Caliber recommendations

[Nyati]

I´ll be the contrarian here, take a .338WM.

It´s my favorute caliber, and if you are thinking of Eland or Giraffe, that extra power come in handy.

And yes, definitely, use Swift AFrame bullets.

 

[Alex38]

I’d choose the .300 with a good bullet. TTSX, A-Frame, or a heavy partition. Both my brother and I have use my .300 Win Mag with 200 gr Partitions to great effect. That load works well on everything up to and including Eland in our experience. I’ve also had great success with a .30-06 with 180 Partitions. You may want to consider the .30-06- it’s excellent for plains game with a good bullet.

 

[Axle2010]

I agree with Nyati in that I love the 338 but when I was asking my ph about what to bring I was trying to talk him in to saying "338" and he was firm on the 300 or 30-06. I used the 300 to put down my Wildebeest, that is claimed to be a tough animal, in less than 50 yards. In his words almost nobody in SA keeps 338 ammo and the 300 is plenty for any pg unless you want to step up to 375 for giraffe. Good luck on your hunt whatever you decide. Hell get both, I love buying new guns

 

[Scott4030]

Headed to the eastern cape in 2026. I've been looking at getting either a 300 wm or a 338 wm. I will be putting a suppresor on it. Was going to zero at 200yds. What are the groups thoughts and opinions? Thanks to all who respond.

The huge number of PHs in the Eastern Cape use 300wm as their client rifles. I have a college buddy who live in the Eastern Cape and is a PH and he swears by the 300wm with 180 gr Barnes TSX. While Barnes is hard to come by in RSA, the gun shop in Kimberly has tons of 300wm (non-Barnes) ammo if you have some sort of issue when you get there.

 

[Trentmullikin]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input definitely seems like the majority is the 300 wm. I think I'm going to go with a browning x bolt the gun and action felt good to me. Really appreciate the advice on bullet choice also that was something I hadn't really thought about. I usually run hornady in everything but that seems like that would not be the best choice. Once again appreciate everyone getting back this may be the only website on he internet that people will just answer your questions and not troll you.

 

[Flbt]

I´ll be the contrarian here, take a .338WM.

It´s my favorute caliber, and if you are thinking of Eland or Giraffe, that extra power come in handy.

And yes, definitely, use Swift AFrame bullets.

I agree with that.
If they can shoot the 338 wm I would go with it
It would be good for ever big game animal in the USA to.

 

[375Fox]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input definitely seems like the majority is the 300 wm. I think I'm going to go with a browning x bolt the gun and action felt good to me. Really appreciate the advice on bullet choice also that was something I hadn't really thought about. I usually run hornady in everything but that seems like that would not be the best choice. Once again appreciate everyone getting back this may be the only website on he internet that people will just answer your questions and not troll you.

Something to keep in mind on the X bolt. You’ll want the standard model not the long range model. The standard comes with a barrel twist rate more suited to common hunting bullets.

 

[Trentmullikin]

Something to keep in mind on the X bolt. You’ll want the standard model not the long range model. The standard comes with a barrel twist rate more suited to common hunting bullets.

Yea I was looking at the x bolt speed suppressor ready barrell. 22 inch length the twist is 1:8

 

[375Fox]

Yea I was looking at the x bolt speed suppressor ready barrell. 22 inch length the twist is 1:8

You might consider reaching out to someone more knowledgeable than me on that rifle paired with a suppressor but 1:8 is a fast twist same as their long range models. It might shoot heavier 200 gr bullets considerably better than lighter bullets and limit your factory ammo options. It could shoot 150-180 gr bullets well too but someone with the rifle would need to tell you.

 

[dogcat1]

7mm Rem, .300 H&H, .300 WM, 30-06, .270 all work. I used a .280 Rem on everything in the Eastern Cape with no issues. My son used his .243 on everything up to eland.

 

[Letzhunt]

If sold on the Hornady ammo I would stay clear of the ELD-X. They don't stay together when encountering large bones in the shoulders. This is where you shoot African animals as their vitals are further forward than American game. If it must be Hornady shoot the CX mono bullets that are tough.
Of course be sure your gun likes them first.
Do you reload or shooting factory?
Barnes factory ammo is typically accurate in most quality rifles and those bullets are great for Africa. The Federal terminal ascent an are tough also.

 

[Trentmullikin]

Factory ammo but honestly after everybody has recommend anything but hornady. I'm going to try different brands amd weights see what shoots best.

 

[Letzhunt]

@Letzhunt - is the standard “200 yrd zero” for a .30 cal really “antiquated”? I certainly am aware that newer scopes offer better technology for long range shooting but is that really needed for shots Under 300 yrds? I wouldn’t think so on a big game animal Deer size or larger. My .30-06 sighted 2” high at 100 yrds and yrd Zeros about 210 yrds shooting 180 gr bullets @ 2750 fps …good enough that it requires NO hold over out to 275 yrds —— where its 3+ inches low. I prefer the speed and “no thinking or adjustments needed” for shots under 300 yrds that a regular scope and 200 yrd zero allow. In TZ I did shoot a Wildebeast at 340 yrds and knew to aim slightly high to allow for the 8” or so drop I anticipated.
I know there are Better rifle shots than Me and they will shoot game well out to 400 yrds-500 yrds… but for me 300-350 yrds Off Sticks or improvised rest is about as much as I can handle.

I agree that antiquated was maybe not the best phrase. But I do think with todays scopes and ballistics apps and a general better knowledge of ballistics that one is better suited if looking to buy a rifle and scope that getting a scope with adjustable turrets on a rifle in the 300 wm range is better than a max point blank or standard 200 yard zero. Reason being is that using a scope with adjustable turrets gets you both. If you zero for 100 yards and then adjust your scope for 200 and confirm you can leave it on the 200 yard setting ( likely around 1.25 moa) you can use it the same way you suggest and just hold on or over out to 300ish. Now say you hunt in the western states you can use the same system and dial for longer shots .... with practice of course. Just saying if shopping for new it gives you more. If you have a scope already with a simple reticle and standard turrets by all means use it.

 

[Letzhunt]

Another thing to mention is the OPs examples it more about the bullet choice than the specific cartridge. Obviously many cartridges will work but not all bullets will serve him well. Hornady only makes one good hunting bullet for large game and that's the CX. The DGX bonded is OK but there are better choices. The ELD-X and certainly the ELD-M do not hold up unless shot into soft parts like on Whitetail behind the shoulder. They will not tolerate the shoulder shot that is needed on African game. Why chance it choose a Bonded or homogenous bullet with a proven record.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

7mm Rem, .300 H&H, .300 WM, 30-06, .270 all work. I used a .280 Rem on everything in the Eastern Cape with no issues.

My son used his .243 on everything up to eland.

Don’t tell Bob! He wouldn’t believe it anyway…

 

[Alex38]

Like others have said, Hornady is fine as long as you use their CX bullet that is loaded in their Outfitter line of ammo. If that doesn’t shoot well, try another bonded or mono metal bullet like Barnes TTSX or LRX, Nosler Partition, Accubond, or ETip, or Federal Terminal Ascent. X-Bolts are great rifles, I really love that pair of them that I own!

 

[Trentmullikin]

Like others have said, Hornady is fine as long as you use their CX bullet that is loaded in their Outfitter line of ammo. If that doesn’t shoot well, try another bonded or mono metal bullet like Barnes TTSX or LRX, Nosler Partition, Accubond, or ETip, or Federal Terminal Ascent. X-Bolts are great rifles, I really love that pair of them that

What calibers are your x bolts? What brand ammo and weight do you use? I've been looking at the xbolt speed 22 in barrel. Only reason for the 22 in is I plan on putting a suppresor on it. Then if I hunt somewhere suppresors aren't allowed it seems like good reviews with that recoil hawg muzzle break.

 

[Alex38]

I have 2 Stainless Stalkers. One in .280 Rem and the other in .25-06. I load my own ammo and use 160 Nosler Partitions in the .280 and 110 Accubonds in the .25-06. I’ve had each of the rifles for 8-10 years plus and I’m not sure Browning even chambers for those cartridges anymore. I have no plans to part with either of them.

 

[Letzhunt]

Headed to the eastern cape in 2026. I've been looking at getting either a 300 wm or a 338 wm. I will be putting a suppresor on it. Was going to zero at 200yds. What are the groups thoughts and opinions? Thanks to all who respond.

By the way when in 2026 are you going the the Eastern Cape, who with and what are you after? Headed there myself in April of 2026.

 

[Trentmullikin]

By the way when in 2026 are you going the the Eastern Cape, who with and what are you after? Headed there myself in April of 2026.

Im going to frontier safaris on a plains game hunt. I actually booked it through Worldwide Trophy Adventures they were running a discount on it at the time. It's a ten day 12 aninal package hunt. I found that hunt before I found this website.