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.

 

[SStomcat]

Guys what do you think of this one - https://collectorsfirearms.com/2101...8-sporter-rifle-7x57-r43250-consignment.html/

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Guys what do you think of this one - https://collectorsfirearms.com/2101...8-sporter-rifle-7x57-r43250-consignment.html/

@SStomcat
Nice rifle with providence but it's not built by PO himself so to me over priced for a rifle that is built by the masters apprentice not the master.
Bob

 

[375Ruger416]

Initially I was leaning towards a 30/06 or 300 WM. However, with your cartridges you have a 7x57 would be the perfect addition in the 'classic African cartridges' category. A 7 rem mag or 280 AI would also meet your needs if you wanted a little more velocity.

 

[sgt_zim]

I’m probably gonna get a lot of hate vibes in my direction for this, but I don’t think you could do any better than the 6.5Creedmoor. First off, I have never seen an inaccurate one. Second off, Hornady makes ammo from 95 grain varmint bullets to 147 grain long range, target bullets, and everything in between. And more than likely they will shoot considerably under an inch. Just remember, this is basically the 6.5 x 55 Swede with updated ballistics and in a fast enough twist barrel to stabilize the longer heavier bullets comment today. The only thing you will get bored with is the consistent accuracy of the thing.

6.5 Swede already has all those bases covered. It was designed to stabilize 155 - 160 gr RN bullets. For hunters who roll their own ammo, it can easily be made to outperform 6.5 CM

All that aside, OP has heavy and medium covered already. 9.3x62 286 gr bullets will have a similar ballistic arc to 180 gr 308, so that covers out to 300 yards fairly easily.

275 Rigby seems to me to be the way to go.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Why not just get a 30-06 barrel for your Sauer? You already know the rifle. But if you must get a new rifle (and I strongly support that), look at the Rigby Highland Stalker in 30-06.

Please let us know what you decided.

Safe shooting

 

[Firebird]

You specified small to medium game and you can handload so my pick would be the 7mm-08 but if I was in Africa I would go 7x57 (I think is the equivalent.

 

[Creigh]

I like all of the suggestions here.

I had an issue. I have .243 win for small to medium game. I have .375 H&H for medium to large as the occasion arose. I felt the gap there and needed to fill it with something. I use the word need, but you understand what I mean.

Really wanted a .270. Ammo everywhere for it and perfect for medium game. Benelli make a compact accurate rifle in this caliber that I really liked.

7x57, someone I know hunted with this, they were incredibly impressed. They felt they could've stopped development of middle rifles because they developed the perfect one.

Almost had a 300 wm but ended up with a 300 prc.

Have to say, recently watched a build and shoot of a 280 AI. Probably the caliber I know the least about but came away suitably impressed. If this was around when I was looking it would have been tough to say no to.

Honorable mention is 6.5 Swede. If I hadn't decided on a 30 cal, this would have been in the running too, depending on availability.

Someone like me just wants one of each.

 

[sgt_zim]

I like all of the suggestions here.

I had an issue. I have .243 win for small to medium game. I have .375 H&H for medium to large as the occasion arose. I felt the gap there and needed to fill it with something. I use the word need, but you understand what I mean.

Really wanted a .270. Ammo everywhere for it and perfect for medium game. Benelli make a compact accurate rifle in this caliber that I really liked.

7x57, someone I know hunted with this, they were incredibly impressed. They felt they could've stopped development of middle rifles because they developed the perfect one.

Almost had a 300 wm but ended up with a 300 prc.

Have to say, recently watched a build and shoot of a 280 AI. Probably the caliber I know the least about but came away suitably impressed. If this was around when I was looking it would have been tough to say no to.

Honorable mention is 6.5 Swede. If I hadn't decided on a 30 cal, this would have been in the running too, depending on availability.

Someone like me just wants one of each.

Never too late. I ended up buying a Savage Timberline because it's the only factory 280 AI that comes in LH. I just got some 175 gr NFs for it, it's now my wife's rifle since she's decided that getting behind a rifle in Africa is pretty fun.