk. I found the rem 700 BDL SS DM to be a great gun and when skeletonized, trued, trimmed and "triggertecked" they are my "perfect" gun. Have many in various calibers, 308 works best as all around, uses a short action, lighter, more efficient, less fps loss with 20" barrel, shorter bolt throw and has same velocity and power as long action with todays new powders.

I did the magnum craz, have a 6 lb 338, but find my 300 WSM rifle as above with 180 accubonds kills just as good as any long action cartridge if I do my part.

I just built another rem in 260, so maybe on my next safari the 308 will be replaced with the 260? Not sure yet, the 308 certainly has worked well.

MB

 

[Berettaco]

My favorite cartridge is the 270 win. I have used it with great success in NA and Africa on game up to and including kudu. Use a 150 grain premium bullet and you’ll be just fine. Have also used 243, 7mm mag, 30-06, 375HH, 404J in Africa.

100 guys with 100 opinions on what’s the best caliber - and most answers are correct - just personal preference.

My opinion is there is little difference in the outcome based on caliber (within reason) as long as you are pushing a 150 grain premium bullet over 1,500 fps at impact. Most shots I’ve taken in on PG are around 75-100 yards, a couple were 200ish yards. Lots of cartridges will get the job done

 

[Ruraldoc]

An all around cartridge depends upon your definition of all around.

Do we include or exclude dangerous game?

Does dangerous game include elephants?

Without dangerous game, a 30-06 or 300 win mag can do nearly anything.

With dangerous game excluding elephants on the table, a 9.3x62 will work for nearly anything.

If elephants are on the table, we are really outside the realm of all around, but the 375 is a sensible minimum.

My own approach is to use a 30 caliber rifle in North Americ( excepting big bears)as well as plains game other than eland .

For eland,lion or big bears, give me a 375 or a 9.3x62.

For Buffalo and larger, I really want a 416 or 458.

So I pick three all around rifles.

A 308 or 30-06.

A 9.3x62 or a 375.

A 416 or 458.

Last year in Africa, I carried a 308 and a 416 and it worked great for me.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[gbflyer]

…What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle?…

I read that as not dangerous game.