HuntingAdventures.net

Firearm and Ammo Selection

I could give my opinions concerning rifles and ammo, but every expert in the world has already beaten that subject to death. Remember that 90% of the success of any cartridge in shot placement. The remaining ten percent is the subject of debate over the choice of the cartridge or rifle. Plenty of information already exists, and all I would be adding is another opinion for you. Just bring a rifle that you can shoot very accurately and quickly, without utilizing a solid rest. I would be glad to give my personal recommendations, so just look at what I use and consider a similar cartridge. My personal rifle battery is a .30/06 and a .375 H&H magnum. I have never needed more and have never lost an animal. The trick to being truly successful at plains game hunting is quick target acquisition and accurate shooting without a solid rest.

The great majority of trophies passed up could be harvested with quick, precise, confidant shooting. Once you're sure the rifle and load are accurate forget the bench exists! Shoot free hand, sitting, kneeling, or from improvised rests. Loose the sandbags! One minute of angle accuracy is meaningless if you need sandbags to do it. Ok, enough of the gun talk, that is up to the real experts who study ballistics and desire to debate the weight of one bullet against another. I'm a hunter not a ballistics engineer. I know what I have seen work, and I know what I have seen fail. My rifle choices are written above based on that experience. I do use premium bullets for all hunting today. I believe the additional performance of premium bullets is justified by the cost of the trophy fee. A one-dollar bullet is cheap when you're pulling the trigger on an animal that will cost $750.00 or more.

The single greatest benefit you can teach yourself in preparing for a hunt in Africa (or anyplace for that matter) would be to watch the results of your shot through your scope, not with the rifle down at your side. This is a typically American trait. I call it "golfers syndrome", taking the shot then lowering the gun to admire what you have done. There will be plenty of time later to admire your shooting. For now let's concentrate on preventing an unintended escape of your trophy. If the animal gets up, moves or is still standing you will only need to pull the trigger, not start searching for him in your scope. Follow up shots are not always needed, but when they are, they are very important.

Another thing that I would like to mention is the way shooting is handled. When you come upon a group of animals you will probably be looking at them with your field glasses along with your PH. He will say to you: "Shoot the third one from the left". You should at that point pull the trigger, not set down your field glasses and start looking for a rest or try to locate the animal in your scope (which always seems to be set on the highest power available). The PH can judge trophies much better then the visiting hunter, so work with him as a team member, that's what you're paying him for. When glassing potential trophies look through your scope to see them and locate a rest if needed, while the PH is judging the animals. When the best of the group is determined by the PH, you only need to pull the trigger when he says so. This needs to be a serious team effort, not a leisurely wildlife viewing safari. I have seen so many lost opportunities because the hunter was not in a position to shot when the best of the group is determined, and before he got into position the animals move away or into the bush.

Remember this, military snipers work as a team, there is a "spotter" and a "shooter" working together. One is judging distance, wind and various targets (he is the equivalent of the PH). The other team member is the "sniper" or in our case the hunter. It's a very well organized team effort.

Bi-pods have limited use because of the tall grass and brush. The prone shooting position is unlikely in most of the areas you will be hunting. If you have a tall bi-pod that will allow a sitting shot they work fantastic while hunting near a water hole or while hiding near high use areas. I have been using a product called the "Snipe-pod" for years and can highly recommend it's use. If you choose to shoot from a bi-pod make certain you practice shooting with it, it will make a difference. Shooting sticks are also quite popular with African PH's, so by all means practice a bit with them as well.

Of the caliber's I have seen used the 270, 7mm magnum, .30/06, the various .30 caliber magnums, .338's and the .375 H&H are about the most popular. The .300 Winchester magnum is without question the most popular rifle used on plains game by American hunters. I have never seen any of these cartridges fail to harvest game when they are hit correctly. I prefer to plan for the worst of circumstances, not the best when hunting, so I often times only bring my .375 H&H. Unlike hunting in the USA, when hunting in Africa for an impala you never know when the buffalo of your dreams will walk out in front of you. Or when hunting buffalo you might see that 60" kudu bull at 320 yards. You might need a bit more range then the .458 Winchester magnum you're carrying. I have learned over the years to stick with an all around caliber, because there are so many different species you're likely to run into. I have not yet found a cartridge I like better then either the .375 H&H or the .30/06. I know they are an old and boring pair, but they have served me and countless others very well for nearly 100 years now.

I will say that I strongly prefer calibers over .308, the larger bullet diameters add greatly to the tracking effort. Sub .308 diameter bullets rarely allow external bleeding long enough to follow the blood trail to the source. Also remember that this is not 1920 where there will be a crew of gun bearers to pack along all your firearms. The odds are that you will use a single rifle for all your hunting, and it will be the bigger of the two you bring. It's probably not even worth bringing two rifles for the vast majority of plains game hunters coming to Africa today. If you bring one rifle that your very good with, and 40 rounds of ammo, you should be set for any plains game hunting that you will do.