i have this wild dream, and thats all its going to be for a long, long, long time of going to africa and shooting something big. im not all up on my knowlede of africa, or where certain game can be had, but i was wondering what you guys would think of a .300WM in africa. i know its not a .375H&H at the muzzle, but out around 200M with the right bullet they stack up pretty closely. so considering i have proper shot placement, you think i would fare pretty well? or is it not even worth trying?

Don't know the answer. I think of the .300 RUM as a range extender more than as a close-up harder hitter. It would take some tough bullets for that. It's hard to imagine the .300 RUM wouldn't do well on something like a Lion. When it comes to the hardened beasts, though, you better do some penetration testing to see how deep it can drive a solid? There's some indication that there can be such a thing as too much velocity in that regard. Here I have in mind Randy Garrett's report of the 500 grain Hornady solids penetrating less from a .458 Win Mag than they do at lower velocity from a warm-loaded .45-70, for example.

You haven't said what you would be hunting. .300WM should perform well for most "medium" game. I am by no means an expert, but I grew up in Africa and hunted antelope and pig. I had a .308 of my own and shot everything up to eland with no problem. And I had a friend who with his dad shot the smaller forest buffalo in the Congo with a .300WB and even, occasionally, a .270. But unless you have backup, you don't have much margin for error -- not recommended.

You mentioned the .375. In the Congo I had shot a giant forest hog (400-500 lbs) with my friend's .300WB (dropped so fast we didn't see it fall in the tallish grass) when this other pig ran out of the brush. My friend shot it with the .270 and got its attention. Before, it had been running because of the sound of my rifle shot. When we had its attention, it charged us, bristles out (looked huge --8-10" bristles on its back). There were 3 of us. I was still trying to rack another round, as was my friend with the .270, when our 3rd hunter shot the pig with his .375. That was simply decisive. Flattened it.

I gained a lot of respect for the .375 that day, but that same friend was involved in a hunt for buffalo when they were charged by a wounded animal that kept absorbing .375 rounds from several rifles and finally went down uncomfortably close.

If you do your part, I can't see any reason the .300WM wouldn't do its part. But if you're hunting anything that might take a dim view of humans, heavy backup is nice.

Good luck!

i didnt mention what id be hunting on purpose. because i dont know what id hunt anyway. i havent really done any research on the subject and i really dont know what id come up against, so i was waiting for people to chime in with what they shot with what cartridge, just like you did. whenever i make a post like this, its either because i was watching a hunting show, or it just came to me. it just so happens i was watching versus and they were hunting elephant. so i thought id post a question. and i also figure that if im going on an africa hunt i wont be alone, im not that dumb. and id probably also have at the very least my .50cal smokepole or my .450 bushmaster. strictly for back up though.

The lowley .303 British has taken more game in the hands of farmers than any other caliber put together. The 300 H&H was developed as a plains game load, and was at the time a cordite cartridge which is on par with our modern 30-06 velocitys. So the .30 rums and mags in todays guns with great modern optics will do the job proivided you use the right bullet. African game are tougher than ours so choose a premium bullet and pratice off hand shots over sticks till you can hit a 4" pie plate consitently.. As for dangeous game a minimum caliber of .400 is needed. Join the safari Club and you'll be able to cash in on great hunts a the same price as our Western Hunts.

why do i hear that so often? shooting off hand? im in the military and carry my rifle at the low carry(buttstock in the shoulder, barrel pointing down, the only safe direction for it to point). so if my rifle is already on my strong side and will naturally be ready to point and shoot, why should i practice off hand? and thanks for the advice about the caliber choice. and i should point out that this is a pipe dream right now. we just had a son a year and a few months ago, and shes pregnant again. i cant wait to find out what this one will be. thanks again.

First of all dreams are free and you dont know what the future brings. They use sticks because the grass and bush is too high for any other rest that is accurate. Gone are the days old multiple month Safari's that included the locals and familys keeping the camp clean,fun ,and well fed. Today you stay in a cozy bungalo and are served hot tea or beverage of choice before breakfast of the day. The PH, you, and the trackers get in the hunting "cars" and go to the last spot the trackers have seen the animal your PH wants you to take. If your lucky after several attemps at getting a shot and not being busted by another animal, runing into Lions, or disturbing and old Mbogo,you get your shot in range and no others behind to wound. You will be shooting off "the sticks" wich are mopane wood tied together usualy with game hide and fashioned into a portable tripod. They make you shoot high because the rifle recoils freely, as aposed to benching you rifle to make sure it is still " on the spot". Before you die you have to hunt the place where it all began.