help choosing 2 calibers for first safari (300 Weatherby & 375 Ruger?)

[HBartley]

Hey guys, new member here. Im going on my first safari in may 2025 and Im trying to decide the best 2 rifle options I should take on the hunt. I will be hunting Cape buffalo and PG. (giraffe, zebra, impala, and wildebeest). I am leaning towards my lefty Blaser R8 in 300 Weahterby for the plains game? If thats a good option, what grain weight would be a good all around choice? As far as Cape buffalo goes, I haven't bought a rifle yet. Im looking at the 375 Ruger simply because they make in a Left Hand model. But Im open to other options on either rifle. I have been searching the site all morning and just haven't found the results Ive been looking for. Thank you for any advise!

 

[uplander01]

Get a good 375 hh or ruger for that matter and go hunt everything with it.

 

[dchum]

Why wouldn’t you get a 375 barrel for your blaser?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I highly recommend the following combination:
- .300 Winchester Magnum (although your .300 Weatherby Magnum is perfectly alright)
- .375 Holland & Holland Magnum (although .375 Ruger is in no way inferior)

For the .300 Magnum, you will want the 180Gr bullet due to the perfect combination of punch and maintaining a flatter trajectory out to slightly longer ranges. I personally prefer 200-220Gr bullets, but then again... I tend to shoot at relatively closer ranges.

For the .375 Magnum, I exclusively prefer the 300Gr bullet and zero in my rifle's telescopic sight for the rifle's maximum point blank range.

 

[RLL]

375 Ruger worked well for me. It’s the only rifle I took last safari for both buff and plains. 300 gr Hammers did all the work I ever needed.

 

[HBartley]

Why wouldn’t you get a 375 barrel for your blaser?

Ive thought about it but the 375 barrels are around 3500. I can buy a new ruger 375 for 1000. Just being cheap I suppose. It's not out of the equation but I could could get a little extra taxidermy work done for the2500 bucks saved. just a thought tho

 

[bohannon]

Get a good 375 hh or ruger for that matter and go hunt everything with it.

This ^^ I did a similar buffalo + plains game hunt in SA with a 375 h&h.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Hey guys, new member here. Im going on my first safari in may 2025 and Im trying to decide the best 2 rifle options I should take on the hunt. I will be hunting Cape buffalo and PG. (giraffe, zebra, impala, and wildebeest). I am leaning towards my lefty Blaser R8 in 300 Weahterby for the plains game? If thats a good option, what grain weight would be a good all around choice? As far as Cape buffalo goes, I haven't bought a rifle yet. Im looking at the 375 Ruger simply because they make in a Left Hand model. But Im open to other options on either rifle. I have been searching the site all morning and just haven't found the results Ive been looking for. Thank you for any advise!

Are you a hand loader or do you shoot factory ammunition? The answer to that question influences my answers to your original questions.

 

[HBartley]

Are you a hand loader or do you shoot factory ammunition? The answer to that question influences my answers to your original questions.

Factory ammunition

 

[wvfred]

Take a 375 Ruger or H&H and just hunt.It's somewhat easier traveling with just one gun.My last hunt was for buffalo and PG and I took a 416 Remington as my only rifle and took everything I shot at with one shot.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’d suggest getting a 375 H&H barrel for the Blaser.

I know it’s going to cost more than the 375 Ruger but it’ll also retain more resale value used. It’ll takedown and pack smaller than a 2nd rifle as well. You’ll have more ammo options with the H&H over the Ruger. The $1000 NIB 375 Rugers also aren’t CRF guns, then again neither is the R8. If Buffalo is your goal then I’d suggest CRF or the Blaser over a PF Bolt Gun. You’re going to struggle to find a decent LH CRF Rifle that’s affordable which brings me back to the R8 being my choice.

You can also hunt everything with either 375 option and might find the 300Wby doesn’t get used until after your buffalo is in the salt.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Factory ammunition

Ok, before I bought the .375 Ruger, I'd shop around for what factory ammunition is available. It seems I've read somewhere along the line it's getting hard to find. If you're not seeing much of a selection, then I'd follow the advice of others and buy another barrel for your Blaser and in .375HH.

As for the .300Wby, I'd advise 200gr at minimum and in a tough bullet such as the Swift A-Frame or Barnes TSX. Many shots in Africa are 100 yards or closer. You don't want lightning speed with a more frangible bullet in those circumstances.

If the shots get a little further, the 200gr version will still be plenty fast and flat enough to handle them. Chasing wounded animals is NOT a fun thing to do.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I’d suggest getting a 375 H&H barrel for the Blaser.

I know it’s going to cost more than the 375 Ruger but it’ll also retain more resale value used. It’ll takedown and pack smaller than a 2nd rifle as well. You’ll have more ammo options with the H&H over the Ruger. The $1000 NIB 375 Rugers also aren’t CRF guns, then again neither is the R8. If Buffalo is your goal then I’d suggest CRF or the Blaser over a PF Bolt Gun. You’re going to struggle to find a decent LH CRF Rifle that’s affordable which brings me back to the R8 being my choice.

You can also hunt everything with either 375 option and might find the 300Wby doesn’t get used until after your buffalo is in the salt.

@HBartley, this is good advice. There simply is no more versatile a caliber for African hunting. 300gr bullet out of the .375HH while not screaming fast is still fast enough to be at least a 200 yard gun. Unless you're hunting wide open spaces for PG, it will get the job done while still being a great buff rifle, particularly with the bullet choices I mentioned above.

 

[HBartley]

Thank you for the sound advise. I’ll look into to the 375 HH barrel a little closer. What can I expect as far as accuracy goes with a top shelf factory ammo? And what kind of yardages can I expect to shoot. I’ve read everything from within 100 to around 400?

 

[IvW]

Where are you hunting?

 

[HBartley]

Where are you hunting?

South Africa. I should’ve mentioned that in the first post. My bad

 

[IvW]

Where in Soith Africa

 

[IvW]

Northern Cape vs Limpopo vs Eastern Cape is a vast difference

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

South Africa. I should’ve mentioned that in the first post. My bad

Where in South Africa? The country has as wide a variety of terrain as the USA. The location variability will dictate more what those shot distances will typically be. In the Limpopo, shots are generally on the short side. Go hunt in the Kalahari and distances can be a bit longer.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Thank you for the sound advise. I’ll look into to the 375 HH barrel a little closer. What can I expect as far as accuracy goes with a top shelf factory ammo? And what kind of yardages can I expect to shoot. I’ve read everything from within 100 to around 400?

Are you going to scope the rifle or shoot irons? Where in South Africa are you hunting?

Accuracy is subjective and two barrels/guns made consecutively often shoot/like different things. If you shoot/try enough loads you should be able to find something your gun likes. Sub MOA is possible. Distance, anything is possible if you know your dope. 200-300 very doable, 400+ not unheard of with a competent shooter who knows their dope and holds. My experience in Africa suggested longer shots 300+ are more the exception than reality aside from some specific areas/species.