Jakebarr22
Well-Known Member
That’s his pet 
, he rescued 2 as the mother was found dead, thinks it’s a jack Russel
, he rescued 2 as the mother was found dead, thinks it’s a jack RusselFirst trip to Africa, pointers?
- Thread starter wildfowler.250
- Start date
9.3 or something of that size
To be clear, the PH did ask me all about what I have done before, experience etc before suggesting that a larger calibre would give me more options, provided I get used to shooting with it first.It’s the AGE OLD question…… what caliber
I am a former SA PH, been hunting since I was 4 years old.,..
Any outfitters that are more interested in a larger size caliber rather than asking about your personal shooting/ hunting experience isn’t worth his salt!!!!!!
SA doesn’t have a “minimum” legal caliber like the UK. My MOST favorite caliber till TODAY is my Sako L461 in .222 It’s ALL ABOUT SHOT PLACEMENT. I shot more Oryx than I could count with that!
Having said this I am no trophy hunter myself, I head shot for the pot
A .375 is a tremendously flexible choice that covers every base from Klippies to an Elephant and everything in between. 9.3s are excellent too but not quite so universal in some jurisdictions.
100%
One caveat: make sure you spend enough range time to get used to shooting that as competently as you shoot your domestic fox or deer rifle. You need to be as flinch-free and confident with the larger caliber as you are with the lesser ones.
And the range time practice should be with the specific ammunition you plan to use in Africa. Each cartridge I have tried in my .375 has a slightly different POI, recoil characteristic and terminal ballistics.
Paradoxically, a 300gr solid might be your preferred round for a smaller antelope so that the cape is undamaged. But you will probably use an expanding projectile for most PG and that may be at 250gr with entirely different drop data out to 200m w.r.t. the 300gr solid.
A Guy Out West
Well-Known Member
Have an animal in mind that you want to hunt but don’t tell your PH. Once you get there and have hunted a few days, tell your PH, if you make me a good deal, I’ll take a black wildebeest too. I discovered this by accident on a trip I made a few years ago. I saved a good bit on a Zebra that way. By the way, hunting for a Zebra was challenging and a lot of fun.
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys! So much information. All really helpful!
I’ve a .270 which I thought would be fine for the antelope species. Might be time to start weighing up a .30-06.
Just need to see what the imports are going to be like with this potential ban
I’ve a .270 which I thought would be fine for the antelope species. Might be time to start weighing up a .30-06.
Just need to see what the imports are going to be like with this potential ban
Jakebarr22
Well-Known Member
I Shot everything with a 270, no issues
Jon P
Well-Known Member
Friend took his .270 in 2019, he did take a bit of flack for it, however he did not have an issue on lots of plains game including zebra and oryx
moray loon
Well-Known Member
.270 is fine for plains game hunting, I used one on a couple of trips,150 grain bullets, no problem. The PH had one as well, he used 150 grain South African ammunition, I think the brand was PMP, it was good stuff.
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
I would have ‘thought’ it would be fine but it’s not great if you’re turning up and already on the back foot.
I wouldn’t have thought there was much difference between that and the .30-06 which seems popular enough.
Biggest thing for me over there would be range. 250m is fine. Beyond that I start to feel less comfortable. Possibly some range time but id rather try and get closer.
Jakebarr22
Well-Known Member
A good ph will get you into your comfortable range, if you’d like to speak to the Guys we hunt with they’ll answer any question you have
I have a question - have shot PG in SA.
Having just acquired a CZ550 in .375, what scope and mount recommendations would you have?
Have several scopes which I think would be fine on PG, 3-12x50 and dont really want DG...although its always nice to dream.
I will also be getting added to AOLQ in UK.
Having just acquired a CZ550 in .375, what scope and mount recommendations would you have?
Have several scopes which I think would be fine on PG, 3-12x50 and dont really want DG...although its always nice to dream.
I will also be getting added to AOLQ in UK.
Why do you think ranges will be long? Our longest shot was 75m?
Here is an example at about 30m
I use a 1.5-6x42 Zeiss Diavari but a 2.5-10 or 3-12 would also work well for PG.
Thank you
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
If you are shooting game on Safari at 250m/273 yards, you have either booked with the wrong Outfitter or it has all gone terribly wrong.
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
I prefer to get as close as possible. I’ve seen lots of 3-400 yard stuff on sprinbok etc on open ground which gave me the fear if I’m being honest.
Sounds like this isn’t the norm then
Not where we hunted on the Limpopo - Botswana border …. You were lucky to see 100 metres!
Attachments
100%. Stalking in close to quarry is an intrinsic part of fair chase IMO. Your PH will definitely attempt to do that.
But a piece of advice I was given a long time ago still rings true: you need to be prepared to deliver a follow-up shot. Quickly. And probably at greater distance than your first shot. Rehearse quick reloads. Train at longer distances.
And, for some, chasing the lesser antelope in the barren uplands of places like the Eastern Cape can mean that the first shot that presents may well be well beyond 100m. So, once again, prepare for the trip and the quarry/terrain/conditions in which you will be shooting.
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