What Caliber For South Africa Plains Game?

[Justin Crossley]

I've been giving this some thought and figured I would ask some of you that have hunted South Africa.

If planning to hunt Impala, Blesbuck, Wildebeest, Gemsbuck, and Warthog what cartridge would you choose?

 

[robtattoo]

I'm pretty sure your PH will give you the info you really need, but I'd suggest .30-06 as a minimum,.300WM would probably be preferred, especially for Gemsbok.

 

[JGRaider]

I took my 7Mag on my 5 trips to Africa for plains game. It worked great with 160 AB's, and I intentionally shot through shoulder trying for heart shots. Wound up killing about 60 head including many gemsbok and wildebeest ( love cull hunts over there in Namibia), and a handful of kudu.

 

[robtattoo]

Lots of guys use smaller stuff, but let's not forget....y'aint trying to save the meat.

 

[jbspec]

.223

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Probably a 223 with 77 tmk's

 

[TxxAgg]

Any centerfire will do. Just remember their vitals are a bit different.

 

[General RE LEE]

308

 

[BjornF16]

@chamois should weigh in

 

[mt100gr.]

If one could get away with it, Africa would make a very nice sequel to 'gator's "TMK does AK"......

 

[BjornF16]

195 TMK will get the job done

 

[prm]

I used a 338 Federal. Worked great on 3 of the 5 listed. I also shot a Kudu and a Waterbuck.

 

[Reburn]

When we went last year we didnt take rifles as we were taking shotguns for guinea, franklin, duck and geese hunting. We used the guides guns. One was a 270 shooting nosler partitions and one a 300 win mag using barnes tipped tsx. So any 6.5, 270, 300 would be fine. They liked the solid coppers or heavy construction bullets as your generally punching shoulders.

Lots of guys use smaller stuff, but let's not forget....y'aint trying to save the meat.

Thats all we ate while we were there except for one night we had lamb. I didnt care for the eland liver but I dont like liver normally. Everything else, kudu, springbok, eland and wildebeast was all excellent. It was all prime cuts of tenders or backstrap. The trackers and skinners normally eat the rest of it. On the farm we were on nothing went to waste they were feeding 10 people and their families.

 

[jeffpg]

Tons of options here. I would start my answer with a question: "what do you have available to you?"

For the animals on your list, most any good medium sized deer cartridge will work, the bullet will likely be a more important selection than the cartridge.

The 7.08 Rem or .308 Win will work with the right bullet, but a 30.06 will work better, especially with a good 165-180 gr (or heavier) well constructed bullet such as the Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, Norma Oryx, just to name a few.
If I were at all concerned I would take a magnum in the 7mm to 30 caliber range, but ONLY IF you shoot it well and have a good bullet grouping tight. Shoot everything through the shoulders as the vitals are more forward.

I worked and hunted there for 4 years, taking over 100 different plains game and dangerous game animals with .223, 7mm Mauser, .270, 30.06, 300 Win Mag, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, as well as compound and cross bows. The critters there are built a little bit tougher, but they are far from bullet proof, and the key thing to remember is that the vitals are more forward.

The old warrior of a blue wildebeest that I hit too far back with the 30.06 took a bit of tracking to find, but the big kudu bull that took an arrow through both shoulders traveled a mere 34 steps before expiring.

 

[Dennis]

I use and like the 375 H&H for medium game in Africa.

 

[prm]

Also, rifles of the three PHs I hunted with were .308, 7x57, and 30-06. Each shooting heavy for cartridge.

 

[Red Letters]

African animal are tough, but the trackers are tougher, if you put a decent hit on an animal, they will find it. (Likely any kind of a hit)
That was one of the most amazing parts about hunting Africa, having a handful of trackers to spot and retrieve game is nothing short of amazing. They can follow the animal you are hunting, somehow picking out one set of tracks among all the others. They can spot game with their eyes that I had could barely see with great glass and their ability to cover ground on foot was close to magic. My PH would send them walking toward a mountain on the horizon if the animal we were after started to feel the pressure and leave, they would sometimes be what looked like miles away yet after I shot they were standing back with the group in an instant. I am not kidding a bit, their ability to cover ground is unbelievable, along with all the other task they are responsible for.
Take extra money and gifts for these guys, it is truly an experience you will appreciate.

edit: I took a 300 weatherby and a 243. The largest animal I shot was an Eland and I used the 243 for the tiny antelope like the Dik-dik.

 

[Happy Antelope]

I'm in Africa hunting every summer for about a month every year. It's been said above, but these animals are extremely tough. This is not like shooting an elk. I don't care who you are, animals will get lost If you don't hit the vitals. I've seen a 30-06 bullet stuck in the front shoulder of a sable shot from a 100 ydS, not one drop of blood. They recommend a 375 even for plains game and its the best choice for sure, but I definitely shoot a smaller caliber. I shoot a 7mm-08 which does get the job done With a well placed bullet. However I'm not gonna argue that that's what you should use, it's probably a poor choice to be honest. If it's your 1st trip I'd say take the biggest caliber you have. The animals are expensive and the last thing you want to do is spend 2 or 3 days tracking a wounded Zebra. Don't take a risky shot on an Eland, zebra or Wildebeast or you will never see it again. A high shoulder shot is absolute no man's land. The trackers there are definitely amazing, if it can be found they will find it.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm not limited to what I currently have since I'm going in 2025 and it's easy to have a barrel chambered for whatever I choose. That's if I choose something other than what I already have.

My PH recommends the 375 H&H but I would rather take a 6.5 personally. All the real-world experiences you guys have and can speak to are a big help so keep them coming.

 

[LoggerDan]

300 WinChester, 338 Winchester, 375 HH.