If you were going on a safari hunting trip what gun would you bring?

Question

No stupid stuff like an AK or a LAW!

Answer 1

mrs death makes a good choice.

Generally anything under 375 H&H calibre and power(and 400cal in some places) is illegal for safari hunting if you include thick skinned game, though concessions are made for people who use the 9.3 calibres well. Of course once you are over there the guide might let you use what you want.
generally though the most common choice is the 375 H&H bolt action and more powerful elephant guns(450, 500,577 cal etc) are a matter of personal preference.

The ideal requirements for a bullet to kill thickskinned dangerous game are considered a velocity of 2000fps or more and a bullet with a sectional density of .300 or more, and once again calibres over 375 or 400. This prevents most of the handgun and lever action catrdiges being used since their bullets are much shorter for calibre, thereby, all else being equal give much less satisfactory penetration than a rifle.

The lighter and faster 'elephant guns' such as the 375, 375/404, 416 wby etc are better all round choices if smaller game will be taken with the rifle too. Such as lion or antelope species at longer ranges where you need better trajectory.

My own choice would be a 585 nyati based wildcat, not because I needed that much power, but because I worked on the developement of one of these calibres and would like one day to see them in action on big game.

Answer 2

A Winchester Model 70, Control Round Feed in 375 H&H.

Answer 3

On the light side a 375 H&H @4265 /4340 muzzle energy and a step up a 375 Rem Ultra Mag @5041/5073 muzzle energy. Next the 416 Rem Mag @ 4262/4935/5115 muzzle energy, 416 Rigby @ 5115 ME w/410gr. SP/FMJ
Now the BIG 45s, 458 Win Mag @ 4740/5031/4620/4712 ME, 458 Lott 5873 ME.

For me the 416s from Remington work just fine.

Answer 4

My latest project on the loading bench has been 9.3x62, so I'd have to take it. For larger game, I think it's way cool that the 450/400 3" is back in commercial production, and I know where I can get my hands on a Martini so chambered, though I dream of a double.

Answer 5

I would bring a CZ 550 in .416 Rigby, or .458 Lott

Answer 6

I'm thinking the 375 ruger for DG
(a shorter action 375 H&H or so I read )
a 35whelen for non DG plains game
I think both are interesting

Answer 7

A .338 Win mag with a Leupold 6x.

Answer 8

A little like asking:

I'm going golfing, which club should I take ?"

depends on what you're after- only one target or perhaps
a secondary choice as well [ antelope and zebra, for example.]