.30 Cal: Eland & Kudu = Moose & Elk ?

[IvW]

On large eland bulls, shot placement is critical.....they can be heavier than buffalo bulls.....unlike buffalo they dont stop once wounded they just keep going......

 

[Safari Dave]

I'd go with a .300 Magnum (Win. or Wby.) shooting 190+ grain bullets. (This is assuming old "cup and core" bullets).

You would be fine with slightly lighter monolithic bullets.

A .30/06 is enough, and many cartridges up to and even larger than a than .375 H&H would be fine also.

I like .300 Magnums, just in case I have to make a long shot, and I also keep a "dope chart" card with me just in case I can't get closer than 300 yards.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Both me and my son (third photograph) have successfully taken several kudu & eland bulls over the years with one-shot kills from .30-06 Springfield rifles.

My preferred cartridge for them is the Remington 220Gr Core Lokt soft nosed factory load. It’s not the most modern style of bullet or not even one that I recommend to younger hunters (who would probably do well with something more modern like a 200Gr Swift A Frame). But speaking for myself, I have only had pleasant experiences with this bullet.

That said, initial shot placement is extremely critical. The neophyte will do well to use at least a .338 Winchester Magnum and 250Gr premium grade expanding bullets.

 

[StevenQ718]

Moose is generally considered relatively “soft” for its size. Eland is probably tougher pound for pound. Neither will survive a properly placed 30 caliber bullet. Something tough like an A-frame, TSX, or a north fork is appropriate and will help ensure adequate penetration. Don’t take less than ideal shots.

As far as ruling the day, I’d say not. While I killed my eland with one shot from a 30-06 168g TSX, it didn’t react as if it had been hit as hard as I’d like. A 375 just hits things harder and I’d prefer it. That said, I’m fairly insensitive to recoil and shoot my 375 as well (as poorly?) as I shoot my ‘06. Shot placement is more important than having something bigger than a 30 of some sort.

Have to disagree. Alaskan moose are tougher than any eland I've seen.

 

[fourfive8]

Have to disagree. Alaskan moose are tougher than any eland I've seen.

Whatever

 

[matt85]

30-06 or 300WM would be fine for any PG. Use the proper bullet for the job and put that bullet in the correct place.

-Matt

 

[Hunt33]

I've heard of a lot of people recommend those through the years. Thanks very much.

 

[Hunt33]

Yeah I think maybe some of this back and forth about moose versus England probably has to do with subspecies. I don't think people always understand that moose are different in different places. The Yukon moose is pretty tough. In fact they have a reputation for running off and disappearing with smaller grain bullets in them.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Something else to add. I think I’ve taken 8 kudu and 7 eland. Every mature kudu I’ve ever shot has been about the same body size. Eland can get really big. I’ve seen a lot of body size differences depending how old and where taken. This bull is from Caprivi. I shot a similar bull with a 300 win and felt under gunned. The angle isn’t always perfect. A 30 caliber is very suitable but a 375 is better.
View attachment 564421

By the looks of that eland, I estimate thar salt block must be about 40% D-bol

 

[Altitude sickness]

Bert, they do look like they’re on steroids, and when they’re in their best condition and mature, they look like their skins gonna pop,

My first three trips I wanted nothing to do with Eland until I saw a mature one in good condition huge neck, blue skin. Then I could never get one in bow range. Till last year

 

[IvW]

moose versus England

Only time Moose will win.....

 

[Longwalker]

In terms of “ toughness” I’d rank them 1. eland, 2. elk, 3. moose and then 4. kudu or possibly kudu & moose equal. That’s from a very limited sample, only a couple each of eland and kudu, about 30 elk, and I think 8 moose. For eland I feel most comfortable with a 9.3 or .375. For elk and the rest, a good & heavy .30 caliber bullet will do just fine.

 

[AZDAVE]

My opinion is the eland are a couple magnitude tougher than a moose. A wounded moose will go several hundred yards and stop and rest up from the injury. A wounded eland isn't going to stop for 5 miles. Your chances of finding a wounded moose are MUCH better than a eland. I would like many here rate it eland, elk, moose, kudu from the toughest dow n in the 4 animals mentioned. A 30 cal will do the job with perfect shot placement. Having said that I also like to have a margin of error built in.

Eland 338 or bigger with heavy for cal premium bullets
Elk 7mm or bigger
Moose 338 or bigger (for the moose 30-338 is fine, the bigger is for once you shoot your moose you rang the dinner bell for the brown bears )
Kudu 7mm-30 cal

 

[Finprof]

A college buddy ran the check station for Montana Fish and Game for the winter hunt for elk coming out of Yellowstone. That was in the late 70s and early 80s before wolves were reintroduced and there were a lot of elk to be checked in. He said that the worst problems people had were with 270s but 300 magnums did well and 338 did best. He might be biased because he uses a 338.
I grew up in Northern Ontario where we had a lot of moose. Most of the townsfolk used surplus 303s because they were cheap. My godfather did well with a 30/30 because that was the deer rifle he brought when he moved from Southern Ontario. Nobody used a magnum.

Having hunted both I think elk are tougher than moose although moose are bigger. The caveat is that Alaska/Yukon moose are much bigger than Ontario moose. I am used to 700 pound elk and 1000 pound moose.