3 gun African battery

[Red Leg]

You know, I've had a standing invitation to come hunt in NZ for about a decade but never could justify the trip. Now that I'm going to SA hopefully at least once a year or every other year in the future for as long as I physically can I'm considering doing both in one trip since it's just not all that far from the RSA to NZ.

Maybe a week in RSA, a week in NZ then back for a week in RSA before coming home!

Now that would be one heck of a trip!

Take it from an old Asia soldier, with only seven days in each, you'll spend most of your time recovering from jet lag. If dreaming, then dream big and spend at least 10 in each and allow for travel between. NZ is much farther than you think from the RSA. The time difference is 10 hours. In the military, during deployments, we assumed a day of jet lag for every two hours of time difference. So heck, take a month off and do it right.

 

[Jumbo]

Been reading with much relish! drooling actually!

I guess I would have to select 2 x 3 gun batteries. one based on what I have, and the other on what I believe to be the best suited for most safari's

My personal one:
7mm Rem Mag Sako - 3-9 VX2 Leupold
375 H&H BRNO - 1-4 VX3 Leupold
470 NE Krieghoff - Trijicon RMR (Bad eyes - yes I know it is sacrilege to put a sight on a double)

my dream battery:
.308 - in a classic English Westley/Rigby with a 3-9 swarovski
.375 H&H - by Holland & Holland with small magnification Swarovski
450NE double by Rigby

hey a man can dream!

 

[Dave Hawkins]

So what is Von Gruff????

 

[Dave Hawkins]

How do I find this VonGruff? Was he selling the 404 at this site?

 

[nztimb]

PM in your inbox Dave

 

[Desperatezulu]

Beautiful guns - particularly the 404!

Not that comment has been invited, but I wonder whether the 9.3 and 404 aren't possibly a bit close in performance to make one redundant? What would the 9.3 do that the 404 wouldn't do just as well, if not better? This 3 gun battery is well-suited to close range bushveld hunting, no argument there. But would be lacking for longer range work. I think a 375 H&H (or a 338 of some persuasion) would be a better fit over the 9.3. Even though I am a huge fan of the 9.3 over those other two cals mentioned.

I am a fan of having at least one reasonably flat shooting calibre in any African 3 (or more) gun battery.

For what little it's worth, my 3 gun battery is a
1. 6.5x55 (good all-rounder for the bush and can stretch its legs to do medium/long-range work up to medium PG)
2. 300 H&H (for anything up to and including Eland in the 'open', i.e. longer range)
3. 416 Rigby (for the dangerous stuff and for close range bushveld conditions on the bigger PG)

For a 4 gun battery, a 9.3 squeezes in between the 300 and the 416

 

[stug]

I see me using them as 7x57 and 9.3 for a plainsgame trip and 7x57 and .404 for a buffalo trip.
The 7x57 with a good 160 or 175gr projectile will easily be a 300yd rifle and will be fine up to kudu. The 9.3 will stay open sighted as it has been that way for 90 years.
The .404 will stay with its aperture sight while my eyesight remains ok. I've only shot it at 50yds off sticks so far but I can see it being accurate to 100yds easily.

 

[vette447]

Beautiful rifles and nice choices for calibers.

My current 3 gun battery would be:
275 Rigby (7x57) scoped
416 Rigby scoped (I also have a 375 H&H that could fit here)
500 NE Double

I own the rifles but I am afraid, as others have mentioned, the safari worthy of a 3 gun battery such as this is probably somewhat of a day dream for me.

Also, I have killed animals in size up to a nice mature sable bull with the 7x57 and it performed admirably so I wouldn't worry too much about that rifle only being for small antelope or anything.

 

[matt85]

correct me if im wrong, but isnt there a limit to two rifles per hunter? (i read this somewhere)

thats a very nice three gun battery you have there! it certainly looks like you have all your bases covered.

my three gun battery is simple:
- Winchester M70 super grade: 338 WM
- Winchester M70 safari express: 416 RM (loaded with light 300gr bullets at 2650fps)
- American Hunting Rifles DGR: 505 Gibbs

if i had more money to throw around id probably replace the 505 Gibbs with a nice Heym "Safari" in 500 NE. but the Heym costs more then twice as much as my semi-custom 505 Gibbs and id rather use that money to hunt.

-matt

 

[WildRose]

Nice combo Matt. My next trip I'll probably take one of the 7mm STW's, the Ruger Alaskan 375, and since we enjoy predator hunting I may throw in an AR or .22 Hornet or 220 Swift.

My understanding is that as long as you have the paperwork in order you can take three long guns and a handgun at lest as far as getting into RSA.

Going into the other countries what's allowed seems to change fairly regularly and costs can be unpredictable.

You are certainly best off if you have someone meeting you there known to the SAP's who can expedite getting you through. If you don't, you will most likely run into some minor problems that can be quickly taken care of for a few extra bucks. Personally I'm not inclined to pay bribes and would rather put a cop in prison themselves than pay one but be aware that's always a possibility so having a well known agent to help you through is worth it.

 

[stug]

I think the 2 gun rule is set by airlines. I might have to get my wife to get her firearms licence and then she can take one of them over.

 

[BWH]

Mine:

1) 30-06
2) 375 H&H
3) ?????

I'm think 416.... However, I'll open the floor to suggestions!

 

[stug]

375 and 416 would be pretty close, what about a 458?

 

[matt85]

Mine:

1) 30-06
2) 375 H&H
3) ?????

I'm think 416.... However, I'll open the floor to suggestions!

the 375 and 416 fill the same roll, if you want something else you should go bigger or smaller.

-for bigger i always first recommend the 458 Lott. but the 505 Gibbs or 500 Jeffery are great options.
-for smaller you could check out the 264 WM or 7mm RM. both of these would fill the roll of a flat shooting long range cartridge.

-matt

 

[BWH]

I've got the smallers covered with .223s, .270, .308..... So prob be the 458

 

[Red Leg]

Nice combo Matt. My next trip I'll probably take one of the 7mm STW's, the Ruger Alaskan 375, and since we enjoy predator hunting I may throw in an AR or .22 Hornet or 220 Swift.

My understanding is that as long as you have the paperwork in order you can take three long guns and a handgun at lest as far as getting into RSA.

Going into the other countries what's allowed seems to change fairly regularly and costs can be unpredictable.

You are certainly best off if you have someone meeting you there known to the SAP's who can expedite getting you through. If you don't, you will most likely run into some minor problems that can be quickly taken care of for a few extra bucks. Personally I'm not inclined to pay bribes and would rather put a cop in prison themselves than pay one but be aware that's always a possibility so having a well known agent to help you through is worth it.

Unless it is a military deployment, it won't be an AR.

 

[WildRose]

Unless it is a military deployment, it won't be an AR.

If it gets bad enough they want me back at my age, even with my skill set it may be time to run!

It was my understanding that semi autos are legal for hunting in SA so is the problem the platform or is there a restriction on "military caliber" rifles or both?

 

[Desperatezulu]

Semi autos are not legal for hunting in most SA provinces. Yes, there are exceptions but I doubt your friendly SAPS officers at OR Tambo are going to issue import permits for a semi auto without prior permission. And if it has a military look, like an AR does, then expect plenty of PITA! Why even risk it - just bring your favourite varminting bolt gun and ask the tracker to work the bolt for you if it's too much hassle for you

 

[Ado]

correct me if im wrong, but isnt there a limit to two rifles per hunter? (i read this somewhere)

thats a very nice three gun battery you have there! it certainly looks like you have all your bases covered.

my three gun battery is simple:
- Winchester M70 super grade: 338 WM
- Winchester M70 safari express: 416 RM (loaded with light 300gr bullets at 2650fps)
- American Hunting Rifles DGR: 505 Gibbs

if i had more money to throw around id probably replace the 505 Gibbs with a nice Heym "Safari" in 500 NE. but the Heym costs more then twice as much as my semi-custom 505 Gibbs and id rather use that money to hunt.

-matt

A 338 is a bit heavy for springbok Matt!!!

Ado

 

[matt85]

A 338 is a bit heavy for springbok Matt!!!

Ado

naw, you can load it up or down with a wide variety of bullets. for small stuff a solid or FMJ bullet will kill without excessive damage.

-matt