Recommendations for a Rifle to Take to Africa?

[7MAG]

There is a 1925 rigby 375 for $7500 in the classifieds

 

[wvfred]

You may look for a Ruger RSM in 375 H&H 416 Rigby or 458 Lott. These are built on magnum actions but not quite as glamorous as a square bridge magnum mauser but still a very nice gun at a fraction of the price.

 

[Rob404]

In my opinion a 375HH would be a good choice the round can be loaded as heavy as 350g or loaded as light as 200g(never worked for me) so you have a DG and a Plains game caliber in one rifle and don't believe the BS that heavy calibers aren't that accurate.
If I ever decided to downsize my Closet my Whitworth 375HH would most likely be last

 

[375Fox]

If it’s a question of time, I’d buy a nice model 70 in 375 H&H. If not going to Africa yet has been a question of money, I’d take your 300 mag and rent a 375 from outfitter.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Lots of magnum Mauser actions under 10K these days.

Here's a used Whitworth at GB for $1300, a "buy now." If you have the money and want a 375 H&H mag, get this one right now. It ain't a glitzy rifle by any stretch of the imagination, they just work, and do so without breaking the bank.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1068013682

If you're willing to get in an auction, there are a bunch available at GB, too. Like a bunch of other guys here, I'm a CRF-kind-of-a-guy when it comes to DG calibers. You might not hunt buff this time or next, but 375 H&H is a do-all for everything you will ever hunt in Africa. 375 H&H and 9.3x62 ares to Africa what 30-06 is to North America.

The only caliber I'd take over a 375 H&H as a do-all is a 9.3x62 - a standard long action cartridge with a bit milder recoil.

Yes, snap that one up. It's a gun you can "trick out" easily down the road if you desire. Is it a magnum action? Bolt looks a bit short. Nothing wrong with a standard action 375. Easier to find aftermarket stuff for standard action. I added a 1-4x Bushnell scope ($150), Warne QD rings ($65), base ($10 no kidding!), Winchester Safari Express iron sights ($100), Timney trigger ($85), and Parkwest 3-position Model 70 style safety ($200) for the 404J I built on Czech military surplus 98 Mauser. All but the base were purchased on eBay.

 

[Axle2010]

I just went on my first safari last year and after buying a 300 win mag for the trip my ph convinced me to just use his on the first trip. Going through customs the first time is a whole different game if your traveling with a rifle (so I'm told anyway) and because of using different airlines I cut more than a day of travel time from my trip. Since I got home I've bought a Model 70 375H&H that I love and a 416 Ruger Safari that is also a great rifle. Either will be great for future hippo and buffalo. Unless I find a decent price on a 500J before then...

 

[franzfmdavis]

I respect the opinions of those who advocate spending funds on the experience rather than the gun, but candidly I encourage the opposite. For me, the gun is a big part of the experience and I find myself hunting more when I want to “take the gun out”. I also recall all of the game I have taken with my guns when I look at or clean them. I “cant afford to buy cheap things,” and I find I always strive to get the one wanted in the first place, so buying something less ends up being a waste. I think you should get the Rigby you want - I think you can find a vintage one for ~$10K. You wont need to replace it ever!

For example, here is one for $5,500: https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...ing-rifle-stalking-rifle.cfm?gun_id=102821061

 

[DLSJR]

This isn’t really difficult. Just get a model 70 and be done with it. You won’t regret it.

 

[ch_FM77]

Thank you all for the replies. I’m torn between looking for a pre-64 in 375 or a vintage Rigby in 375. Only looking for a working rifle in general. Something along the lines of the stalking rifle that franzfmdavis posted. Just want something old and that lends itself to Africa. Vintage British or pre-64 working rifles. Something a PH would probably carry. I’m not looking for the finest example out there and don’t want fancy scroll work. Want something I am not afraid to use. Again, thank you all. You have given me the info and ideas I was looking for.

Regards,
Charles

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Depends on the area that you wish to hunt. If up in the Limpopo, one of the heavier, slower rounds will work. In the Eastern Cape, one of the flatter magnums will serve you better.

 

[Creigh]

Most places place a limit at .375 H&H for DG. Personally I see my .375 as a working rifle because it's so versatile. I use it for medium to large PG @ 250gr. I have a Browning. Accurate comfortable easy to shoot reliable (so far). As stated, the other all caliber is 30-06. You can max out at 220gr.

My hunting buddy has a model 70 .375 H&H, American made. It is spectacular. Imagine my surprise at hitting the bullseye at 300 meters with a belted case. Get it if you can.

I wanted a 300 wm so bad. There was a Steyr SM12 here that I drooled over for a few months. Decide on another route tho, went with the PRC to do some tournaments.

All the best.

 

[PerH]

Just spend some nights on gun pages
GB or others and check the stores that sell there , make some searches and see what happens .

 

[ch_FM77]

Would love to go 300 PRC and have thought of ditching my tikka 300wm for one. What rifle did you go with? NRL style tournaments or more PRS? Not trying to derail my own thread, lol. Just really interested in the 300 PRC for here in the states. Have heard stories of it being a great round in South Africa for plains game.

Charles

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Roll with something reasonably priced that is functional. Put the difference towards hunting. Invest in the experience first.

I have a model 700 ks, gasp…. A push feed…375 that has killed hundreds of plains game animals, dozens of buff, a few ele, and it’s fair share of cats. It’s been passed around like a bottle of crown between friends and family.

If I was in your position I would probably buy a Ruger or Winchester.

Hey, I own one of those too.

 

[Luvthunt]

I would spend some time looking for a Kimber caprivi or Talkeetna. And I would look at the Hunter Habib post above. Not many here with more expierence than him and also very good technically based on his expierence. Backed up by pics. Point is he feels comfortable with a push feed which opens other less costly possibility’s.

I would replace the extracter with a Sako or M14 tho.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I would not put a whole lot of money in a rifle going to Africa. I've had my non-collector guns go missing inroute. Can be very upsetting. I can't imagine what it would be like to arrive at Tambo airport only to discover $20K worth of guns is somewhere else. Safari would be an emotional wreck before it gets started.

I haul two guns to Africa, a 30-06 and 404 Jeffery. Both guns are circa WWII military built by me (404) or my dad (30-06). They look the part of an African gun and do the job. I'm sure I could still work up a plains game load for the 404 but then I'd have to leave the gun Dad made for me home. Can't do that.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I only have a few shotguns and a 300 win mag in my arsenal at the moment. The goal would be a hippo and plains game the first time around.

Charles

Ok, since you are all over the place with your questions and thoughts, I’ll try to level set here.

Do you hunt now? Have you taken any North American animals with your 300 Win Mag? Or another rifle?

My opinion; you learn to shoot well first, learn to hunt first, learn to hunt and shoot to kill animals ethically. That takes time and experience. There are a number of ways to do that here in the states and on a budget, before you plan to spend $10,000 dollars on an African Safari. Time off work, flights, day rates, cost of animals hunted (killed or injured), tips, import & export costs, taxidermy, permits, gear, and a new rifle, scope, and ammo… And a Hippo? $10k - $12.5k depending on where and how you intend to hunt one. Even a special deal on a hippo hunt, you could expect $10,000 all in if you only hunted a hippo… Imagine shooting one in the water and have it swim off injured and unrecovered?!

Lot of good advice given here by many people with a great deal of documented experience trying to help. So tell us about your hunting experience?

 

[Philip Glass]

Just remember which ever rifle you buy it needs to wear the best glass you can afford. If you go with one of the scopes I recommend your .375 will be great for PG for your first safari.

 

[Creigh]

Would love to go 300 PRC and have thought of ditching my tikka 300wm for one. What rifle did you go with? NRL style tournaments or more PRS? Not trying to derail my own thread, lol. Just really interested in the 300 PRC for here in the states. Have heard stories of it being a great round in South Africa for plains game.

Charles

Savage 110. The model that saved the company. Some say it's a good entry into the precision world. I got it at a deal too.

The Elite Precision was too much of a range gun for me so I went with the Precision which I can still hunt with. It's on a MDT chassis. We've got some flat spaces for hunting here and I need to be sure at 400 m plus. Still a mile gun.
There are detractors, mostly the message is that it's so close to a win mag that it doesn't warrant the attention it's getting but I have enough old calibers, I wanted something from this century that wasn't a creedmore.
Just think though, a 220gr Berger hybrid moving at 2850 fps. High twist rate gives stability. Whats not to like.

 

[ch_FM77]

Ok, since you are all over the place with your questions and thoughts, I’ll try to level set here.

Do you hunt now? Have you taken any North American animals with your 300 Win Mag? Or another rifle?

My opinion; you learn to shoot well first, learn to hunt first, learn to hunt and shoot to kill animals ethically. That takes time and experience. There are a number of ways to do that here in the states and on a budget, before you plan to spend $10,000 dollars on an African Safari. Time off work, flights, day rates, cost of animals hunted (killed or injured), tips, import & export costs, taxidermy, permits, gear, and a new rifle, scope, and ammo… And a Hippo? $10k - $12.5k depending on where and how you intend to hunt one. Even a special deal on a hippo hunt, you could expect $10,000 all in if you only hunted a hippo… Imagine shooting one in the water and have it swim off injured and unrecovered?!
Lot of good advice given here by many people with a great deal of documented experience trying to help. So tell us about your hunting experience?

Yes. I have been shooting for a couple decades and hunting since 2015. Only elk and deer here in the PNW. Am into long range shooting as well. Hence my questions to Creigh about his 300 PRC. I don't just enjoy hunting old rifles. I have owned and shot many different types of firearms, including older WWII era submachine guns. Don't know how I am all over the place, but ok.... Thank you for the info. Appreciated.