best safari hunting rifles

• Hunting Rifles

Big caliber rifles for the hunt of your dreams-- whether on the hunt in the African plains on a safari, or in the Rocky Mountains of North America. Bolt action rifles are the most common for large animal hunting all over the world. Always "bring enough gun" to get the job done, and practice for the terrain you plan to visit. The classic rifle caliber for almost any situation is the 375 H&H, but we carry guns in almost every hunting caliber available, and as always- at great prices! 

Sig KILO8K-ABS, Rangefinder Monocular, 7Xx25mm, FDE, Circle, Duplex, Box + Milling Grid Reticles

Smith & Wesson 629 Performance Center 44 Remington Magnum, 7.5" Barrel, Two-Tone Stainless, Red/Green Dot, 6rd

Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan .375 Ruger, 20" Barrel, Hogue Overmolded Black Stock, Stainless Steel, 3rd

Savage 10/110 Bear Hunter 375 Ruger 23" Barrel, Stainless Steel,, , AccuFit Mossy Oak Break-Up Stock, 2 rd

Savage 10/110 Brush Hunter 338 Winchester Magnum, 20" Barrel, Stainless Steel,, , Synthetic, 4 rd

Smith & Wesson 500 Hunter Performance Center .500 S&W, 10.5" Barrel, Synthetic Grip, Matte Stainless, 5rd

Browning X-Bolt Hunter 375 H&H Mag 24" Barrel, Satin Walnut Stock Blued, 4rd

Chapuis Armes Elan Classic Double Rifle, .470 NE, 24" Barrel, Ejectors

Chapuis Armes Elan Classic .375 H&H, 25.5" Barrel, Engraved, Box-Lock, Circassian Walnut

Chapuis Armes Elan Artisan Double Rifle, .375 H&H FL, 25.5" Barrel

Chapuis Armes Elan Artisan Double Rifle, .450-400 NE, 25.5" Barrel

Savage 10/110 Brush Hunter 375 Ruger, 20" Barrel, Stainless Steel,, , Synthetic, 3 rd

Winchester M70 Safari Express Bolt 375 H&H Mag 24" Barrel Grade I Walnut Stock

Winchester M70 Alaskan Bolt 375 H&H Mag 25" Barrel Walnut Stock Blued

Seekins SP10 6.5 Creedmoor, 22" Barrel, Flat Dark Earth, 20rd

Chapuis Armes Elan Classic, .450-400 NE 25.5"

Chapuis Armes Elan Artisan Double Rifle 470 Nitro Express, 24" Barrel, Walnut, Engraved Silver Rec, 2rd

Remington Custom Shop 700 NA 338 Lapua, 26" Barrel Muzzle Brake, 40X Trigger, Tan Stock Black Webbing

Remington 700 SPS 375 H&H 24" Barrel, Sythentic Black Stock

Marlin 1895 Cape Hunter Package 45-70, 18" Barrel, Leupold VX3i Scope Super Low Mount System

Remington Custom Shop North American . 375 H&H, 24" Barrel, Tan Stock /w Black Webbing

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five EA EDL 470 N.E.

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five EA EDL 500 N.E.

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five EA 500 N.E. Color Case Hardened

Sabatti Classic Safari Express, Double Trig, Extractors Only 9.3X74R

Sabatti Classic 92 EA Express, Double Trig, Auto Ejectors 9.3X74R

Sako 85 Hunter .375 H&H Mag 24 3/8 " Barrel 1/12 Twist

Sako 85 Brown Bear 375 H&H Magnum 21" Barrel 1/12 Twist

Ruger M77 Hawkeye African 9.3x62 24" Barrel Satin Blue Finish American Walnut Stock 3 Round

Sabatti Classic Safari Big Five .450/.400 Nitro Express, ExtractorsDouble Trigger

Browning X-Bolt Medallion Safari Bolt 300 H&H Mag 24" Barrel, Black Walnut Stock Blued Open Sights, 3rd

Browning X-Bolt Medallion Safari Bolt 338 Win Mag 24" Barrel, Black Walnut Stock Blued, 3rd

Browning X-Bolt Medallion Safari Bolt 300 WSM 24" Barrel, Black Walnut Stock Blued, 3rd

Marlin 1895 SBL Modern Lever Hunter MLH 45-70 18" Barrel Magna Ported Sniper Gray Cerakote, XS Ghost Ring Sight

Montana Rifle Co. Colorado Buck Edition 300 Win Mag, 24" Barrel Synthetic, Cerakote, Right Hand, Brake

Marlin 1895 SBL Modern Lever Hunter MLH 45-70 18" Threaded Barrel, Sniper Gray Cerakote, Black Stock, Light Splatter XS Ghost Ring Sight

Dakota Arms Model 76 African Custom 416 Rigby Upgraded, Color Case Hardening, Rings and Base

Dakota Arms Model 97 Long Range SS Hunter 300 Win Mag, 24" Barrel, Falcon Ceramic Coating, Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 Scope

Kimber Talkeetna Rifle, .375 H&H Mag 24" Barrel Kevlar Carbon Stock

Montana Rifle Co. American Vantage 375 H&H, Walnut, Blued, Right Hand W.Muzzle Brake

The 6 Best Rifles for Hunting Africa

Getting ready for a safari hunt read on to learn about the best rifles for hunting africa..

The subject of selecting the best rifles for hunting Africa is an extremely controversial topic that has been hotly debated for many years. Fortunately, there are a bunch of really good rifles currently manufactured in a number of different rifle cartridges suitable for most hunting safaris.

Africa is an extremely large and diverse continent and the different species of game that inhabit Africa are as varied as the continent itself. For that reason, a hunter on a plains game safari will need a different rifle from another person pursuing thick-skinned dangerous game like buffalo hippo. For that reason, "one size fits all" solutions are hard to find, but a few different rifles come pretty close.

Regardless of what and where in Africa you plan on hunting, spend plenty of time at the range prior to your safari and use quality bullets like the Barnes TSX/TTSX , Nosler Partition, and Swift A-Frame. You'll make your Professional Hunter (PH) very happy if you show up with a rifle you are very familiar with and can shoot accurately, even if it's in a lighter cartridge.

All of the choices on our list of rifles are accurate, well built, and reliable. They will hold up their end of the bargain if you do your part.

Continue reading to learn all about our choices for the best rifles for hunting Africa.

1. Ruger Hawkeye .30-06

No list of Africa hunting rifles would be complete without a rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The Ruger Hawkeye is the latest incarnation of the venerable Ruger M77 and does the Ruger name proud. Not only is the rifle very accurate, but it also has a Mauser type controlled round feed system, which is a very important feature for any rifle that will be used for hunting in Africa. All Ruger rifles are also made in the United States.

While it is not suitable for hunting game like cape buffalo, the .30-06 Springfield is a great all-around cartridge for hunting plains game animals such as kudu, wildebeest, zebra and impala. If you want something with a little more power, the Hawkeye and its cousin, the Hawkeye African, are also available in several other calibers including the 7mm Remington Magnum, .338 Winchester Magnum, and .375 Ruger.

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Top 5 calibers for hunting big game in africa, richard mann & ron spomer share their thoughts on the best cartridges for hunting in africa, federal premium safari cape shok ammo: what you need to know.

The Ruger Hawkeye isn't particularly expensive, but for hunters on a more strict budget, the Ruger American is another good choice for a plains game rifle. It doesn't have a controlled round feed system, but it's still a good value rifle and is also chambered in big game calibers like the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield.

2. Weatherby Vanguard .300 Winchester Magnum

Sportsman's Guide

The Weatherby Vanguard is another great choice for a plains game hunting rifle. The Vanguard comes with the standard Weatherby guarantee of sub-MOA accuracy (less than 1? at 100 yards).

Combine that with the flat shooting characteristics of the .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, and you've got a rifle ideally suited for taking long-range shots on African game. For instance, the Weatherby Vanguard would be a perfect choice for hunting springbok in the Karoo in South Africa or gemsbok in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia.

That being said, this rifle isn't restricted to long range hunting either and will also work extremely well on closer range shots in thicker conditions. Indeed, the .300 Win Mag can use heavier bullet weights than the .30-06 Springfield, which gives it a bit of an edge over the .30-06 class of cartridges on really big species of plains game like eland.

3. CZ 550 .375 H&H

For good reason, the CZ 550 chambered in .375 H&H Magnum is always near the top of the list of the best rifles for hunting Africa. If you could only take one rifle on a hunt and you want to hunt the widest variety of animals possible, the CZ 550 in .375 H&H Magnum is a solid choice.

The CZ 550 chambered in .375 H&H is well suited for hunting dangerous game and a hunter carrying one is adequately armed for hunting even the biggest elephant and buffalo. The rifle has a controlled round feed action, which is essential for hunting dangerous game. It also can hold six bullets (five in the magazine and one in the chamber), which is great if things go wrong when hunting Cape Buffalo or elephant.

However, it is not limited to just dangerous game hunts and is also a very popular choice for hunting plains game. When shooting solid or controlled expansion bullets, even the mighty .375 H&H will cause surprisingly little damage to the hides of smaller animals.

For this reason, the a nice rifle in .375 H&H is about as close as you'll get to the perfect rifle for hunting plains and dangerous game.

4. Ruger Guide Gun .375 Ruger

Even though it is a relative newcomer to the game, the Ruger Guide Gun is a compelling choice as one of the best rifles for hunting Africa. Designed to be extremely rugged, accurate, easy to carry, and powerful, the Ruger Guide gun delivers on all counts and is starting to become more and more popular among professional hunters in Africa.

The .375 Ruger was designed specifically to mirror the performance of the .375 H&H in a standard length action on a Ruger rifle. The cartridge was introduced in 2007 and has developed a great reputation in Africa over the last few years. The flat shooting characteristics of the cartridge are great for hunting game like blesbok and black wildebeest in the highveld, but the rifle is also easy to handle and powerful enough for hunting game like cape buffalo and kudu in thick bushveld conditions.

Like the Ruger Hawkeye and CZ 550, the Ruger Guide Gun does have a controlled round feed action. However, the rifle has two strikes against it when compared to the CZ 550: it only can hold four rounds (three in the magazine and one in the chamber) and .375 Ruger ammunition is not nearly as widespread or as easy to find as .375 H&H ammunition. However, this is still a great rifle and, like the .375 H&H, is suitable for virtually every species of plains and dangerous game in Africa.

5. Mauser M98 Magnum .416 Rigby

When it was first introduced, the Mauser 1898 revolutionized the shooting world and is the rifle that virtually all modern bolt action rifles are compared to. Fortunately for hunters and shooters all over the world, Mauser recently restarted production of the legendary Model 98 and is now producing a magnum version chambered in .375 H&H and .416 Rigby.

Like the rifle it is descended from, the Mauser M98 Magnum features a controlled round feed action. Additionally, even when chambered in the large and potent .416 Rigby cartridge, the Mauser can hold five bullets (four in the magazine and one in the chamber).

This makes it a great rifle for the person searching for a hard hitting and dependable rifle to use while elephant, hippo, and/or cape buffalo hunting.

6. Winchester Model 70 .458 Winchester

For those who want something even bigger and more powerful than older cartridges like the .45-70 Government or the legendary .375 H&H and .416 Rigby, the .458 Winchester is another serious rifle for dangerous game hunting.

Originally designed to duplicate the performance of traditional English double rifle cartridges like the .450 and .470 Nitro Express in a modern bolt action, the .458 Winchester developed a bad reputation in the 1950s and 1960s for being unreliable, which lead to the development of cartridges like the .458 Lott. However, the issues with the ammunition have been fixed and companies like Hornady are now producing .458 Winchester ammunition that will absolutely hammer a buffalo or an elephant.

Couple this development with the fact that FN Herstal is now producing Winchester Model 70 rifles that feature controlled round feeding and you've got a winner. As long as you can handle the stout recoil of the .458 Winchester, it is a very solid choice and will serve you well in Africa. After all, there's a reason why so many game rangers in Zimbabwe have used this rifle and cartridge for dangerous game culling and problem animal control over the years.

What do you think of our choices for the best rifles for hunting in Africa? Did we miss any?

Like what you see here? Check out John McAdams on his  hunting blog . 

NEXT:  HERE'S HOW MUCH AN AFRICAN HUNTING SAFARI COSTS (NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK)

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Home » Hunting and Outdoors » Best Rifles for African Safaris

Best Rifles for African Safaris

There are times when enough caliber is mandatory . For most of us, this thought occurs when we consider being faced with a home intruder.

In these moments, we are hoping our 9mm , .357 Magnum or .45 ACP is enough to stop the thug prior to our family or ourselves being hurt.

That is a very valid thought process. However, there is a similar process that needs to take place before you attempt to hunt something bigger and tougher than a grizzly bear.

These animals may not even notice being hit by one of the above rounds.

This includes most of the African dangerous game , and that is before you think of herbivores like hippos, elephants and cape buffalo.

Did you know, hippos kill more people than any other big-game animal in Africa? 

Calibers to Consider

When you are talking eland, lion or even warthog, the accepted calibers are not something you run off to the local Walmart and pick up.

You aren’t even finding a trusty Savage 110 chambered in these calibers.

Like most things in life, the further you pursue down a rabbit-hole of a hobby, the more specialized the equipment becomes. And hunting African safaris is pretty specific.

In my similar article aimed at North American game, I specified certain rifles and calibers that made sense.

The simple fact is, at least from a distance, most (heavy for caliber) 7mm or .30-caliber magnums are enough.

Up close, I want a little more insurance, both in a non-boattail bullet and a bit more mass.

In Africa, not only is your .300 Win Mag/PRC/SAUM not a smart idea, it isn’t a legal round to hunt most game.

Quite simply, it will lead to wounded animals and wounded/dead hunters much more often than it will lead to ethical kills. 

This means we need a dedicated platform that launches a serious round.

Conveniently, hunters have been tackling the problem of African safaris for quite some time and there are plenty of options.

Best Single-Shot Rifle Options

The first (and no longer commonly used) option for African safaris, is a single- shot rifle . This might take the form of a rifle like the  Ruger No. 1 Tropical.

Don’t get me wrong, tons of hunters have used this or similar rifles.

The problem is not the rifle’s ability to handle a big-game caliber, it is the fact that you have exactly ONE cartridge in the gun.

If you shoot poorly with your .900 Extinction round, it is 20-60 seconds before you complete a reload, while you have a gut-shot 1,800-pound beast trying its best to grind you into dust.

If you have a pro hunter backing you up, this might work, but you risk not having the satisfaction of making the kill shot.

This rifle is a limited production and Ruger only produces it in one caliber each year.

This likely means the secondary market will be the source of your Ruger No. 1 for big game.

It has been produced in .375 H&H, .405 Win, .416 Ruger, .416 Remington, .416 Rigby, .450/.400 NE, .458 Win Mag, .458 Lott and .404 Jeffrey.

This provides a suitable array of choices providing between 4,000 ft/lbs to just under 6,000 ft/lbs of energy.

Best Bolt-Action Rifle Options

The next, very common choice for African safaris is a bolt gun .

While you may only get one shot in a close or surprise encounter , at least you have a one to three-second reload available and two to five back-up rounds available to you.

A great example of this is the 602 Brno/CZ 550 Safari Magnum. This is a bolt-action rifle specifically designed for big-game rounds.

This is important because some brands take their standard magnum action and hog it out to allow use of the African game rounds.

This does two things, one it leads to a marginal strength action and second, it often limits capacity to 2+1 even with the smaller rounds like .375 H&H.

This is not an issue with the CZ , as it has 5+1 capacity in .375 H&H.

The rifle is just over 46 inches in length, with a heavy contour 25-inch barrel (for most calibers) and weights it at roughly nine pounds.

This helps (slightly) reduce muzzle climb with a front weight bias and insures full powder burn. The gun is a controlled-feed action.

The bolt has a mechanism for grasping the round from the magazine and controlling it all the way into the chamber.

This creates a minimal likelihood of feeding issues and is often a requirement among professional hunters.

Factory chamberings vary over the years and there are always custom options, but common choices in the gun are: .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, .458 Winchester, .458 Lott and .505 Gibbs.

These provide a range from a 300-grain A-Frame at 2,560 fps, 4,360 ft/lbs muzzle energy to a 600-grain FN at 2,100 fps, 5,850 ft/lbs muzzle energy.

Another very suitable bolt gun would be a  Winchester Model 70 African Rifle. This rifle also provides a controlled-feed action for reliability.

The mechanism is different, but yields a similar result to the CZ and meets the pro hunter requirement.

The medium-heavy contour barrel is 24 inches for all big-game calibers and the rifle has a total length of just over 44 inches and just over nine pounds.

The slightly shorter and lighter barrel makes for a faster rifle to bring to bear, but will be slightly less help controlling recoil.

But with these calibers, technique and practice is the real method of controlling recoil.

The current caliber offerings are .375 H&H, .416 Remington and .458 Win Mag. Each of these calibers has a 3+1 capacity hinged floor plate magazine.

This provides a range of muzzle energy from 4,360 ft/lbs to 5,400 ft/lbs.

Best Double-Rifle Options

The next choice in platform is a double rifle .

The simplest way to describe these is to think of a side-by-side shotgun , but chambered in a serious rifle caliber.

Most are double-trigger set-ups with the barrels regulated to converge at 70-100 yards.

These rifles only have two shots, but both are already loaded in their respective actions.

Essentially, you are carrying two complete rifles that have been bonded together.

This eliminates the possibility of a misfeed, thus all but guaranteeing two shots in very quick succession.

This is what many pro hunters/guides carry, in case your shot is not successful. 

Most of the above listed bolt-actions guns can be purchased in a no-frills variant for between $1,200 and $2,500 dollars.

The fancier versions may run a bit more. Double rifles are quite a bit more spendy.

Sabatti makes such a double in their Big Five EDL.  

This rifle starts with a two proprietary oversized steel actions to ensure the pressures of safari loads are handled.

The actions are mated to cold hammer forged 24-inch barrels that are regulated at 70 yards.

The rifles weigh in a bit heavier than their single-action/single-barrel compatriots. All of the Sabatti choices are 11 pounds or heavier.

This extra weight is not as much fun to carry, but certainly aids in recoil reduction.  

For the double-rifle market, this Italian brands offerings are considered quite economical. The street prices run from about $3,500 to $8,000.

The current caliber choices are .370 FL NE, .450/.400 NE, .450 NE, .470 NE, .500 NE and 9.3x74R.

Purdy would be at the other extreme of this curve. Their bespoke double-rifle packages sell for as much as $500,000.

If you have the time and money, they will build it with just about any exotic wood or any other way you want it.

It can be carved, precious-metal inlaid, jeweled and in any big-game or custom caliber you want.

They come matched with a carrying case, made of the same exotic wood, matching inlay or other items specified in the gun.

Typical wait time for such a rifle is two to four years. Quite often, they are built as a matching set. For some, this is a his-and-hers rifle set.

Conclusion: Best Rifles for African Safaris

For some, it may be to provide a choice in calibers, perhaps .375 H&H for smaller African game and .600 NE (900-grain at 2,150 fps – 8,400 ft/lbs muzzle energy) for the big guys.  

For those with money but not the time, there is also a strong (read as not much cheaper) secondary market where you can buy a slightly-used gun, without the wait.

There are at least a dozen other semi-custom and full-custom companies that will create your double safari game rifle.

Their prices range between those of Sabatti and Purdy, with a few being even more pricy than Purdy.

What is your go-to rifle for big-game hunting or African safaris? Let us know in the comments below!

About the Author:

Are you a fan of old revolvers? How about cowboy action shooting? Share your answers in the comment section.

Comments (3)

I have a Winchester M70 safari express in 458 win mag, topped with a 1-4 Swarovski.

I bought it several years ago for an African safari that fell through.

I hope that I eventually get to use it.

Let’s be practical and deal with rifles accessible by common hunters.

My one rifle recommendation is the 416 Ruger in the various Ruger models. They can be found in 20″ Alaskan, Guide Gun, and 23″ African models. All are excellent. All reasonably priced as “entry-level” safari guns, medium weight (around 8 pounds), and functionally reliable including controlled-feeding.

The 416 provides a little more punch for dangerous game than the commonly used 375s. With 330-350grain monolithic bullets the 2600fps muzzle velocity provides for easy hunting ranges out beyond the 300 yards that is the outside limit of 98% of African hunting. If you know your rifle and load, you can be confident even to 400 yards.

Many bring a second rifle, which may be your favorite NA rifle from 270-338. The 308, 30-06, and 300 mags are all great antelope calibers, as well as the 270 and 7mms with newer monolithic bullets for guaranteed penetration. However, if possible something a little more robust could be suggested, like a 338WinMag. The 338 is a better “second” should it be in you hands when you run across a nice buffalo while trying to follow some eland or roan. All rifles on a hunt should have flat-nosed solids along, too. That makes them elephant and hippo worthy.

J.Gefroh 8 gauge[.810″]flintlock muzzleloader[rifle] with adjustable sights.150-270g FFg powder with 2 oz round ball.It weighs 14 lbs.It’s pretty too. Alternatively October Country’s single and double barrel percussion muzzleloader rifles in 8 gauge,4 gauge,2 gauge.All use roundballs

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Best Caliber For An African Safari Hunt

Look no further to learn our recommendations regarding how to choose the best caliber for an african safari hunt..

In this article, I’ll touch on one of the most hotly debated aspects of preparing for an African Safari: choosing the best caliber for an African safari hunt. Everybody has an opinion about this, often times a very strong one. Unfortunately, there is no one “best” caliber. Luckily, there are a number of excellent calibers available that do a great job when used appropriately. Keep reading to find out how to choose the best caliber for an African safari hunt.

Best Caliber For Hunting Plains Game

Generally speaking, the .270 Winchester is the minimum caliber suitable (and legal) for most species of plains game like impala and springbok, though some countries have a 7mm minimum caliber. When using good quality bullets, the .270 (and similar cartridges like the 7mm Remington Magnum) is perfectly capable of taking some larger antelope as well.

However, the .30-06 Springfield is probably the best all-around caliber for hunting plains game in Africa. When using premium 180gr (or heavier) bullets, the .30-06 is powerful enough to ethically take virtually every species of plains game proper shot placement. It is also an excellent choice for hunting thin skinned dangerous game like leopard. At the same time, the .30-06 Springfield has a relatively mild recoil, has a trajectory suitable for taking shots out to several hundred yards, and most hunters can shoot it accurately. The same could be said about the .308 Winchester.

More powerful, higher velocity, calibers such as the .300 Winchester Magnum, the 8mm Remington Magnum, or the .338 Winchester Magnum certainly have their place in Africa, especially for longer range shots or on really big species of plains game like eland. The drawback of these cartridges is the fact that they have more recoil and muzzle blast than lower velocity calibers like the .30-06 Springfield.

However, if you can shoot them accurately, any of them will perform very well on a wide variety of African species of plains game. So, if you’ve got a .300 Win Mag, .300 Ultra Mag, or similar rifle that you shoot well and are comfortable with, by all means take it with you to Africa on your safari hunt .

Best Caliber For Hunting Dangerous Game

If you are planning on hunting a thick skinned member of the Big 5 , such as buffalo or elephant, the .375 H&H is probably the best cartridge for the job. It is powerful enough to ethically take any species of game and thousands of hunters have enjoyed great success in hunting buffalo and elephant with the mighty .375 H&H. While it does have noticeably more recoil than a .30-06, the recoil is not excessive and should be manageable for most hunters. In fact, due to the effectiveness and relatively mild recoil (at least compared to the other dangerous game calibers) of the .375 H&H, the cartridge is routinely used by hunters for both plains game and dangerous game on safari.

The 9.3x62mm Mauser and the .375 Ruger are also very capable medium bore cartridges and can also be counted on during a dangerous game hunting safari in Africa. However, keep in mind that some countries have a .375 caliber minimum for dangerous game hunting, which means the 9.3x62mm (.366 caliber) would not be legal in those countries. For instance, Botswana, Tanzania, and most provinces of South Africa have a .375 caliber minimum. On the other hand, Zimbabwe has a 9.2mm minimum and countries like Mozambique do not have a minimum caliber at all.

There is also nothing wrong with going with a bigger cartridge like the .416 Rigby, .458 Winchester Magnum, .458 Lott, or even the massive .577 Nitro. These cartridges are all much better suited for elephant hunting or following up a wounded buffalo than the .375 H&H, which is why they are so popular among Professional Hunters specializing in dangerous game. However, their increased power comes with more recoil, reduced magazine capacity, and a heavier rifle.

No matter which cartridge you choose for your hunt, we highly recommend you use premium quality, heavy for caliber bullets. Don’t skimp on ammunition. Remember: the bullet is what actually kills the animal and even the best caliber for an African safari hunt may not perform well if poor quality bullets are used.

The typical bullets designed for hunting whitetail deer generally expand too rapidly and do not penetrate deeply enough for hunting in Africa. Luckily, there are lots of great bullets on the market that will work very well on African game.

When selecting the best caliber for your African safari hunt, try not to get caught up in the hype about the individual calibers. Cartridges like the 270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, 308 Winchester, and 30-06 are all excellent for plains game hunting while the 375 H&H Magnum is a good minimum to use for dangerous game.

As long as it meets those minimum thresholds and as long as you use premium ammunition, the “best” caliber is the most powerful one that you can accurately shoot.

Choosing the right caliber is definitely important, but placing your shots accurately and using the right ammunition are both vital as well.

Click below and sign up to receive a free E-Book that provides more detailed information on some of the best cartridges for hunting Africa and some more specific ammunition recommendations.

If you have questions on how to choose the best caliber for an African safari hunt with us, please contact us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

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BAR Mark II Safari

$1,229.99 - $1,849.99 MSRP

The BAR MK II Safari is the ultimate sporting autoloader, featuring the time-honored combination of fine walnut, a precision machined steel receiver and a hammer forged barrel. Classic in looks and contemporary in performance, the BAR MK II Safari is the hunting rifle that sets the standard for every other autoloader on the planet with accuracy, speed and a caliber selection unmatched by any other hunting semi-auto. This magnificent rifle will make autoloading enthusiasts out of the most skeptical riflemen.

The Browning BAR sporting version is certainly a distinct and separate rifle from the military BAR M1918, but its design is the result of the understanding and expertise that started with John M. Browning. His grandson, Bruce Browning, was the driving force behind today's BAR. A large team of automatic firearms experts at the FN factory in Belgium also played a key role in its development. This group of designers, lead by Marcel Olinger, began serious work on the project code named "Carbine 66," with full-scale development and testing done throughout 1966 in preparation for an official 1967 product launch. Both the history and the efficiency of this amazing rifle is unequaled among autoloading rifles.

NOTE: Unless specifically listed as included with a firearm, accessories shown such as scopes, optical sights, rings, ring mounts, optic rails, bipod rails, ammunition, etc. are NOT included. Accessories are available at authorized Browning dealers and  here on Browning.com.

• READ A HISTORY OF THE BAR.     
• READ A REVIEW OF BRUCE N. CANFIELD'S ARTICLE  (NRA AMERICAN RIFLEMAN) ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH THE MILITARY AND SPORTING BARS. 

BAR Mark II Safari Features

• Blued receiver finish
• Gloss finish select walnut stock with cut checkering
• High-relief scroll engraving

BAR Features

• Gas piston operation
• Detachable Box Magazine
• High strength, the seven-lug rotating bolt that locks securely into the barrel for a precise breech-to-chamber relationship.
• Strong action bar/inertia block link-up reduces barrel vibration to improve accuracy
• Integral buffering system reduces wear and stress on the rifle’s operating system
• 308 Win • 22"
• 25-06 Rem • 24"
• 270 Win • 22"
• 30-06 Spfld • 22"
• 300 Win Mag • 24"
• 7mm Rem Mag • 24" NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION
• 338 Win Mag • 24" NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION
• 243 Win • 22" NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION

The Best Plains-Game Rifle for Africa

by Ron Spomer | Dec 15, 2023 | RIFLES , SAFARI & INTERNATIONAL | 0 comments

Traditionally, Africa safari rifles have worn walnut stocks, but that isn’t mandatory. Classy, but not mandatory.

We’ve outlined suitable cartridges and bullets for hunting African plains game. In this post we’ll figure out the best plains-game rifle for your inexpensive Africa safari. Remember, plains game includes all the non-dangerous-game species from 2,000-pound eland down to ten-pound dik-dik.

I think a sensible approach to choosing the best plains-game rifle is to prioritize what you want it to do. For instance, you might want it to look really cool and impress your friends, but that won’t improve your success if your gun can’t keep three bullets inside a five-gallon bucket at 100 yards. Here’s a list of what I think are a plains-game rifle’s most important attributes. You are free, of course, to reorder them as you see fit. As I always say, hunting is a personal affair indulged for many reasons. Choose yours, and get as much joy out of the adventure as you can.

TOP ATTRIBUTES IN BEST PLAINS-GAME RIFLE

1. Functional and dependable. Your rifle is a tool for sending bullets out to terminate the game you target. It should launch those every time you tell it to, smoothly, quickly, and without a hiccup. Choose a firearm that loads, cycles, and fires reliably whether cold, hot, dry, wet, muddy, or dirty. Hot and dusty are most likely in southern Africa, but I’ve hunted there in snow and rain a few times. You probably don’t want a rifle so precisely, tightly built that it locks up with a blade of grass in the locking recesses. Standard, over-the-counter, mass-produced deer and elk rifles usually work just fine. The safety should work reliably and smoothly with no hang-ups.

2.  Rugged and durable. This is a subset of No. 1, but so critical that I want to reemphasize it. You don’t want a fussy rifle with delicate parts prone to loss or breakage. Most PHs (outfitters) have a good selection of tools and some basic gun-maintenance skills, but you aren’t likely to find a gunsmith anywhere near your hunting grounds.

3.  Accurate. Don’t worry about sub-MOA accuracy. An rifle that can put every shot into a two-inch circle at 100 yards is accurate enough for African antelope out to 300 yards, where all of those bullets should fall within a six-inch circle. At 400 yards they’ll cluster inside an eight-inch circle. A few tiny antelope like steenbuck don’t present an eight-inch vital zone, but most of these Lilliputian animals are taken well inside of 100 yards anyway. So 2 MOA is accurate enough. Nonetheless, I suspect most readers will strive for a rifle that shoots closer to MOA, which means all shots fall inside of a one-inch circle at 100 yards, a four-inch circle at 400 yards. That’s reassuring accuracy. If your pet rifle isn’t delivering it, consider trying different loads and bullet weights. Often that is enough to tighten up groups.

4.  Balanced. A hunting rifle should be easy to carry through thick brush and over long desert hikes. It should come to your shoulder quickly and easily with the sights nearly aligned with your target. You don’t want a heavy, unbalanced rifle you have to set up like artillery. There’s lots of game and good stalking cover in most venues, so you really don’t need a long-barreled sniping rifle. Sporter-weight barrels 22- to 24-inches long are best. Yes, you can find hunting operations that will let you sit in blinds overlooking waterholes or migration routes. You can find big, open country in which to shoot long. But if you plan on getting down and dirty with the game, if you want the undeniable thrill of sneaking through this ancient wonderland of wildlife, seeing the tracks and droppings and trails and encountering Africa up close and in-your-face, you want a rifle that isn’t going to slow you down.

5.  Back-up rifle. One rifle can do it all, but what if it breaks? Often you can borrow your PH’s rifle (ask before you go). That’s easier than hauling a second rifle through airports and customs but might cost you a rental fee. It’s more fun using your own rifle, so I recommend that. Choose one in a versatile chambering like .280 Rem. or .30-06 and you can grab it when stalking smaller stuff, yet still expect it to do the job if something bigger crosses your path. As indicated in our previous post on cartridges and bullets, the right bullet is more important than caliber. Another second-rifle option is a specialty cartridge, such as a .22 Hornet or .223 Rem. for duiker, steenbuck, dik-dik, and other tiny game. Most PHs will provide an assistant to carry a spare rifle as you hunt, so you could have two on hand nearly all the time. Or take identical rifles chambered for different cartridges. A short-action .243 Win. and .338 Federal, for instance, would give you a light caliber for smaller game and a heavy-bullet option for bigger stuff, both in a short action with interchangeable parts. Ditto a .270 Win. and .35 Whelen. If you’re hunting with a partner, you could each carry the same model rifle in different calibers and swap to match the game of the moment. My wife and I have done this a time or two.

6.  You may fine-tune your rifle choices based on PH recommendations and your hunting style, but don’t allow a PH to browbeat you into getting a super-magnum you don’t really want just because he likes it. Too many first-time safari hunters have flinched their way into anger and frustration with a new, big, hard-kicking rifle when their familiar old deer or elk rifle could have worked perfectly. Again, bullets are way more important than the absolute best plains-game rifle.

ONE SPECIAL ATTRIBUTE IN A BEST PLAINS-GAME RIFLE

7.  If you need an excuse to buy a new rifle, this could be it! Let’s face it, folks, a big part of our hunting fun is dreaming of, identifying, buying, tweaking, and hunting with a dream rifle. If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect Africa rifle, this is your excuse to buy it. Seriously, if you have an effective deer or elk rifle, you don’t need the absolute best plains-game rifle, but when opportunity knocks . . .

SORRY, AN AUTOLOADER IS NOT THE BEST PLAINS-GAME RIFLE

You’ve probably heard that autoloading rifles are not allowed into African countries. That may not be 100 percent true, but close enough. Your PH will have up-to-date information on legal arms for his areas. In most cases, autos are illegal, but a classic bolt-action hunting rifle is perfect. These do not have to be controlled-round-feed actions like the Winchester M70, Kimber, Ruger Hawkeye, or Mauser M98. These are often cited as absolutely necessary to prevent short-stroke jams, but that’s mainly a concern when you need to stop charging dangerous game. (I explain the functional differences between CRF and push-feed bolt actions in this video .) You may be surprised to see what a push-feed can really do. Push-feed actions from Mossberg, Savage, Weatherby, Browning, Remington, Blaser, and many others are perfect for plains-game hunting in Africa.

Traditional lever actions can be deadly effective on plains game if you are a deadly shot with them. You’ll know the range limitations of your chosen cartridge and the sights you choose, so don’t be afraid to carry a lever action if that’s what rings your chimes.

Break-action single shots and falling blocks like the T/C Encore, Dakota Model 10, or Ruger No. 1 can be used effectively for plains game. Again, you’re not likely to be charged by a raging impala. Take your time, make each shot count, and you could have a fulfilling hunt with your pet single shot.

If you really want to pump up the fun . . . pack a pump gun! Slide-action rifles have been used to good effect on safari. They aren’t common on safari, but if you have a reliable Remington or Browning pump and shoot it well, why not? Just make sure it’s legal where you’re going.

TAKING STOCK OF YOUR BEST PLAINS-GAME RIFLE

Walnut stocks are traditional on African safari rifles, but only because, well, they’re traditional. Southern African destinations are mostly dry during safari season (May-October), so they place no hardships on wood stocks except scratches. Lots of thorns and stones for scratches. That doesn’t mean synthetic stocks are no good. If you have one and love it, take it. Similarly, blued steel is traditional. Rusting is rarely an issue here, but, again, if you have stainless steel, no problem.

In short, whatever dependable deer/elk rifle you shoot well could be your best plains-game rifle. There is, however, one more option I’ve already touched on: borrowing a rifle. Not just a back-up rifle, but your main rifle. Virtually every PH offers clients the option to borrow or rent a safari rifle. It might not be your favorite brand, size, or model, but if you’re adaptable, it’s an easy option and will save you hassle—perhaps even a bit of money, since many African countries assess import taxes on guns brought in. Some are as high as $100 per day.

Again, your PH will provide such details to you. Traveling to Namibia and South Africa with firearms isn’t a major hassle, but it isn’t as simple as traveling without them, either. We’ll outline some of that a bit later in this series. But first, in our next installment we’ll take a hard look at optics, because if you can’t see it, you can’t shoot it. 

For more from Ron Spomer, check out his website,  ronspomeroutdoors.com , and be sure to subscribe to  Sporting Classics for his rifles column and features.

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Best Cartridges for Africa Plains Game

By Ron Spomer

Posted on Jan 13, 2020 6:22 PM EST

12 minute read

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You can hunt all southern Africa’s plains game species with one rifle if it’s chambered for the right cartridge. And that cartridge doesn’t have to be a big hairy magnum.

This means you can leave the .505 Gibbs, the .458 Lott, the .416 Rigby and even the .375 H&H Magnum on the dealer’s shelf. But dust off your deer rifle because it could be all you need.

The simple truth is that ordinary “deer” cartridges in the hands of ordinary hunters work to terminate ordinary African game. African farmers, ranchers and sportsmen have been hunting native impala, oryx, blesbok, warthogs, kudu, wildebeest, waterbuck, and all the rest (even buffalo, lion, and elephant) with medium caliber, medium power cartridges for more than a century. We’d consider many of them perfect for whitetails, mule deer, caribou, elk, and moose. Like most pragmatic country folk, Africans make do with inexpensive rifles shooting inexpensive, commonly available ammunition in average cartridges such as .303 British, .30-06 Springfield, and 7x57mm Mauser. Which strongly suggests we visitors might succeed in Africa with our own deer and elk rifles.

Read Next: 10 Life-Changing Lessons I Learned From My First Africa Safari

So let’s compare three common cartridges many judge suitable for African plains game: the .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Winchester Magnum.

.308 Winchester

Thanks to its use by the military (as 7.62x51mm NATO,) especially snipers, the .308 Winchester has earned a reputation as a deadly accurate, rather mild-recoiling .30-caliber. It’s essentially a shortened version of the .30-06, even though Winchester engineers reportedly used the .300 Savage cartridge as the platform for designing the .308. Regardless, what they ended up with is a cartridge with the same diameter rim and head as the .30-06 family of cartridges, but a half inch shorter.

Since the .308 Winchester’s introduction in 1952. its length has become the standard for what we call short-action cartridges and rifles to match. Having a shorter action means slightly less weight, less cycling time, and, potentially, more accuracy because, all else equal, there should be less inherent flexing of the bolt/barrel/cartridge lock up. Relatively straight side walls enhance powder space, but a shallow, 20-degree shoulder reduces it. Overall the .308 Win. has sufficient room for about 56 grains of water. Powder capacity in grains varies significantly due to variable powder densities and shape.

Because it shoots .308-inch diameter bullets, the .308 Winchester can be loaded with anything from 100-grain plinkers to 210-grain thumpers. The lightest projectiles, predictably, suffer low aerodynamic efficiency, but can be driven around 3,200 fps (feet per second). They lose energy quickly and deflect significantly in crosswinds.

With bullets on the heavier end of the caliber, muzzle velocity suffers, but kinetic energy at all ranges is higher and wind deflection lower, as the ballistic table for a 180-grain Boat Tail Spire Point shows.

Because 190-grain and heavier .308 bullets are so long, they intrude deeply into the .308’s powder space, limiting MV (muzzle velocity). Nevertheless at launch speeds from 2,400 fps to nearly 2,600 fps, such high B.C. slugs scribe trajectories more than flat enough for much, if not most, African hunting. And they really help tame wind deflection, as the ballistic table shows.

For addressing many species, 2,500 ft-lbs (foot pounds) of energy at 100 yards may be more appropriate than a flat trajectory to 300 yards. Either way, you get to decide. Most experienced hunters land on 150-grain, 165-grain, and 180-grain bullets as best in the .308. Most factory loaded ammunition comes with bullets in this range, too. You could tailor bullets to specific animals, but since you never quite know what will show up during safari, it’s safer to settle on one bullet for everything except, perhaps, a specialty hunt for something out of the ordinary like a leopard, hippo, eland or 12-pound dik dik.

Recoil with a full-house 150-grain load in an 8-pound rifle should shake you with around 17 ft-lbs of recoil energy at a recoil velocity of 11.7 fps. A 180-grain load will rattle your teeth with 18.8 ft-lbs at 12.3 fps. These are recoils anyone should be able to manage, suggesting precise shot placement. Perfect.

.300 Winchester Magnum

This cartridge lands in many of our performance comparison reviews because it’s so good. Sort of a Goldilocks cartridge. Not too big or small. Just right. We could select many other .300 magnums for this spot, but none are as ubiquitous, tested, or available in affordable rifles. Not

the .300 WSM, .300 Wby. Mag., .300 RCM, .308 Norma Mag., .300 H&H Mag., or any others. But you can substitute one of those here if you wish. The results will be roughly the same.

So, at the risk of redundancy, we present the old .300 Win. Mag. of 1963 as our “middle of the road” African plains game round. Many veterans of safari would call it ideal.

As you know, this .300, an off-shoot of the longer .300 H&H Magnum, shoots the same bullets as the .308 Win., just 500 fps or more faster. And, as we’ve all heard, speed kills! In fact, speed contributes more to bullet hitting power than does weight. A basic reality of physics is that doubling a projectile’s mass doubles its energy. Doubling its speed quadruples its energy. As long as the bullet is built tough enough to withstand the impact energy, it should be more deadly at higher speeds. But things don’t always work that way, as we’ll touch on later.

The .300 Win. Mag. fits a standard action, the same as the .30-06, and .270 Win. A few ounces heavier, a smidgeon slower to cycle than the 308 Win., but eminently functional on African game. Because case capacity is voluminous (82-grains water behind a 180-grain bullet,) this cartridge can really wring performance from the heavier, higher B.C. bullets. It’ll make a 150- to 168-grain slug dance, but it comes into its own with 180-grain. At longer distances, it really shines with 190 to 210-grain bullets. If you really want to stack some energy on target, a 220-grain at 2,700 fps puts out 3,798 ft-lbs at the muzzle and retains a whopping 3,092 ft-lbs at 200 yards, 500 ft-lbs more than the .308 Win. at 100 yards. Whether this makes any difference on game is debatable.

More significant than increased energy might be decreased drop and drift. With both the .300 WM and .308 Win. zeroed about 3 inches high at 100 yards, the 300 drops almost 6 inches less at 300 yards and drifts nearly 3 inches less. That’s enough to make the difference between hit and miss. At 400 yards, of course, the difference is even greater. If you anticipate getting lots of shots at widely varying distances without time to employ a laser rangefinder, the extra reach of the .300 Win. Mag. might make it your baby.

But before rushing to select the .300 Win. Mag. as your magic wand, consider recoil. When throwing a 190-grain bullet 3,000 fps, an 8-pound rifle will kick with 37.3 ft-lbs at 173 fps. If you are not capable of handling that shot after shot without flinching, you’ll be better off with the .308 Win. Alternatively, you can carry a 9- or 10-pound rifle in 300 Win. Mag. A 10-pound rig tames recoil to 11.8 ft-lbs at 8.7 fps. With proper training, anyone without physical limitations should be able to shoot a 300 Win. Mag. without flinching.

.338 Winchester Magnum

Most hunters are surprised to learn that the .338 Winchester Magnum preceded the .300 Win. Mag. by five years. I suspect in those days Winchester thought the .30-06, .300 H&H and .300 Wby. Mag. had the .30-calibers covered while larger calibers throwing heavier bullets were falling behind the times. Wildcatters and a certain gun writer named Elmer Keith were getting plenty of attention with their .333 OKH (30-06 necked to .333”) and .334 OKH (.375 H&H necked to .338) wildcats. So Winchester engineers straightened the side walls of the .375 H&H belted case, shortened it to fit standard-length actions, sharpened the shoulder to 25-degrees, and necked it down to hold .338-inch bullets. With its 86-grain water capacity, the case had plenty of space for enough powder to propel a 250-grain bullet 2,700 fps from a 24-inch barrel. That’s fast enough to churn up 4,050 ft-lbs of kinetic energy at the muzzle and 43 ft-lbs of recoil at 18.7 fps at the shoulder in an 8-pound rifle. A 10-pound gun moderates that to 34.6 ft-lbs at 15 fps, which is still a hefty dose of ouch. Such is the price one pays to put a heap of energy on target.

While one’s instinct is to assume such a heavy bullet at a relatively tame velocity would limit performance to moderate ranges, a good boat tail spire point with a B.C. in the mid .5s (like a Nosler Accubond) and zeroed 3-inches high at 100 yards will peak just 3.3 inches high at 125 yards, hit point of aim at 240 yards, and drop just 5 inches at 300 yards. Deflection in a 10 mph cross wind would be in the neighborhood of just 5.5 to 6 inches at 300 yards. Clearly, this “big” medium caliber can run with the .300 Win Mag. At 300 yards it’s still carrying 2,800 ft-lbs of energy. That’s 100 ft-lbs MORE than the .308 Win. kicks up at the muzzle.

Read Next: The New Norma Bondstrike is a Long-Range Hunting Bullet for .30 Caliber Shooters.

Switching to a 200- or 210-grain bullet at 3,000 fps results in even flatter trajectory while sacrificing only 200 ft-lbs of wallop at 300 yards.

Factory ammunition for the .338 Win. Mag. can be found with bullets weighing from 180-grains to 250 grains, but handloaders can stuff 300-grain slugs aboard and nudge them as fast as 2,400 fps. This results in muzzle energy of 3,840 ft-lbs and 30-yard energy of 2,830 ft-lbs. Compare trajectory tables and you’ll see this is less muzzle energy than the 250-grain and minimal gain far down range, so why bother? The answer is momentum. Increased penetration. Because the 300-grain bullet is longer and has a higher sectional density, it has the potential to penetrate more deeply than any lighter bullet of the same materials and construction.

Impact Energy and Killing Efficiency

Don’t make the mistake of assuming impact energy makes all the difference. I’ve seen 150-pound antelope absorb 300-grain slugs from .375 H&H Magnum and dash off like a whitetail hit with a .223 Rem. No knockdown. No DRT. Game of all kinds and sizes has the elasticity to absorb all the energy you care to throw at them with a shoulder-fired gun without going down. Terminal bullet performance and placement are way, way more important than power. A good 165-grain bullet from a .308 Win. you can shoot precisely is more effective than a 400-grain, 5,000 ft-lbs bullet on the fringes.

Conclusions

Ponder ballistic charts long enough and you can get dizzy before emerging out the far side with some solid conclusions moderated by experience. The history of bullet performance on African plains game animals is vast, but spread over decades and thousands of individual hunters. Throw in hearsay and inevitable message corruption down the grapevine and confusion could rein. Elephants have been killed by a lucky shot from a .22 rimfire. Sable solidly hit and dropped by a .470 Nitro Express have arisen to skewer the hunter. Oryx center punched with a triad of .300 Winchester Magnum loads loped into the sands of the Kalahari, never to be seen again. Eland slapped with a .308 Winchester died on the spot.

What’s the truth?

The truth is that anything can happen and probably has happened, but the consensus is that bullet construction and placement matter more than caliber and kinetic energy. The wrong bullet in the right place can terminate the biggest animal instantly while the right bullet in the wrong place — or a half dozen of them — merely wounds. Ten thousand foot-pounds of energy applied to soft, elastic tissue of cardiovascular organs may have no more immediate effect than 500 foot-pounds.

How should we interpret this? My take is to choose precision bullet placement first, bullet construction for desired terminal performance second, and on-target energy last. I’ve seen too many large, heavy bullets hauling astonishing levels of kinetic energy strike game with no more life altering results than a target arrow. I’ve recognized my self-doubt and felt myself flinch while shooting heavy recoiling rifles and missing or wounding. And I’ve felt the confidence of precise holds and clean trigger breaks while shooting light recoiling rifles that lead to quick termination of plains game large and small. Be honest with yourself. Don’t let your ego get in the way of choosing the safari rifle, caliber, and cartridge that will help you hunt honest and shoot straight.

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Safari Rifle Trends

– by craig boddington, boddington noticed some interesting shifts in the equipment hunters chose to use on safaris in africa in 2022..

In June 2022, I shared campfires in South Africa with a dozen-plus first-time African hunters. Being in camp with African newbies is fantastic, because I know no other way to  almost  recapture the wonder and magic of a first sojourn in Africa.

Initially, I joined a half-dozen friends at Carl van Zyl’s John X Safaris, then two groups of SCI auction hunt winners at the Burchell family’s Frontier Safaris. Both operations are in the Eastern Cape, but the areas have very different topographies. All of the hunters were on plains game safaris.

“Plains game” is a bit of a misnomer because not all African game lives on open plains. Many species prefer thick bush, others mountains. Most are antelopes, but don’t forget warthogs, bushpigs, and zebras. Variety is Africa’s greatest treasure and, in Southern Africa, the somewhat misnamed “plains game safari” is the best deal in the hunting world!

The first group of hunters consisted of experienced Midwest whitetail hunters; the second camp was mostly folks from the Rocky Mountain West, experienced elk hunters. Everybody wanted a kudu, and had other recognizable species like impala and warthog on their agendas, but most kept their options open. My first safari was long ago, but I guess I was obsessed by Africa before I got there; my early safari “wish lists” were detailed.  These hunters probably approached it correctly: See it, get a taste, decide what looks interesting. As in: “Oh, so that’s a hartebeest, cool!”

Beau Hammon was the lone bowhunter and the only guy who started with a sable on his wish list. At John X, Beau got his archery sable, a gorgeous bull. In fact, he did wonderfully with his bow by stalking, only using a rifle for his kudu. At Frontier, engineering professor Hamid Saadatmanesh, SCI auction hunt winner, hadn’t considered hunting a sable. I was with him when we glassed a fine bull; he hesitated about five seconds, and a stalk was on.

I did little hunting for myself, usually tagging along with one party or another. Thing is, there’s not much I need in Southern Africa, but it’s still a delight to enjoy the wildlife and share the excitement. And, I’m a gun guy. I like to see what’s being used, and what works.

Among these hunters, I observed two trends that, perhaps, reflect a shift in thinking on rifles and cartridges for African plains game. First, in both camps, the majority of the hunters opted to use camp rifles. This was usually because traveling with firearms adds to the hassle. As far as cost, it is kind of a wash. Rifles and ammo are costly in Africa, so expect a rental fee. On the other hand, airlines now charge extra for firearms, and all charge for excess baggage. There may be gun permit or clearance fees and, with a big, heavy gun case, you’ll incur some extra tips. For me, these are costs of doing business; I prefer to bring guns I can write about. This doesn’t apply to most hunters, so a sensible decision can be made whether to bring or borrow.

Because more hunters prefer not to travel with firearms, outfitters are stepping up and investing in better guns. Just always be sure to check to find out what’s available. In Southern Africa, it’s a piece of cake: Almost all outfitters have suitable guns. So it’s your choice: Enjoy the satisfaction of using your favorites, or save the hassle and probably some cost, and use camp guns.

Some of the hunters did bring their own firearms, of course. At John X Safaris, Steve Molter brought a pristine, vintage Belgian Browning, Mauser bolt-action, in .30-06. His old-fashioned .30-06 served him well (just like I’ve always said it would) both on big animals like kudu and zebra and on smaller, nervous animals like springbok and impala. He and I could find agreement on his near-perfect choice. Similarly, at Frontier, a father-son team rented a .308 Winchester. Okay, I’m more of a .30-06 guy, but the .308 is a good and traditional choice.

But those were exceptions, and that’s the second trend I noticed: At least among these hunters, faster cartridges in modern platforms were “in,” bringing greater range capability than I’m used to seeing. Historically, long-range shooting has been uncommon in Africa, probably because of a combination of good stalking and the traditional African rule that one drop of blood spilled equals a license filled.   

I usually prefer traditional calibers, but for this hunt I went off the reservation, making non-traditional (and thus uncharacteristic) choices. Wanting to spend time afield with new stuff, I took a new Gunwerks Nexus in .300 PRC and a LAW M704 in 6.8 Western. I thought the guys would laugh at me, but my choices fit right in! 

Hamid had a Gunwerks 7mm Remington Magnum, so did John Macones (also an auction hunt winner). My buddy John Stucker had his Christensen in 6.5 PRC. And at John X, outfitter Carl van Zyl had several Gunwerks rifles on hand (pretty fancy camp rifles). These were chambered to 7mm Long Range Magnum (LRM), a proprietary based on the shortened Remington Ultra Magnum case, so similar to the PRCs and Nosler cartridges, good velocity, fast twists for heavy-for-caliber bullets.

At Frontier, except for that .308 (which performed just fine), the camp rifles were .300 Winchester Magnums, plus a .300 Jarrett. Rifles in the faster, flatter-shooting cartridges (including mine), mostly wore bigger scopes than I have typically used in Africa, up to 3-18X and 5-25X. Almost all were dialed in for longer-range shooting.

Traditional African shooting rarely exceeds 300 yards. With good equipment and preparation, I saw this expanded to well beyond 400 yards, with some exceptional shooting. I made the two longest shots I have attempted in Africa, not “extreme,” but to 500 yards. I made a spectacular miss when, mysteriously overnight, my .300 PRC shifted enough that I missed an entire eland. Stuff happens, you just re-zero and go back to work. The rifle must have taken a tremendous knock; who knows how.

Most mess-ups were standard and predictable. On their first safari together, PH Harry Selby soothed Robert Ruark’s by saying, “Everybody misses at first; it’s the light.” No, it’s first-safari jitters; my first safari also started with bad shooting. Let’s not name names, but the majority of hunters in both camps missed their first opportunities. Expect this. Deal with it and try again! 

Since the modern “long range rig” was predominant, a lot of hunters brought bipods, intending to rely on them. Much of the Eastern Cape is open enough for shooting prone-with-bipod, and there are also lots of rocks where bipods might be employed. However, there’s also a lot of thick, thorny brush, where flopping down isn’t the best idea. Traditional African shooting sticks thus remain useful. I was disappointed that some hunters complained about initial misses because of unfamiliarity with sticks. It made me feel like I’ve been talking to an empty room for forty years! I’m guessing this is a product of American long-range courses, which stress bipods. They offer great stability, but it’s foolish to end up in Africa with no “stickology” practice. Surely I’ve written about this before?

Interestingly, rather than traditional three-legged African shooting sticks, most PHs in both camps had switched to modern sticks that stabilize both the butt and fore-end, notably the French-designed “4 Stable Sticks.” Like all else, using these takes practice, but stabilizing both butt and fore-end increases stability and thus range, making them very effective in areas (like Eastern Cape), where average shooting distances are farther than in thick thornbush. 

I was a bit disturbed by the frequent use of match or “long-range” bullets, rather than hunting bullets designed to provide penetration on a wide variety of game. Despite my concerns, things worked well. After a day or so (and some embarrassment), all hunters got their sea legs and finished with good bags. Wounded animals were few, unrecovered animals were almost nil. However, as animal size and distance increased, we had some lively discussions about bullets, calibers, cartridges, hitting power, and shot placement.

There were two more sub-trends worth noting. Virtually all of the “camp rifles” were fitted with suppressors. Easily accessible to South African hunters, they made my role as “observer” painless. On my unsuppressed rifles, one with a muzzle brake, I needed to remember earmuffs and remind my team to plug their ears when I prepared to shoot. Also, spotting scopes. Once rare in Africa, good scopes were carried by most PHs, and employed constantly.  

Another lesson was just for me: It’s no secret my taste in rifles run toward walnut and blue. Out with Steve Molter one day, Carl and I glassed from a valley while Steve and his PH stalked an impala on a steep ridge above us. It was late morning and the sun was bright; I was horrified by the glint and glare coming off Steve’s Browning, a gorgeous, but with high-gloss stock and bright blue metal. I doubt my preferences will change, but there’s something to be said for Cerakote, matte, and carbon fiber!

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