african cape buffalo rifle

[lhrbull]

May get to go to south Africa for cape buffalo and looking for recommendation for the right gun to take. I only know it has to be 375 or larger. thanks in advance.

[MountainWalk]

Can't go wrong with any three quarter bore. I've only shot two, the old Holland and Holland, and the Ruger.

The Ruger would be way cheaper than a Remington or a Browning or Winchester.
The Ruger did kick a little harder than the HH.  IT was a lighter rifle.

300 partition in the chamber with a magazine load of same weight solids is how I'd present myself. Have a blast!!

[jdb]

marlin 45/70. Garrett custom ammo. Leupold 1.5x5

[yorketransport]

What's the budget and are there any other limitations you have?

A CZ 550 in 416 Rigby would be my starting point. Skip past the 458 Win Mag or 458 Lott. They just don't have the class to go to Africa. If you have the cash, a CZ Safari Classic in either 505 Gibbs or 500 Jeffery would be my pick.

Honestly, I'd probably just "slum it" with either my 375 Ruger or the 458 Arnold (458 Lott). I'm too cheap to spring for one of the top end CZs and I just want to live vicariously through somebody else.

Andrew

[theleo]

Ruger No.1 in 45-70 with handloads to match.

[theleo]

Ruger No.1 in 458 win mag then. It'd be just the same as full tilt 45-70 loads in a No.1.

[b23]

Maybe I'm missing something here but if it were me, I'd be asking the "PH" I was going to use what they recommended. 

Considering their safety is as important to them as is yours, I would certainly think they'd know better than anyone, what the best choice/s would be, including what ammo to use as well.

This was a pretty good read and maybe will help answer some questions for you. http://www.chifutisafaris.com/guns_and_gear.htm

[yorketransport]

Ruger No.1 in 458 win mag then. It'd be just the same as full tilt 45-70 loads in a No.1.

I love the 45-70, but it will never be in the same league as even the 458 Win Mag, the under achiever of all the .458 mags. Throwing a 500gr bullet at 1800 fps (an optimistic velocity at reasonable pressures from a 45-70) is nothing to laugh at but it's no Win Mag!

Maybe a 450 Dakota is the answer?

[h20hunter]

For the OP....look up Robs older thread about the prep work he did with his weapons prior to his hunts. He had some really great write ups about weapons, bullet selections, and performance. I'll kick around and see if I can find the thread.


Here is a little light reading.....

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,64016.0.html

[birddogdad]

as I have no first hand experience with Africa, I will defer to experts http://www.chifutisafaris.com/guns_and_gear.htm, though I load and shoot most of these medium and true big bores here....they are tough on elk~

oh and if you go big bore, I would strongly recommend a brake~

[theleo]

The american love of the 45-70 and the need to compare it to heavy African calibers cracks me up, it will never be in the same league as the heavy stopping rifles.  So many people just don't get it, its not the diameter of the bullet, its the energy and velocity that you can get with a bullet of that diameter.

So 500 grains going 1800 fps will bounce off a buffalo and a person should get a real African big bore round that is more expensive and less versatile to shoot when a person is state side? I admit I'm ignorant on African game but I highly doubt many of the rounds actually generate the Kinetic energy to physically overcome the mass of a buffalo at a full tilt charge. I know others rounds are more powerful but figure a 45-70 in a Ruger No. 1 would be a better choice for an all around hunting rifle than other fairly dangerous game specific combos.

[mountainman]

Hmm, I know several who have shot clean thru big bulls, both side shots and head ons, with a marlin in 45/70...one even dropped a big cow on the off side of a big bull after passing thru him. Went clean thru her too! 

[BULLBLASTER]

I don't know Africa as I have no desire to go there and hunt but I have owned both a marlin 45-70 and a Winchester 70 in 375 h&h. I can say without a doubt I would take my 375 before that 45-70. If I was buying specifically for a dg hunt it would probably be in the 416 family somewhere or use my 375.

[MountainWalk]

The 45-70, in any configuration, especially a SINGLE shot, will never be a reliable fight stopper. 375'S are super versatile.

[Biggerhammer]

The 45-70, in any configuration, especially a SINGLE shot, will never be a reliable fight stopper. 375'S are super versatile.

Agreed! The 47-70 is a dog of a cartridge for Africa.