Assembling an Africa Battery

[Luederitz]

The four calibers in comparison:

 

[John Telford]

Lately I’ve become infatuated with the idea of the .416 Taylor loaded up to 400@2350 and down to 350@ 2500.
Brass easy to clone from 458 win mag or .338 stock.
Only because my local smith sold me a stocked CZ 24 action….
So by extension the other two would be the .338 loaded with 225@2750 and .458 Lott poking 500gns@ 2250. The Lott can eat 458 win mag ammo.

 

[mdwest]

My 416 is a Taylor… I’ve got no problem getting 2400 fps from a 400gr Barnes TSX… and have about 100 pieces of 458 brass necked down for range/practice and 40 pieces of properly head stamped brass for Africa specific ammo…

Mines built on a 98 Mauser action…

Wonderfully versatile rifle that is only slightly stiffer on the shoulder than may 375 HH.. but brings a good bit more ass whipping on the delivery end…

 

[mdwest]

My Africa battery really is no different than my North America battery other than the addition of a 375 HH and a 416 Taylor…

308 covers pretty much everything other than tiny 10, DG,and eland… and the 375 and 416 cover down on those…

 

[Challer]

375/30-06 is all you need. Add 12g for camp meat. Done

 

[HWL]

300 H&H is a grand old cartridge but ammo I am afraid is a problem....

Keep in mind, cases easily can be made from .375H&H!

HWL

 

[John Telford]

My Africa battery really is no different than my North America battery other than the addition of a 375 HH and a 416 Taylor…

308 covers pretty much everything other than tiny 10, DG,and eland… and the 375 and 416 cover down on those…

I think the South African shooting community are missing a trick here with the .416Taylor.
It duplicates or comes very close to Messers Rigby and Remington but in a short action. Makes perfect sense to me for Buffalo . Hippo , giraffe and the cats. For the big guys in the grey suits I would still prefer either messers Lott or Gibbs!
Any one with firsthand experience on the .416 Taylor?

 

[Fatback]

This is what I have in place and plan on using on my next few safaris.

404 Jeffery
375H&H
300 Win Mag

I shoot 400 grain Swift AFrames and 400 grain Barnes Banded solids( flat nosed ones) in the 404.

I’m running 300 grain Swift AFrames and 300 grain Woodleigh Hydro Solids in the 375.

The 300 Winnie shoots either 200 grain Swift AFrames or 200 grain Federal Premium TBBC equally well. I have a better supply of the TBBC so that will probably be what makes the trips.

All are left handed Winchester M70s. I’ll use the 404 on hippo, elephant and buffalo. The 375 will be possibly for buffalo and PG. the 300 will be for PG and a spotted hyena hunt I have planned.

I’ll probably be taking 2 of the 3 based on what I plan on hunting. If I wanted to go with just 1 gun, the 375 H&H would be the rifle I would take.

I feel like I have all my bases covered with these options, from tiny ten with with 375 and solids up to elephant and anything in between.

I have never wanted a double rifle, just never had much interest in one. However, the more time I spend on AH, the more the idea of having one seems a bit more appealing. I’m no where close to actually buying one but I have looked at a few here and online and admired the craftsmanship that goes into them.

 

[BeeMaa]

Blaser R8 with 375H&H for everything from elephant to the T10...ironically I'd use solids for both of those examples. Barnes TSX for the rest.

I have a 300WM barrel but I would most likely leave it home to travel lighter. If I were to add something it would be a 257WBY barrel to use for pest/varmint control or a cull hunt on smaller antelope like springbok.

 

[BigGame]

Stuart Satterlee custom mauser chambered in 375H&H can get it all done in a fully functioanl and fashionable way!

 

[Phil Giordano]

416 ( Rigby / Rem)
375 H&H
8x68 S
270 Winch
That's my idea, I like that some pieces - with a bit of "stretching" - can cover the utility of some of the others.
This way, given a malfunction or maintenance of a piece, there's another one that can easily cover the same base.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Stuart Satterlee custom mauser chambered in 375H&H can get it all done in a fully functioanl and fashionable way!
View attachment 551102
View attachment 551101

Very nice! Smithson QD mounts?

Is that a GMA action or Saterlee’s own?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My opinion with a moderate budget

With a double:
.470 NE or .500 NE (Heym, Merkel, or Krieghoff) I like my K-Gun, but my understanding is that Heym's are nicer
.375 H&H Stainless Sako Kodiak (you can hunt the world with this gun alone)
.300 Win or Weatherby Mag (Stainless with open sights, pick a brand)
.22-250 (Sako Varmint Laminant Stainless) I have never taken a vermint gun to Africa, and I am not sure about ammo availability for this caliber.

Bolt guns only:
.416 Rigby or .450 Rigby (Sako Brown Bear) - this is your stopper
.375 H&H - Sako Kodiak
.300 Win or Weatherby or maybe 8x68S
.22-250

@Beck
Are you related to our @Dr Ray in Australia. With all the Sakos you recommend it seems like it's right out of his playbook. Dr Ray is a Sako affecionado/ tragic.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

25-06
300H&H
9.3x62
404J

@Bonk
LOVE your choices but I would swap out the 9.3x62 for the 35 Whelen.
But I'm a Whelen tragic. You have great taste with your choice. A man after my own thinking.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

375/30-06 is all you need. Add 12g for camp meat. Done

@Challer
Love the KISS principle. Save staining my old brain.
Match rifle to game with a slight overlap and go hunt. Throw in a few solids for the 12g and even more versatility. Simples.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Blaser R8 with 375H&H for everything from elephant to the T10...ironically I'd use solids for both of those examples. Barnes TSX for the rest.

I have a 300WM barrel but I would most likely leave it home to travel lighter. If I were to add something it would be a 257WBY barrel to use for pest/varmint control or a cull hunt on smaller antelope like springbok.

@BeeMaa
Blah, Blah Blah Blaser.
The gent is buying class rifles mate. Not plastic fantastic Barbie rifles.
Remember those HUNTING rifles you silly sold off made of nice timber and blued steel that you actually turned the bolt to operate.
Gee it's fun reminding you of your mistake and I know you have big shoulder to handle the shit I give you.
After the days hunt instead of sitting down playing with Barbie by changing out all the parts like barrel, bolt etc for the next days hunt you just pick another rifle. Simples and also allows you more time to have pre dinner drinks and socialise.
HA HA HA HA HA HA
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Stuart Satterlee custom mauser chambered in 375H&H can get it all done in a fully functioanl and fashionable way!
View attachment 551102
View attachment 551101

@BigGame
And not a bit of plastic in sight. Pure class.
@BeeMaa this is what a hunting rifle looks like NOT a Barbie rifle.
Bob

 

[Hififile324]

Just sounds excessive..

If you want something to leave the children, who gets which caliber?
Maybe they dont want to share or live in different parts of the country, so can't share.
One gets a 375H&H so he can hunt big game Africa, while the other gets a 275 and can't.

Dont know how many children you have, but what about just making a rifle for each kid and they can hunt with it together with you.

 

[BeeMaa]

@BigGame
And not a bit of plastic in sight. Pure class.
@BeeMaa this is what a hunting rifle looks like NOT a Barbie rifle.
Bob

I'm running outside right now to start a fire and burn them all.

Cheers mate.

 

[Beck]

@Bonk
LOVE your choices but I would swap out the 9.3x62 for the 35 Whelen.
But I'm a Whelen tragic. You have great taste with your choice. A man after my own thinking.
Bob

I do like a 35 whelen