Question:

I am going to be hunting the Luangwa Valley in Zambia. Species on license are lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, croc, hyaena, puku, Cookson wildebeest, bushbuck, and some other plains game.

I own a number of rifles: .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .338 WM, 7mm Rem Mag, 9.3x62, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, and .500 Jeffery bolt actions, and a .470 NE and .500 NE double rifles. I shoot all of the above effectively and all the bolt rifles are equipped with good scopes.

On a 21-day safari and with all the hassles of travelling with firearms, would you opt for a two or three rifle battery? I don't really want to leave a big double rifle at home with three of the Big Five on the menu. How would you advise me on selection of rifles to take? (Zambia allows a maximum of three rifles).

Answer:

I am very much a “use one rifle/caliber/cartridge/bullet weight” type of guy because on a mixed bag African safari like you will be on, there is always a chance of something unexpected being dropped into your lap. The biggest kudu a client of mine ever shot was taken when we were walking back from checking a lion bait and my clients have in the past shot buffalo while we were simply looking for an impala for the pot.  

So what I'm suggesting is one combination that will cover all the bases effectively, and get you out of trouble if the poop hits the fan (the poop being a grumpy old dagga boy or an elephant cow you bump into unexpectedly while stalking something else).

With this in mind, there is really only one option, and that is your .375 H&H. Readers are going to think this is a pretty boring answer because I have said this many times before but the .375 H&H is still the best African all-rounder.  

With recently developed 350-grainers it is even better. So my recommendation would be for you to take this rifle and a combination of 350-grain North Fork bullets. Where you will be hunting in Zambia, the shooting distances are not great so I would just stick to a 350-grain SP (at about 2,350 fps) for buffalo, croc, and all the other antelope species on your bag list, and for hippo brain shots as well.  For hippo body shots, and for buffalo backing shots, I would recommend the North Fork 350-grain CNS or Cup Nosed Solid.  

For both lion and leopard, North Fork has just developed what will be called their Percussion Point. This is a feline-specific bullet, the front section of which is designed to come apart so as to deliver a massive amount of energy release while the rear section penetrates on to eventually exit.  

If you have read my other writings you will know that the felines are susceptible to healthy doses of shock and PP's are specifically designed to deliver just that.  The 350 SP will also work for the felines, but in all honesty they are just too good.  The cats need a bullet that will open up quicker to deliver a bigger initial dose of shock and PP are designed to do jus that.  They will also work well for the smaller antelope like bushbuck and impala.

With the right rifle/scope and this bullet combination, you will be able to hunt your whole Zambian bag.

I would also recommend that you take your .500 NE double as well. You will probably not need it but it would be nice to have it there for peace of mind. I'm a .50 cal man myself so I recommend this over your .470 NE.  Take both solids and soft points, just in case you decide to hunt your buffalo with your double.

Kelly McMillian in Tuscon, Arizona, is currently working, in conjunction with North Fork, on a line of heavy-for-caliber dangerous-game ammunition.  If you like my suggestions, contact him. The secret to using three types of 350-grain .375 bullets is having them all shoot to the same point of aim, and it looks like he is getting this right. This ammo is going to change the versatility of the .375 H&H forever.