.308 Win in Africa - fan or foe?

[dogcat1]

I have a new .308 Win.
Testing 168gr TTSX and 180gr Swift A-Frames for Africa.
What say you?
Recomendations? suggestions?
Leave it here or take it?

Speak!

 

[mdwest]

I have taken everything from springbok to zebra with a one sixty eight gr ttsx fired from a three o eight that is my go-to caliber and bullet for African plains game …

Warthogs, wildebeest, impala, blesbok, nyala, waterbuck, zebra, etc etc have all fallen to that combo..

Eland is the only PG I would t consider with it… I know many others are comfortable with a non magnum thirty caliber on eland, but im personally not.. so for eland its something bigger

 

[MontanaPat]

I used my Win M70 .308 last year and took ten animals all with one shot kills using 180 grain Swift A Frames, everything from Zebra, Kudu and Blue Wildebeest down to steenbok

 

[Hunt anything]

Totally agree with @mdwest, other than maybe adding roan to the list along with eland but with good shot placement a .308 will take any plains game.

 

[Pirkan]

I used my T3 in 308 with 180 gr Norma Oryx handloads in South Africa with no complaints. The biggest animals i shot were zebra, bwb, and waterbuck and they all died in a timely manner from a single shot. When taking pot shots at baboons at >800 meters the drop was considerable but other than that it performed perfectly. As long as you're comfortable with the gun and don't plan to shoot anything massive it'd most likely serve you well.

 

[Ryan]

My first two hunts in Namibia were with a 30-06 with 168 TTSX bullets. Everything dropped within feet if not right there. Eight animals total with that rifle and ammo combo. The list went from springbok to zebra and two kudu. There isn't enough difference between a 30-06 and your .308 for any animal to notice, use it with good faith for PG.

 

[skydiver386]

I think it's an excellent caliber with bullets 168 grain and below for most pg. The old wisdom of heavy for caliber bullets made good sense before bonded bullets, mono metal bullets, etc., but the .308 doesn't have the powder capacity to push the heavier bullets over 200 grains the way larger cartridges do. IMHO you reach a point of diminishing returns with anything beyond 180grains.

In my experience the .308 is happiest with 130-165 grain bullets that are of premium controlled expansion type.

If you need more power for Eland, or notoriously tough game like Zebra and wildebeest, move to a slightly larger cartridge.

 

[BryceM]

It’s no different at short-medium range than a magnum at medium-long range. Same bullet. Shoot accurately and you’ll be fine. My African PH carries it as his preferred rifle. I’ve seen eland, kudu, gemsbok all fall to the lowly .308. I personally like something a bit bigger for eland and zebra, but ONLY if you shoot it well. Keep your shots inside of 200 yards and you’ll be fine.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I have a new .308 Win.
Testing 168gr TTSX and 180gr Swift A-Frames for Africa.
What say you?
Recomendations? suggestions?
Leave it here or take it?

Speak!

My son took an Eland and on down with one. The Eland took a few finishing shots, but the first was fatal. This is the one animal that gives me pause in regards to the light 30. But other than that, have at it.

I had loaded 165gr North Fork bonded cores with Varget behind them. Great accuracy and they mushroomed as expected.

 

[Muskox]

The bullet is everything.

Not sure you can do better than 180 Swifts .308 caliber in any other 30 caliber rifle.

 

[Bandera]

I used a 308 on Wildebeest, Zebra, Warthog and Impala with no problems. Used Federal ammo toped off with Barnes 165 grain TSX

 

[Green Chile]

I have taken everything from springbok to zebra with a one sixty eight gr ttsx fired from a three o eight that is my go-to caliber and bullet for African plains game …

Warthogs, wildebeest, impala, blesbok, nyala, waterbuck, zebra, etc etc have all fallen to that combo..

Eland is the only PG I would t consider with it… I know many others are comfortable with a non magnum thirty caliber on eland, but im personally not.. so for eland its something bigger

It's not a lot different than a 7x57, which is another way of saying it's perfectly acceptable with good bullets in the right places.

 

[Pilgrim]

.308 is awesome and works great on almost all PG.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I have a new .308 Win.
Testing 168gr TTSX and 180gr Swift A-Frames for Africa.
What say you?
Recomendations? suggestions?
Leave it here or take it?

Speak!

These are 2 different bullets for different applications IMO. The TSX is more in line with the A-Frames. TTSXs is what I loaded for in my 300 win mag for leopard last year. 308 is a fine caliber I've seen massive elk killed cleanly with by 308s.

 

[YancyW]

I wouldn't even think twice, roll with it.

 

[Rob404]

My Kudu taken with a CZ 550 308 using a

165g Sierra Gameking

 

[CBH Australia]

I think you know the answer.

 

[Hooknbullet2]

I took my 308 to Africa last year and harvested 6 animals all with 1 shot kills. I highly recommend it.

 

[AZDAVE]

I haven't used a 308 in Africa, that being said have shot many rounds through 308 rifles. With a 165gr and proper shot placement it is a fine plains game rifle. the three PG I would want a bigger rifle for are Roan, Eland, and Giraffe. Those my go to would be a 9.3 or 375 class of rifle.

 

[KCSafari]

Will take down everything up to Eland without any issues. Good luck!