hyena caliber

[abishai]

This one may be a long shot . (I know you guys can make them ) I was wanting info from some fellow shooters on what you use . I am not going on safari . I am not a shmuck wearing a rolex , I am a marksmen wearing a breitling . I may have a chance at saving a few orphans ( long story , the Lord works in mysterious ways ) . I have one of everything . The safari sites say 7 mm minimum . I was thinking of my 6.5 sweede , or a 6 xc . Like I said , long shot . At a 140 pounds , I would think a speedy 6 would get the job done .

 

[CatShooter]

This one may be a long shot . (I know you guys can make them ) I was wanting info from some fellow shooters on what you use . I am not going on safari . I am not a shmuck wearing a rolex , I am a marksmen wearing a breitling . I may have a chance at saving a few orphans ( long story , the Lord works in mysterious ways ) . I have one of everything . The safari sites say 7 mm minimum . I was thinking of my 6.5 sweede , or a 6 xc . Like I said , long shot . At a 140 pounds , I would think a speedy 6 would get the job done .

Many African countries have minimum calibers for good reasons. While a fast 6 might do it, you might not be able to use it.

Get a 7mm - make sure that you can bring all the ammunition you can use, times 4, or make sure you can buy what you need locally - 7mm X 57 Mauser can be gotten everywhere.

 

[ShootDots]

This one may be a long shot . (I know you guys can make them ) I was wanting info from some fellow shooters on what you use . I am not going on safari . I am not a shmuck wearing a rolex , I am a marksmen wearing a breitling . I may have a chance at saving a few orphans ( long story , the Lord works in mysterious ways ) . I have one of everything . The safari sites say 7 mm minimum . I was thinking of my 6.5 sweede , or a 6 xc . Like I said , long shot . At a 140 pounds , I would think a speedy 6 would get the job done .

Many African countries have minimum calibers for good reasons. While a fast 6 might do it, you might not be able to use it.

Get a 7mm - make sure that you can bring all the ammunition you can use, times 4, or make sure you can buy what you need locally - 7mm X 57 Mauser can be gotten everywhere.

Catshooter is right. There are many "minimum caliber" laws in African countries. AND when flying you hear of horror stories where your ammo lands in one country and you in another. You NEED to be able to buy the ammo for your rifle anywhere you go in Africa. Personally, I have never been there. However, I shoot once in awhile with a guy who has gone on 2 occasions. He has never been parted with his ammo but he has been told by the Guides that it is still happening. So a 7 x 57 Mauser would be just the ticket.

 

[jdh47]

The 7MM Rem. Magnum might be your most versatile option in this circumstance. It should be easy to find ammo for and will take anything you are likely to encounter. Just step up to a speedy 7. It will throw a 168gr. Burger match grade VLD hunting bullet with a G7bc of 316 around 3Kf/s. In a 9 tw. barrel it should get you anywhere you want to go.

have fun

 

[CatShooter]

The 7MM Rem. Magnum might be your most versatile option in this circumstance. It should be easy to find ammo for and will take anything you are likely to encounter. Just step up to a speedy 7. It will throw a 168gr. Burger match grade VLD hunting bullet with a G7bc of 316 around 3Kf/s. In a 9 tw. barrel it should get you anywhere you want to go.

have fun

And you can buy these in Africa? Loaded with Burger 168s?

REALLY???

When you go to places that have very different firearm rules, you don't worry about BCs, and what brand of handloading bullets you can get... you worry about getting basic ammunition.

 

[joshb]

A call to the outfitter will get you the info you need. The "minimum caliber" rule does not usually bend. The outfitters work under very strict government guidelines. And the outfitters have dealt with the "My favorite gun is just fine" and the " I'm a great shot and know what I'm doing" lines, a hundred times. Only to find themselves in heavy brush trying to dispatch a wounded, dangerous animal. You could prolly take a Hyena with a .222 head shot, but they won't let ya try it. I was in Kenya, back in 1974, with a group. A 300 weatherby and 1 box of shells. Prolly the omly box in the country. The guides all had 303s. Antelope hunting.

 

[Taildrag15X]

My father went twice a year with St. Louis Big Game hunter Dana Brown, he used a .303.....

 

[mshelton]

I'm guessing it's not possible to ship ammo or components to the outfitter ahead of time?

 

[Rustystud]

The first question I have is if you have ever seen a Hyena in person? The first Hyena I saw shocked me how big they can be. I believe the Hyena that I saw was over 180 pounds when harvested. I was told they can break a leg of the largest plains game with a single bite. Even lions have great respect for Hyenas. They are nasty creatures and only fear the thunder stick you carry. They surely don't fear you. They are a muscular heavy boned animal. I would suggest you follow law and advice of your PH. 7mm, 30cal., .338, .375 all come to mind. Remember where your Hyena is found there are other big and bad critters out there.
Three things to consider when you don't have enough gun, you might get eaten, mauled, stomped, trampled, or stabbed. The great gun writer Bob Hagel said, "there is not such thing as too much gun, dead is dead"
Nat Lambeth

 

[CJ6]

Shipping may be the best possible route to go. A close friend (long standing SCI member) took his extended family ( 19 family members/ 23 firearms + bows) to South Africa about 5 years back, when going through customs they said his paperwork was in error and they would not clear his guns. Long story made short it cost him $7,000+US. to get them OK'd on the spot (extortion was his words). If you may think this was his first time it wasn't, he's traveled extensively throughout the world hunting with the trophies to show for it. Contact your guide service and ask them about shipping options.

 

[effendude]

I spent a couple weeks in South Africa 2 years ago. I shot darn near everything except a buffalo and an elephant. I brought a 6.5-284 with 140 gr. Partitions and VLD's as well as a .375 H&H with 260gr. Partitions and Accubonds. Everything shot with both rifles dropped at the shot except a wounded baboon required a follow up.

I had an opportunity on a big spotted hyena one evening but the landowner was concerned about a possible miss hitting a sheep. (That is why the hyena was there). After he saw me shoot a bushbuck later, he told me he wished he would have let me shoot the hyena too. I think the 6.5 would have been fine with a Partition, but shot placement trumps all. A hyena looks like the front of a big bear attached to the hind end of a dog, a mean bear and a mean dog. Also, everything in Africa pokes or bites so these animals have thick hides. I recommend a 6.5 or larger and good bullets.

Your ammo travels in your checked luggage in a locked case. If your clothes don't show, neither does your ammo. Many outfitters will provide rifles and ammo for a fee as another option. My PH told me that South Africans are allowed (3) rifles. He owned a .22 Hornet, a .375 H&H, and a .450 Nitro Double. That pretty much told me everything about what I needed.

Scott

 

[Medic505]

I don't get what watch brand you wear makes a nickels difference if you are a marksman or not. I shot with quite a few Rolex wearing "shumcks" this weekend. All of which I'm sure could outshoot most mortal humans. If you are such the great marksman, why not pick up a .22 Long Rifle and go for it.

 

[mshelton]

If you can't do the shipping thing and lost ammo is a possibility, would a 30-06 or 308 work? I know they aren't the flashiest things in the book but seems like you might be able to find ammo for either one of those anywhere, and they have more than enough @$$ to drop what you're looking at shooting.

 

[CatShooter]

If you can't do the shipping thing and lost ammo is a possibility, would a 30-06 or 308 work? I know they aren't the flashiest things in the book but seems like you might be able to find ammo for either one of those anywhere, and they have more than enough @$$ to drop what you're looking at shooting.

Many countries have prohibitions on owning military calibres.

 

[Eddie Harren]

I didn't realize we had so many Bwanas on this forum.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

I didn't realize we had so many Bwanas on this forum.

"If you only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa ... twice." R. Elliot

 

[abishai]

Thanks to all , even the snide . I must have had a head up the butt to forget the 7x57.... I may be doing a couple of years so ammo to buy would be better than the hand loads that ran out .This trip would be humanitarian , not trophy hunting . No PH , no safari . I will see if the missionaries stories are true . He said that they loose 30 kids a year to these foul beasts. Maybe a dumb ass like me can even the odds . Maybe I am getting pumped for a donation .

 

[Warren Dean]

I don't get what watch brand you wear makes a nickels difference if you are a marksman or not. I shot with quite a few Rolex wearing "shumcks" this weekend. All of which I'm sure could outshoot most mortal humans. If you are such the great marksman, why not pick up a .22 Long Rifle and go for it.

^^^^^^^^
ROFLMAO!! ;D ;D ;D

 

[Rustystud]

Eddie:

Have not heard from any BooTaws, either.

Know how to say it in Swahili, but not sure haw to spell the translation in English.

Nat Lambeth