Well it's offical!

[30winmag]

Great set up, and it is a little known fact that the .375 H&H was spec'ed out by our lord JC himself. He put everything smaller on this earth for shooting rodents, vermin and Taliban and such. From field mice to Cape Buffalo, you are in good hands with a .375 by your side.
Cheers,
Cody

Thank you! And I am loading up a good supply of solids for smaller stuff. Since a kudu and wildebeest are roughly elk sized I have no issues using good expanding bullets on them, it's not like I can bring the meat back with me. And by the way, I'm sure someone is taking a .338 Lapua to Africa on here and those are almost artillery.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

A Winchester model 70 .375 H&H, I know it's big for plains game but it's the only bolt gun I need to buy for Africa and it will work just fine. Topped with a Zeiss Conquest 2x10 and Zeiss Terra Ed binos. Let the debate begin!

An excellent choice! If you're a handloader let me know, I can recommend a few load recipes for both PG and DG that work well in my M70.

 

[Big Country]

Congratulations on the booking of your safari!!

I took the same rifle/scope combo to KZN last September and found it to be very adequate. My shots in the bushveld were from 80-200 yards and often involved some brush in between. In my 1983 M70 I had good luck with nosler 260 gr. soft points. After using 300 sp for plinking and practice, the 260's felt quite a bit lighter as far as felt recoil.

I second the recommendation of considering Nyala as a target species. When planning my first ever safari, I originally had not considered Nyala because of cost, but was convinced by a friend who had been to the Natal several times. It ended up being the keynote of my hunt. KZN seems to consistently produce some of the best quality in RSA. Nyala was the animal we saw the most of every day by far. So many different bulls and different horn shapes. I had many opportunities to pass on good, and even great bulls and look for incredible.

If you have any thoughts of taking a grey duiker, which are also everywhere, buy a box of solids to bring along. Your taxidermist will thank you. Though my 260 sp didn't blow it to pieces, there wasn't much choice on which way the full mount would be facing.

If you want to whet your appetite I posted a very long hunting report with many pictures. "14 days in Qwa-Zulu Natal, a beginners journey" My wife and talk about wanting to go back nearly every week since then!

Have fun planning and safe travels!

 

[Deleted member 15212]

I'm there right now 11days to go every day is like a week long.

lucky you! haha. I leave September 2nd! still need to go sight my 458 win mag in and call it good! haha. but man, the weeks are dragging on!

 

[KVS]

Good luck and enjoy it!

 

[johnnyblues]

Excellent...I think you ve chosen gun and optics wisely. I too will be leaving in September for my first hunt in Africa. I can't tell you how much I ve dreamed since I booked the hunt 14 months ago. I must have mentally squeezed the trigger hundreds of times. I still think I am dreaming....Best of luck! Who did you book with?

 

[johnnyblues]

lucky you! haha. I leave September 2nd! still need to go sight my 458 win mag in and call it good! haha. but man, the weeks are dragging on!

I hear ya......I leave September 5 th....

 

[Diamondhitch]

... And by the way, I'm sure someone is taking a .338 Lapua to Africa on here and those are almost artillery.

Hey! I resemble that remark

Good luck, you will have a blast.

 

[CAustin]

30winmag you are going to have the time of your life. I will tell you that hunting in Africa is addicting. Be prepared to plan your second trip right about the time you board the plane to come home!
Glad you made it official.

 

[AZDAVE]

30winmag, enjoy the prep time. Get yourself a set of sticks and practice off them until they are second nature. GOOD bullets! I used swift A-frames and CEB solids and can recommend them if your rifle shoots them well. My shots have been from 5 to 310yards with 90 percent being under 150. CAustin is correct you will have a blast and #2 will start forming in your head before you board the plane to come home. Have fun

 

[Redruff]

30winmag. Learn from mine and other's mistake.....start saving for the taxidermy and then double it to be safe. A year will give you lots of time. Especially if you use the "F word" for any of your trophies ....."FULL MOUNT"!!!

 

[30winmag]

An excellent choice! If you're a handloader let me know, I can recommend a few load recipes for both PG and DG that work well in my M70.

I do hand load quite a bit, so I'd be very interested in what loads you have worked up for both PG and DG since you know I have to go back for a buffalo!

 

[30winmag]

Congratulations on the booking of your safari!!

I took the same rifle/scope combo to KZN last September and found it to be very adequate. My shots in the bushveld were from 80-200 yards and often involved some brush in between. In my 1983 M70 I had good luck with nosler 260 gr. soft points. After using 300 sp for plinking and practice, the 260's felt quite a bit lighter as far as felt recoil.

I second the recommendation of considering Nyala as a target species. When planning my first ever safari, I originally had not considered Nyala because of cost, but was convinced by a friend who had been to the Natal several times. It ended up being the keynote of my hunt. KZN seems to consistently produce some of the best quality in RSA. Nyala was the animal we saw the most of every day by far. So many different bulls and different horn shapes. I had many opportunities to pass on good, and even great bulls and look for incredible.

If you have any thoughts of taking a grey duiker, which are also everywhere, buy a box of solids to bring along. Your taxidermist will thank you. Though my 260 sp didn't blow it to pieces, there wasn't much choice on which way the full mount would be facing.

If you want to whet your appetite I posted a very long hunting report with many pictures. "14 days in Qwa-Zulu Natal, a beginners journey" My wife and talk about wanting to go back nearly every week since then!

Have fun planning and safe travels!

Thank you! I have pretty much decided to bring a Nyala trophy fee with me, as almost everyone recommends it. I will also have 20 rounds of solids with me for smaller stuff. Thanks for the conformation that any expanding round is akin to using a RPG. I'm off to read a long hunting report!

 

[30winmag]

Good luck and enjoy it!

Thank you! I plan to get the most out of the "starter trip".

 

[30winmag]

Excellent...I think you ve chosen gun and optics wisely. I too will be leaving in September for my first hunt in Africa. I can't tell you how much I ve dreamed since I booked the hunt 14 months ago. I must have mentally squeezed the trigger hundreds of times. I still think I am dreaming....Best of luck! Who did you book with?

I wish you the best on your trip. I booked through Cabelas outdoor adventures with Chamanzi Safaris. They have several positive reviews on the forums here. I'm sure there are better deals and better hunting areas, but I want the equivalent of training wheels for my first ever trip to Africa and outdoor adventures and Cabelas travel have made it almost dummy proof so far.

 

[30winmag]

Hey! I resemble that remark

Good luck, you will have a blast.

I have shot literally hundreds of rounds of .338, you have either my undivided respect or a slight question of your sanity, I'm not sure which! Out of curiosity how does it do when the bullet meets the bone?

 

[30winmag]

30winmag you are going to have the time of your life. I will tell you that hunting in Africa is addicting. Be prepared to plan your second trip right about the time you board the plane to come home!
Glad you made it official.

I've been wanting to do this ever since I foolishly bought Capstick's "Death In The Long Grass" when I was 18. And I have plains game 2 and the buffalo hunt in the 5 and 10 year plans. And an elephant if I can find a buyer for my house, pickup, family and a decent offer for my soul.

 

[30winmag]

30winmag, enjoy the prep time. Get yourself a set of sticks and practice off them until they are second nature. GOOD bullets! I used swift A-frames and CEB solids and can recommend them if your rifle shoots them well. My shots have been from 5 to 310yards with 90 percent being under 150. CAustin is correct you will have a blast and #2 will start forming in your head before you board the plane to come home. Have fun

Thanks, I plan to! Thanks for the recommendations, I happen to prefer Hornady SP and GMX for personal reasons and so far my rifle likes them but time will tell. Do you have any recommendations for whee to get a set of sticks? It makes excellent sense to practice how you will shoot. And I have #2-3 and 4 already planned!

 

[Rob404]

It's true ,On the 7th day God didn't rest, instead he made the 375HH

 

[30winmag]

30winmag. Learn from mine and other's mistake.....start saving for the taxidermy and then double it to be safe. A year will give you lots of time. Especially if you use the "F word" for any of your trophies ....."FULL MOUNT"!!!

I have all ready gotten the quote from my taxidermist for what I intend on hunting and yeah, I have a seperate taxidermy fund. And I will not be using the "F word" if I want to come home!