What calibre? (Yet again)

[Borderer]

A friend has booked a 2:1 hunt in Namibia in 2025 and his hunting partner now looks like he will have to drop out, so he has asked me about going.

It looks absolutely fantastic, all walk and stalk in the Erongo hills. No vehicle access, so everything has to be carried from what he has said.

The species available are:

Zebra
Springbok
Kudu
Duiker
Steenbok
Oryx

I have a Blaser R8 with a 30-06 and 375 barrel. Is it worth taking both?

I imagine it would be a pain to carry both around but the email from the agent states that he prefers clients to use a minimum of 300 win mag on zebra.

I am very tempted by a 338-06 built by a gunsmith friend who has a superb reputation. A cancelled order, but I am concerned about the spectre of missing ammunition. He is selling it for the cost of the action only, as he advises me the UK Firearms licencing will only permit use overseas, so of very little use here, so he is expecting to rebarrel it again in order to sell it.

 

[CBH Australia]

Yes, Take both barrels.

That’s the attraction of the Blaser for travelling hunters.

I expect the .300wm will do all you need but the .375H&H is an alternative if you find it better suits your needs when you are in country and have it on hand.

And if you decide to take a Cape Buffalo you are equipped to do so.

Aside from that even if you use the .375 on the larger species it makes use of your gear and makes it feel justified in keeping and using these.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

.30-06 Springfield is perfectly adequate for the plains game animals that you’re after.

I’ve bagged all of your listed animals with this caliber, over the years. Here are some of them.

.300 Winchester Magnum gives you a little bit more reach, but the .30-06 Springfield is accurate enough at the ordinary sporting ranges where these game animals are normally taken. Just use the 180Gr bullet for a flatter trajectory out to longer ranges (I used 220Gr Remington Core Lokts for all these but then again, I really enjoy stalking my game as close as is humanly feasible).

 

[Red Leg]

Just use your 30-06. It is adequate for any zebra that ever walked the earth to include a large mountain zebra stallion. In a thirty, Win Mag or ‘06, the bullet is far more important than a bit more velocity.

 

[Tra3]

Take both barrels. Get some practice with the .375.
The rifle case for both barrels will be easy. It adds minimal weight to take the second barrel (as you know).
There is always a good chance that other opportunities arise where the .375 may be the better option

 

[K-man]

The advantage of the Blaser is you can take both, easily. The duiker and steenbok would do nicely with the .375 and a solid, minimal cape damage. You can take any of the others with either the .30-06 or the .375 depending on the range.

 

[Borderer]

As I see it, the issue is that if I take both barrels, there is no vehicle and I either have to leave one in camp or carry both around all day. That suggests to me, that the 375 is the better option, although I have seen warthog absolutely minced by a 375.

 

[Andrew62]

If there is any chance you can be tempted into a cape buffalo bull or cow, I'd take the 375 barrel as well, otherwise, the 30.06 is all you will need and ammo is readily available should something happen. I've taken a lot of zebras and blue wildebeests with my .308 using 165/168 grain ammo.

 

[Borderer]

There are no cape buffalo in the area

If there is any chance you can be tempted into a cape buffalo bull or cow, I'd take the 375 barrel as well, otherwise, the 30.06 is all you will need and ammo is readily available should something happen. I've taken a lot of zebras and blue wildebeests with my .308 using 165/168 grain ammo.

 

[Borderer]

Sorry, above should have said 2026, not 2025

 

[Andrew62]

There are no cape buffalo in the area

Personally, I do not want to carry extra weight, so I'd take either the 30.06 or 338-06. No need carrying a 2nd barrel and 20 rounds of .375 ammo for nothing.

 

[Borderer]

I met an Afrikaans farmer in Namibia a couple of years ago. He was running a substantial cattle operation and very keen on hunting, with a bit of an eland obsession. He told me that he finds it very amusing to see people turning up with all sorts of rifles to hunt mainly Eland on his farm.

He told me that he had only every used a 308 for all plains game. He couldn't understand the fuss about everything else.

 

[WyoBull]

Easy to take both, that’s why you have a Blaser. But, both are not needed for what you are planning to hunt.
I have no data to back up my next statement but I would surmise there has been more plains game animals killed with a thirty-ought-six since Africa has been hunted than all other calibers combined.
Best of luck to you on your hunt!

 

[Hogpatrol]

Another vote for just the '06. Having said that, I'd take the one with which you're most proficient and accurate and load accordingly for the game's size.

 

[Tra3]

As I see it, the issue is that if I take both barrels, there is no vehicle and I either have to leave one in camp or carry both around all day. That suggests to me, that the 375 is the better option, although I have seen warthog absolutely minced by a 375.

I’ve never done an in-field barrel change with my R8. Any barrel change is back at camp, with a plan on what you want to hunt with the caliber.(and knowledge that something else might step out!)
The .30-06 will be great for all those animals. The .375 is better for the small ones.
For me, the reason to have a .375 is to hunt Africa with it. For sure, you would be taking 5 lbs extra in barrel and scope and the weight of 2 boxes of ammo. The extra ammo will be greatly appreciated by your PH.

 

[skydiver386]

I think everything on you list could be easily handled by either caliber. In 30-06 a 180 grain Barnes X or similar for the big ones, and an identical weigh solid for the small ones.

As much as I love my .375, given the game you listed I'd leave that barrel at home. Buy enough ammo to get several practice sessions, become familiar with the trajectory and go hunting with the 30-06.

 

[Bandera]

I used a 308 to take Wildebeest & Zebra with no issues. My buddy shot his Zebra with a 45-70 to far back and had a very long day tracking. Shot placement, it matters.
The 30-06 will cleanly take everything on you list as will the 375.
Which do you shoot best?
Take what you shoot well.

 

[Philip Glass]

A friend has booked a 2:1 hunt in Namibia in 2025 and his hunting partner now looks like he will have to drop out, so he has asked me about going.

It looks absolutely fantastic, all walk and stalk in the Erongo hills. No vehicle access, so everything has to be carried from what he has said.

The species available are:

Zebra
Springbok
Kudu
Duiker
Steenbok
Oryx

I have a Blaser R8 with a 30-06 and 375 barrel. Is it worth taking both?

I imagine it would be a pain to carry both around but the email from the agent states that he prefers clients to use a minimum of 300 win mag on zebra.

I am very tempted by a 338-06 built by a gunsmith friend who has a superb reputation. A cancelled order, but I am concerned about the spectre of missing ammunition. He is selling it for the cost of the action only, as he advises me the UK Firearms licencing will only permit use overseas, so of very little use here, so he is expecting to rebarrel it again in order to sell it.

The '06 is fine if you can dial. 180g Barnes TSX would be my vote

 

[Red Leg]

My last pure plains game safari in Zambia included everything from blue duiker (lots smaller than a common duiker or steenbok) through sable and defassa waterbuck. I used my .275 (7x57) and a 170 gr SP for everything. On the duiker it created a 7 mm entry hole and 7.01 mm exit wound. The '06 will do the same with a 180 or 200 gr TSX, A-Frame, or Oryx.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

My first safari was in Namibia and I used a 30-06. The PH always referred to it as a “Springfield,” which was cool. It’s plenty of rifle.