Rifle for ROAN, Klipspringer, Dik Dik HUNT-NAMBIA

[uplander01]

Just booked this hunt for 2026 in Namibia, looking forward to going back there, it's a beautiful place. This particular hunt raises some questions for me as to a good choice of rifle. I plan on having a detailed discussion with my PH but thought I'd gather some info from folks that have been on a unique combo hunt like this where it could be more of a distance game. Roan being a large and quite tough animal, as well as very alert, and the 2 tiny's on the menu, very small and possibly a candidate for some lengthy shots. I once said to myself I just don't see walking around Africa with anything less than a 375,....and that kinda holds true as I'm normally after bigger stuff in total....... So is it time for me to pull the ol' 300 WM mountain rifle out with some quality optics and be prepared for a 300+ shot?

 

[318AE]

Sounds to me like a 375 with softs and solids would work really well. It may come down to the distance of your anticipated shots. I’m not familiar with 300 yard shots on Klipspringer taken off the koppies. You may want to consider your bullet choice carefully if using a 300WM on the smaller stuff.

 

[towserthemouser]

Sounds to me like a 375 with softs and solids would work really well. It may come down to the distance of your anticipated shots. I’m not familiar with 300 yard shots on Klipspringer taken off the koppies. You may want to consider your bullet choice carefully if using a 300WM on the smaller stuff.

+1 vote for 375 with solids and softs. I used this approach to take klipspringer with solids with a good outcome (minimal cape damage), and the same rifle with softs for heavy antelope up to eland, and for buffalo. My spooky eland was taken cleanly off sticks at a laser-measured 340 yards with a bit of elevation doping; the 375 is capable of more than most realize.

 

[towserthemouser]

btw my PH was very clear about aiming for dead center middle of body on the Klipspringer; he did not want any chance of the bullet hitting a shoulder bone and fragmenting. This approach dropped him like he had been hit with a thunderbolt, and the cape was in great shape.

 

[Neophyte]

.375 with softs and solids would be my choice.

That’s my plan in 2026.

 

[375Fox]

I haven’t hunted damara dik dik or klipspringer but I’ve had multiple opportunities. Most klipspringer we encountered in Namibia were walking up to springs in the mountains and were encountered relatively close. I’ve also seen them in Zimbabwe and South Africa just appear while we were glassing usually relatively close again. I’m sure the potential exists for a long shot but I haven’t seen it yet. For dik dik, the brushy areas I saw they live in would be 50 yards and under. Roan is the most switched on animal I’ve ever hunted, but it depends where you hunt them how shot opportunity will be. If you can shoot 300 yards I think your 375 will be good if your PH agrees. However the few solids I’ve tried my 375 doesn’t shoot very accurately. I’d make sure you test your solids at 100,200,300 to know for klipspringer.

 

[mark-hunter]

.375 with softs and solids would be my choice.

I agree.

 

[Nyati]

I shot my roan with a .270

 

[Grandpa Moose]

What about an 8x68. With correct bullets can be a do all round even to 300 m

 

[uplander01]

My options are 300 WM, 338 WM, 375 HH. I feel more concerned about which optic to put on the rifle, the 375 is limited to a VX3 1.5-5 because of the Griffin Howe optic mount, the 338 or 300 would more than likely wear a VX6 2-12. I'm not mounting any more trophies with capes, just skull mounts so what happens on impact is kind of irrelevant.

 

[IvW]

What about an 8x68. With correct bullets can be a do all round even to 300 m

Dik dik and klippie.....eish.....

 

[sureshot375]

Another vote. for .375 soft/solid combo. I would stay away from the .300 mag.

Might be worth taking a .22mag for the little guys.

 

[Andrew62]

My options are 300 WM, 338 WM, 375 HH. I feel more concerned about which optic to put on the rifle, the 375 is limited to a VX3 1.5-5 because of the Griffin Howe optic mount, the 338 or 300 would more than likely wear a VX6 2-12. I'm not mounting any more trophies with capes, just skull mounts so what happens on impact is kind of irrelevant.

Your 300 WM is a great choice, so long as you can sort out the bullet to use. If you are wanting full mounts on the little guys, most 300 WM ammo will ruin those capes. I've shot several little guys with my ,375H&H using Barnes TSX.

 

[Dewald]

9,3x62 with premium 286 or 300 gr bullets not exceeding 2300 fps

 

[Tra3]

No one has mentioned an R8 yet…

I’d stick with the .375. That will work for everything.

 

[BryceM]

I just got back from a klippie hunt in Namibia. A solid from a .375 H&H worked perfectly for that. Range was around 200-250 yards. Took a kudu also with the same rifle with softs.