NitroX
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| 13/06/20 12:13 AM |
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Most Iconic Rifles and Cartridges from African Safaris
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https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/huntin...JrMzHna6OB_fjiw
The Most Iconic Rifles and Cartridges from African Safaris
Classic bullets and guns from the greatest big-game continent
By Ron Spomer
June 11, 2020
Dangerous game, like the Cape buffalo, drove development of big bore double rifles. Dangerous game keeps them relevant to this day.Ron Spomer
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NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 13/06/20 12:37 AM |
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Re: Most Iconic Rifles and Cartridges from African Safaris
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As I posted this on the NE fb group, posting it here.
So far I have used several iconic classic cartridges.
My first safari was with a .30-06 Parker Hale M98. Zimbabwe, also my honeymoon, 1994.
My second safari which included cape buffalo was with a .375 H&H Mag Whitworth M98. South Africa and Zimbabwe. 2001
My third hunting safari, included elephant, hopefully cape buffalo and plains game in Zimbabwe and Namibia,. 2006.
I brought two double rifles, my WJ Jeffery .450 No.2 Nitro Express, and also a 9.3x74R U/O double rifle. If the latter is not a classic African cartridge, it should be.
I also borrowed the Namibian PH's (Karl Stumpfe) Mauser 98 custom rifle in 8x68S to give it a try. Again that cartridge is now 71 years old I think. Not around in the golden safari years pre WW1 or between the wolrd wars but an excellent choice and not uncommon in South Africa and especially Namibia.
Next time, maybe in Mozambique, and hopefully will include cape buff, it will be a hard choice of my .450 NE again, plus maybe a .404 Jeffery Mauser. It can be good to have a scoped big bore in case one is forced to take a shot in a herd. Very carefully only choosing a shot if not other animals will be hit in front or behind if a pass through. And maybe a barrel for my own 8x68S.
Luggage weight is a damned nuisance these days often will no extra allowances.
| rigbymauser |
| (.400 member) |
| 17/06/20 01:06 AM |
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Re: Most Iconic Rifles and Cartridges from African Safaris
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Iconic for me would be the .577/450 and later .303.
More african game has been killed & wounded with these two calibers. In the german colonies the 8x57 has done it share too.
Before I ever heard about bore rifles calibers like .450express and.577express still stands clear from my early age.
My first encounted with .375 H&H was a gun artical from GD in the 1970s. Later in a danish gunshop they had a cartridgeboard with .375H&H and others I often looked at for a long time when visiting.
| DarylS |
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| 17/06/20 01:39 AM |
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Re: Most Iconic Rifles and Cartridges from African Safaris
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It's amazing how childhood remembrances of rifle ctgs. stays with us.
For me, growing up in South Western Ontario where the .22 LR stood supreme, I used to ask to look into the box of .32/20's that the hardware store had, thinking OH, SO Powerful.
Sorry, nothing to do with this thread, yet.
I also think of the .500 and .577 express ctg. when thinking of Iconic rounds of the past, but mostly the larger bore rifles, 8's and 4's.
Also, can never own one now, they're prohibited firearms since May 1st.
The .500 and .577Express, maybe, maybe not.