Best caliber to hunt with in Africa
Hunting in Africa – where we take your Africa hunting serious!
Remember that the best caliber for hunting in Africa (this would apply to hunting in general also) may apply to the interpretation of each individual hunter. This means that you may have your specific preference to a caliber and that you may even disagree with our recommendations. Our recommendations are based on, in some cases legal requirements and in other cases personal experience. Have fun when making your choice, specifically if you agree to disagree. We are not even going to go the route of which ammunition is best at what velocities! Fact of the matter remains that we suggest the following calibers as being best for hunting in Africa.
If I had a choice of only two caliber rifles for a plains game hunt in Africa, it would be a 30-06 and a 375. These two calibers are versatile and are enough gun to hunt any plains game animal successfully – Pieter Kriel
If I had a choice of only two caliber rifles for a dangerous game hunt in Africa, it would be a 375 and a 400 caliber (416, 458, 458 Lott, 460) and larger. The 375 will allow plains game hunting and can be used as a back-up for any dangerous game hunt should the other rifle fail – Pieter Kriel
The best caliber to use on an African hunt
Plains Game and ammunition
It is highly recommended that you invest in premium grade ammunition only to bring along with your favorite caliber on your Africa hunting safari. Do not bring inferior ammunition that will destroy a great hunting trip with bad memories of wounded animals that were lost because you tried to save a few dollars on the ammunition. We have had excellent results with Barnes-X and Nossler Partitions.
The most commonly used rifles on any Africa hunting safari today are anything from the 7mm Rem Mag to the 30-06 and anything in between. Depending on the animals you are interested in hunting, you may consider bringing along a flat shooting caliber for open plains (200 yard shots), and a heavier caliber for the bushveldt regions (80 – 100 yard shots).
Dangerous Game and ammunition:
For dangerous game hunting South African law (and most other African countries) requires a minimum caliber of 375. Our experience is that the larger the caliber, the better the chance of a safe and successful hunt. It should be written into all laws governing dangerous game hunting that only premium grade ammunition be allowed. Your life depends on it.
Trophy |
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Recommended Caliber |
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Average hunting distance (yards) |
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First rifle handy! 22-250, 222, 223, 243, 270, 30-06, 308, 300 WM or any comparable caliber. |
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100+ |
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270, 30-06, 7mm (all), 300 WSM, 300 WM, 308, 338, 375 |
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150 – 250 |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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150 – 200 |
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308, 30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 338, 375. Generally: the bigger the better. |
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50 – 150 |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 WSM |
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150 – 180 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375. Recommended 404, 416, 458 WM and Lott, 470, 500 |
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20 – 60 depending on caliber, open sites or scope and terrain |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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30 – 60 |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 12 ga |
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30 – 60 |
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375 with a solid round as it does the least damage to the trophy, 410 shotgun, 17 cal |
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30 – 50 |
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375 with a solid round as it does the least damage to the trophy, 12 ga, 410, 17 cal |
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25 – 40 |
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375 with a solid round as it does the least damage to the trophy. 17 cal, 22-250, 222, 223, 243, 308 |
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30 – 50 |
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375 with a solid round as it does the least damage to the trophy. 12 ga, 410 shotgun |
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20 – 35 |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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120 – 180 |
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30-06, 338, 375 |
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60 – 180 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375. Recommended 404, 416, 458 WM and Lott, 470, 500 |
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15 – 40 depending on caliber, open sites or scope, and terrain |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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100 – 180 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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60 – 180 |
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300 WM with premium grade ammunition, 338, 375 |
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30 – 50 |
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223, 243, 270, 308, 30-06 |
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130 – 200 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375. Recommended 375, 404, 416, 458 WM and Lott |
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30 – 50 |
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The very first rifle handy! 17 cal, 22-250, 222, 223, 243, 270, 30-06, 308, 300 WSM, 300 WM or any comparable caliber. |
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30 – 150 |
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243, 270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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40 – 150 |
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308, 30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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80 – 180 |
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17 cal, 223, 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 375 with a solid round |
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100 – 200 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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100 – 200 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375 |
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40 – 60 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375. Recommended: any other caliber you have larger than 375 |
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40 – 60 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375 |
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40 – 60 |
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223, 243, 270, 308, 30-06 |
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100 – 180 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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50 – 150 |
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223, 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 375 with a solid round |
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80 – 150 |
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223, 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 375 with a solid round |
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70 – 90 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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80 – 180 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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100 – 180 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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100 – 150 |
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243, 270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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150 – 200 |
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17 cal, 223, 243, 270, 308, 30-06, 375 with a solid round |
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50 – 80 |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all) |
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100 – 150 |
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270, 30-06, 308, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 338, 375 |
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20 – 100 |
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30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 308, 338, 375 |
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80 – 150 |
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Legal requirement: minimum 375. Recommended 404, 416, 458 WM and Lott, 470, 500 |
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10 – 30 |
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308, 30-06, 7mm (all), 300 (all), 338, 375. Generally: the bigger the better. |
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80 – 180 |
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Other hunting options |
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Hunting area: Limpopo Province
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