Which one should be my third rifle and why...

[Killo]

Really good suggestions so far. I recommend venerable 300 H&H. You can buy some factory rounds. With a 30 cal your reloading options are vast. Brings a little class to any hunting camp you visit.

Bravo!!

 

[SStomcat]

Something you can find ammo for at most stores.

Very imp. point, I plan to reload for this calibre albeit occasionally, and use factory ammo mostly. Loading for the 9.3 and 470 will take up the free time I have.

 

[Killo]

My 3 rifles for Africa
300 H&H
375 H&H
416 Rigby

 

[FlyGuy]

Very imp. point, I plan to reload for this calibre albeit occasionally, and use factory ammo mostly. Loading for the 9.3 and 470 will take up the free time I have.

You’re short a faster, flatter cartridge as a third…
Something with a good supply and wide variety of factory ammo…
7mm Rem Mag would be a solid choice.

140-160gr if you’re hunting plains.
175gr if you’re headed to the bush.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

As some of you know I have a Krieghoff 470 and a Sauer 404 9.3X62. I'm contemplating my third and tilting toward something of a lighter calibre. With a plethora of options 300, 308, 275 and 30.06 etc I'm unsure. Banking on your esteem knowledge to help me decide.

@SStomcat
Being a 25 & 35 tragic if'n I was ever looking for just one cartridge to hunt with the rest of my days strange as it may seem I would choose the 280AI.
Combination of everything I like. Power and penetration and accuracy for most anything I will ever hunt for the rest of my life. Would fill the 25 to 35 gap nicely.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

30-06 or 300 win mag. Which ever you find a nice rifle you like

I love both of those calibers very much. So versatile.

300 yards is just aim high shoulder and let her rip.

@dchum
35 Whelen 300 yards hold dead centre and let rip.
Fast 25 hold dead centre at 400 yards and let rip.
280AI 300 yards hold dead centre and let rip.
All will result in dead game of appropriate size for calibre.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Small to medium game

@SStomcat
Small to medium a nice 25-06.
A 100gn TTSX at 3,400 fps will cover most medium game out to 400 plus yards. For a bit more thump a nice 120 gn AFrame or non bonded @3,000 fps will do the job
Bob

 

[dchum]

@dchum
35 Whelen 300 yards hold dead centre and let rip.
Fast 25 hold dead centre at 400 yards and let rip.
280AI 300 yards hold dead centre and let rip.
All will result in dead game of appropriate size for calibre.
Bob

Sweet.

He already has 9.3 so no need for a silly 35

Fast 25, no thanks for large antelopes for me!

And good luck finding 280ai anywhere in the world if your ammo no shows

So stick with 30-06 or 300

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Very imp. point, I plan to reload for this calibre albeit occasionally, and use factory ammo mostly. Loading for the 9.3 and 470 will take up the free time I have.

@SStomcat
Both the 25-06 and the 280AI are available in nice factory rifles like Savage and depending on where you are ammo readily available for both
Dang my PH in Namibia even uses factory loaded 25-06 on leopard with great effect.
Just recently there was a nice Savage 112 for sale in 25-06 in Australia for $400aud about $325 us. If'n I didn't already have a fast 25 I would have been all over it like a seagull in a hot chip
Bob

 

[wvfred]

I don't think anyone has recommended a 6.5 man bun

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don't think anyone has recommended a 6.5 man bun

@wvfred
A few have.
Bob

 

[BlueFlyer]

And good luck finding 280ai anywhere in the world if your ammo no shows

You can also use 280Rem and the 7x64Brenneke in a 280AI chamber, they all have the same base to neck dimension - that is how I fire formed my 280AI cases 30yrs ago when I made my rifle.