.308 Win in Africa - fan or foe?

[Philip Glass]

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!

If you were shopping I would say .300. Everyone I've taken on safari who has shot a .300 has done exceptionally well. If you can range and dial and use the TTSX you will do fine.

 

[Ragman]

Big fan. Go for it!

 

[Stetsonham]

List of animals I’ve taken with my .308
Kudu
Sable
Blesbuck
Springbok
Steenbok
Impala
Bushbuck
Muledeer
Elk
Mountain lion
Black bear
Antelope

I’m a big of the .308

 

[Ruraldoc]

I have taken blesbuck, impala, warthog and a large waterbuck with my 308 with 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tipped bullets.

I have take plenty of deer and hogs including big ones in the USA.

308 is the most popular cartridge for plains game among the PHs that I have talked with.

They use them for loaner rifles and they hunt with them as well.

My PH, having seen how well the 165 Trophy Bonded bullet worked on Waterbuck, encouraged me to take a big male eland with it.

I passed on the opportunity and it’s one of my few regrets from my safari.

My PH told me that the 308 and 30-06 were like Ford and Chevy, pick the one you like because they are the same in the field.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I also know a guy in Montana who does a lot of backpacking and hunting on remote tracks of public land.

He has killed a bunch of bull elk with his Kimber Montana in 308. Some of them at over 400 yards. He uses 165 grain Accubonds.

A bull elk at long range is a tough animal, large plains game animals are no tougher than a bull elk in my experience having killed half a dozen bull elk.

 

[MD Driver]

The bullet is everything.

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

Love Swifts!

 

[Sabre]

Maybe I will change my mind in the future, but I currently believe the .308 is one of the best go-to calibers out there. It's the balance of low recoil, power, distance, availability that sell me on it for the vast majority of things.

I have taken around 25-30 species from Coyote/Duiker sized animals up to Eland with the .308 using Federal Terminal Ascent and Trophy Bonded Tip. It is incredibly versatile and very well suited to African Plains Game.

 

[Piet Brood]

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!

Take it!

 

[shark_za]

There are two types of people in the bushveld.
.308ers and .30-06ers.
We look down on the poor .308ers but I have to accept that it gets the job done.

 

[CBH Australia]

There are two types of people in the bushveld.
.308ers and .30-06ers.
We look down on the poor .308ers but I have to accept that it gets the job done.

The only thing wrong with the .308 is that it is as common as muck.
I have one and will always have one but it is nice to aspire to having something else but honestly the .308 is pretty versatile

 

[russ473]

i use 168grn Barnes tsx and alot of clients use my .308 to take all their PG and love it, from youngsters to men and ladies

 

[MS 9x56]

My Kudu taken with a CZ 550 308 using aView attachment 666244165g Sierra Gameking

Great rifle and Awsome Kudu. What scope does it wear?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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!

@dogcat1
My son took his Howa 308 loaded with 150gn accubonds and 140gn outer edge monos. Both loaded to 2,950 fps and same poi out to 200 yards.
Every thing he shot from impala up to zebra and oryx died very quickly. A couple of animals needed 2 shots because they didn't realise they were dead but 98% were one shot and done. That was a total of 10 animals for him.
Looking back dare I say I could have left my Whelen at home and killed everything I shot just as dead with his 308. But where would the fun be in that .
Depending on what you are hunting I personally don't see the need for expensive Barnes or A Frames in the 08. A good bonded bullets like Woodleigh or accubond will do just fine.
Even the 140gn outer edge monos punched clear thru bot sides of a zebra at 120 yds. We only recovered one accubond all the rest were complete pass thru with massive internal damage and broken bones.
Take your 308 and have fun.
Bob