Thoughts: A rifle battery for a 28 day Safari hunt...

[Tanks]

Well, we are sheltering in place and got time so here is a question for all:

What do you guys think that is the ideal battery if one is pursuing lion, leopard, 3 buffalo and tons of plains game on a 28 day hunt?

I am thinking a heavy, a medium that can back up the heavy and light, and light.

My choice would be:
1) .500 NE double
2) .458 B&M wildcat
3) .300 RUM

Reasonings as follows:
1) Where else would you take to shoot a double rifle?
2) With 258 grain tipped raptors it is good to 300 yards, with 420 raptor and 450 solid it is a good back for (1) in case the Landcruiser rolled over it .
3) Plains game rifle for anywhere and any distance with 200 grain TTSX traveling over 3K fps.

What say you? What would you take and why?

 

[Aaron N]

A single 375H&H! Heckuva less hassle than three rifles, and will take anything you ask it to. You could even bring a heavy and a light load for DG and PG if you so wished!

 

[Major Khan]

Rather than name rifles and calibres which I have merely read about in books or on the internet , without actually having any personal experience with ...
I am going to draw my selection from rifles and calibres which I have actually personally used or seen being used on game , during my career as a professional shikaree.
It would be far more honest of me .


My ideal battery ( assuming that I was the client ) would comprise of 3 rifles and 1 shot gun .
> A .243 Winchester calibre rifle for the tiny 10 and the smaller African antelopes .
> A .30-06 Springfield calibre rifle for my general plains game hunting.
> A .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre rifle for the eland and for dangerous game ( such as Cape Buffalo , African elephant , African lion , African leopard and hippopotamus )
> My " Old Belgian " 12 Bore double barreled side by side shot gun , which is equipped with 3 inch chambers , extractors , double triggers and 28 inch long barrels ( The left barrel is fully choked. The right barrel is a modified choke ) . This , I would use for wing shooting , or for hunting Sunni or Duiker at close range , by using AAA cartridges .
If need be ... then, I would also use it for following up wounded African leopards , by loading both barrels with my hand loaded spherical ball cartridges .

The rifles would preferably be pre 64 Winchester Model 70 bolt rifles ( or alternatively , new Winchester Model 70 control round feed platform rifles ) .

If I was a White Hunter instead of the client ... then I would personally opt to replace the .375 Holland & Holland magnum calibre bolt rifle , with a .476 Westley Richards calibre double barreled side by side rifle with double triggers , automatic ejectors , no automatic safety , 24 inch chopper lump barrels, French walnut wood stock , beaver tail fore end grip , ivory bead fore sight and wide V back sights . Such a rifle would preferably be made by Lebeau Courally ( I love their work ! ) and be regulated for Kynamco 520 grain soft point cartridges band solid metal covered cartridges.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I have been pondering the same thoughts if my June Safari does not happen this year. 2021 trip then would be 21 days with numerous animals from lioness and cape buffalo down to warthog. I had a two or three rifle battery in mind. 458 Lott, 375 HH and 308 for light end. If only taking two. 458 Lott and 375 HH

 

[BB416]

I’ll bite.

416 Rigby Big Game with 1.2-5 detachable scope. Hand loaded 400 grain A frame and 400 grain Barnes solids if necessary

300 H&H Pre 64 model 70 with a 3-9 scope. Hand loaded 200 grain A frames.

don’t think I would need a third gun, but if I could, I would bring a 12 bore SxS for a little wing shooting.

 

[Velo Dog]

I’d bring only one rifle.
Lugging multiple firearms across the globe does not appeal to me in the slightest.
(Normally, any PH will have a suitable shotgun to rent or loan for your wing shooting activities).

Anyway, since in addition to hunting numerous “plains game” species, you’d be hunting several large dangerous animals, my first choice would be a .404 Jeffery.
I would only use 400 gr Swift A-Frame bullets for everything, buffalo to duiker.

My very close second choice would be the .375 H&H, loaded with 300 gr A-Frames for all species mentioned.

 

[spike.t]

Long time ago did 30 day hunt in the selous...had a 308....416 rigby and a 470 I was loaned and a short barreled 12 bore sxs....

 

[Shootist43]

Since we are just "talking" I'd surely take a double rifle if I had one just because it wouldn't be used very often otherwise, a 404 Jeffery and a 35 Whelen. That being said, your original "proposed" battery will certainly get the job done.

 

[Red Leg]

.375 and my Evans Paradox. Normally, I can't abide the thought of lugging multiple rifles, but in this case it would be fun to have a shotgun along that could also shoot sand grouse and the like and roll a warthog or two. I did this once in Namibia quite a few years ago. If spending an afternoon or three around a waterhole wasn't an option, then I would pack the .300 Win Mag barrel of my R8 along to give me just a bit more reach on a tommy way out there.

 

[sierraone]

I think I would have to go along with Velo Dog. Take one gun, .375 HH or .404J. Borrow or rent a shotgun from the outfitter if I wanted to bird hunt. I learned two years ago that a .404 will take a warthog just as easily as a .300!

 

[ddog]

1) .500 or .470 or .450/400 double;
2) .375 H&H
3) .300 H&H

The 375 and 300 H&Hs are pre-64 Model 70s although the new .375 H&H Model 70s are also very good.

 

[chashardy]

416 Rigby Big Game w/1-6X24 scope and Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw or Swift A-frame 400gr.
375 H&H Chapuis double and 300 gr. TBBC or A-frame
300 winmag Model 70 with 4-12X33 scope and 200 gr. TBBC

 

[BeeMaa]

Blaser R8 with 375H&H barrel and call it done.
Pack up 11# of 300 grain Swift A-Frame and I'm good for all game.
Traveling light and keeping it simple makes me happy.

But to be honest, I see your point of wanting to take what you listed.
You have it, you should use it.
I simply don't have a double or wildcats to take.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

Oh I do enjoy this game.......
If someone else were handling the logistics of moving these things around for me in the airport, I'd bring 3 rifles. But if left to myself, I'd opt for 2.

1) CZ550 .375 H&H with 300gr TSX's topped with a Swaro Z6i 1-6EE
2) CZ550 .300 Win Mag with 180gr TTSX's topped with Swaro Z6 1.7-10
3) CZ550 .458 Lott with 500gr TSX's and open sites (debating trying a reflex site on this one. I've an NECG peep rear and like it a lot. When it finally goes to Wayne at AHR, I may have a filler for the rear sight base made and use the peep on the rear bridge for backup and a reflex on the front bridge)

The Lott would be my wildcard based on the logistics situation. I'd love to take a buffalo with it. I've a 470 double, but have come to the realization that I do not shoot it as well as a bolt gun. For some reason, I still can't bring myself to sell it.

 

[shark_za]

A couple of 2 gun batteries.

British
416 Rigby
300 H&H

American
460 Weatherby Improved
30-378

German
9.3x74R
8x68S

Aussie
Enfield Custom in 458
Enfield Custom in 303

South African
Uncles Martini Henry
243 - headshots.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

My M70 375. With all the ammo I could carry.

 

[AES]

I haven't yet planned my trip but have already been giving this thought as it relates to 21 days in the Selous. I am thinking I take a 300PRC bolt and a 470NE DR. Don't think I can get more than 2 into country given my flight plan. If allowed a third, it would be a 12ga.

Taking the "days hunt" out of the equation, necessarily since this already happened in RSA, I take 416 Rigby and 300WM for plains game (and in case I wander across a buff with an open allocation). Truthfully, I just love my 416 and look for excuses to shoot it.

 

[Tanks]

Oh I do enjoy this game.......
If someone else were handling the logistics of moving these things around for me in the airport, I'd bring 3 rifles. But if left to myself, I'd opt for 2.
...

I plan to have a girlfriend with me to keep me warm at nights and also act as my ammo mule for another 11 lbs of ammo so logistics is not an issue.

I haven't yet planned my trip but have already been giving this thought as it relates to 21 days in the Selous. I am thinking I take a 300PRC bolt and a 470NE DR. Don't think I can get more than 2 into country given my flight plan. If allowed a third, it would be a 12ga.
...

If you fly a single airline, avoiding J'burg customs you can take 3 to Tanzania. Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines all fly there.​

 

[AES]

If you fly a single airline, avoiding J'burg customs you can take 3 to Tanzania. Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines all fly there.​

I am Delta from Atlanta.

Though, my wife is going so I could reasonably use her for a mule.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Oh I do enjoy this game.......
If someone else were handling the logistics of moving these things around for me in the airport, I'd bring 3 rifles. But if left to myself, I'd opt for 2.

1) CZ550 .375 H&H with 300gr TSX's topped with a Swaro Z6i 1-6EE
2) CZ550 .300 Win Mag with 180gr TTSX's topped with Swaro Z6 1.7-10
3) CZ550 .458 Lott with 500gr TSX's and open sites (debating trying a reflex site on this one. I've an NECG peep rear and like it a lot. When it finally goes to Wayne at AHR, I may have a filler for the rear sight base made and use the peep on the rear bridge for backup and a reflex on the front bridge)

The Lott would be my wildcard based on the logistics situation. I'd love to take a buffalo with it. I've a 470 double, but have come to the realization that I do not shoot it as well as a bolt gun. For some reason, I still can't bring myself to sell it.

Wow! Another CZ fan! Great choice!