The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I really fancied a 9.3x74r double for boar and the like but i think i am going to go with a 338 ferderal bolt gun after all ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/African-Game-Tr ... 1589760069

He calls himself a naturalist, forget that bit. However the book itself mentions hunting rifles.

I had a Sako TRG in .416 Rem Mag which I took to Namibia for Plains game (I couldn't afford the big 5).
Kudu, Gemsbok and everything else just fell over - no tracking them for miles.
I used cast boolits over here for practice and shot it at the BSRC at Bisley.
I sold it to my pal who fancies using it in South Africa.
BTW - I got it cleared to use on Reds in Scotland - that took a lot of negotiating! This meant I could buy expanding bullets for it on my FAC, this is always a problem for these big calibres.
I now have a .416 Rigby on my RFD which I can play with now and then.

tackb wrote:I really fancied a 9.3x74r double for boar and the like but i think i am going to go with a 338 ferderal bolt gun after all ?

This is truly a long range calibre, and I dont see it convenient for big game.

Lived for 8 years in east Central Africa. I used a .250-3000 Mauser (who BTW recorded a rhino before WW2 with its previous owner).

A 10,75 x 68 Mauser for most up to elephants, then a .375 H-H Mahillon fpr the same purpose. It is the one I used most and loved same.

Ended with a .475 Nr2 double Express also from Mahillon perfectly suited for tracking a wouded buffalo in high grass or approach an elephant in heavy thick bush,when you can be metres close to it and not seeing it...

But, for all games from antelopes to elaphants, nothing was for me better than the .375.

Tried at the time the .458 Win and .416 Rigby (also a friend's .577 double Holland...what a brute, even at 7kgs on the scale), but, if it is only to feel recoil, I had much more confidence in the Express....

R.G.C

R.G.C wrote:

tackb wrote:I really fancied a 9.3x74r double for boar and the like but i think i am going to go with a 338 ferderal bolt gun after all ?

This is truly a long range calibre, and I dont see it convenient for big game.Lived for 8 years in east Central Africa. I used a .250-3000 Mauser (who BTW recorded a rhino before WW2 with its previous owner).

A 10,75 x 68 Mauser for most up to elephants, then a .375 H-H Mahillon fpr the same purpose. It is the one I used most and loved same.

Ended with a .475 Nr2 double Express also from Mahillon perfectly suited for tracking a wouded buffalo in high grass or approach an elephant in heavy thick bush,when you can be metres close to it and not seeing it...

But, for all games from antelopes to elaphants, nothing was for me better than the .375.

Tried at the time the .458 Win and .416 Rigby (also a friend's .577 double Holland...what a brute, even at 7kgs on the scale), but, if it is only to feel recoil, I had much more confidence in the Express....

R.G.C

Which calibre are you refering to R.G.C. ?

I'm talking about the 338 federal but I think he is of the impression I mean the 338 lapua ? Tow very different rounds !

tackb wrote:I'm talking about the 338 federal but I think he is of the impression I mean the 338 lapua ? Tow very different rounds !

Effectively, I thought it was the .338 LM.

Do not know about the other, but, put it otherwise, this calibre is relatively too small for large game as the wounds are not bleeding quickly enough.

In Central Africa, big game was not allowed with calibres under 8mm for those reasons, and some of had spent enough time and took risks to clear the area from wounded animals shot with too small calibres.

R.G.C

Sorry I went off topic a little , I'm not suggesting a 338 federal for big game but I would rather that than nothing , I reckon it would be better than trying to beat a buffalo to death with my fists !

tackb wrote:Sorry I went off topic a little , I'm not suggesting a 338 federal for big game but I would rather that than nothing , I reckon it would be better than trying to beat a buffalo to death with my fists !

Now, there is an image that made me laugh :lol:

R.G.C wrote:

tackb wrote:I'm talking about the 338 federal but I think he is of the impression I mean the 338 lapua ? Tow very different rounds !

Effectively, I thought it was the .338 LM.

Do not know about the other, but, put it otherwise, this calibre is relatively too small for large game as the wounds are not bleeding quickly enough.

In Central Africa, big game was not allowed with calibres under 8mm for those reasons, and some of had spent enough time and took risks to clear the area from wounded animals shot with too small calibres.

R.G.C

I too thought you may have confused the .338 Federal with the Lapua round as neither of the cartridges mentioned would normally be described as long range cartridges. Both good solid cartridges for short range though. With the right bullet such as a Woodleigh the 9.3mm (.366") is considered suitable for game up to buffalo. I've never had any experience of the .338 Federal but a friend is currently rebarreling a rifle in .338Winchester and that is considered a good cartridge for elk/moose (he's from Scandinavia).