7X57 or 7mm-08 or 308

[rnovi]

My son-in-law has several Bergaras and I used one in Spain recently. They are nice but as you mention heavy. For a lightweight rifle look at the Tikka T3X. It is hard to beat for price, weight, and accuracy. Personally I have and would recommend going on up to 7mm Mag for Africa.

For anyone asking (Phil, agree with your statement)…7mm is a min. I’d recommend 30’s and go heavy.

While I did use a 7mm RM (*150 E-Tip at 3k at 190 meters) on an Eland, it took two shots. More penetration would have done the job proper with one shot.

 

[mdwest]

I went .308 myself. Christensen Arms Ridgeline Carbon, swapped out a 16” barrel and slapped a muffler on it and a 3.5-10x Leup VX3. The cheapest 150 grain winchester blue box cup & core ammo.

Where I hunt. Whitetail, average shots are 110 yards. A long shot is 125.

I have other rifles for other jobs. This rig is purely about white tails where I hunt.

Sounds similar to my rig except I went with the Christensen Mesa 308 (I’m not ready to trust carbon fiber barrels yet), a yankee hill can, and the same leupold optic you’re running..

I shoot barnes TTSX had loads though, and am considering swapping out the leupold for a zeiss that I’ve got in the safe (a 3-12x)..

Strictly a whitetail rig for me, although I’d gladly pop a pig with it if one walks out on me.. shots where I’m hunting this season are a little further than yours, but not much.. 100-150 is pretty normal, and there are a couple of places where 200 is a possibility (but not probable)..

 

[Philip Glass]

For anyone asking (Phil, agree with your statement)…7mm is a min. I’d recommend 30’s and go heavy.

While I did use a 7mm RM (*150 E-Tip at 3k at 190 meters) on an Eland, it took two shots. More penetration would have done the job proper with one shot.

In my experience the 160g Barnes would have been a better choice. Eland can be tough though

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

If we are going to "manage to max" animal that could be killed cleanly and give you a bit of comfort that you have enough gun, i still wouldn't use the .308. If it is for deer and hogs and plains game and you believe you need a .30 cal bullet in a lightweight rifle, i'd use the venerable 30-06 or a .300 win mag. If you must have a short barrel so with a can it isn't like walking around with a telephone pole, I'll stay with the 7mm options. The .275 Rigby/7mm Mauser/7x57 also has 100 years of success behind it. I am partial to the 7mm-08 but love my 7x57 too.

Getting a full burn on the 7mm PRC probably needs a 20" bbl i would guess. I have cut various rifle barrels and had them threaded for cans and 18-20 inches is great. My experience is i have given up 100fps per inch cut off, max

 

[rnovi]

In my experience the 160g Barnes would have been a better choice. Eland can be tough though

A 175 mono might have done the job…the 150 did not come apart…but it didn’t get the job done on one.

Impact was dead on the humerous bone, shattered it to a dozen pieces…broke a rib on the way in…punched deep in the right lung but stopped a couple inches short of the heart.

That Eland reared up, came down…slammed down. He was down, with barely his head showing in the acacia. No second shot…and I stood on the sticks waiting. It felt like 20m later when he finally stood up and turned to give me a shot. “He’s standing…he’s standing up…He’s UP!”

My PH and Tracker were talking when my second shot rang their ears. The second pill impacted into the left high shoulder and he dropped at 200 yards.

I’m 1000% convinced a heavier Monometal that retains 100% of bullet weight and penetrates deeply is the right answer. Africa, is Africa.

 

[coreydb]

All three calibers will do the job for PG, but there is a size limit for each. Considerations in caliber selection:
-What ammo is the most readily available
-If you handload, what bullets/brass are easily obtainable
- What is the farthest you want to shoot to kill
- What is the largest PG you intend (no maybe's) to kill
- Ballistics; what is the farthest range for the Kill capability