NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 27/08/16 03:45 AM |
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Re: The all-round African rifle
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Quote:
The all round Africa rifle, a 450-400? I'm not too sure I agree. There seems to be a myth that African animals are bullet proof, pretty sure they are not. Today 90% of your safari and 100% of most safaris would be plains game, a 30-06 or similar will tip all that over. Yes it would be nice to take a 450-400 and the romantics are there for sure. But lets be honest you would handicap yourself taking just a 450-400 double on safari.
I find that increasingly it is hard to take as much weight in checked luggage as in the past and two rifles plus ammo is becoming more difficult. One trip the excess luggage to Africa cost more a fortune taking two double rifles, a 9.3x74R and a .450. Increasingly I may take only a single rifle and seek for it to do everything.
As I like doubles a .375 DR would be ideal provided I was confident it could be used for plains game accurately at great enough range. And confident the bigger stuff could be handled well.
For any elephant hunt, I much prefer a .450 and probably would take it and a second rifle for longer range shooting. I am not confident about longer shots with the .450. I should practice with it and seek to determine my and the rifles limitations at longer shots at paper. To be assured at what ranges consistent hits can be made on say a 12 inch circle.