Best gun for Africa

[firefighter508]

I have a 300 win mag and wondering if that is a good gun for African hunting. Im going for my first time in March.

[grayghost]

It depends upon what you are hunting for, and how well you shoot it. For Plains game, it would be an excellent choice if you shoot it very well at game ranged at 100 to 300 yards. A quality constructed bullet is advised, otherwise you may find yourself destroying small antelope and wounding larger plains game. You should have no problems with animals up to Eland with the .300 Win Mag. If you need it to take game as small as Springbok or even Gray Duiker, I strongly recommend a tough bullet like a Barnes X in 180 grain. Avoid anything like a Ballistic Tip unless your just taking home skulls and horns. Discuss with your PH what the average shot ranges are. This will help a lot. Be sure to carry a good tick repellent. March will be hot and ticks can be very active. If I may suggest: spray your hunting clothes with Duranon Permanone by Coulston before you leave home and pack them (dry) in large zip lock bags. This should cover you for your trip. Also, accept no substitute. I haven't found anything as effective as Coulston. Start taking vitimin B-1 two weeks before you leave: 2 in the morning, 2 in the evening. This kept the bugs away while our PHs were bitten by seed ticks about every day. Have a safe trip and good hunting, grayghost

[gd357]

Well, that totally depends on what you plan on hunting. If you are hunting plains game, and the largest thing you will be hunting is Gemsbuck, Kudu or Eland, you should be all right (check out the post 10 days in South Africa). If dangerous game is on the menu, maybe not.

gd

[John Duarte]

I've used both the .300 Winchester and Weatherby magnums for plains game with perfect satisfaction. The animals ranged in size from springbok to eland. My choice of bullet would be the 200 grain Nosler Partition.
John

[pomoxis]

Like the others have said the 300 Win Mag is a good option. If you are able to find some solids with the same bullet weight that your gun prefer I would suggest taking some with you.

The reason for the solid is that you can used it as your first shot for the smallest antelope and will have a neat entrance and exit hole. If you have it as your second shot you can take a parting shot to travel through the entire length of the body and hit the vitals.

Depending on what country you are hunting there is always the potential of coming across some thing big and nasty with the need to use your rifle to help the PH get out of a situation.

What country are you hunting?

[firefighter508]

I am hunting in South Africa @ Kolobe Safaris

[pomoxis]

So I can assume that buffalo and elephant are not on your list of animals to hunt. Are you planning to hunt eland?

In any case go for top quality bullets, now is not the time save a few bucks because the cost of time and potentially a trophy fee would be much greater.

[fishnfrank]

There is also a company out there that makes patches that you put on and it keeps the insects away. Instead of taking b-1 pills, you put one of these on and they last 72 hours. They really work wonders. Definitly worth the money.

[grayghost]

Can you find out what company makes the patches? That would be an interesting choice as we can't carry aerosol cans on airlines anymore. I took Cutter gel to Africa, but due to the cooler weather (morning/evening) I never used it. I attribute no tick bites to the B-1 vitamins, but the patch sounds like a good alternative. I take it you fish a lot? I come down twice a year to PCB, FL and spent a week at a time. Nothing like fishing in the big pond. Good hunting...and fishing, grayghost

[Bwana White Hunter]

Kolobe is a first class outfit, and close to me.

What do you want to HUNT man? That will determine the calibre choice! through anything. Just take something you shoot well....