An all round rifle caliber , for Africa and elsewhere

[wildfowler.250]

Interesting replies folks. I think there’s enough consistency to say that the .30-06 covers everything.

I’ve shot one a couple of times and taken a red stag with one. Interestingly on paper , it measures more recoil than the .270. Yet many folk describe it as a hard push vs a snap from the .270. Is this likely due to slower powder burns in the 06?

Certainly I don’t notice recoil when hunting. But on load development shooting 4-5 shot groups for maybe 5-6 batches I do start to notice it by the end of the day. But that’s more anecdotal and comes down to group sizes on paper than hunting relevance.

 

[CBH Australia]

Another idea is to ask you PH or a PH that has the experience you like. Ask him what he sees as the best all around... You will get an informed opinion.

Opinions vary.

We all have one and I believe the question is asking the member’s opinion.

All good, for what it’s worth I used a hired 7mm mag from the outfitter and my PH was contracted and his preference for all round was the .300wm which he offers as a hire rifle.

 

[Philip Glass]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

I would say 7mm Mag would be a good option but my preference is .300Win. I've hunted with the 6.5's and there are issues for me. They are great for deer but depending on bullet selection smaller animals will be torn up or run far off after shot perfectly. Examples are a 6.5CM with match bullets that I borrowed for one of the Spanish Ibex. After a perfect shot the goat ran nearly half a mile! The 6.5 PRC with Hornady ELDX tore huge holes in my spring buck upon exiting. Anyway you will get many answers here. 7mm or .300 with TSX and you can hunt most anything.

 

[Challer]

375 is the obvious answer. But if you must, 30-06

 

[uplander01]

I agree, as soon as Alaska and Africa come into play, 375 is the only answer, remember the question was "for everything"

 

[lobo9er]

IF deer calibers work for plains game, and you want a newer cooler caliber, my brother inlaw loves the 6.5 PRC. I'm a simpler guy 44, .308, 30-06...

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

@wildfowler.250
Nought wrong with the humble 308.
Hasn't got the speed of the 270 or ought six but just plain works.
Bob

 

[UKHunter]

I’m assuming you still intend to use the rifle for UK species? In which case, if you are set on a new rifle then I would go for a .308 but personally I would stick with a .270 and put the funds towards shooting additional animals instead of another rifle.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

@wildfowler.250
As much as I love the 35 Whelen ammo is nigh on impossible to get in Africa.
As much as this pains me I would go for the humble 9.3x62. Versatile and in a pinch can be used in DG to good effect.
Suitable for the tiny 10 up to elephant.
Bob

 

[Alistair]

I thought this would be an interesting subject on here as African animals are notorious for being tough.

I’ve been considering changing my .270 after 15-20 years ‘just because’. Despite that, it just works.

I’m starting to think that there’s an optimum range between recoil and knockdown. Leaning more towards an accurate, milder caliber where before I thought more leeway was better.

What would you consider the minimum suitable calibers for hunting Africa plains game that would double as a deer rifle? 7x57 comes up on here a lot. 6.5CM too small? 6.5PRC is really tempting me.
I appreciate eland are probably a separate subject.


I appreciate bullet choice is likely as important. I always thought if I ever changed the .270 it would be for a .30-06 but now less seems to be more. I have used a 6.5x55,(home loaded) a lot in the past few years and again, accurate and mild and still drops deer.


Interested in thoughts

My personal view is that you're already pretty close to a sensible minimum with the 270, and that any caliber option which is smaller to a degree that you'd be able to 'notice' a drop in recoil is going to be pretty marginal.

That said, I am quite confident that I would not notice the difference between 6.5x55 recoil and 270win recoil under field conditions, and I suspect I couldn't distinguish 6.5x55 from 30-06 under those conditions either, so what is 'meaningfully less' recoil is rather subjective and maybe you do see that benefit.

I think that if you're having good success with the 270win, you'd likely still have good success with the 6.5x55 if you wanted to go that route. They're not 'that different' in terminal effect, so pick a tough, heavy for caliber bullet, load it fairly hot, and crack on. Of course, you do that and it'll recoil like a 270 anyway...

Same with the 7x57 IMO.

As a wild card, how about a 7x64? Basically the same as a .270win, better choice of bullets, plus it's cool. If you like the performance of what you have, but just fancy a change, that'd be one to consider.

 

[AZDAVE]

Since it is for Africa and elsewhere 9.3x62 or 375 H&H.

 

[MS 9x56]

My personal view is that you're already pretty close to a sensible minimum with the 270, and that any caliber option which is smaller to a degree that you'd be able to 'notice' a drop in recoil is going to be pretty marginal.

That said, I am quite confident that I would not notice the difference between 6.5x55 recoil and 270win recoil under field conditions, and I suspect I couldn't distinguish 6.5x55 from 30-06 under those conditions either, so what is 'meaningfully less' recoil is rather subjective and maybe you do see that benefit.

I think that if you're having good success with the 270win, you'd likely still have good success with the 6.5x55 if you wanted to go that route. They're not 'that different' in terminal effect, so pick a tough, heavy for caliber bullet, load it fairly hot, and crack on. Of course, you do that and it'll recoil like a 270 anyway...

Same with the 7x57 IMO.

As a wild card, how about a 7x64? Basically the same as a .270win, better choice of bullets, plus it's cool. If you like the performance of what you have, but just fancy a change, that'd be one to consider.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

 

[3chunter]

.300 win mag

 

[375Ruger416]

Ahem… posting in the correct thread this time ‍(facepalm)

My only plains game hunt so far was with a 300 PRC. I took eight animals up to the size of an eland and it worked well on all of them. A 30 cal magnum is a classic versatile plains game cartridge as is the 30-06, 7x57 and other similar cartridges. They have literally been proven on plains game for over a hundred years. I have since added a Blaser R8 in 300 WM/375 H&H that I will be using for my next two safaris - another plains game hunt and my first buffalo hunt.

However, answering the question asked, I would recommend a 7 x 57. Have a 270, leaning towards a milder, accurate cartridge for plains game and a deer rifle. 7mm08 and 6.5 CM would be other options, but they will be less effective on larger game and at less than optimum angles. A 175 gr 7x57 is as effective as a 180 30-06 or very, very close.

I have two 6.5 PRC and like them, but they are so close to a 270 - 140 gr bullets at 2900-3000 fps? that there is not enough of a difference unless you just want one. The final wrinkle for African plains game is that some countries have a caliber or energy minimum for larger plains game. A 7 mm will qualify everywhere as far as I know.

Best of luck on your choice, enjoy your new rifle and pictures and hunt reports with your new firearm are always welcome!

 

[Tom Leoni]

Let me pose the question in another way, since we're talking about "Africa and elsewhere."

I'd like to know of a realistic sport-hunting situation in which a .375 H&H would not be suitable. Biased? Who, me?

 

[Shako Badhan]

There has already been a lot of great advice, but if I may I’ll throw in my two cents in favor of 30/06. That is if you’re not shooting mostly at longer distances. If I am not mistaken some African countries have a 30 caliber minimum for lager PG species.

I love 7x57 but there is greater ammunition/ bullet availability for 30/06. That 220 grain is great at shorter ranges for the big stuff. If you are shooting at longer ranges then the 300 WM is hard to beat.

 

[pilar]

Hard to argue that the 30-06 is wrong heck any 30 caliber ( 308win - 30-06 , 300 h&h , 300wm , PRC ) till buffalo ++ come out to play then 9.3 - ,375 , 404 , 458 Lott

 

[CamoManJ]

300 WSM & 165 TSX is my go to combo. I shoot it well, often & is most reliable. A Short & Fat cartridge with a short 19” barrel suppressed 300 WSM just works for me.

 

[cajunchefray]

Thinking about the original question, I think that ideally, I would get a 338 Win Mag or 8x68 and down load for deer use.

If in the UK, I would try for an 8x64s or a 30-06, depending on how brave I felt about loosing ammunition in transit.

Sorry to go on about the UK, but the OP's avatar suggests they might be here as well.

Your situation, in the UK, illustrates why we are so fortunate in the USA in our choice of rifles, guns, and handguns.

I would truly despise a situation that a "government official" must validate my choice in weapons.

 

[Hififile324]

Here is how I would look at this:

1) Worldwide Ammo Availability - .30-06
2) Bullet choices factory or reload - .30-06 (.308/.300)
3) History of proven success on game - .30-06
4) Choice of gun brand chamberings - .30-06 (6.5cm is on fire!)
5) Cost of ammo for big game hunting - .30-06
6) Proven use in war time - .30-06
7) Longevity of use - .30-06
Just my thoughts.

The .30-06 is never a bad choice!