In the late 1960's an old timer showed me his vast collection of his trophies that he'd taken with his 30-06, from moose and bear, and all other large game in North America. He was, of course, a hand loader.

I'm from south africa, in my experience the most populat are: .270 , .243 , 30-06 , 303 british , 6mm mauser , 300 win mag, and most popular is .308 . Also an interesting fact, the use of suppressors has become the norm for the majority of hunting here in SA

I just saw this 3 year old video. Many of the "classics" that could or should have been included in the list have already been mentioned by other commenters. The only one I didn't see was the 6.5x55 Swede which when hand loaded up to its real potential will out class the 6.5 Creedmoor. The same can be said for the 7x57 vs the 7mm-08 when loaded in a standard or medium length action such as my Kar. 98. The gentleman I got my 9.3x62 from grew up hunting in Africa. He now lives in the U.S. but still hunts in Africa and arranges Safaris. He has taken two Cape Buffalo with the 9.3x62 or the European 375 as he says they call it over there in recent years. He also told me he has taken a lot of plains game up to the size of Eland at reasonable distances with the 275 Rigby using 175 grain bullets. For young viewers the 275 Rigby is the same as 7x57 Mauser. When he told me that I was a little skeptical but when checked the latest Nosler #9 manual and plugged the numbers into the Shooters Calculator I was amazed. Both the Long Range Acccubond BC .648 and the Partition BC .519, both with sectional density of .310 show really good ballistics. When sighted dead on at 250 yard both reach their apex about 4.5" above the line of sight at 150 yards before falling to about 4.5" low at 300 yards with over 2000 ft lbs remaining energy. Not as flat shooting as some of the other numbers but pretty amazing for a cartridge that's over 125 years old. With all the above here I will quote from Jack O'Connor. Although Jack was known for his affinity for the 270 Winchester, he hunted with many different cartridges from relatively small to large. In his Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns he wrote (paraphrased here) " If I could have only one rifle to hunt the world over it would be a 375 H&H Magnum. If I were allowed a second, it would be a 270 Winchester". Happy hunting boys and girls!😊

When I see “best African cartridges” I am automatically assuming we are talking about cape buffalo, lions, hippos, elephants etc. for those, especially hippos, elephants, and cape buffalo, you need a massive, heavy tough bullet. Plains game, leopards, etc, they are built about the same as your typical North American game, so use your favorite deer rifle cartridge for them.

I agree it's more fun hunting with the classics in Africa. The 30-06 has a long history including TR who gave it rave reviews and Earnest Hemingway who killed a lion plus a one shot kill on a running rhino at 300 yds. The 375 H&H is another fun one designed specifically for Africa. To me a classic hunt requires a class rifle and cartridge as long as it's practical.

I took 10 plains game animals in SA including Eland with a 30-06. Shot placement is everything. A good solid stalk and a well placed shot is the best. And no stalk is more humbling than a stalk in Africa.

Blood loss...that sums it up. Thanks, guys for a very sensible summary on calibers.

7x57 mm and 6.5x55mm has always been great African guns.

If you are going to Africa use the original Africa caliber by Otto Bock, 9.3x62, best allround caliber anywhere ;-) You know how it is, there are as many opinions on ammo and calibers as there are hunters and shooters. As you also know, it is more important where you hit than with what you hit. Be safe out there.

Take the 375 H&H magnum. Works for everything!!!!

MAN I LOVE your channel ... always looking forward to your videos 👍

338 win mag. History, heritage, and amazing performance!

50 years of shooting in Africa and Australia...7x57. Its nice to shoot, feeds perfectly and stops as hard as anything under a 338. You can shoot it all day and not have to go to the doctor. And you can buy some absolutely beautiful classic hunting rifles like Mauser, Mannlicher, Rigby or Wessley Richards in that calibre. You spend $60k on a decent car, right? If your passion is hunting, spend $5k or even 10 on something collectible that will appreciate and has a colourful history of ownership. Who can be proud of a 308 Remington 700 with a plastic stock? Please.

I truly enjoyed the back and forth over these fantastic cartridges. Thank you for the information and your experiences. I am looking forward to bringing my .300 win mag on my first African safari this coming May.

They disagreed and it remained civil, respectful and downright friendly. What a novel concept these days.. Dig it. Great episode.

Wow. Reasonable and logical. No wonder there aren’t more views🤔

Great job Ron!!

Ron, I know you dream of .308 Wins 🤣 Only jokes! I am a hunter based in South Africa and shoot a .308 but you both are spot on here, all of the cartridges listed will do the job. Shoot what you are comfortable shooting, and remember, there is not substitute for accuracy! (And good quality bullets...) Great show! Keep it up

Great video, thanks! It seems we’re quick to reach for our pitchforks and torches if we don’t see our favorite cartridges included. It’s got to tough being a gun writer.

I'd take the 300 H&H magnum all day long with the nosler partition bullet . Easy on the shoulder,smoothest feeding round ever,and holds its own with the other 30 caliber magnums .velocities are modest and won't wear your barrel out fast And is an all around great and efficient hunting cartridge still to this day ..not to mention was the 1000 yd Wimbledon champion . You can't argue with success

I like this Richard Mann. Seems to be a cool guy!

Always enjoy your show

Great conversation enjoyed it. I don't have near the experience of different calibers as you but I have hunted big game now for 43 years . My rifles for Big Game are 6mm Rem. .264 Win Mag & 300 H&H Mag all with reloads the last 40 years. Only gun I ever sold was a .270 Win . Not because of the cartridge but the rifle jammed on me, lost faith in it. Yes I like Bob Hagel books. Now days If I had to choose just one it would be either a .280 Rem or 7mm Rem Mag. I use to want to go to Africa now days I just want to go West, love the Country. TC

The best cartridges for Africa is .30-06 for flat, and .375H for closer, dense bush, but both could do the others job. Best bet, if you're coming to Africa for the first time and you're wondering what two rifles to bring , I would suggest a .375H&H, and whatever one you use to hunt deer , boar, or any medium sized medium skinned game. The 375 H, Ruger, is optimal as just one rifle to bring, so is the the .30-06,. 300Win or H&H.....270Win as well, .308Win,.243Win...as long as you can place it with a well constructed bullet, of quality. Anyway, I've just repeated what 100s of 1000s of authors and outfitters have already stated. Bottom line, for Africa, a .375H and .30-06 is the best bet, but you have to be trained on the ones that YOU bring with.

I shoot an 8mm rem mag. If you shooting anything smaller Buffalo you can't go wrong, also nice to go to range and have something different. And no the recoil is not bad, and if you are struggling with recoil just put a mercury damper in the back.

Hi Ron. Great choise 7x57. Great cartridge. My oldest brother shot alot of white tail bucks with that in 140 horady back in the early eighties. One day I'll own a featherweight in that rig.

A big shotgun fan. Close quarters is my preference. I use 600gr 3” magnum slugs rated for grizzly and Buffalo.

I love talks like this. My friend told me it was the Indian, not the arrow that matters most.

My favorite is the 338x57. Great ballistics, 200 gr bullet excellent choice for most large game and little recoil.

I had a 375 H&H magnum and I couldn’t detect much more recoil than my .30-06. Sure made a louder boom though. Everyone at the range was interested in it, but didn’t want to shoot it.

If you are coming to Africa to hunt don't forget the other two classic cartridges, the 9.3x62 Mauser and the .303 British. These two are over 100 years old and still doing the business. Great to see Ron still hunts with the grandfather of most cartridges the 7x57 Mauser. The 30.06, 308, 7x08, 257 Roberts, 6mm Remington are all necked down or increased case length of the 7x57.

Exactly my opinion! What use 4000 foot-pound of energy, if the animal gets 1000 and 3000 hit the dirt behind it? Hit the right spot and every bullet puts everything in the freezer! Sorry for my bad english! Greetings from Germany 😊

I don't own a rifle in .30-06 simply because my first centre-fire rifle was in .270 Win. and I didn't see the point in acquiring a .30-06 when it's so similar to the .270. A few years later I wanted something with more oomph so I got a .300 Win Mag. A few more years went by and I wanted something with less oomph so I got a .243 Win. With those three rifles I figured I had almost all of North American big game hunting down pat. I still do. Apart from dangerous game, I'm sure the .300 Win Mag would be perfect for hunting Africa. The .300 Win Mag has no problem dropping the largest of moose so I'm sure it will handle the largest of "plains game" such as Eland.

So valid, very good

Finally! A common sense video on cartridges for Africa. If I ever get to go back to Africa I will be taking a 7x57 with 156grn Norma Oryx and a 9.3x62 with 250grn Nosler Accubonds (286grn partition and solid if Buffalo are on the menu). Recoil sucks, i don't like magnums, and on my last trip my .270 Win worked fine, i just want more bullet weight nowadays. You don't need to get the crap pounded out of you by a big belted magnum. Don't get me wrong, if I were only chasing dangerous game i would carry a bigger rifle but it would be a .404 Jeffery with a reflex sight.

I stay in the middle - 300 H&H mag!

Can’t believe he was allowed to hunt a Gemsbok with a 243 in Africa. Will have to take your word for it. 😳

I used a Ruger No. 1 9.3x74R in S Africa. Caught some grief from other Hunters at the lodge for "bringing a single shot on a hunt like this"... went on to take 8 animals in 8 shots the largest a Cape Eland. No slugs were recovered, which surprised my PH as others in camp shooting 375 H&H and 375 Ruger routinely recovered slugs. Suffice to say in my experience the 9.3x74R greatly outperforms what the paper data shows. As a post script the loudest critic of my single shot went on to loose 4 animals and go through over 3 boxes of ammunition on his hunt scheduled for 7 animals... a bit cheeky on my part I know but poetic justice as I see it....😁

We are lucky to have so many choices

One Caliber that I had not seen in the comments yet that works for us in Alaska no matter what game it is from Caribou, Moose, to Kodiak is the 35 Whelen AI. I would expect it would work for game in Africa as well even though I have not had the pleasure to experience that wonderful country yet. The recoil is very manageable and you don't end up ruining your game like some of the magnum cartridges I've witnessed . We do reload since the rifle has an Ackley Improved chambering. Perhaps the discussion was not to include wildcat cartridges, which I would understand, but the 35 Whelen is proven non the less.

My brother in law hunts in Africa and Russia, he takes a 30-06 and a 9.3x62 both in a Mauser action .

Ive been fretting for weeks, literally, over which of my rifles to take to Limpopo. What i concluded was A: Im spoiled rotten for choices, and B: Take the one that i can shoot the best. Thanks for confirming, Mr. Ron!

A while back, there was a CZ in 9.3x62mm on the shelf at a nearby shop. The guys working there had no idea what it was. I had to explain to them that it hit about as hard as a 338 Winchester or 375 H&H and had been used to kill every big game species on the planet. It’s still legal for dangerous game species in a few countries. With good quality bullets, is 0.009” in diameter, a 4% decrease in velocity and 5% decrease in the mass of the bullet going to matter if the shot is well placed? Doubtful. I don’t think a Cape buffalo is going to feel slighted for being shot with a 9.3 vs a 375. What’s probably being overlooked is the number of hunters who show up unable to shoot well in a stressful situation.

First . Thanks great presentation.

I’ve shot kudu and zebra with a TSX bullet out of a 257 Wby in the Eastern Cape. But you have to pick your shots. For general PG hunting I’d go with a 300 Win. A good friend of mine, Mike Kibble really likes to see his hunters with a 30 caliber. And the terrain comes into play, Namibia is where you can take some long shots. I like a 338 RUM there.

Richard Mann’s comment that the .308 & 30-06 are the same it so disappointingly wrong. Anyone ever see 220gr loads for the .308 on the retailers shelves? Anyone ever reload? Kinda weird all the choices for the 30-06 verses the limited bullet configurations for the 308.

9.3x62 all day, because im a rebel

If these two Hunters got fantastic rifles in there least favorite cartridges and that was all they could hunt with for two seasons, they would learn to use the round effectively and love the cartridge! Ron the .308win is a fantastic cartridge. Enjoy!

I can't believe Ron didn't go with his fave 7mm rem mag!

I would go with the Mauser Stutzen in .416 Rigby with the second barrel in .338 Lapua

I'm surprised that the .303 British didn't come up in this discussion considering that they talked about classics. If you want to go further back, there's the .450 Martini Henry.

i luv my 338 win mag id take it less recoil than the 300 win mag and 7mm mag now id like to try the 7mm 08 . ive got a 6.5 creed luv it xtremly accurate you guys are rite tho get a cartridge that you shoot good and pick a tough bullet for your game then hunt it down cause bullet placement means everythang !

South Africans love their 308's and shoot everything with it including eland some game ranches don't allow the 243, study shot placement lots of people seem to shoot to var back and to high if you have confidence in your rifle you will do well use strongly constructed bullets accubonds interbonds or Barnes X on the bigger animals you need penetration.

30-06. You can find it everywhere. 120 grain to 220 grain. Im the kind of guy who forgets ammo on trips.

Nice video mate thanks for taking the time to make it just wanted to know what is the best option to take to Africa with me and my friend keep in mind I have Blaser R8 in 8x57IS and 7x57 do I need any other Calibre for big game,my friend taking he's 300 win mag and 9.3x74r what is your best suggestions thanks in advance Romeo Australia

8x68s is also a very good choice

You put the 6.5 Creedmoor up there but not the 270 Win? Wow!

375 H&H and 308 for my 2 rifles 375 for dangerous game and 308 plains game

Haven't been myself but know someone who has hunted in South Africa many times he swears by the 6.5x55.

May be an unpopular opinion... and I love 300wm and 308 but even if I'm going for Plains game I would go 375 h&h but I'm also a handloader.. and its easy to down load cartridges. A 232gr pill down loaded to 2500fps works great then if you need more go to a 260gr and 2750 and you got it and if you need more go 300gr at 2525 etc.. I do hear a lot of people say that the 375 is too much recoil but I don't feel anymore from that then a light weight 30-06. Everyone handles recoil differently I suppose. But I'd take 375.. better to have and not need, then need and not have.

for me, the small rifle would be my 6.5 Creedmore with 129 gr Nosler Accubond LR's (they go out my bbl at 2830 fps), and the big rifle would be a downloaded .375 H&H, loaded with Hornaday's 225 gr Interlocks, @ about 2700 ftsecnds....plenty guns ....i shot a nice big forked horn Blacktail 2 years ago with the Creed, @ 252 yards (ranged on my Sig), straight thru the heart, and out the other side, it took a rib out on exit...you could eat right up to the holes....I think that bullet is still goin'.....with the PROPER bullets, the Creedmore has a hellova lot more goin for it than most think, but YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT !!!!

Hearing Americans complain about .416 kicking too hard absolutely kills me, I mainly agree with your other points but come on guys, I’m 16 and I’ve shot .416 and it really isn’t that bad, as a matter of fact, my 15 year old 5’8 dance partner owns 2 and even she goes out and shoots them often and she handles it like it’s nothing, and it doesn’t effect your accuracy, only if your scared of it and you think of the kick whilst trying to aim, people love to complain about kick that they get themselves worked up, it really isn’t that bad

What's cheapest and most common? .308? Any news on the US Army's new 6mm intermediate cartridge? Has that hit the shelves yet? Seems like that one's going to be very accurate and great for hunting

How well would 45-70 work in these scenarios

The problem with taking a light caliber rifle is that you may be hunting Spring Bucks and Impala... And then out of the bush comes a charging Water Buffalo. The Buffalo eats your 243 and stomps you into a puddle.

Ron, One day I will make it to Africa, it's part of my bucket list, LOL! Whenever I make the trip, my M-70 7x57 is coming with me. If Mr Bell used it for elephants, it should be just fine for anything on hooves. Cape buffs, well, it depends on how lucky I'm feeling that day... Maybe not, they don't seem to have a great sense of humor! Shot placement, every time!

Still swear by my 35 Whelen. Has a bit of kick. But man it will knock down just about anything.

Tbh, depending on the game species, I'd stick with a 30-06 since that covers pretty much everything. Maybe bring a smaller gun if I'm gonna do duiker and maybe see if the camp has a 375 for eland as they are dummy thicc

Here in the states, we're very opinionated and somewhat narrow minded in our likes and dislikes. Yes, a 375 H&H is a marvelous cartridge, but most people will have an issue with recoil AND buying a new rifle, though fun, is an expense you don't need. In Africa, all over Africa, and in the opinion of people who have actually been PH's and writers, the 9.3x62 is a phenomenal cartridge. John "Pondoro" Taylor, Finn Aagaard, Greg Woods and many others sang the praise of the cartridge. In some countries like Zimbabwe, it is illegal to use a 35 Whalen on Cape Buffalo, but you can use that workhorse 9.3x62. You're approaching the 375 in power, but it doesn't recoil nearly as much. People can shoot a cartridge they're not afraid of.

25-06

My dad hunts whitetail with his 30-06 with 220 grainers

I use my son’s 7mm-08 for pigs and deer here in south Texas. Drops them graveyard dead. All about shot placement.

Who makes your hat? I like it!

My 300wm has not let me down yet.

The best caliber is the one the rifle you currently have or plan to buy, is chambered in.

i have been thinking about the 375 ruger mossberg makes a affordable rifle in that cartridge what is your opion on that set up

There are two things I trust one is overkill on the other his experience. I want to talk to people that know what they’re talking about specially old guys but I still trust overkill more.

Can you use a semi auto for plains game?

Sir, who makes your hat in this video.?

I shoot big bores because I enjoy them and because I can...but three words really sum it up: Taylor, Bell and Corbett. If more evidence was needed we could add O'Connor to that twice...270 for Jack and 7x57 for Eleanor. My Great Grandfather was a corn farmer in Iowa. He carried a model 70 in 257 Roberts on his tractor from about the time they came available. Woe unto any coyote or jack rabbit who crossed his path. Pop spent his teens and early twenties in Alaska but never harvested grizzly or brown bear. He saved his money and went back at the age of sixty and brought that beat up M70 with him. Took a nice brownie in Kodiak care of Mssrs. Winchester and Nosler. It probably helped that he and the gun were practically one. I am 60 now...maybe in a few years I will wise up, maybe not although I will confess that my favorite bolt gun is a 1903 Mannlicher Shoenauer in 6.5x54. Kills elk pretty dead. Placement and bullet construction are everything...but I think you said that. Great conversation. Cheers!

Longest accurate range bolt action rifle and cartridge to take an African Bull elephant?

What about the old 9.3x62mm Mauser? If it's legal and you can bring one gun for buffalo and plains game? I do like the 7mm-08, in my opinion it's everything the 7x57mm Mauser Should be. Hell I like both cartridges, in fact Jack O'Connor had nothing but great things to say about the 7x57mm. I think he would've held the 7mm-08 in the same regard.

That's fine if you don't come across the big 5 or dangerous game.. but if there's a 1percent chance of crossing a charging Buffalo or hippo, I want the .416

I am a big fan of the 7x57 Mauser and the 9.3x62 Mauser. The 9.3x62 can handle the largest Plains game species and where legal Buffalo. I have never been a .308 fan except in the US M14 RIFLE. Everyone has their personal favorites and many of them can give good service on the plains game animals. Its been said that the old .303 British has killed and equally also wounded more game in Africa than any other cartridge, probably as a result of shooting all manner of big game including the dangerous species. On the mean stuff I like the .375 H&H But myself feel the .416 Remington Magnum is superior for the dangerous game species but shooting it effectively is the key regardless of the caliber.

What moose are you shooting that are that light

Must be Eric’s dad from Moss Pawn and Gun.

Many people only see 6.5CM as a target round but it is VERY versatile.

50gr, 55gr, and75gr 5.56x45, 117gr 25-06remington or 100gr, and .303britsh 150gr. is what I shoot. Although the .303britsh not more then a few shots, recoil sensitivity is big problem for me.

Was ok with everything till he said the .308 is the shorter better version of the 30-06. IMHO that comment is out to lunch.

378. Weatherby mag will work

For hunting any of the big 5 in SouthAfrica you are not allowed to use anything below a 375.

i am very new to a 7x57R in my combo gun ,i wander if it okay for a moose and big black bears?

The 8x57IRS kills warthogs efficiently. For leopards, the 9,3x74R is a good choice. I also like the 7x57 and the 6,5x57.

For first timers comming on a non dangerous game hunt, bring your favorite deer rifle. And please, leave the Weatherby Magnums at home. Almost every PH I know has had a husband and wife pair, where the husband botched a few shots with his super ultra what ever magnum, and the wife shot everything cleanly with a little old 308 or similar. Know your rifle, shoot it well, use quality ammunition, leave manly egos aside and you'll have a great hunt.

I would say for eland 308 minimum calibre also alot of places wont alow you to hunt with a 243 unles your shooting small game. Any calibre in 260 to 300 wm is good for our animals but remember you don't alwayse get a good broadside shot and sometimes you don't make the best shot placement, and that is where bigger calibres do much better. For instance if you make a dodgy lungshot on a blue wildebeest with a 243/6.5 vs with 30.06/300 wm you'll see the smaller calibres the animal can be lost very easily especially if it ran in a herd. A eland is very tough so a bad shot with a small gun will almost guarantee a lost animal where if you used a 375 hh you probably find it

Sounds like there’s a story behind the 7mm-08

Probably 7 08 for a 1 gun option. 7mm has heavier bullet options than 6.5 creed and faster twist than 308.

7 mag

Richard Mann, my Mountaineer Man. My choice is two rifles: .30-06 with two different loadings, 165 grain and 180 grain loads for the lighter game and a .375 H&H Mag with 300 grain or even the Woodleigh-Weldcore in 350 grain loading for buff and elephant. In my dreams. If I had to keep to one weapon it would be the .375 H&H. I can load the lighter Speer 235 grain bullet all the way to the 350 grain W-W for diversity of situations.

You mentioned the 7-08 would work, does that mean 7mm remington magnum would work just fine?