First Safari - I’ll hunt plains game - What caliber?

[Safari Dave]

I know I've posted this before, but in 2007, I ask every PH around a campfire (I think there were 7) "What rifle would you prefer that your clients bring to shoot plains game?"

Every single one of them replied "a .30/06.", without any hesitation.

That may have even been giving me a little "uphill" because a brought a .300 Win Mag and a .375 H&H, even though all were one shot kills.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

If you’ve read my hunting reports or most of my opinion to the subject of rifle and caliber choice and my approach to hunting -which I’ve done my fair share of, most, if not all of it, is based on first hand experience. If I used it and it works well, i.e .243, of course I’m going to put that in my hunting report. Just like I would with my 7 REM MAG, 300 RUM, or 375 H&H and my respective bullet choices. That’s because I’ve done it, first hand, and know it works. I could give two shits about anyone else’s second hand opinion. Although, I do appreciate Bob’s commentary and low grade humor regarding the .243. I also appreciate his commitment to keeping the lessor known 35 Whelen alive for those of us to wander about. And, if Bob reports that it works for him, and supplies the proof, that’s good enough for me. He knows this about me.

I’m a solo hunter, I put my time in, report as factually as possible about my hunts and the equipment I use. I have several .30 cal rifles: to include, 30-30, 30-06, .30 Carbine, 308, 300 WBY, 300 RUM, a couple .375H&H. A couple of those are military rifles that some may have hunted with, but I don’t. Many are/were popular and a couple to include 300 RUM and 375 H&H I still hunt with.

I, like most Americans, that grew hunting and shooting, whether bird or rifle hunting, were given or loaned, there first rifle or shotgun to hunt with and those became part of their hunting experiences. For a lot of Americans and African PH’s this includes a .243, just a fact. If you ask most PH’s, they are likely to tell you their love of a .243 is based in experience hunting with it and that is what I’ve learned. It was only at the urging of my PH on my 3rd Safari, that I started using it to hunt PG with. I’ve not had one PH in my many Safaris, express anything other than great respect for the .243 because they’ve killed so many animals with it. Even on my current Safari to the point that I was told to use it on larger plains game… It’s in my hunt report. I’ll post pictures of entry, exit, and vital damage on those animals. To include pictures of heart and lungs.

For the record, I’ll use what I can effectively shoot and kill animals with, and I’ll continue to report as accurately as possible.

Side note: I bought my LH .243 Tikka, and later had it customized, to get comfortable practicing the repetitive mechanics and functions of that style rifle in preparation for my LH SAKO .375H&H, because they are the same basic design. I never intended to hunt PG with the .243 because I had a really good shooting 7MM REM MAG. I’ve taken my share of North American game with the .243 too. I have never had an animal, shot with a .243, not recovered immediately. So, I’ll continue to hunt with it because it is effective!

To each their own…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I’ve taken somewhere around 44 species of African game, even though some were duplicates or more, 2 Zebra, 3 Wildebeest, 2 Kudu, 2 Gemsbok, 4 Impala, Springbok slam, Blesbok Slam, lost count of warthog, jackal, and baboon. So, I know I have a ways to go before I become an expert on ethically hunting and killing animals. But, I’ll continue to pass on my first hand experiences in hopes that it reaches someone who may glean something helpful on their first safari…

 

[DillonG]

@DillonG
My philosophy when teaching my son was if you think your good enough your not. Practice more.
He thought he was good but then dad showed him how to do it with fast follow up shots. He got the message and practices more.
If you want to have fun and think your good and quick try shooting simulated field shot gun when they roll 2 clays along the ground at 30 yards to simulate a pair of rabbits. Easy with a double O/U or SxS but switch out to a Mossberg 12 gauge bolt gun and it's a different story. Sorts people out real quick
Bob

Exactly, I think we get far too obsessed with caliber rather than practice.

You need to have the muscle memory, reflexes, and ability to stay focused (not necessarily calm). So go practice with a caliber that you appreciate. It doesn’t need to be the fastest, largest, newest, or oldest. It can be, but it is not necessary. Just practice more, preferably with people that are better than you.

I intentionally shoot with a group that I know is better than myself. One was a former state skeet champ. He makes me better just by being around him.

 

[Deepfork]

@Deepfork
I think @Rick HOlbert just returned from Africa after using his 338-06 to good effect. Ain't no Whelen but gets the job done without fuss.
Bob

In the loads I have settled on the 338-06AI is a flat shooter, but that heavy 35 Whelen bullet retains more energy. Ended up choosing the .338-06AI over the .35 Whelen is because I am a bit more comfortable with the Win M70 (338-06AI) than I am with the Ruger M77 (35 Whelen). And my 338-06AI load groups better.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I would never want to argue that one gun can do it all. Otherwise someone over here will legislate that I only need one gun.

@BlueFlyer
They have already done something like that in Western Australia the pricks.
Bob

 

[Daisy]

Proven? By who? Using comparable bullets, a .243 is never going to be as effective as a .300:Win Mag on large animals. Unless you just can't shoot the bigger rifle, in which case you need more practice. A shot in the right place is always the !most important thing, but it is not the only thing.

Proven by any shooting instructor at any shooting school on the planet.

Find me one. Just one. That says different.

 

[Daisy]

You know what they say about opinions… yes, everybody has one. Any caliber around and on either side of the 30.06 or 270 Win will be just fine for plains game. Hell, between just those two calibers they have probably accounted for more plains game in the salt than every thing else combined.
With the advancement of bullet technology, it makes them even better today.
I believe we way overthink what is the “right” caliber for plains game. Whatever you use here in the US for elk and deer will serve you well for plains game.

Amen

 

[Daisy]

Ask your PH. The only time I hunted S.A. I used a Bow. The rest of the Hunts in Africa I used a 264 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag a 375 H&H Mag a 450-400 Nitro and a 500 Nitro

That’s awesome you used a bow.

Why it’s funny why people then say you have to shoot a bazooka for a gun but an arrow is just fine.

 

[Daisy]

I took a 6.5cm with 140accubonds last year for my sons and wife to hunt with. They all practiced for months off sticks and they were all good to go. My youngest son shot a gemsbok perfectly with the 6.5. I mean perfectly. After tracking it, and finishing it off a few hundred yards away, the PH quietly asked me “what did we learn from this?” I said bring a bigger gun. He replied yes. A 308 with any 180 grain bullet will work so much better. Please don’t bring a 6.5 back for animals this size. It’s great for smaller stuff but not bigger stuff. All his words, not mine. I do agree with him thou, and now my son has a .308 ready to go back. He can shoot really light loads to practice, deer hunt etc. and I have a case of Norma 180swift aframes waiting for him. I tried them a few weeks ago and velocity was within 25fps of what’s on box! So my vote is 308 or 30-06. The two stores I visited in South Africa had tons of hunting 308 ammo too, so buying it local if necessary is easier.

What do they tell people that shoot them with a 30/06 and they run several hundred yards away?

 

[Inkgardener]

What do they tell people that shoot them with a 30/06 and they run several hundred yards away?

“My Creedmore could have done that”

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Proven by any shooting instructor at any shooting school on the planet.

Find me one. Just one. That says different.

Having known be great many "shooting instructors" over the years, it would not surprise me to find one that would say a 5.56 was equal to a .308 for hunting deer size game. They would base it his on some people being sensitive to recoil and would flinch at the larger caliber weapon. But most of them aren't hunters, and have no experience in the field. What I have is a great deal of experience in the game fields.

Your post reminds me of a woman that told me according to a scientific pole, offenders in prison overwhelmingly identified as conservatives. Having spent 22 years working in prisons directly with inmates, I could tell her the poll would have been inaccurate. I will never take the c brings of some expert over my own personal experience.

Have fun hunting elephants with your .22 Hornet.

 

[375Fox]

Proven by any shooting instructor at any shooting school on the planet.

Find me one. Just one. That says different.

Shooting instructors shoot at paper. PHs hunt animals. If I want advice on shooting tight groups at 1000 yards I’d go to shooting instructor. If I wanted advice on caliber selection for hunting I’ll ask a PH. You’ll need to look hard to find the PH who will recommend a 243 over a 300 for large plains game.

 

[BlueFlyer]

They have already done something like that in Western Australia the pricks.

Exactly, previously I had the reason for needing a license as hunting and target shooting. In WA that would limit me to 5 firearms. Fortunately when I renewed my license recently I was able to add "Primary Production" to my reasons. In WA that would limit me to 10 firearms. Call me paranoid, but I would rather be prepared than sorry. The hard part would be choising which 10 guns.
Luckily I don't live in WA.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Shooting instructors shoot at paper. PHs hunt animals. If I want advice on shooting tight groups at 1000 yards I’d go to shooting instructor. If I wanted advice on caliber selection for hunting I’ll ask a PH. You’ll need to look hard to find the PH who will recommend a 243 over a 300 for large plains game.

Bingo! Of the many people I know that started hunting deer with a .243, they have all graduated to larger calibers. A couple now use .308s, one or two use .30-06, and several went to the .7mm RM. None have gone back to the .243 or other smaller cartridges.

 

[MS 9x56]

What do they tell people that shoot them with a 30/06 and they run several hundred yards away?

Not sure, never had anything do that.

 

[Daisy]

Shooting instructors shoot at paper. PHs hunt animals. If I want advice on shooting tight groups at 1000 yards I’d go to shooting instructor. If I wanted advice on caliber selection for hunting I’ll ask a PH. You’ll need to look hard to find the PH who will recommend a 243 over a 300 for large plains game.

Lots would. You need to branch out.

Also your quote had absolutely nothing to do with what we were talking about. It’s stone cold fact that people shoot smaller calibers better than larger ones. Thats not the end all be all of hunting. But it stands as fact.

A shooting instructor would be 1000 times better to verify that than a ph.

You’re slipping a bit.

 

[Daisy]

Not sure, never had anything do that.

Please. You haven’t hunted much if you haven’t had an animal run after shooting it. Sometimes they drop instantly. Sometimes they won’t. Anyone here being honest would verify that.

 

[Daisy]

Having known be great many "shooting instructors" over the years, it would not surprise me to find one that would say a 5.56 was equal to a .308 for hunting deer size game. They would base it his on some people being sensitive to recoil and would flinch at the larger caliber weapon. But most of them aren't hunters, and have no experience in the field. What I have is a great deal of experience in the game fields.

Your post reminds me of a woman that told me according to a scientific pole, offenders in prison overwhelmingly identified as conservatives. Having spent 22 years working in prisons directly with inmates, I could tell her the poll would have been inaccurate. I will never take the c brings of some expert over my own personal experience.

Have fun hunting elephants with your .22 Hornet.

I have that same experience in the game field with a totally different opinion. That’s how opinions go.

You would be surprised at the PHs that use a 22-250 for their personal plains game hunting. They are mostly placating to wanna be boys that play big on safari. Where I live I see many driving jacked up at4 trucks that haven’t ever been off road. They would probably say they need the extra horse power.

Seriously arguing that someone isn’t man enough if they shoot a smaller caliber is laughable

 

[BlueFlyer]

I got my first gun when I was 10. It was a Benjiman 177 air rifle. I soon learnt that I had to get within 10m and shoot rabbits in the head to prevent them from getting down the hole before they died. That gun taught me how to stalk.

Then I moved up to a Browning 22LR BAR. I learnt that with correct bullet placement and a 40gr solid I could take medium sized game.

BUT
Animals are not static targets, Unfortunately I learnt the hard way, when they moved as I squeezed off the shot. Vitals not penetrated and no blood trail. I found 1 such animal 2 weeks later in a very bad way but still alive - never again.

My cousin had his 358NM stolen last year. He has been using a 30/06 in the interim. He shot a young Sambar stag with the 30/06, it ran at least 50m to get into a gully full of blackberries. The local farmer had 1080 baits out to control dingoes and foxes so he could not use his dogs to find the deer. Luckily his has just found himself another 358NM. 358NM has alot more margin for error than a 30/06.

PS. I do give a shit about other peoples opinions and experience - how else do we learn.