load for african game?

[poncaguy]

My shoulder is really hurting now looking at these pictures......

[Cottonwood]

:twisted: We sure have fun shooting the BIG Bores.. :twisted:

[Fred M]

The Montanan

All you big guys with the iron glad shoulders are welcome to shoot the big bores they are indeed fun to shoot. But so is a 6ppc in a 10.5 lbs gun that shoots 5 times 5 shots in  to a tiny 1/8 moa hole at 100 yards.

There is a big hype by the gun writers about using big magnums to shoot Spring Bock in Africa. Wonder how K.Bell got along shooting truck loads of the biggest game with a 7x57. and this government hunter culling Buffs with a 223.

The need for really big magnums is mostly dictated by very poor shooting.
Besides I don't consider a  45-70 a big gun, not when you can shoot it in a handgun. But of course there are bigger ones. But no matter how big the gun you need to put that bullet where it counts.

Thar Bear tooth bullet looks like business  

[poncaguy]

I can handle my 15" ported 45-70 Contender pistol better than my 45-70 Handi. Haven't tried the Handi yet with the Choate stock on it yet though, the pistol grip sure helps on my Handi 308 with the Choate stock owith recoil.

[Phoneman]

Lots of good info here guys Thanks. Let me give you my stats and then we can work on a cartrige that will kill the animal and not me. I'm 5'8" and wiegh 140lbs. Not the biggest bear in the woods. just the meanest. I do a-lot of physical labor and work outside all year round in the northern part of illinois. hot and cold don't bother me and I do lots of hiking and running around in the woods. I don't mind carrying a heavy gun for long periods of time. (young and dumb)
  Now the 35 whelen really has my interest. since H&R only made about 400 of them it's safe to bet I won't find one anytime soon. so what about making one?
  On the other hand I doubted the 30-06 and it's capabilities. enough people have posted and the ballistic charts show that it would be enouph gun for the type of game I'm after. Should I settle for that since I don't have a-lot of use for a 35 whelen? I know the 06 is very versitile. and can take down any game in north america.
  and the 45-70 is a very good cartridge. but I want something that shoots a little flatter.
   Cover your eyes. Blasphemy coming            I might just settle on my





muzzleloader.


There are so many choices. I think my wife would divorce me if I decided on all of them.

[Mac11700]

Sounds like you got a major case of What to do...What to do...don't feel bad...it happens to all of sooner or later.

Just what exactly do you want to hunt with the rifle...or...is it something more...like wanting something exotic...You can take any critter in the world with a 30-06 and the right bullet...but...depending on where and what  you hunt...it may not be legal to do so...like in Africa...sure...the poachers over there shoot enough ak rounds or 308 rounds into what their after and it finnaly succumbs...and yes...Bell did use smaller calibers..at one time...but he changed his mind and went much larger...

The 35 Whelen is a great round...so to is the 9.3x62...both would work rather well...and if a 95lb 5'4" little lady I know can shoot a 338 Winmag and a  375 H&H all the time(she in the Safaria Club International for book animals)...I don't think any cartridge we have discussed so-far will hurt you as much...

Here's what I would use in a Handi over there...if I don't have a 375-06 or a 9.3x62 built...



Why??? because it will work on any critter from whitetails up... with the right bullet...and work well.....

You want exotic...well it may not be as much as the 9.3x62 or the 375-06 is..but it sure is purty and shoots good :-D

For pure and simple fun though...a 45-70 with the right bullets will work great...granted...it's not as flat shooting...but...if your paying a PH to get you close enough...and you got the cahoonies to make the shot...it will work just as good...heck...it's been working for over a hundred years with out much problem...and it only gets better every year with all the new powders and bullets being made...and I wouldn't hesitate to try my hand at a 150-200 yard shot with the Nosler 300 grain partitions...at 2400 fps...they are flat enough and tough enough to do the job on the smaller plains game...

I would think a 32" BC barrel bobbed back to 26"-28"..would be just right...wring out all the velocity you can...and have a real nicely balenced rifle...put on a 1x to 6x scope in Leupold's QWR's...some lead in the stock...a limbsaver pad...a good cheek piece...and your ready to rock and roll...this too is one of many projects I have planned...I'm sick...it's a addiction and it's catching......:oops:  :oops: so.. pay me no mind...or you'll catch it too.. :-D    :-D

Mac

[Markus]

I plan on hunting Africa too one day and my dream is to do it with a 45-70