2nd safari rifle

[studor]

First time I went I used a Ruger bolt 30/06 from that was on the farm I was fortunate enough to hunt. The second time I took my Browning a-bolt .338 Win and shot everything from jackals to eland with it. If you are going to take two I would take the .416 and something like a .308 (always can get ammo) or 30/06. If you are only taking one gun then you might check with the outfitter -- they often have backup guns and ammo and they are usually just plain jane bolt guns with reasonable scopes and in standard calibers. Two big bores might be nice but not required unless you just love big bores -- kinda overkill on most plains game and probably a waste of very expensive ammo JMHO

 

[gsganzer]

Do you have a hunt planned? Details man! Details man! I have another hunt planned in Ireland in October for red stag.

I don't think you need to bring two big bores. You're probably more likely to suffer a scope failure than a rifle failure, so make sure your DG rifle has backup iron sights and maybe bring a backup scope. If the airline loses your gear, it wouldn't matter how many spares you packed anyway, you'll be borrowing a camp rifle.

One thing I always do before I go on a hunt is to check all my ammunition by cycling it through my gun to insure it feeds properly. This would be especially true if hunting dangerous game.

When I went on a plains game hunt, I brought a .300 win mag and a .257 WBY. I took all but one animal with the .300 and think you'd be fine with that for all the plainsgame, except maybe Eland.

Next time I go, I'll probably bring my 375 H&H and my .300 win mag. On the .300 Win Mag, if you shoot monosolids like the Barnes, you won't ruin the smaller game too bad (impala, duikers etc.)

If you're just wanting a new big bore, how about something classic like a .404 jeffrey?

 

[RoyJackson]

any opinions on calibre?

Calibre? You Canadian, Soundguy?

 

[EddieWalker]

If the airline loses your gear, it wouldn't matter how many spares you packed anyway, you'll be borrowing a camp rifle?

I've only hunted in three other countries and never had the airlines lose my stuff, but I did have a scope failure on a caribou hunt in Canada. I just borrowed a rifle from one of the guys in camp who had filled his tags.

A buddy went to the same place I hunted in Namibia and his rifles where lost just about his entire hunt. He borrowed a rilfe and just paid for the ammo he shot. The outfitter had a Zeiss scope on the rifle, bug I forget who made the rifle. It was nicer then what my buddy owned!!!

When I went to New Zealand, I decided to not bring my rifle with me. It's not that big a deal to travel with a rifle, but it is another case to carry around and worry about. The outfitter had a .30-06 Sauer Rifle with a Zeiss scope on it that was deadly accurate!!!

Having traveled without a rifle overseas, that's the way to go!!!!!

Eddie

 

[k0ua]

Another thought... What about something like 375JDJ in a Contender? Maybe not for dangerous game. But for all else, it is a very accurate, hard hitting round... A few years back, I had opportunity to try one; hit prairie dogs at 200 yards... Pistol from a bench grouped 2" or smaller at 200 yards. It also too elk on multiple occasions(inlaws pistol).

Your wrist's must be a lot tougher than mine.. I took a couple of shots with a .375JDJ in a contender with a Muzzle Brake on it and that straight line shove back in my wrist hurt like heck. And after just 2 rounds I handed it back to the owner and said thank you. A good hot load in a .44 mag is about all I want to hang on to any more..

James K0UA

 

[studor]

Travelling with a rifle is a bit of a PITA -- travelling with a pistol is just plain ridiculous. Unless you really have some desire to take dangerous game with a pistol, spend your time making money to go instead of researching how to get the pistol there and whether or not you can even use it. Remember if you come to Canada, the pistol is not legal for hunting -period

 

[RobertN]

It had hogue type grips, scope, and muzzle brake. It definitely had more recoil than the Desert Eagle I had at the time. It certainly was not a plinker And, was a little big for prairie dogs... That was a few years ago though; maybe the memories of the recoil have faded

He had taken elk and deer with it(and has a number of times since then).

Your wrist's must be a lot tougher than mine.. I took a couple of shots with a .375JDJ in a contender with a Muzzle Brake on it and that straight line shove back in my wrist hurt like heck. And after just 2 rounds I handed it back to the owner and said thank you. A good hot load in a .44 mag is about all I want to hang on to any more..

James K0UA

 

[Soundguy]

thanks for the tips and ideas guys, it's exactly what I wanted and needed to hear. lots of choices.

As a quick recap. I think I will skip the big bore pistol. Not that I don't have a hand cannon fetish.. because I do.. even own an automag.. etc... but will stick to a long gun.

given me alot to think about, and I have time to do so. working up a hunt later in the year.

ditto what someone mentioned about shooting up expensive ammo. I cringe when i buy .416 rigby

saw a 275 rigby ( is that right? ) today at a gun show. want to say it was in a ruger 1 but couldn't be certain.. was running out the show to make it to work in time.

no big guns today, but came home with a killer deal on a rem 700 in .222

don't know much about it.. but gun was mint and was an out the door pric hard to argue about... cheaper scope.. but that's not an issue.

so.. aside from the big game stuff.. someone tell me about a .222

still looking at that .218 bee in the gun shop that won't move.. everybody is scared of it.

 

[gsganzer]

Having traveled without a rifle overseas, that's the way to go!!!!!

When I hunted Africa, I brought my own rifles, including my own handloaded ammo. Neither me or my buddy had any issues, but we were there to hunt 7 days and then went sightseeing with the outfitters family for the remainder on our stay.

When I hunted in Ireland last year, I used a camp gun, because we (me and the wife) were only hunting four days and then traveling on our own afterwards. (I wasn't too thrilled that it was only a .243 for red stag sized game. It was a confidence thing, feeling a little light on caliber. However, it was a Steyr with a heavy barrel and was a tackdriver). Bringing my own rifle, would have required us to leave the gun with the outfitter and then swing back to get the gun before we flew out. Major PITA.

On my trip back to Ireland this October, I'm planning to bring my own rifle because it will only be me and I'll depart right after the hunt. The borrowing the camp rifle is definitely easier, but I feel funny not having MY rifle.

 

[Beltzington]

If you want a back-up another rifle in the same .416.

If you want a lighter rifle for lighter game I have read a .270 or .300WM is more then enough.

Lucky fellow - I was looking into an african hunt but didn't have $40,000 laying around.

http://www.huntinglegends.com/hunting/hunting-the-big-5-in-africa