An all round rifle caliber , for Africa and elsewhere

[FlyGuy]

Big5 aside….

30-06 without question!

Recoil is tolerable for most.

A bonded 165gr cruising at 2800-2900 is plenty medicine for most of the world’s game species.

Step up to a 180gr at 2700, or a 220gr at 2400 to handle the rest.

Ammo is available and reasonably priced.

In terms of total numbers sold, it’s the most popular centre fire hunting cartridge of all time, and for good reason too.

If DG is on the menu, the 375H&H is the only logical choice for the one rifle man.

 

[Letzhunt]

I’ve just been through this and settled on the venerable 30-06 for all of the reasons above and ammo availability. After having my ammo go missing on my last trip to Africa, it was a consideration.

After hearing ammo availability as a reason for a particular cartridge often....this is one of the few times I hear of actual lost ammo. Dan458 can you share your story of your lost ammo? where were you hunting when did it come up missing ...did it ever show up? I custom load for most everything and in the case of my 300 Weatherby I can't use factory ammo due to the short throat in my rifle. It is a fear for me to lose my ammo so I'm curious as to what happened.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

Bullet selection isn't likely as important, along with placement, it is the most important. The bullet does all of the heavy lifting once the rifle has been fired.

A poorly constructed bullet for the game at hand can be a 30 or ever 40 something caliber and it's going to be trouble. Same thing if the bullet is poorly placed, regardless of construction.

If you just wish to add to your rifle collection, so be it. You'll find plenty of enablers here, including myself, to help you along with this. But if you're trying to convince yourself that a .270 won't get the job done, you're just fooling yourself.

A quick look at my Swift manual tells me I can load a 150gr A-Frame to about 2900fps. I'd take that load and hunt any PG with it that I would my .300WM. The only animal to give me some pause is the eland. I would want to be a little more selective on shot opportunity to ensure good shot placement.

If you think Africa is becoming a regular thing for you, I'd be inclined to recommend you jump to a 375HH and have DG covered. It also makes a great PG gun.

 

[gbflyer]

22-250 or 22 Creedmoor with a 7 or 8 twist barrel to handle the 77-80gr bullets. 6mm Creedmoor for 105-115gr bullets. Of course if you lose your ammo in Africa I’d imagine you’ll be out of luck. Hard to beat your 270 for all practical purposes. But, a person always needs another rifle so….

 

[dogcat1]

I have used the following on plains game -
.375 HH
.300 HH
.300WM
7mm Rem Mag
.280 Rem
.243 Win
.270 Win
9.3x62

My next trip will feature a 7x57.

On Dangerous Game -
.375 HH
9.3x62
.416 Rigby

All work if you hit your target correctly.

 

[MarkB]

I say that's really a broad question that has far too many variables, expect many responses with members promoting what they use, like and believe in. There are dozens of calibers that would meet the minimum. 257, 6.5, slower smaller 7mm and 30 cals. These would also be great deer calibers. The most important is put the bullet in the correct spot and use a new good bullet. Not necessarily a heavy for caliber sleek try and hit way out there bullet but one of the proven well constructed kill them quick bullets. With the smaller calibers one may need to wait, pick or pass on shot angles not best or perfect. African PG has a far larger size and toughness variation than any and all our deer.

I do not believe that a 338, 366 or 375 meets your question of minimum caliber. These may be great all round for every thing calibers but they are not the minimum.

I have shot over 100 PG and used my 308 win and 165 accubonds. Hunters beside me have done same with a 6.5 creed. I do think minimum calibers for all PG except eland start at 257, 6.5. 243 even with good 100 or 105 bullets seam small for some 500lb and larger game. Especially with the draw blood and pay rules, trackers are amazing but its easier with a blood trail.

In reality do you want to safari with any minimum caliber?? I like short 20" barreled light rifles, Canadian so no cans allowed. I also like hunting, so 300yds and less is what I like, better is 75 yds and a great stalk. I found the rem 700 BDL SS DM to be a great gun and when skeletonized, trued, trimmed and "triggertecked" they are my "perfect" gun. Have many in various calibers, 308 works best as all around, uses a short action, lighter, more efficient, less fps loss with 20" barrel, shorter bolt throw and has same velocity and power as long action with todays new powders.

I did the magnum craz, have a 6 lb 338, but find my 300 WSM rifle as above with 180 accubonds kills just as good as any long action cartridge if I do my part.

I just built another rem in 260, so maybe on my next safari the 308 will be replaced with the 260? Not sure yet, the 308 certainly has worked well.

MB

 

[Berettaco]

My favorite cartridge is the 270 win. I have used it with great success in NA and Africa on game up to and including kudu. Use a 150 grain premium bullet and you’ll be just fine. Have also used 243, 7mm mag, 30-06, 375HH, 404J in Africa.

100 guys with 100 opinions on what’s the best caliber - and most answers are correct - just personal preference.

My opinion is there is little difference in the outcome based on caliber (within reason) as long as you are pushing a 150 grain premium bullet over 1,500 fps at impact. Most shots I’ve taken in on PG are around 75-100 yards, a couple were 200ish yards. Lots of cartridges will get the job done

 

[Ruraldoc]

An all around cartridge depends upon your definition of all around.

Do we include or exclude dangerous game?

Does dangerous game include elephants?

Without dangerous game, a 30-06 or 300 win mag can do nearly anything.

With dangerous game excluding elephants on the table, a 9.3x62 will work for nearly anything.

If elephants are on the table, we are really outside the realm of all around, but the 375 is a sensible minimum.

My own approach is to use a 30 caliber rifle in North Americ( excepting big bears)as well as plains game other than eland .

For eland,lion or big bears, give me a 375 or a 9.3x62.

For Buffalo and larger, I really want a 416 or 458.

So I pick three all around rifles.

A 308 or 30-06.

A 9.3x62 or a 375.

A 416 or 458.

Last year in Africa, I carried a 308 and a 416 and it worked great for me.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[gbflyer]

…What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle?…

I read that as not dangerous game.

 

[Lumaberpat]

For one gun to do it all from dim dim ti elephant, pronghorn to brown bear the 9.3x62, or 35 Whelen are the answer.

Will most PH allow the 9.3x62 for elephant?

Answering the original question, I like the 30-06 for a do all, not crazy recoil but enough for everything. With the added bonus of cheap and easy to find ammo when needed.

 

[Thomas Rutledge]

318 WR. It will kill anything.

 

[rookhawk]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

To have a do-all rifle you need bullet versatility, a great BC, solid penetration, standard and heavy-for-caliber bullets, and you need a stalking rifle for the up-close work off sticks that can also shoot a long distance when required.

In smallbores, that leaves you really with the 7x57, made with a long throat so you can use the 175gr softs and solids, and you can throttle it down to 140gr barnes TTSX for flat shooting scenarios at range.

The 6.5CM and PRC may have ballistic novelty, but you are unlikely to find a rifle you can use for the instant shot at 40 yards as they are built on long-range platforms. The 6.5s typically do best with the 140s and 154 grain bullets. If you go smaller, its not buying you anything, but you can't go bigger. Thus, you're losing from versatility. (e.g. a stout 175gr 7x57 load can kill and eland, I wouldn't try that with a 6.5)

 

[MS 9x56]

Will most PH allow the 9.3x62 for elephant?

Answering the original question, I like the 30-06 for a do all, not crazy recoil but enough for everything. With the added bonus of cheap and easy to find ammo when needed.

Depends on the country you are hunting in DG rules.

 

[mdwest]

Big5 aside….

30-06 without question!

Recoil is tolerable for most.

A bonded 165gr cruising at 2800-2900 is plenty medicine for most of the world’s game species.

Step up to a 180gr at 2700, or a 220gr at 2400 to handle the rest.

Ammo is available and reasonably priced.

In terms of total numbers sold, it’s the most popular centre fire hunting cartridge of all time, and for good reason too.

If DG is on the menu, the 375H&H is the only logical choice for the one rifle man.

I settled on a 308 for almost the same reasons..

I shoot a 168gr TTSX at about 2750 (handload).. shy of eland there isn't a PG animal I wouldn't (and haven't) readily hunted with it ranging from springbok to wildebeest/zebra/etc.. and if push came to shove and the right shot presented itself, I'd consider eland as well (I'd just be very picky about the shot, and would prefer something with a little more ooompf if available)..

Ammo is affordable and easy to find all over the globe..

Its great medicine for most NA game as well (black bear, elk, whitetail, muleys, pigs, etc.. are all in the 308's wheelhouse)..

Ive got a lot of rifles in the safe to choose from.. but 9 out of 10 times its a 308 that I grab to take to Africa or to take to the field here in the US..

 

[JG26Irish_2]

If I understand the OP's question, he wants something a bit lighter than 270 that is also good enough for PG hunting in Africa? I used 270 for decades for big game in North America and find it very effective. But, there are few calibers smaller than that which I would consider for Africa. Most plains game with the exception of Wildebeest and Zebra are that much tougher than deer, moose or elk IMO. For my first trip to Africa, I took a matched pair of FN Browning mauser style rifles in 308 and 375HH. They both performed flawlessly. I took five animals with that little 308 using a 180g bonded and all were one shot kills and most dropped in their tracks or within a few steps. 30-06 is outstanding but neither of those is lighter than 270. Most would consider the 7mm's (270 included) to be about the minimum for PG hunting. I know that the 6mm, 243, 257R and 6.5's might work but they are light and you will risk losing wounded animals unless your shots are perfect. You might consider the 7mm/08 but it is only marginally lighter than the 270.

For my next trip, I am taking a 7mm Mag and another 375HH. This is only because we will be in some very open terrain for parts of my hunt and can expect 300y+ shots at times. We were told to not bring anything lighter than the 270. Black WB, Zeb and Buff will all be on my menu amongst others. I did consider the 30-06 over the 7mm but my PH advised me to bring the mag instead.

 

[Neophyte]

One rifle for everything would give the nod to a .375 of either H&H or Ruger variant.

That’s assuming dangerous game is on the menu. If not, and still wanting something that can deal with a charging Cape Buffalo, I’d opt for a .338 Win Mag. Had a friend stop a Cape Buffalo that took offense to him and the PH walking through the bush.

I’ve not hunted Africa yet but will take a .375 Ruger to South Africa in 2026 to hunt plains game. It will be a means of preparing me, and my rifle, for a future Cape Buffalo hunt in 2028.

 

[Phil Giordano]

8x68S to me

 

[BeeMaa]

@wildfowler.250 - It seems like you want to stay in the .30 caliber and below range. Keeping that in mind along with ammo availability in remote camps, these would be a wise choice. 6.5x55SE, 7x57MAUSER, 7RM, 30-06 & 300WM.

I would second what other have stated, as the 375H&H is the "30-06" of Africa. Taking just one rifle chambered in that cartridge would have you covered for every animal, including DG. A simple switch to solid brass bullets will be perfect medicine for the Tiny 10 and keep your taxidermist from cursing.

375H&H is also relatively easy to learn how to shoot for most people. Commonly used (along with the 9.3’s) as a gateway to the big bores.

If you think you will be hunting DG on a more regular basis, you might consider a 416RM, 404J or even a 458WM at a later date.

FYI - My only big game rifles are in 300WM & 375H&H. The 300WM prefers the Barnes 165 grain TTSX (~3100 fps) and 375H&H is the 300 grain TSX (~2500 fps).

 

[Dan458]

After hearing ammo availability as a reason for a particular cartridge often....this is one of the few times I hear of actual lost ammo. Dan458 can you share your story of your lost ammo? where were you hunting when did it come up missing ...did it ever show up? I custom load for most everything and in the case of my 300 Weatherby I can't use factory ammo due to the short throat in my rifle. It is a fear for me to lose my ammo so I'm curious as to what happened.

Hi Letzhunt, certainly.
In 2023 I was traveling to SA for a Buffalo hunt on the Limpopo. There were some flight delays and we missed a connection. I had AirTags in all our luggage so I knew my checked bag with my ammo never made the flight. Fortunately I had my binos and a set of hunting clothes in my carry on and my rifle case made it on. Seeing that my ammo had been left behind I got a WhatsApp off to my PH who then spent the day tracking down some 458 Lott ammo for me. All ended well with me taking my Buff with one shot and an insurance.
Another benefit for the AirTags followed. Towards the end of my hunt I noticed my bag had arrived in Joburg. No notification ever came from the airline. By pure luck my PH knew where lost bags end up in the bowels of OR Tambo. We literally walked in and collected my bag, could have taken any bag in there TIA

 

[IvW]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

Forget about 6.5mm in any form......