Rifle to use?

Question

I will soon have the money saved up to go on my dream trip. I am going to spend 2 years fishing off southern california for the big fish then spend 2 years in alaska hunting their big game and finesh off in africa which brings me to my big question. what caliber of rifle should I bring to africa? I'm planning on hunting elephant, cape buffalo, lion and leopard. I've been told a .50 bmg is the only way to go for the elephant and cape buffalo but will my 300 wsm take care of the lion and leopard and bear in alaska? anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

I can not speak too intelligently on the animals in Africa.

A lion weights between about 300 to 530 pounds. A leopard only weighs from about 50 to 130 pounds. The Brown/Grizzley bears in Alaska can reach over 1000 pounds.

If you use quality bonded bullets, your 300 WSM would work OK. The lion and leapord have speed on thier side, but if you can tag them with your 300 WSM, they will go down. A big Alaskan bear would take some patience, but a 300 WSM is sufficient.

Personally, I would like a little bigger bullet. While it doesn't have the velocities of the 300 WSM, my weapon of choice in the bear country of Alaska was a 35 Whelen. The 35 Whelen isn't a very popular round. I don't know what the ammo availability for it would be in Africa if you need shells. Also, I think there would be better choices when hunting the open plains of Africa.

If I knew I was going to Africa, I would probably opt for the 375 H&H Magnum. The 375 H&H is on the heavy side for recoil, but it is a common round in Africa (or so I've read in magazines). It is more than enough for any animal in America and can easily take most African game.

As for the 50 BMG for elephant and Buffalo...I'm not sure who recommended that, but whoever did probably hasn't had to carry a 20+ pound rifle for miles and miles. The 50 BMG would be great if you are going to drive up to an animal in a vehicle, set up and shoot (thought I really wouldn't call this hunting). However, 50 caliber rifles tend to be heavy. If you have to carry it for a long distance, it might make for a miserable hunt.

I am not sure of a good alternative to the 50 BMG though. I know the Nitro Express cartridges see some use in Africa, but you are talking some huge bucks for a Nitro Express rifle. I would bring this subject up with a guide or someone who has shot an elephant for a better idea of a good cartridge.

Answer 2

People who say, ".50 BMG is the only way to go," have never seen a .50 much less ever fired one. The .50 Caliber Browning Machine Gun round is not a hunting round. The rifles chambered for it are too heavy to lug around in the field.

Your .300 WSM is adequate for up to lion BUT on the light side for lions which are truly dangerous game. It is WAY TOO SMALL for Elephant. It is also too, too light for Cape Buffalo, another truly dangerous animal.

If you can afford a couple of new rifles you might try the new .375 Ruger for the big cats and a proper elephant gun for elephants. The smallest conventional elephant gun is generally consider the .375 Holland & Holland magnum. I wouldn't trust my life to anything smaller than a .458 Winchester magnum for elephants, even though I've heard of a guy in South Africa that hunts rogue elephants with a .350 Remington magnum. You can purchase a reasonably priced .458 in Win Mag or the newer (& more powerful) .458 Lott magnum. I paid less than a thousand for a Safari Grade Ruger #1 in .458 Win Mag. Check the bolt actions too, as the doubles start at close to $10,000.

Final note: I've heard that big game rifles ported or otherwise fitted with muzzles brakes to reduce recoil are prohibited in some parts of Africa because the this increases the report to where serious hearing loss is incured. Look into this before buying/adding porting/muzzle brake to your rifle.

Happy hunting.

H

Answer 3

You need to check with your guide service because different Countries in Africa has regulations or caliber minimums. Large Magnums like the 375 H&H and 416 Rem. are good choices for the big danurous game animules.
The same goes for the Win. Short Mag. you'll need too let then know just what you have to bring on the hunt, because there is nothing more troublesome then using there gun for the hunt, if you are under-gunned.

Answer 4

Congratulations!
Your PH will have a stopping rifle to keep you out of trouble, so you don't need a huge cannon for the big game, but it should be adequate, and the traditional (in some countries, legal minimum) caliber for them is the 375 H&H, which is also a nice caliber for brown bears. My personal dream is for a 450/400 3", and lots of folks prefer a 416 or 458 caliber rifle for big game. The big cats have been killed by 7mm Mausers by the truckload in the past, but I suspect your PH will prefer you use something a bit bigger if you can shoot it.

Answer 5

A 300 Mag or 338 will be plenty for hunting in AK.

I used to take a 22-250 deer hunting up there - until I lost a deer to a bear. I have since moved up to a 7mm 08.

Answer 6

My native guide at Point Barrow uses a .308 Bolt action Winchester. He hunts with it and has a huge polar bear stuffed at his lodge that he killed with it. He trusts his life and livelihood to a .308 so I got one too.

By the way he carrys a .357 s.s. colt python as a backup anytime he goes out.

You can spend a lot of money on "the caliber of the month" but stick with something in the .308 or 30-06 range.

Miketyson26

Answer 7

I seem to recall that to hunt in Africa their was a minimum size rifle caliber either 375 or 416 you might want to check that out

Answer 8

50bmg is overkill, altho it is a very effective round for large game, ammo is much less expensive than other large bore rifle ammo. A 577 tyranosaur would be, in my opnion, the best overall round for what you describe. Around 18 bucks a shot tho. If you were to get a 50bmg rifle, you realise it would weight upwards of 35 pounds? Unless you plan on shooting off a truck bed or hood, you won't be packing that rifle very far into the brush.

Answer 9

If you are rich enough to take 4 years off to hunt and fish, you can probably afford to consult with a specialist and not ask Yahoo answers.

Answer 10

Nothing less than a 458. Winchester same with Alaska. Get a S&W M29, 44magnum with a 4'' barell side arm with 250gr corbons you may need it