308 and 270 for first trip

[KB5]

Hi
Just joined this forum. I'll soon be purchasing an Blaser R8 with 308 and 270 barrels (for stalking in UK and hopefully alpine Chamois in France).
Whilst these are small calibres for Africa, could I get away with taking these on a first outing (on the understanding that it would limit my variety if bag)?
Thanks

 

[matt85]

those cartridges would work for most PG as long as shot placement is good. i don't think id use the 270 on anything bigger then an impala. make sure to use tough heavy bullets in the 308 and it should work fine.

note: medium weight mono-metal bullets in the 308 wouldn't be a bad idea either.

-matt

 

[enysse]

You will be fine just use some quality bullets, which mean they shouldn't be all lead.

 

[Rob404]

I can only speak for the 308 as that was the caliber I used for Plains Game in SA with great success I used a 165Gr Sierra Gameking with WIN748 powder all one shot kills including a Large Kudu Bull

 

[JimP]

Either will be just fine on animals up to and including a kudu. The 270 Winchester has killed a lot of North American elk with the 130-150 grain bullets and now that there are premium bullets out there for it such as Barnes and Nosler partition it is even better.

One of the PH's on my safari in May let one of our hunters borrow his .308 and he took a kudu, and a gemsbok with one shot kills for both.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

My older boy killed several animals up to and including an eland with a .308 in 2013. Younger boy killed an Nyala and Zebra with his 7x57. The little 7 was plenty big enough with a good bullet and proper placement. I

I've also seen plenty of our elk killed with a .270. I would not hesitate to use either caliber on any of the PG species with eland being the one exception. It is a large animal and as I say my son killed one with his .308, but definitely not ideal in my opinion.

Use high weight retaining bullets and you should be fine with either. I would caution you on the .270 in Namibia. You'll need to look it up, but it seems like I remember Namibia requires the use of a 7mm bullet or larger and the .270 is just shy of that.

 

[enysse]

Namibia just recommends something like a 7mm or bigger. I have taken elk with Barnes Bullets, 130 grain 270 Win, elk came tumbling down the mountain every time with a precision shot.

 

[Aaron N]

Jealous! I was hoping for a r8 in 308 this year! You'll have my two favourite calibres in one!

 

[CAustin]

You will be fine! Hope you get to plan a trip someday!

 

[Divernhunter]

You will be fine. "I PERSONALLY" would not use a 270. Then I personally would/will not own a 270 for what it is worth.

The 308(even the 270) will do just fine. My daughter used a 257Roberts and took Kudu, Red hartebeest, Zebra, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Worthogs(maybe 5 of them) all one shot no tracking kills(spot and stalk) from 135 to 410 measured yards. She used 120gr Swift A-Frames at 2899FPS using a discontinued powder over my Chrono and placed them where told to take out internals and at least one shoulder. Recovered one bullet that took out a rib the heart/lungs and a shoulder on a nice zebra.

Take them using Swift A-Frames or Barnes TTSX or even Nosler PAR and you will be good to go. That and bullet placement is what you need.

My 2 Cents

 

[lcq]

270 and 308 are very popular in Africa

 

[KB5]

Great info, thanks. I was unsure on these but certainly the 308 should qualify for a reasonable quarry list. I thought the 270 would be better over distance.
On that subject of distance, is there a recognised range that people are shooting at. Is there an average or does it vary too significantly to estimate?
Thanks

 

[ActionBob]

Depends where you go but most African animals are shot at about 100 yards or less. Certainly being capable to 200 is good and if you can reach out to 300 yards, you should be able to get anything you want. I had a shot over 500 but that is the exception by far.

I'm interested in how you chose those two calibers? Seems like an odd pairing being so close yet different family of cartridges. Especially in that gun.

 

[Mekaniks]

C

I'm interested in how you chose those two calibers? Seems like an odd pairing being so close yet different family of cartridges. Especially in that gun.

I am curious about that also? I don't see a lot of difference between the 2 except the obvious bit of bullet diameter, especially is shooting 130-150 grain bullets? But they are both great calibers and both defiantly have proven their place.

 

[JimP]

Great info, thanks. I was unsure on these but certainly the 308 should qualify for a reasonable quarry list. I thought the 270 would be better over distance.
On that subject of distance, is there a recognised range that people are shooting at. Is there an average or does it vary too significantly to estimate?
Thanks

When I talked to my safari operator at a sportsmans show in Denver he said that most shots would be under 200 yards.....That being said I managed 3 out of 6 animals being under 200 yards. My impala was 79 yards and my blesbuck was 139 yards and one of my black wildebeast was just under 100 yards. Other than that the other 3 were all over 200 yards gemsbuck at 289 yards, black wildebeast 240 yards with my kudu at 379 yards. All of them were one shot kills except for the blesbuck and gemsbuck which took 3 each.
I was shooting a .340 Weatherby with handloaded 225grain Barnes TTSX at 3000fps and a 200 yard zero.

I guess that you can always hope for close shots but at times the quarry and terrine just will not allow for a close shot.

 

[enysse]

You guys bring up a good point, a 270 Win or 308 are fine for a single gun to Africa provided you pick your shots. My two cents if you are going to hunt long distance get a 300 Win or 338 Win....something along that line. Waterbuck, Black Wildebeest, Blue Wildebeest...Eland...etc. can be tough past 200 yards.

 

[Divernhunter]

The range of your shots will depend on if you are sitting in a stand, if you are spot and stalk and the type of country you are in. It will also depend on your abilities. I doubt the PH will ask you to take 300+ yard shots if you are not able to be sure of a clean kill. You need to talk to the PH about your limits.

When we were there the other guy in can was given all shot under 50-100 yards....And he could not make many of those.
My first shot was 235 yards and a bit difficult. It turned out to be a one shot, dead in place deal. So the PH kept giving me longer shots. I finally asked about it and he said I was such a good shot he wanted to challenge me. When I took my Kudu at a measured 480 yards with one shot I told him that was about as far as I wanted to shoot and he then kept shots at under 450 and usually 400 yards. But it was ok with me as I was shooting good and enjoying it.

The point is I am sure the PH will provide shots you feel you can take.

 

[KB5]

C


I am curious about that also? I don't see a lot of difference between the 2 except the obvious bit of bullet diameter, especially is shooting 130-150 grain bullets? But they are both great calibers and both defiantly have proven their place.

The 308 I wanted to use to take Red Stags in the UK. I also am very keen to get out to the Alps to try my hand at Chamois. Was told that it was more likely that they would have to be taken at longer distance, hence why I thought the 270 would be flatter over that distance.
In hindsight, I should have applied for a 30 06 instead of the 270 though tbh I've read so many great comments from the US forums on the 270 I just have to give it a go

 

[KB5]

The range of your shots will depend on if you are sitting in a stand, if you are spot and stalk and the type of country you are in. It will also depend on your abilities. I doubt the PH will ask you to take 300+ yard shots if you are not able to be sure of a clean kill. You need to talk to the PH about your limits.

When we were there the other guy in can was given all shot under 50-100 yards....And he could not make many of those.
My first shot was 235 yards and a bit difficult. It turned out to be a one shot, dead in place deal. So the PH kept giving me longer shots. I finally asked about it and he said I was such a good shot he wanted to challenge me. When I took my Kudu at a measured 480 yards with one shot I told him that was about as far as I wanted to shoot and he then kept shots at under 450 and usually 400 yards. But it was ok with me as I was shooting good and enjoying it.

The point is I am sure the PH will provide shots you feel you can take.

Thanks. I will certainly be needing to put some practise in

 

[Hank2211]

Hi
Just joined this forum. I'll soon be purchasing an Blaser R8 with 308 and 270 barrels (for stalking in UK and hopefully alpine Chamois in France).
Whilst these are small calibres for Africa, could I get away with taking these on a first outing (on the understanding that it would limit my variety if bag)?
Thanks

I'd suggest these are so close together that bringing both won't give you any real ability to shoot more game than bringing only one (and if only one, I'd suggest the .308).