Why a .338 WM in Africa?

[DLSJR]

I’ve been hunting with a .338 win mag as the primary rifle I use since 1985. I’ve taken my .338 to Africa 6 or 7 times. Anytime I take 2 rifles, my .338 is always one of them. My normal 2-gun battery is my .338 & .416.

With proper bullets, there’s not much you can’t do with a .338.

 

[CZDiesel]

I’ve been hunting with a .338 win mag as the primary rifle I use since 1985. I’ve taken my .338 to Africa 6 or 7 times. Anytime I take 2 rifles, my .338 is always one of them. My normal 2-gun battery is my .338 & .416.

With proper bullets, there’s not much you can’t do with a .338.

On a side note @DLSJR THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE Eland!!! Did you take it with your 338WinMag?

 

[DLSJR]

On a side note @DLSJR THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE Eland!!! Did you take it with your 338WinMag?

CZ, thank you for the kind words about the Eland. I was fortunate that the first Eland bull we saw was that old fellow.

No, I only took my .375 H&H to Cameroon last year. I’d just had it built in 2023, took it to the Selous in August with my son but never used it. I shot my .338 & .416 in the Selous, so really wanted to give my .375 a good go, so took only that gun on my LDE hunt. The .338 would have done just as well. I now have a problem as the .338 & .375 are both fantastic rifles. I love both of them.

 

[rookhawk]

Why would anyone use a .338 WM in Africa???
Favorites are .375 HH and .300 WM or 7mm REM.
Convince me I need one!

I have no idea why a .338 either. If you're an Alaskan or a western hunter that already owns that rifle and you trust it, maybe you'd have a favorable bias towards it.

Not legal for dangerous game. Needlessly big for most plains game. In general, I recommend people compose a 2 or 3 gun safari that looks like this:

Always a 375HH, your hunt continues no matter if you're hunting Klippspringer or Elephant due to the backup 375HH. If hunting dangerous game, bring a 470NE or a 500Jeff as primary. If hunting plains game, bring a 7x57 or similar as primary.

The 338WM doesn't give you redundancy if your rifle fails, only a 375HH can do that.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don't own one, but I really do think a .35 Whelen would be a tremendous round for the Limpopo country I hunted in 2 years ago (and again next month!)

I'm not complaining about my .300 WM shooting 200 grain bullets, good stuff. I shot 8 animals, the only shot over 100 yards was a Gemsbok at 225-250. A double lung hit, he ran about 200 yards and tipped over dead.

Most animals fell down where they were hit, but some were at tough angles in brush and I think a bigger bore and heavier bullet would be best at putting them down on the spot. I don't like to track, if I have to I want a large exit wound leaving a nice blood trail.

I am almost 60 and I don't like anymore recoil. I'd gladly shoot a .338 WM for plains game, but I think a .35 Whelen would do the same job with less recoil. I don't own either one, so take this for what it is worth. I'm not near the rifle buff that most on this forum are, but I think a lot of larger caliber non-magnums (such as .358 Winchester or .338 Federal) that would be great in the Limpopo shooting big stuff. Hell, a .45-70 would be poison for a lot of the hunting I encountered.

I'm done. Buy yourself a .338 and tell us how it worked !

@Stormy Kromer
The 35 Whelen is a mild mannered tower of power with a good range of bullets that provides a lot of punch from up close to way out yonder.
@Rick HOlbert took a 358 Win to Africa and everything he shot fell down. He loads 225gn north fork that have more penetration than you will ever need. He has been loading 225gn Woodleigh rnsp to try and low and behold they have exactly the same poi at 100yds.
Don't let anyone tell you they are only good short range bush cartridges. The little 358 is fine for 300 yds and the Whelen can add another 150yds into that.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

All this talk about hunting Africa with a 338 wimpchester or bigger is pretty much a waste of time.
I hunted with my Whelen as some of you know. Yes its performance could not be faulted, it performed very well with all one shot kills.
BUT
In hindsight dare I say it my sons 308 killed everything he shot just as dead as my Whelen, and the others using a 300 Winchester magnum and a 270wsm.
The humble little 308 to me is about ideal for 99% of plains game. Light weight, handy and kills game efficiently. If'n I get the chance to return to Namibia I would leave my Whelen at home and take my sons 308 loaded with 159gn accubonds at 2,900fps and be quite happy doing so.
Bob