Caliber recommendations

[BeeMaa]

About time you consider a .280a.i.

The only reason I wouldn't consider it for Africa is ammo availability. For hunting on the home range it's certainly on the menu, but add in air travel and things can get complicated.

I just like all my cartridges to be easily found if things go sideways.

 

[CBeck]

For E.Cape Plains Game... 300WM, but don't forget about the 7mm RM or the 280AI.
A good quality bullet is more important than the calibre or cartridge.

Now….280ai is my choice but I try not to recommend non mainstream cartridges so @375Fox doesn’t scold me. lol

 

[375Fox]

Now….280ai is my choice but I try not to recommend non mainstream cartridges so @375Fox doesn’t scold me. lol

Scolding?! or pointing out facts? The 280AI actually has a lot of ammo availability and from multiple manufacturers. I’ll stick to 300 win though.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

300 Min Wag.

Alt: 7MM REM MAG. Plenty of ammo available most places. I’ve killed a lot of PG with it, up to an Eland.

 

[Pheroze]

.35 remington

Why not take that? I am not sure what the effective range is but I think having a chat with your PH about it and you may be good. The only really long shot I had was a Vaalie but the rest we were able to stalk in fairly close. I use a 308 Norma Magnum, but really only used its potential once or perhaps twice.

In terms of a 30 cal I agree it is great for plains game. Even the eland I took succumbed quickly to a properly placed shot

 

[CBeck]

Scolding?! or pointing out facts? The 280AI actually has a lot of ammo availability and from multiple manufacturers. I’ll stick to 300 win though.

@375Fox , You know, I’m just messing with you right. Life is too short for me to get bent out of shape over a rifle cartridge choice!

Although I will point out the fact it took around 40 years for it to go from wildcat to receiving saami registration by Nosler.

 

[Beck]

Either will work very well, and yes zero at 200. If you want to spice things up look into a 8x68s - kind of a middle ground between the two calibers

 

[HankBuck]

Unless you have other plans later for the 338 I would stick with a 30 cal. Anything from the .308 Win, 30-06 , 300 wm, 300 PRC, or my favorite 300 Wby Mag. The logical is the 300 WM as ammo is easily available.
You can do it all with a 7mm also. The 338 isn't large enough for dangerous game and not needed even for the largest plains game like eland or tough animals like zebra and wildebeest.
Also the 200 yard zero is antiquated. Put a scope with a dial turret and sight dead on at 100. If you want a 200 yard zero then dial that and put a small tag on your scope as a reminder. 40 to 350 is common shot distance.
Use quality bullets that are either Barnes type or bonded core. African animals are all tough. Shoot them through the shoulders with a good bullet.

@Letzhunt - is the standard “200 yrd zero” for a .30 cal really “antiquated”? I certainly am aware that newer scopes offer better technology for long range shooting but is that really needed for shots Under 300 yrds? I wouldn’t think so on a big game animal Deer size or larger. My .30-06 sighted 2” high at 100 yrds and yrd Zeros about 210 yrds shooting 180 gr bullets @ 2750 fps …good enough that it requires NO hold over out to 275 yrds —— where its 3+ inches low. I prefer the speed and “no thinking or adjustments needed” for shots under 300 yrds that a regular scope and 200 yrd zero allow. In TZ I did shoot a Wildebeast at 340 yrds and knew to aim slightly high to allow for the 8” or so drop I anticipated.
I know there are Better rifle shots than Me and they will shoot game well out to 400 yrds-500 yrds… but for me 300-350 yrds Off Sticks or improvised rest is about as much as I can handle.

 

[Trentmullikin]

Why not take that? I am not sure what the effective range is but I think having a chat with your PH about it and you may be good. The only really long shot I had was a Vaalie but the rest we were able to stalk in fairly close. I use a 308 Norma Magnum, but really only used its potential once or perhaps twice.

In terms of a 30 cal I agree it is great for plains game. Even the eland I took succumbed quickly to a properly it

 

[Trentmullikin]

It starts dropping like a rock after 200 yds. I would love to take it over but it's a hand me down rifle from my dad that means a lot to me would hate for something to happen to it in travel.

 

[Philip Glass]

Headed to the eastern cape in 2026. I've been looking at getting either a 300 wm or a 338 wm. I will be putting a suppresor on it. Was going to zero at 200yds. What are the groups thoughts and opinions? Thanks to all who respond.

I wish I had bought a .300 Win years ago. It is simply the most versatile caliber for Africa. I shoot 180g Barnes TTSX to great effect.

 

[Pheroze]

It starts dropping like a rock after 200 yds. I would love to take it over but it's a hand me down rifle from my dad that means a lot to me would hate for something to happen to it in travel.

Probably a wise move. Enjoy the hunt and trip.

 

[Red Leg]

Why not take that? I am not sure what the effective range is but I think having a chat with your PH about it and you may be good. The only really long shot I had was a Vaalie but the rest we were able to stalk in fairly close. I use a 308 Norma Magnum, but really only used its potential once or perhaps twice.

In terms of a 30 cal I agree it is great for plains game. Even the eland I took succumbed quickly to a properly placed shot

No. Has a trajectory like a howitzer. It is a fine Eastern US choice for whitetail.

 

[Red Leg]

I'll vote for the .300 WM. One caution is that both the .338 and .300 need enough barrel length to fully burn powder and reach those published velocities. Retaining that and sticking a can on the end gives you a rifle with handling dynamics closer to those of a surf rod rather than a hunting firearm. I use cans on my ARs for pigs and varmints on the place, but have no use for one on an actual hunting rifle.

Even with respect to AR's, a can and thermal turns a light and very handy .308 into something that carries more like a crew served weapon than a carbine or light rifle.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Hard to not go with 300WM. It will take anything PG up to kudu, wildebeest, etc. The only thing it's not great for is smaller stuff like duikers and what not. Tends to really blow them apart.

Talk to your PH about zero. Eastern cape might be longer shots. If it's thicker, zero at 100.

200 yd zero is what the spec on 300WM is.

 

[coreydb]

300 wm. Honestly, 30.06 is Ideal

 

[HankBuck]

300 wm. Honestly, 30.06 is Ideal

@coreydb: I’m also Not a fan of the .300 Windbag and it’s 25% more recoil for only 5% more power - at 300 yrds it’s 180 gr bullet drops only 2” less then the ‘06. If the .308 is known as the “most efficient” .30 cal round then the .300 wm must be the “least efficient”.
It is a very fine round and I do Not question that, gets the most out of a .30 cal 180 gr bullet and likely the most popular magnum rifle in the U.S…. but you pay a big price for the 5% advantage = Bigger recoil, higher priced ammo, — certainly not a bargain AND many hunters would shoot a .308 0r .30-06 more accurately because they won’t Flinch as badly (though very few .300 mag shooter “admit” to a flinch).
I think if I had concerns about a .308 or ‘06 not being big enough —- would jump to .375 H&H and make a major improvement (get my moneys worth).

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I use 100 yard Zero on all my rifles that wear Nightforce scopes with Zero stop.

I use 200 yard Zero for the ones that don't - to include right handed 300 Wby & 7MM REM MAG...

 

[mark-hunter]

Headed to the eastern cape in 2026. I've been looking at getting either a 300 wm or a 338 wm. I will be putting a suppresor on it. Was going to zero at 200yds. What are the groups thoughts and opinions? Thanks to all who respond.

Add a premium bullet to this idea. And dont look back. Swift a frame

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It starts dropping like a rock after 200 yds. I would love to take it over but it's a hand me down rifle from my dad that means a lot to me would hate for something to happen to it in travel.

Even at 200 yards 35 Rem is out of gas. Not the gun for plains game. My second animal was impala at 280 yards with my 30-06. Followed a few days later in waning moments of the first safari when I took a kudu at 330 yards.