30-06 Rifle for Plains Game - How Big?

[DLSJR]

As others have said, you’ll be fine with a 30-06 and quality 180 grain bullets on any plains game, including eland. I’ve never used a 30-06 in Africa but my son and I have shot quite a few animals, up to Burchell Zebra with a 270 Winchester and 150 grain Nosler Partitions or Barnes TTSX’s. I never felt undergunned with a 270, and a 30-06 would be every bit as good. Everything that was shot properly died quickly with one shot. I personally would not hesitate to shoot any plains game, including Eland, with a 30-06.

Before you worry about a larger cartridge, I’d just get a great scope like a Leupold VX5HD in 2-10x, CDS turret and Firedot reticle being outstanding for that rifle and the use you intend for it. You’ll have no problem shooting accurately with that cartridge and scope. A quality 180 grain bullet like the ones you’ve mentioned will kill everything you’ve mentioned.

I know Africans who’ve killed Lions and Cape Buffalo with 30-06’s and lesser bullets than the great options we have today. None of them felt like it was inappropriate. While not ideal or legal, it got the job done efficiently for them.

 

[coreydb]

A lot of relevant information in this thread. Be pragmatic in your selection though. If you're going with a PH who says expect long range shots, then practice long range shooting. you can effectively practice at 100 yds if you know the bullet's trajectory, then adjust to achieve your rifle's Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR). Your 30.-06's MPBR with a 180 grain bullet is generally at 300 yds, but practice will allow you to be specific.

Also keep in mind your kill zones are pie plate size and pin-point accuracy is secondary-just hit anywhere in that zone and it's a kill shot.

 

[Rare Breed]

Just want to add I am completely comfortable after practice shooting Remington Corelokts 220 grain out to 300 yards easily within 1.5 inches

 

[Woodcarver]

I'm no "expert", but in 2014 I took my .30-06 to Africa as a "back up" and ended up using it to harvest 4 out of my 5 trophies. I shot gemsbok, kudu, impala and a cow waterbuck. All were one shot kills with the exception of the gemsbok, which I initially made a bad shot on, so the fault was mine, not the cartridge.
I was using a handload with a 200 grain Nosler partition pushed by a charge of H414. The charge amount is moot, since the morons at Hodgdon decided to quit making this powder (as well as several others that I came to rely on).
Farthest shot was 325 yards across a small canyon on the Kudu; closest was about 75 yards on the impala. Rifle was an inexpensive Interarms Mark X Viscount that I've had since 1978.

I suspect that: H414 is actually a rebranded Winchester propellant.

Hogdon told me WW760 is identical to H414. Even though they say so, I don’t get the same accuracy or velocity as 414.

When Hodgdon bought Winchester powder company, they no longer had a reason to relabel W760 as H414, so they dropped H414 from their line. It is the same powder, from the same production line. Which is also why every reloading manual will give you the same recipe with the same velocities and pressures for both. If H414 was one of your go-to powders, go to W760, it's literally the same powder.

 

[Certus]

Here’s a list of African game / sizes, I haven’t killed with a 30-06.

- Crocodile
- Elephant
- Rhino
- Hippo
- Lion
- Leopard

165gr Swift Scirocco II, 165gr NPT or 180gr Swift A-Frame.

Here’s the list of distances I haven’t killed anything with a 30-06 and said bullets.
0-8m
460m +

There’s a reason why it’s called The King!

Truly one of the greatest cartridges ever made. If worried about penetration go to a 220gr, but I’d trust the right 180’s to do any plains game. Just may adjust my ranges. But I’m not a good shot anyway so wouldn’t be taking long shots that the magnums provide advantages for.

 

[nomspc]

A great discussion. My thinking on caliber choice for a hunt like this is not to plan for everything going right, but rather, what choice gives me an edge when things go wrong? I’ve taken elk with a .30-06, but now hunt them with a 300WM. Variability in terrain, range, weather and a big, tough animal that might give you a less than ideal angle when you get your shot all pushed me to move to the big 30.
My first PG hunt in Namibia, I wounded a mountain zebra and chased him for an hour before getting a shot: 400 yards, sharply downhill, the zebra moving quickly, quartering away towards dense cover, so a brief shot opportunity. 300WM, 180 TTSX behind the shoulder and it was over. Could I have taken him with a .30-06? Sure, but I was happy to have the extra 200 fps in that situation. A personal choice, for sure.

 

[ftrovato]

I've taken a great deal of animals with the 30-06 over the last 45 years. For me, not so sure it has a place in Africa. Does it kill well, sure. But considering the size of animals on that continent I want to insure that if an off angle shot is presented I don't have to worry about penetration and having to pass up an animal. Or risk taking an unethical shot... But that's just me.

 

[FlyGuy]

I've taken a great deal of animals with the 30-06 over the last 45 years. For me, not so sure it has a place in Africa. Does it kill well, sure. But considering the size of animals on that continent I want to insure that if an off angle shot is presented I don't have to worry about penetration and having to pass up an animal. Or risk taking an unethical shot... But that's just me.

Perhaps there’s a reason why it’s still the most popular plains game cartridge for local hunters in Southern Africa? We use them for everything from springbok to giraffe.

Similar to the 7x57, the 30-06 kills well beyond what the numbers on paper suggest it should.
With modern powders and the excellent variety of bullets available, the dirty old six is better than it’s ever been.
Obviously it’s no 700 yard eland buster, but at 300-400 yards, it’s keeping taxidermists and butchers busy.