.44 magnum in Africa

How big animals would you take with a .44 in africa? what bullets?

What have YOU taken in africa with a 44? stories and photos are very welcome..

I've taken zebra, wildebeest, impala and warthogs using 300-310 grain cast bullets. The zebra was the longest shot at about 90 yards, wildebeest at 50 or so. None of the bullets were recovered.

Gary, you da Man!!!

EXCELLENT Gary. Did you have any trouble getting the revolver through customs on their side? When I went in 2007 I took my Freedom Arms 83 in .454 Casull, iron sights. The African cops at the airport in Johan. took it away from me, claiming it WAS NOT a hunting handgun and was illegal to bring into the country. Interestingly, the little guy that took it from me stuck it in HIS WAISTBAND and paraded around with it behind the counter for about 25 minutes (I guess he thought he was John Wayne or Wyatt Earp) while my PH who luckily was at the airport and KNEW we were arriving with handguns was able to clear it up and I got it back that same afternoon. The cops were trying to tell me I had to leave it there at the airport police station and pick it up on my way OUT of Africa. My PH assured me that in that case I would have probably never seen it again, as it would have probably gotten "lost"...Also there was a little bribery that went on, I found out later...my PH promised the police Captain some meat from our hunt... Apparently the fact that it was not SCOPED raised the suspicion that it "was not a hunting handgun." Go figure out that one.

I didn't have any trouble but I've heard plenty of stories from those who have. Having a pre-arranged permit is worth it's weight in gold. My PH had a guy coming in with an open sighted handgun and when they wouldn't let him in he simply borrowed a rifle scope from another hunter at the airport and duct taped it to the pistol. After that he was good to go - that's all I have to say about that...

You would be amazed at how many non-hunters have asked how I got the zebra to pose like that; ha! Imagine their surprise.

I also used a .44 Magnum Redhawk, along with a Contender in .375 JDJ on my first african safari to Zimbabwe in 1990. I used a 300 gr. Bull-X hard cast bullet in the .44, which had exactly the same profile as the then-new 300 gr. Sierra jacketed bullet. I only used the .44 to take several impala and warthog, and also apparently marginally wounded and lost a kudu, despite hours of tracking. It was the only animal I ever lost since I began hunting nearly 50 years ago.
On several subsequent safaris I used a FA .454 with the FA 260, Sierra 300, and Hornady 300 XTP, and had good experiences with all of them...well, I DID put a 260 broadside through two blue wildebeest...didn't see the second one behind...but then, that is a TOUGH bullet, and another story.
The .44 Magnum is an outstanding cartridge that I've used a geat deal. However, for african hunting, I personally prefer a .454 or better still, a .475 Linebaugh.

Any handgun over .45 caliber is illegal in South Africa. I certainly don't think you would be undergunned for any plains game if you get close as you should before shooting and use the right bullet for the job. I also carried a 375 JDJ with me and a 309 JDJ but the 309 never left the case after checking zero. I had a lot of shots that were in the 150-200 yard range.

All I have to say is wow Gary. Toroskar, I don’t think your question could have been answered any better.

Great pics Gary!

This points out the need to be current with Africa information...and also the fluidity / changeabity of RSA regulations...often at the discretion of the local guys.
Both Dr. Larry Rogers and Rob Milette have used FA .475's in RSA, and the late Dale Kelling used a .500 Linebaugh on a giraffe.

The bad part about their "laws" is that frequently they are subject to the whims of whomever you happen to draw when you're going through customs, although this situation is not unique to Africa. Read in this months American Hunter Magazine about Bryce Towsley's harassment at airports in NY & NJ over gun permits on returning from Africa. It's enough to make your blood boil to think American citizens are treated that way in what's supposed to be our country.

When it was popular to have hunting programs (50 years ago) on TV