Rifle advice needed

[Alexandro Faria]

In that case, I suggest the .270 win for the following reasons:

1) Ammo can be found in any small dorpie (town)
2) Good over long distance
3) Capable of taking your bigger game, but be sure to pick your shots.

Mostly, take a second that is chambered in something that's easy to find ammo for. Just now you have 2 rifles with no ammo and no availability and you have to try beat the wildebeest to death with a heavy paper weight. Any way, best of luck!

 

[ltsheets]

Haha. I bet using a paper weight isn't that effective!

 

[Bullthrower338]

I wouldn't hang up on your ammo getting lost unless you are unfortunate enough to have my luck! I always consider it due to my guns or ammo(with all my cloths) meeting back up with me days after my hunt about 6 times in the past 10 years. My luck seems to be exceptional in this department, I think I have pissed somebody off at most airlines! Lol
Good luck,
Cody

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

My luck seems to be exceptional in this department
Cody

No doubt! I've only heard of this happening occasionally and never more than once to the same person.

 

[billc]

Cody you know your special.

 

[ltsheets]

I guess I could also split my ammo between mine and my buddy's suitcase so if one is lost, we both still have ammo.

 

[Red Leg]

I never bring two rifles any longer. One always sits in the case, and that second rifle just adds more weight to lug around. I am usually hunting buffalo and PG, and I can testify that the .375 works great on everything from duiker to dugga boy. Solids for the little guys and TSX or Bear Claw for everything else. On a PG only hunt I love my .338 but would be just as happy with a .300 or 30-06. Your 280 or .270 will be fine. And through a lot of "fly too" hunting, I have never had a round of ammo go astray.

 

[Bullthrower338]

No doubt! I've only heard of this happening occasionally and never more than once to the same person.

No doubt, bad travel karma, I would say 85% of the time the person sitting next to me drinks only tomato juice and breaths on me the whole dam flight, I'd rather lose my ammo!
Had one airline lose two rifles, they lost them so badly I had to buy a new rifle and scope in Ennis, Mt so I could make the hunt. They were nice enough to hold them at the SLC airport until my hunt was completed though. That was the last time I took two rifles with me when I didn't specifically need two rifles. I don't mind buying guns at all, but I prefer to do it at my leisure rather than forced. It was actually the only time I ever told my wife I needed a gun and wasn't blatantly lying to her!
I'm flying back from MT with my sons rifle and mine in cargo, we shall see how this turns out.
Cheers,
Cody

 

[Clayton]

Remind me not to fly anywhere with you.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I have all the confidence in the world that my 28nosler with 160ABs at 3300fps will take animal non-dangerous game where I'm heading.

I might would give thought to moving to the TTSX or any of the other high weight retaining bullets. I've worked with the AB and it's wonderfully easy bullet to find an accurate load for. I've never hunted with it. The only reports that I hear on the AB that have been negative are when using it and it's going super fast. A Kudu at less than 100 yards or something similar sized is going take that AB at somewhere around 3200fps.....that's fast. I'd even prefer that partition in this case, but give me a TTSX or A-Frame if I have to shoot factory ammo in this caliber, and I'll hunt with absolute confidence.

 

[Buckdog]

ok your decision is easy obviously you want the 28 nos as your main gun then your tried and true 270win as a back up and one that you can get ammo for and call it done sleep well at night. And just between you and me shoot the 270! always trust an old tried and true 270 win friend and you say she has never let you down? what are you thinking not taking her to the dance!! my old girl is "black beauty" she had to get rebarrel new firing pin and spring the stock i had whacked around fixed up etc but she never lets me down and goes where I go period not even a consideration when the rubber hits the road take your tried and true. and yes i have lots of toys to play with but only one comes out of the safes when it gets real!

 

[ltsheets]

My main experience with ABs were a 140gr from a 270wsm. I used it on a gemsbok here in NM. Shot her running at about 50 yds for the first shot. Hit her in the back leg, breaking that leg and still exited the ribs on the other side. I'm very impressed with the penetration I got with that bullet.

I might would give thought to moving to the TTSX or any of the other high weight retaining bullets. I've worked with the AB and it's wonderfully easy bullet to find an accurate load for. I've never hunted with it. The only reports that I hear on the AB that have been negative are when using it and it's going super fast. A Kudu at less than 100 yards or something similar sized is going take that AB at somewhere around 3200fps.....that's fast. I'd even prefer that partition in this case, but give me a TTSX or A-Frame if I have to shoot factory ammo in this caliber, and I'll hunt with absolute confidence.

 

[Mekaniks]

My suggestion is to take the one rifle that you like and shoot the the best. Don't overthink the rest of it. There are lots of what if's and a million things that can go wrong. Don't get caught up in all of that. Just take what you neeed, go with the flow and have fun. It will all work out. Your PH has a spare rifle or two and probebly lots of spare ammo also. At the end of the day it's about the journey and the experiences.

If your ammo gets lost along with all your clothes and you end up renting a POS rifle that you don't like, and buying all new clothes in Joburg, it will all add to the story that you can tell us all in your AH hunt report when you get home.

 

[Royal27]

I think I have pissed somebody off at most airlines! Lol

That goes swith out saying....

Cody you know your special.

Yes he is...

_________

This is fun discussion, over complicating things is part of what this forum is about .

The simple answer is that you only need one rifle, which should be the one you want to take the most. If rifle or ammo get lost you borrow one, and it isn't like the second rifle won't get lost too. Since you want to take a second rifle that the one you want to the most behind the Nosler and call it a day.

In three safaris I've only taken two rifles once. And that was just because I wanted to, I didn't need it. The second rifle ended up being used for one day. and again, it wasn't needed. Unless I am taking a big bore I really doubt I will ever take two rifles again.

 

[ChrisG]

Take the 28 Nosler. Unfortunately, you likely won't take advantage of the cartridge's intrinsic design as most shots will be less than 350 yards. With a 28 Nosler, that'll be like practicing 9mm marksmanship at 3 feet. But the rifles you mention other than the 28 offer no advantages, just mild differences and more drop at 350, although the only real difference at typical shooting range is academic. IMHO Bring the one rifle and leave the others at home.

 

[Shootist43]

I took 2 rifles to Africa for my PG hunt last August. A 35 Whelen and a 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser. Both were pushing my own hand loads. If you are concerned about the availability of ammunition email Safari and Outdoors (the largest outfitter in SA) and ask them if they carry loads for your 6.5 X 284. I did see that they had an extensive selection of loads for the 270.

 

[ltsheets]

How could Safari and Outdoors help me if I'm not using them as my outfitter?

I took 2 rifles to Africa for my PG hunt last August. A 35 Whelen and a 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser. Both were pushing my own hand loads. If you are concerned about the availability of ammunition email Safari and Outdoors (the largest outfitter in SA) and ask them if they carry loads for your 6.5 X 284. I did see that they had an extensive selection of loads for the 270.

 

[Red Leg]

Good Lord - I really would quit worrying about this - pack and go hunting.

 

[ltsheets]

Haha there's no real "worry." It's a good discussion and I wanted to hear what those who have been there thought. Where's the harm in that?

 

[Mekaniks]

Haha there's no real "worry." It's a good discussion and I wanted to hear what those who have been there thought. Where's the harm in that?

All good discussion At some point everyone has the very same questions