Two rifles for Africa

[Shootist43]

Given what you expect to hunt, paring a 375 H&H with your 404 Jeffery makes the most sense to me. However I'd consider the following slight twist. Take two QD mounted scopes for the 375 H&H one zeroed for 350 Gr. Bullets and the other zeroed for 300 or 270 Gr. projectiles.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My proposition :

A .30-06 Springfield for the plains game

Your .404 Jeffery for the Cape buffalo , lion & leopard

A bit of trivia for those who recommend the 7x57 mm Mauser and .404 Jeffery combination . These two were actually the only two calibers for which James Purdey & Co. used to manufacture their Mauser 98 action rifles , when the company first began building magazine rifles in the 1940s .

I personally own a 7x57 mm Mauser ( an E.J Churchill ) and use it for all of my local big game hunting applications . But in Africa , the .30-06 is far more versatile . The ability to push a 220 Gr bullet ( like the Remington Core Lokt soft points ) is a real help , if you’re after elands and the really big kudus .

 

[Happy Myles]

Which of the three plains game rifles and which of the two dangerous game rifles do you shoot the best? All things equal, take the 06 and the 375. If either your ammo or rifles do not show up on time your loaners available will be 06 and 375 and plenty of ammo for either one.

 

[machinistbutler]

404 Jeffery and 375 H&H, man it just doesn't get any sweeter than that for Africa. You are good for anything with either.

 

[Rell]

If the 404 is scoped …. With a really good piece of glass …. Just bring it.

I won’t hunt in DG country with just a PG rifle, seems nuts to me. If you needed another, the 375 is fine (scoped) with 300gr softs, top round on the magazine and 300gr solids loaded below.

I hunt with a 450-400 3inch and a 9.3x62. The only time I take the 9.3x62 out of the case is when I’m after bushbuck really.

Get used to the 404, shoot the hell out of it. I’d scope it with a German 1-8x20 illuminated in the best QR rings and bases I could find.

You’ll almost always shoot the buff first and the rest will almost always be within 150 yards so ….

 

[Nevada Mike]

The .404J is scoped with a leupold VX6HDi 1-6X with illuminated German no.4 reticle.

The .375 is on its way to me... unscoped. I will fit Talley bases and Talley QD mounts. May use my Leupold 2-7X on that.

 

[PeteG]

You should take the 404 and 375.
both calibers will do well on DG and PG for all your purposes.
Use a premium expanding bullet and you are all set. 300gr in 375 and 400gr in 404.

don’t fiddle with different scopes and different ammo for the same caliber. There is no need to over complicate things.
Keep it simple and there will be less stress to manage and more time to enjoy the hunt.

with components such as A-Frames or TSX, there is little use for solids on the game you are pursuing. Another thing to keep simple.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

375 or 404? Take whichever of the two you really love and makes you feel good, that is very much a part of the safari experience, the mystique if you will. These are not just tools to kill stuff, they are historical rifles in a special setting. They will both do everything. Taking two to hedge your bets undoes that somewhat, its like taking two girls to the prom.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

Why not do everything with the 404?

If only one rifle I would either take a .375H&H or .404J. The .404 is a lot more versatile than people think with a range of handloads or factory loads from 257gr to 450gr which will cover everything that walks crawls or slithers on this planet.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have posted before about heading to Tanzania in little over a year. I am going to spend 21 days hunting buff, sable, zebra, kudu. Perhaps other animals as well as the license provides a lot of species including, lion, leopard, etc.

For the buffs an bringing my .404 jeff. But I am undecided on which 'second' rifle to bring. My current choices are .30-'06, 7mm RM, 7 X 57, or a recently acquired .375 H&H.

I shoot the 7mm RM well, but I am leaning towards the .375 which could do the PG well and also double on DG if needed. For those who have been on similar safaris in the past, what would you recommend?

@Nevada Mike
K.I.S.S mate just take the 404 for everything, simples.
Bob

 

[Lee M]

You said in your original post you shoot your 7 RM well, and that is important. There is no plains alive game that a 175 premium bullet is not well suited for. Take that with the 404 Jeff. Guarantee there will be a 375 avail in camp if somehow needed. And i would think the .404 Jeff has all the range needed for any DG your going after. Why take a long shot on DG? It takes away the thrill of the chase.

 

[uplander01]

Check and double check, and maintain your equipment,....rifle failure shouldn't be on your mind if you've done things right to prepare. One gun keeps things simple. 375 will do everything, so won't the 404 but with a little more panache. If you have irons backing up optics, no worries, or take two scope set ups for insurance if it makes you feel better. If it were me, I'd show up with the 404.

 

[Proneshooter]

Mike,
Just do what I do, take the 404 with softs and solids. Use the solids on the little guys. No need for a 375, besides that 404 your having built deserves to be the star of the show.
John

 

[Frank Cavallo]

3-7-5 and the 7 mag

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I do not intend to shoot tiny game or porcupines. I want Buffalo, Sable, Zebra, Eland, etc, I originally felt the .30-'06 was the right second rifle, but since ranges will almost always be with 200 yards (+ or -) that the .375 might be right for PG and serve for buff in extremis. Thought about taking three guns, the third being a shotgun, but I have plenty of bird hunting available here in Arizona.

I have never hunted Africa, so I am depending on my PH and the clad here on AH for guidance. All good and thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

@Nevada Mike
I think you just answered your own question with yhe game you want and the shooting distance.
The 404 with a mix of soft and solids has all bases covered plus its a classic old cartridge.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I do not disagree with his assessment. The .404J is cooler than the other side of the pillow and the 7 mag is a certified darn killer. However, the 7 mag is nuevo and the Springfield, like the .404J has history. Romanticism they call it.
I will simply say that, in my opinion (free advice is worth what you pay for it), taking two guns is a bad idea. I have shot plains game animals over 200 yards with a .416 Rem Mag (I’m not scared of nuevo), with little damage to the capes. The bullet is through them before fully expanding. The only problem one might have is the scope. At 200+ yards, the animals might appear small on 6 power.
I suppose what I am trying to say is if you want to take two guns then take them. Any combination of the .404J and any of the others will work; however, if you decide to only take one gun then I suspect your PH’s advice will be to bring the .375 with at least an 8 power scope. Of course, I could be wrong. Just a hunch.

@JHT
I have shot more game at up to 200 yards with my scope set at 4 power than any other power. Before variables became common and reliable all my hunting was done with a fixed 4 without an issue. Sure I couldn't head shoot game at 300 with a 4 power but a good body shot killed things just as dead
Bob

 

[Nevada Mike]

Mike,
Just do what I do, take the 404 with softs and solids. Use the solids on the little guys. No need for a 375, besides that 404 your having built deserves to be the star of the show.
John

John, that's my plan. The .404 will be THE rifle. I am thinking of the .375 as a 'light' rifle that can sub for the .404 if something happens...

 

[Nevada Mike]

Check and double check, and maintain your equipment,....rifle failure shouldn't be on your mind if you've done things right to prepare. One gun keeps things simple. 375 will do everything, so won't the 404 but with a little more panache. If you have irons backing up optics, no worries, or take two scope set ups for insurance if it makes you feel better. If it were me, I'd show up with the 404.

My PH recommended bringing a second scope. I'll do that. IN ANY CASE, the .404 is going and will be my primary rifle. I'm allowed up to 4 buff on my license and other animals that may require some beefy armament, that will be the .404 with 400 grain softs and solids. And I will have both optics and the Jeffery folding peep sight on the .404.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

John, that's my plan. The .404 will be THE rifle. I am thinking of the .375 as a 'light' rifle that can sub for the .404 if something happens...

Check with your PH, he's sure to have a 458, 500 or something he can lend you for the big guys as a backup, and how many in Africa DON'T have a 30-06 as a knockabout rifle?. Consider taking your 404J with Swift factory loaded A-Frame 400gr softs and their 400gr solids and a packet of 30-06 165/180gr. Can't wait to see the photos !