Debating whether I should step up to 375 H&H?

[375Fox]

I think you already decided to buy, but here’s a few things to consider. Will buying this barrel, magnum bolt head, scope mount, scope, couple boxes of 375 ammo limit what you can do on your first safari? I’ve gone over my budget and shot more than I planned on nearly every safari. If buying this won’t limit your hunt definitely buy it, but if it reduces what you can spend once you’re there I’d stay with your 30-06 and have the extra $3000(?) available to spend on your hunt instead.

 

[CBH Australia]

@375Fox didn't think I would see anyone say hold off and think about it.

I own one, if you have a Blaser it's no trouble to take the extra barrel. .

I recently saw a pic of an Eland and it was huge.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Beginning to wonder who these unspecified members are with 11 posts, but notwitstanding that (maybe bored salesmen at uglyneweuguns.com?) use the 3006, with hot 200-220 grain loads and you'll be just fine. A big oryx is 3x the size of a deer (wherever you are from, Mysteryposter.) LOL I solemnly swear to post posts with inquiries just to keep it all going, when i find myself bored in semi-retirement. "What wax do you prefer on your finished cartridge primers and necks?" "How do you lace your hunting boots?" et. al.

 

[Andrew62]

30.06 will do just fine if that is the way you choose to go. I'm heading over next week to hunt zebra, blue wildebeest, impala and I am taking my .308 with 165 grain Swift A-frames. On previous safaris I have taken gemsbuck and blue wildebeest with 6.5 Creedmor. But if you need any excuse to buy another caliber, then by all means you NEED a .375 H&H.

 

[C.W. Richter]

*A barrel on a traditional, better-looking, longer-range, etc. gun costs <$500. Of course, it's $0 if you just get the gun made for you. For the $3,500 price of a bbl for that weird-looking straight pull non CRF gun, just get the mauser-style rifle of your choice (M98, M70, M77 etc.), accurize it via a metal pillar-bedded HS Precision stock cut to your length, a better recoil pad, mercury recoil reducers if desired, a Timney or Jewell trigger, Talley mounts, and any of the $1K+ scopes (Trijicon 1-6, Zeiss 1-8, etc.) and if you don't handload, 5 boxes of quality ammo, and you will have saved nearly $1,000 for your flights. Splurge for a Swaro and you just got an entire custom rifle for the cost of that silly barrel. If cost or re-sale value down the pike is no consideration, "Do what you like!" Dragging another 10 lbs around airports on wheels never seemed to bother me, and if God forbid 1 rifle breaks, you actually have a backup that you're familiar with.

 

[steve white]

You can always load the 375 down....better frontal area even then.

 

[xbr897]

If your R8 is a newer one with illumination control and you want a scope with illumination then your choices are Zeiss or Blaser scopes. Don’t care for about illumination then my preference would be either a Leica or Zeiss.

Thanks for suggestions. Yes, it is a new one. For the -06 barrel I have it setup with a VX-6HD. My other scopes are all manually switched on illumination so not sure that I'd pay a premium for the integrated control. Need to read up on best magnification range for the 375.

 

[xbr897]

*A barrel on a traditional, better-looking, longer-range, etc. gun costs <$500. Of course, it's $0 if you just get the gun made for you. For the $3,500 price of a bbl for that weird-looking straight pull non CRF gun, just get the mauser-style rifle of your choice (M98, M70, M77 etc.), accurize it via a metal pillar-bedded HS Precision stock cut to your length, a better recoil pad, mercury recoil reducers if desired, a Timney or Jewell trigger, Talley mounts, and any of the $1K+ scopes (Trijicon 1-6, Zeiss 1-8, etc.) and if you don't handload, 5 boxes of quality ammo, and you will have saved nearly $1,000 for your flights. Splurge for a Swaro and you just got an entire custom rifle for the cost of that silly barrel. If cost or re-sale value down the pike is no consideration, "Do what you like!" Dragging another 10 lbs around airports on wheels never seemed to bother me, and if God forbid 1 rifle breaks, you actually have a backup that you're familiar with.

$3500 for a barrel? Maybe for some of the 'fancier' ones, but for a basic hunting barrel, I'm looking at less than 1/3 of that amount. While I've no doubt that you can find barrels at the $3500 range, I'm not a buyer for those.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

The whole point of a Blaser R8 is being able to switch out as you suggest, it is such a well thought out platform. The 30-06 is more than adequate for all the game you list, but nothing to stop you mixing in the 375 just to see. This sport is about fun, dollars come way down the list.
Now to the scope, in my mind it has to be in keeping with the quality of that rig, so a Swarovski Z8i 1-8, or a Leica Magnus 1-6.3. It will cost a bit extra, but you will smile every time you use it.

 

[Mountaineer]

+1 for 375Fox reply. It’s better to not buy equipment and hunt, than to have to best and be limited on the hunt.

 

[Challer]

*A barrel on a traditional, better-looking, longer-range, etc. gun costs <$500. Of course, it's $0 if you just get the gun made for you. For the $3,500 price of a bbl for that weird-looking straight pull non CRF gun, just get the mauser-style rifle of your choice (M98, M70, M77 etc.), accurize it via a metal pillar-bedded HS Precision stock cut to your length, a better recoil pad, mercury recoil reducers if desired, a Timney or Jewell trigger, Talley mounts, and any of the $1K+ scopes (Trijicon 1-6, Zeiss 1-8, etc.) and if you don't handload, 5 boxes of quality ammo, and you will have saved nearly $1,000 for your flights. Splurge for a Swaro and you just got an entire custom rifle for the cost of that silly barrel. If cost or re-sale value down the pike is no consideration, "Do what you like!" Dragging another 10 lbs around airports on wheels never seemed to bother me, and if God forbid 1 rifle breaks, you actually have a backup that you're familiar with.

You make it sound so obvious that manufacturers would be selling them with all those extras. Sorry, R8 for me. It's not about the cost - Africa is cheap for no one.

And I don't know where you're getting Swaro but I have paid well over $3k for one.

I take two R8 to Africa. The switch barrel is nice but its not "the thing" about the R8.

The OP already has the R8. Let's assume he knows other rifles exist. We don't need to keep bringing up the Mauser/R8 culture war.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have a hunt planned this summer where the following animals are possibilities: Sable, Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Spingbok, Gemsbok. My newly purchased R8 is in 30-06. But in reading up on it, and having found a deal on a barrel. I'm tempted to add on a 375 H&H setup for the R8. My question is: Is that going to give me much over the 30-06 for non-dangerous animals like these plains game?

If I did go ahead with the 375, seeing as I likely won't have time to find components and work up a load, what would be recommended factory ammo for the above animals? I can only seem to find Barnes VOR-TX Safari with 300gr TSX FB , Hornady 300gr DG Solid, or Hornady 250gr CX Outfitter ammo at present.

Yes!
I am a lover of the good ole .30-06 but I believe there are better choices for Africa. If you are planning to hunt Africa a few times you will certainly want a .375. The Sable is the tough one on your list IMO. Go with the Barnes 300g and you will never look back.
Philip

 

[uplander01]

If I could only have one rifle for everything on this planet, it would be a 375 HH. you should have at least 1.

 

[mdwest]

I can only seem to find Barnes VOR-TX Safari with 300gr TSX

Go with this and never look back...

I hand load the Barnes 300gr TSX.. but I do it to the specs of the VOR-TX factory load (Remington brass, Rem primer, and an IMR 4064 charge that takes it to the same velocity as the VOR-TX factory load).. Before figuring out the hand load, I shot several boxes of VOR-TX (maybe 5 or 6 boxes worth?)..

It has never failed me.. Ive taken plenty of plains game with it ranging from impala to blue wildebeest to waterbuck to hartebeest and several more..

and the same cartridge will be deployed this july on a cape buffalo cow... with 100% confidence.....

It is my go-to cartridge for all things Africa...

 

[PARA45]

Just do it! Seriously, it's a great cartridge and it screams Africa. You will not regret owning a 375 H&H.

 

[JPmbogo]

On my first African hunting safari (2001 - had been to Africa previously), I took a custom HS precision t/d rifle in 375 H&H set up with two scopes on q/d mounts. Ammo was factory 270s. My PH also carried a 375 - Mauser I believe. This was a plains game hunt in SA. With one exception, my shots were on the money. Nevertheless, they did not always drop - African game seems tougher. Get the 375 and buy some decent factory 270, and leave the '06 for?

 

[Forrest Halley]

The R8...yayyyyy! Buy a 9.3 barrel! Save mon...too late. You could always optimize the .30-06...it is a very capable caliber and with those quick follow up shots...

As to the cartridge in .375H&H, it's a wonderful gateway drug to these big boomers. I wish I had discovered it years ago instead of the 300 WM. I would have been so much further ahead in life. Every hunter should have a .375. It is a great cartridge that you can literally hunt anything with and it will shoot a lot further than folks are willing to let on. Work those BC numbers a bit and load it up to be slightly rude(loud and fast). It stays supersonic over 1500 yards and conserves muzzle energy like a miser. I have a healthy respect for this cartridge because of its conservation. It's not a raw horsepower round like the Lott, but it's also not winded by the 200 yard mark either. If that's where you end you big bore journey, then you do so having unlocked sufficient energy for any quarry on Earth and it won't wring your wallet every time you squeeze the trigger and components are reasonably available.

 

[rdog]

I do not know much about the R8 but the bolt face & magazine is not the same on a 30/06 & a 375 HH how does that work? a 9.3x62 may not require any changes?

 

[C.W. Richter]

Put the savings in a CD and that $3.5K will turn into $10K in 15+/- yrs. IF Biden & Co are still at the helm, it'll be worth -10K. LOL Schedule that 3006 safari then for a steep discount!

 

[krish]

Get the .375. You won't regret it. You dont know when you really need it. Having it is better than needing it. My 2 cents. If you can comfortably afford it.
Krish