New from Northern Arizona

[Ridge Runner]

Would love a Kudu but most possibly a Zebra.

Welcome to AH.

In order either package 1 or 2 look like good choices.

 

[JimP]

One thing, 5 days isn't too much time for a few extra animals, especially if travel to another site is evolved.

But you may get a chance at other animals as you are hunting for what is on your list.

As for your rifles if you have the 6.8 I would use that. A heaver bullet is always welcomed. But the 270 will work with proper bullet placement using a premium bullet.

 

[steveaqha]

One thing, 5 days isn't too much time for a few extra animals, especially if travel to another site is evolved.

But you may get a chance at other animals as you are hunting for what is on your list.

As for your rifles if you have the 6.8 I would use that. A heaver bullet is always welcomed. But the 270 will work with proper bullet placement using a premium bullet.

Thank's!

 

[steveaqha]

Welcome to AH.

In order either package 1 or 2 look like good choices.

Thank's!

 

[Ridge Runner]

I definitely want to add a zebra and open to other's, kudu is a classic. I'm sure my son in law will be adding animals especially with his boy's. Am thinking of taking either a .270 or 6.8 western for myself and even thinking about taking my bow along ‍.
I worry more about getting them back home..lol

I'm not familiar with the 6.8 Western am with the 6.8 SPC. Given those choices of 270 or 6.8, same bullet diameter, I would opt for the 270 and a heavy bullet like a 140 or heavier for wildebeest, zebra, kudu, and red hartebeest.

Suggested other animal(s): 5 hunting days

Besides mentioned above

Warthog Springbok Impala Blesbok Gemsbok

Just my 2 cents....I would preferred to having a .3 caliber among the choices. ie. .308, 30-06, or a 300 variety.

Looking for to reading your hunt reports when you get back home.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Oops....guess you should have mentioned and the question asked:

How big is your trophy area?

Is Momma giving you a little wall space or do you have a room, basement, etc. larger area to hang your animals on?

Since you mentioned elk and thinking of a kudu, I suggested red heatebeast and gemsbok can be compared to elk (hieght size). Eland are cool, very big, bulky, animals if you add days or otherwise have a chance to get. With that bushbuck, bushpig, baboon, jackal are some good hunts.

 

[trperk1]

Your .270 is fine for the animals in your package. Use the same bullets for elk hunting

 

[CoElkHunter]

Welcome to AH!

 

[steveaqha]

I'm not familiar with the 6.8 Western am with the 6.8 SPC. Given those choices of 270 or 6.8, same bullet diameter, I would opt for the 270 and a heavy bullet like a 140 or heavier for wildebeest, zebra, kudu, and red hartebeest.

Suggested other animal(s): 5 hunting days

Besides mentioned above

Warthog Springbok Impala Blesbok Gemsbok

Just my 2 cents....I would preferred to having a .3 caliber among the choices. ie. .308, 30-06, or a 300 variety.

Looking for to reading your hunt reports when you get back home.

Ridge Runner, the 6.8 western is a fast twist .277 caliber capable of up to 175 grain bullets at 3000fps or better, I would use either a 165 gr Nosler abr, Barnes 155, a Hammer bullet in the 155 range or the 170gr Berger hunter elite.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Ridge Runner, the 6.8 western is a fast twist .277 caliber capable of up to 175 grain bullets at 3000fps or better, I would use either a 165 gr Nosler abr, Barnes 155, a Hammer bullet in the 155 range or the 170gr Berger hunter elite.

Honestly, I have never heard of the 6.8 Western till last week when I was looking up some reloading data, thumbing back and forth through one of my reloading manuals.

I had a T/C Encore Prohunter, 10 inch barrel, in 6.8 SPC til it was stolen a few years ago. I really liked that firearm and cartridge.

I loaded the 6.8 SPC up for deer using 130 grain bullets. The data listed the 140 grain bullets but they didn't preform as well as I liked. The 6.8 uses the same diameter bullet as the .270, so I called it my 270 shorty.

That is how I knew the .270 can go beyond the 140 grain weight bullets. Having never done in reloading or other cause to focus on 270 ballistics or load data (recently, about 4 decades ago) I haven't the knowledge of what the 270 grain bullet weights are beyond the 140 grain.

Sort of expected members to take up my slack who are more knowledgeable and use a .270 to recommend to the OP the best weight and type bullet for the PG game he is planning on hunting.

 

[One Day...]

planning a trip to Free state South Africa for next June with my son in law and two grandkids with Lungile Safaris. We won auction on hunt at the Northern Arizona Elk Society dinner and auction for planes game, each of us for two animals. Would like to add a couple animals but definitely unsure on what to expect, cost for shipping trophies back to state's, gun choice. Have used a .270 here in the states for decades taking everything from coyotes to elk so a possibility or maybe move up in caliber.
Thanks for add and hope to learn alot.

Welcome to the Mad House steveaqha.

After 20 years in Flagstaff, we just completed the build of our retirement house just outside Snowflake.

Ping me next time you visit your kids in Snowflake, I will happily show you the heads of visually all PG species you are likely to find in South Africa, and we can have dinner and chat endlessly about going to Africa (I have a number of safaris under my belt by now, some with reports in AH and some without) and all the intricacies of planning, packing, trophies shipping, rifles & calibers, etc. etc.

Shoot me a PM if interested

 

[MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS]

Welcome to AH!!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

planning a trip to Free state South Africa for next June with my son in law and two grandkids with Lungile Safaris. We won auction on hunt at the Northern Arizona Elk Society dinner and auction for planes game, each of us for two animals. Would like to add a couple animals but definitely unsure on what to expect, cost for shipping trophies back to state's, gun choice. Have used a .270 here in the states for decades taking everything from coyotes to elk so a possibility or maybe move up in caliber.
Thanks for add and hope to learn alot.

Welcome from down the hill in the Lake of Fire!

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH steveaqha!

 

[kdenn]

Welcome to AH. You can find lots of useful information by reading the articles here. Also ask questions, many multiple safari members happy to share advice.

 

[JASON GENTZ]

Welcome!

 

[CAustin]

planning a trip to Free state South Africa for next June with my son in law and two grandkids with Lungile Safaris. We won auction on hunt at the Northern Arizona Elk Society dinner and auction for planes game, each of us for two animals. Would like to add a couple animals but definitely unsure on what to expect, cost for shipping trophies back to state's, gun choice. Have used a .270 here in the states for decades taking everything from coyotes to elk so a possibility or maybe move up in caliber.
Thanks for add and hope to learn alot.

Welcome to AH

 

[Velo Dog]

Greetings steveaqha,

Khomas Highland Hunting & Fishing Safaris of Namibia, welcomes you to the greatest forum on earth.

As for rifles well suited to hunting Africa’s widely diversified non-dangerous critters, my favorite is the .375 H&H.
However, this is because I like to hunt eland.
Otherwise, most hunters would consider this cartridge to be more than necessary.
I would retort with the personal experiences of it being less destructive on meat and skins of the smallest species than most of the more popular cartridges which most hunters favor these days.

With that thought, the .30-06 and 180 grain bullets is quite good for the job.
(I also am quite fond of 220 gr round nose bullets in the .30-06 but, these are getting difficult to find lately).

The .300 Winchester has become an African standard, especially with USA clients.
I do not care for it personally, as it it a bit more destructive on meat and skins than necessary, when shooting smaller common species, such as Impala, springbok and such.
But it is a real killer and ammunition for it is becoming a common sight in Africa hunting camps.

It is a shame that the following cartridges are not popular, as they are very close to perfect for what most of us hunt in Africa.
1.
.35 Whelen.
2.
.338-06.
3.
.318 Westley-Richards.

If you become separated from your ammunition in transit, finding cartridges in Africa, for any of the above 3 calibers, might likely be disappointing.

Well anyway, I shall look forward to your hunting report a bit later when you return.

Best Regards,
Velo Dog.