375hhforplainsgame

[bigfive17851]

hello
i just got a 375hh winchester model 70 im going to africa first trip in06 is this a good caliber for plains game such kudu zebra impala etc and does any one have any suggestions on a back up caliber
thanks
bigfive17851

[Rocky Raab]

I moved your post down here, bigfive.

If you've read any thign at all about Africa, you already know that the 375 is "the" classic african rifle. They consider it a medium bore there, not too big for smallish antelope, perfect for medium size plains game and not too undergunned if something tries to bite you.

Subject to correction, I think the preferred bullet would be a 270-gr or 300-gr solid for most game, although softpoints might be acceptable for non-dangerous game.

This will be heresy from a hardcore handloader, but you'de be best suited by sticking to factory ammo. It's created with Africa in mind, ALWAYS chambers perfectly and is available almost anywhere over there if your shipment gets lost. And, you'd be sighted in for it.

[pomoxis]

IF you are going to go after some of the smaller antelope (Klipspringer. springbok, impala) a .270 Win will give you an ability to reach out and take a 300 yard shot, but it would be on the light side for the larger antelope. You may only have your .270 along when stalking a good impala and out steps a record book 110 inch eland. There is always a chance of stepping on a elephant, having a .375 H&H with a Banes X bullet in the chamber in your hands is a much better feeling than a .270 with softpoints.

American hunters over pack and if you want to do any bird hunting a shotgun may be the best choice for a second weapon to take with you. A .375 solid will punch a neat little hole in the smaller antelope if you want to do a full body mount. A shotgun is also a good back up if you are hunting leopard and need to follow Mr. Spots in the dark.

[Dom]

BigFive -- I'm in the same boat as you, just picked up a Steyr .375 and planning exactly plains game hunt for next year also. I'm going to try Speer Grand Slam 285 grainers and see how they shoot. Originally I was going to take my 30-06, which would have been perfectly reasonable, but then I thot about it, and what better excuse not to get the great .375?

By the way, what glass do you have on it or gonna put on it? I'm leaning toward a middle class scope, Dokter Optic has a nice 1.5-6x42 with a 30mm tube. I think that'll get my vote, but I'm still looking, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[SAHUNT]

A 375 H&H is a fantastic rifle. I owe a Sako and it is the only riffle I hunt with. I only hunt with solids, Impala bullets. I have never tracked an animal for more than 40 yards with very little meat damage. I only eat venison, so it is important for me not to waste meat or have a lot of bone splinters in the meat. A 375 is good up to 300m. I use a lynx 1.75x5x 20 on my 375. A big bell infront raises your scope to much, you want your scope as close to the barrel as possible.

You don't need any other rifle if you hunt in Africa, the ph can carry the back up rifle, he will only maybe need it on a DG hunt.

Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience

[Hi Ball]

I will say without a doubt that the .375H&H is the classic rifle in Africa! However hunting with a .338 mag is a better choice for most plains game in my eyes. I also believer that on average it is far more accurate at taking antelope species at ranges past the 200 yard marker. These are facts I came by first hand.

[pomoxis]

The other thing you may want to consider is targets of opportunity that may occur on your trip. Since I was one of the last clients for the season I was offered an opportunity to hunt elephant because they still had one on their quota. By having my .375 it was real possibility. In some countries they have a minimum caliber and most of the time it is a .375.

[Steve Franks]

Last year I went on my first plains game hunt with two rifles. My primary rifle was a CZ .375 H&H. The other was a .338, Model 70. My PH, when I asked what rifle to take, he said the one I shot the best. I took two medium caliber rifles because I was after "elk" size animals for the most part. If my .375 went down, then I had an equally great cartridg/rifle as a back up. My brother did the same, except his .375, Model 70 took a dump. We shot duplicate animals and we couldn't tell the difference between the two.

I started off with 260 Noslers, but soon switched to 300 grain Swift A-Frames. The 260's were exiting on the larger animals. As you know, if there is a drop of blood, you bought it, and that is why I went to the heavier bullet.

I plan on the biggest animal I'll hunt and if it will drop it, then smaller animals are no problem. Good luck, just practice a bunch.

[pistolchamp]

Forget the rest, the PH will have a boomer for any booboos on dangerous game, any animal in Africa will fall to the 375. I use 270 gr. Barnes "X" Bullets over H-414 with complete success on plains game only.

I'll be back in Tanzania in mid September through the end of the year.

[Rapier]

If you take two rifles, you asked about a backup, I would take as a second rifle, a 30-06 loaded with a good bullet about 165-168 grains. The 06 is reccomended by most PHs as a good plains game rifle.

I took one rifle and two shotguns on my Africa wing shooting safari. The rifle was a 300 WSM.
Ed

[pistolchamp]

Handguns are completely legal in Tanzania and I always carry my old Ruger Super Blackhawk in 44 Magnum as my backup and opportunity gun. I've killed a few animals with it and dispatched a few more with "insurance" shots to the neck.

I shoot only 250 grain lead SWC gas checked bullets over 21 grains of 2400. Wonderful penetration... Elmer was right on.