If you were going out hunting what type of gun would you use?

Question

Let's say we're going on Safari in Africa for several weeks without contact with a town, with the goal of seeing as much wildlife as possible.

Obivously you'd need a gun to hunt food, everything from game birds to red meat. And as back up you'd need something in case you were cornered by a big cat (or similar pred). Bearing in mind the terrain would vary between wide open plains to rainforest with literally a few feet of visibility and barely enough room to swing a gun.

You were only allowed one gun.

Keeping all of this in mind, what would you go for? Rifle, shotgun, and what loading mechanism? What calibre or gauge? Remember you could be shooting anything from wildebeest to pigeons.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm surprised that many answerers haven't read any of the books by the old African hunters. You have lots of answers that can get you killed.
If you're at all likely to be in an area where the "big five" can be found in close cover, a shotgun, even a Paradox, is simply not enough. You need at least a large medium-bore rifle if you're going to be in close cover, and the minimum would be a 450/400 double. A classic 450 or some such would be even a little better. It's a bit ridiculous for shooting pigeons, but nothing you shoot pigeons with is going to stop a Cape buffalo charge, and I like my body intact. The idea of becoming a little red mud puddle is not to my liking.
The double rifles, of course, are frightfullly expensive, so most people use bolt-actions, but the actions are shorter, and they point more naturally, so they're definitely best for the African thick stuff.
I suspect you're being a bit of a devil with your question, but if it really is for straight information, I'd suggest you read some of the classics of the genre, beginning with John Taylor's "African Rifles and Cartridges." He wasn't much of an authority on cartridges, but his vast hunting (and poaching) experience can't be ignored.
Oh, and I have a drilling in 12ga/12ga/8x57IR, and it would be great for pot-shooting within limitations, but it won't save your hide, and it's bulkier than I usually like to carry around all day.

Answer 2

I hunt Africa some and I normally use a .458 Lott Mag. I use this rifle because its one of the better rounds for Buffalo & other Dangerous game. If you have ever been to Africa then you know that the big cats are not you only problem in the wild plains.

If I had to choose one firearm to defend, hunt, and carry, it would be a Drilling. More specificly, a combination rifle made for this purpose. I had the pleasure of using one not long ago and it simply is the best way to go in Africa. These firearms have the ability to chamber 2 or 3 different rounds for whatever might come you way. Here is a link to a fine maker.

http://www.drillinghotline.com/double.shtml

You could have a 12ga for your birds, a 22-250 for most anything under 150lbs, and a .458 Lott or 500 Nitro Express for those animals you either want to hunt, or want to stay away from. Lions, Elephant, Rhino, Leapard, and Buff's are all stopped by the bigbores like the 500 NE and .458 Lott.

I really dont see any other choice as the answer to your question. Many people have been doing just that for many years in Africa and theres no better way !

Good Luck & Happy Shooting !!!!!

Heres some others you may like:

http://doublegunshop.com/merkel_gsi_doubleguns_shotguns_rifles_drillings_1.htm

http://www.purdey.com/expressdouble.php

http://www.hallowellco.com/holland%20DR%20shotgun%20set.htm

Answer 3

I would carry one of those combination guns that have 2 barrels 1 rifle the other shotgun.

They usually come in classic calibers so i would go with a 30-30 as the rifle and a 12 gauge as the shotgun.

All medium game could be shot with the 30-30 and birds and small critters could be shot with the shot gun.

As for those that said sub machine gun are AK - good luck to you. Even Elephant guns struggle at bringing down elephants some times.

And if you got on the bad of some big, you could carry some specialty/custom Solid rounds cause they have awesome stopping power.

Answer 4

"You were only allowed one gun. "

Then I'd stay home. Anyone going on a trip like that with only one gun belongs in a loony bin! There are too many things that can happen to render a gun unusable, and you just can't expect one gun to be perfect for all game. You want to try shooting francolin for the camp pot with the same gun you shoot elephant? Not me brother!

I'd want to take three rifles and a shotgun for birds.

I'd want a Winchester Model 1886 in .45-70 Gov't loaded with Garrett Cartridge Company 540 gr. Hammerheads, a Winchester Model 70 Safari Grade in .375 H&H Magnum, my Browning BLR in .358 Winchester, and my Fox Model B SXS 12 gauge for birds.

If for some reason I were absolutely forced to make a one gun safari, I'd opt for the Winchester Model 1886 and a selection of heavy loades from Garrett Cartridge company, some light bullet express loads from Winchester or Remington, and some light round-ball loads for shooting birds on the ground.

Doc Hudson

Answer 5

I would want a .460 Weatherby Magnum. It should be able to handle anything you come across. Dont bother shooting the birds, just worry about the medium sized game for food. For the size of African animals, you want a lot of bang and a lot of punch. I would take nothing less, unless I knew I was going to have a guide with me well armed. If that was the case, I might step down to a .375 H&H, but no less.

As for those suggesting Uzi's, and AK's....I would love to see what a 50 round mag, full auto, would do to a charging rhino, water buffalo, elephant, lion..... All I have to say to you is "nice knowing ya"

Answer 6

in case you utilize a .22 long rifle be careful of the place you're shooting because of the fact the bullets will return and forth over a mile, yet a .22 would be extra difficult and get the job achieved besides. A 20 ga is likewise a solid decision and could be a effective wager on coons. you additionally can use a 12 ga yet do no longer use any genuine huge shell a lot for that because of the fact it can be a splash overkill.

Answer 7

An old school answer to your question is a Drilling. Popular in Europe and used on Safari's in Africa. Drilling's can solve that problem in aces. Different calibers and even a shotgun in one firearm. They are made in any configuration as ordered by the customer usually. There are 3 barreled drilling's and others.They all are break down like a shotgun.
These firearms are specialty Items and are not cheap, but hey, you ask.

Answer 8

30-06 is the number one hunting round the world over from africa to america to england and so on.

Answer 9

The natives make do with spears and bows and arrows,get you self a good guide to save your a**, and a large caliber rifle to shoot your game, stay safe.

Answer 10

I would take a shotgun, probably a pump like a mossberg 500, due to its easy cleaning and reliability not to jam since its a pump. my ammo would range from birdshot for birds and small fast moving game. for big game id take brenneke sabots, because you can run them through smoothbore shotguns. Also you could take along a rifled barrel to further increase the accuracy of the sabots, one with iron sights