Eland, is the .308 Winchester enough gun?

[Ryan]

Probably from a waterhole blind and not in a wilderness area? I and a few others are simply making the point that the conditions under which the shot is taken make a huge difference in caliber selection.

Or if the caliber selection is a lighter one for the species accepting that only only certain shots can be taken, much like bowhunting. That can either be taken as a negative or as an acceptable challenge. It took two hunts for me to get an eland, I hunted with my own 30-06 the first time withoit ever getting a shot. And a borrowed 300 Win Mag the second hunt which I got my eland. I was within 100 yards of it for around 4 hours passing on at least one shot until it finally came together. That's hunting, and I was OK with those limitations.

 

[Red Leg]

Or if the caliber selection is a lighter one for the species accepting that only only certain shots can be taken, much like bowhunting. That can either be taken as a negative or as an acceptable challenge. It took two hunts for me to get an eland, I hunted with my own 30-06 the first time withoit ever getting a shot. And a borrowed 300 Win Mag the second hunt which I got my eland. I was within 100 yards of it for around 4 hours passing on at least one shot until it finally came together. That's hunting, and I was OK with those limitations.

Of course. One would assume we are all ethical hunters.

Lots of buffalo were killed (and some lost) by American hunters between and just after WWII with the 30-06 (Hemingway has a tale). That doesn't make the old war horse a good choice for buffalo. And no, an eland is not wired like a buffalo. However, I simply prefer and recommend a bit more rifle for these large animals regardless of one's patience or stalking skills.

 

[IvW]

In short for an inexperienced or first time eland hunter , NO.

 

[TokkieM]

I must be fortunate, because I never ran into a bullet proof Eland, the 9 or so Eland I have shot and the 4 or 5 I have had clients shoot where all taken with a 308 rifle. Longest shot was around 185 meters and the closest around 40 meters. Never needed another shot and never went further than 100 meters. As for premium bullets NF worked well, but the good old PMP round did the same job.

 

[ShortMag]

I suspect that their have been far more eland wounded and lost by clients shooting magnums they couldn't handle than by clients shooting less powerful rifles that they shot well. That being said, if one can shoot a magnum well, one would be silly not to use it on an animal that large. And if one cannot shoot magnums well, then it is a rather moot discussion.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Not trying to be wise guy, but there's a lot of talk about people who can't shoot a magnum well. How many eland hunters can't shoot a magnum, say a 300 with 200 grain loads, well? I think most could practice proper techniques to be able to shoot one well. Adding weight is another option.
I,m not trying to say that everyone should be able to handle a 300 mag, or that I'm impervious to recoil. How often is a 300/338 magnum too much recoil for an experienced shooter?

 

[CoElkHunter]

Not trying to be wise guy, but there's a lot of talk about people who can't shoot a magnum well. How many eland hunters can't shoot a magnum, say a 300 with 200 grain loads, well? I think most could practice proper techniques to be able to shoot one well. Adding weight is another option.
I,m not trying to say that everyone should be able to handle a 300 mag, or that I'm impervious to recoil. How often is a 300/338 magnum too much recoil for an experienced shooter?

Actually, you make a very valid point(s)? How many here who want to hunt in Africa and “don’t like” or “can’t shoot” a more powerful rifle cartridge (use the M word if you want) than their deer rifle, have actually been shown some pointers (I.e. sufficient recoil pad/length of pull) and/or techniques (like not shooting dozens of rounds from the bench all at once until you develop a flinch), etc.? I was using my .270 Win for elk, before LEARNING to shoot my .338WM. My hunting buddy and his son are .30-06 BLR fanatics. BUT, they did LEARN to shoot my .338 and hunted with it in Canada. They’ve told me the felt recoil is not much more than their BLRs, which have straight, poor stock designs. My A Bolt stock seems to mitigate recoil. If one has an injury or medical issue I can fully understand not even wanting to experience more felt recoil. But if not, try a more powerful rifle and it may work for you? If not, don’t and use the rifle your comfortable with. Just know your and the caliber limitations? Choose wisely grasshopper!

 

[wesheltonj]

(1) Where I hunted in Africa, the outfitter recommended a 300WM and 375 if hunting Eland when we met at DSC. He said a 308 would work on everything but Eland, if that's all I had or could rent the camp gun. I took my 375. His camp gun was a Browning 300WM, he told me after I arrived that Browning wanted him to push the 300 WM. He now has a contract with Blaser and the camp gun is now a 9.3.

(2) As to Elk, I looked at several Montana outfitters who all said I need a 300WM to hunt Elk. The New Mexico outfitter that end up with said 308 would work just fine on Elk. I shot my Elk and it was a complete pass thru. After I shot I told the guide that I think I missed. He asked why I said that and I said I could hear the bullet echoing down the valley and I saw the Elk just walk a way. We walked over to where I believed he was standing and about 50 feet a way one dead Elk. 308 works, placement is everything.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Or if the caliber selection is a lighter one for the species accepting that only only certain shots can be taken, much like bowhunting. That can either be taken as a negative or as an acceptable challenge. It took two hunts for me to get an eland, I hunted with my own 30-06 the first time withoit ever getting a shot. And a borrowed 300 Win Mag the second hunt which I got my eland. I was within 100 yards of it for around 4 hours passing on at least one shot until it finally came together. That's hunting, and I was OK with those limitations.

Kinda off thread here, but any big game (let alone a large Eland) hangs around within 100 yds for FOUR hours! I guess the benefit of hunting private property with non spooked game and half a dozen other hunters not after the same animal? I’ve been hunting in all the wrong places! I’ve got to get to Africa! Ha! Ha! And congratulations on your Eland the second time around!

 

[markferrigno]

I wouldn't shoot Elk with a .308 and an Eland is about 50% heavier and bigger. I'd say .300 Win Mag minimum.

I shoot Elk with .308 and no issues. Elk are large but not esp. tough. Just like Moose. I have been Colorado for 5 years and most hunters seem to think Elk need a .338 Lapua mag. I don't understand why.

 

[markferrigno]

I hunted Africa twice, each time the guidance from the outfitter and guide was the same. "Bring your favorite Deer rifle that you can shoot well. And use only Barnes bullets" Both said the biggest issues they had with American hunters is them thinking they need a .30 cal magnum and not being used to it or shoot it well.

 

[1dirthawker]

Quaticman,

is the 308 enough gun for eland....not really.

can you kill an eland with one, yes. could you kill an eland with a 243 win? yes.

does that make the 243 a good rifle for an eland? no. to quote jurassic park: " just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD"

there are better guns. just consider this, would you want to use the 308 on a 200 yard quartering shot? if so, then i guess its enough gun. if not, get a bigger gun and learn to shoot it well, nuff said.

 

[Tanks]

I shoot Elk with .308 and no issues. Elk are large but not esp. tough. Just like Moose. I have been Colorado for 5 years and most hunters seem to think Elk need a .338 Lapua mag. I don't understand why.

Last one I shot was at 450+ yards. One guy in the camp shot one at over 650 yards. This was in Montana though where shots were long. I would not take those shots with a .308

Going to Africa I would not want to limit myself in caliber where I would have to pass on the trophy of the lifetime because my rifle is not up to the task.

Then again I am in the camp of "too much gun" as long as one can shoot it accurately and well.

 

[1dirthawker]

Both said the biggest issues they had with American hunters is them thinking they need a .30 cal magnum and not being used to it or shoot it well.

just a thought...a eland is potentially larger than a cape buffalo, and most african countries REQUIRE a 9.3 or 375 as a minimum. is a 308 big enough for buffalo;? well, i guess so according to the logic above.

could you kill a buffalo with one, yup. been done with smaller calibers, i suspect most outfitters would not be happy to see you show up for a buffalo hunt with a 308, so why shoot a bigger animal with the same gun????

learn to shoot a bigger gun, or hunt something else.

 

[rnovi]

I’d like to write more but I’m kind of limited tonight. A bigger report is out there somewhere...

Anyway, I took my Eland with a 7mm Rem Mag and a 150gr. E-Tip at 3000 fps.

At just shy of 200 yards off the sticks, I center punched the upper front right humerus bone just below the socket. I can’t really describe how big that bone is - like 2.5” across. It’s an immensely strong bone...and it shattered into a dozen pieces with the bullet continuing forward on a perfect trajectory to the heart. A big rib shattered and the bullet kept going...into the right lung.

Where it stopped about 2” short of the heart. Yep, that was a one shot kill that needed more penetration. Instead, I had a one-lung shot...

The Eland went down, straight down. Shocked, stunned, broken leg, it went down with only it’s head showing above the grass and brush. Several long minutes later it stood up, a second shot high into the shoulder broke the spine.

Point being, something that could have penetrated more would have been desirable. That was about as perfect a shot as I could have made...well, 2” back a bit would have been better but, well, that’s the stuff that happens when hunting. I’m convinced a 286 gr. Bullet from my 9.3x62 would have done the job, punching right through that big shoulder bone and actually making it to the heart.

IMO, go bigger than a .308. .338+ is my suggestion. It’s 2,000# of animal. It’s not small...it’s big...and bigger medicine is needed when things aren’t exactly textbook.

 

[markferrigno]

(1) Where I hunted in Africa, the outfitter recommended a 300WM and 375 if hunting Eland when we met at DSC. He said a 308 would work on everything but Eland, if that's all I had or could rent the camp gun. I took my 375. His camp gun was a Browning 300WM, he told me after I arrived that Browning wanted him to push the 300 WM. He now has a contract with Blaser and the camp gun is now a 9.3.

(2) As to Elk, I looked at several Montana outfitters who all said I need a 300WM to hunt Elk. The New Mexico outfitter that end up with said 308 would work just fine on Elk. I shot my Elk and it was a complete pass thru. After I shot I told the guide that I think I missed. He asked why I said that and I said I could hear the bullet echoing down the valley and I saw the Elk just walk a way. We walked over to where I believed he was standing and about 50 feet a way one dead Elk. 308 works, placement is everything.

In my limited experience hunting Elk, everyone thinks the .300 win mag is minimum and .338 is the preferred round. I heard a lot of stories of people taking Elk at 400-600 yds. What I actually saw in my camp:

The 6 or 7 other hunters all missed the first Elk they shot at (between 250-400 yds) all had .300 or .338 They obvious were not comfortable shooting those calibers and ranges.

I was told a .308 wasn't "enough gun" for Elk. I was the only who didn't miss on their first chance. I shot my Elk at 330 yds. 350 was the max range I was comfortable with.

You better have a ton of experience and be an excellent to shoot an animal at 600 yds. 99% of folks who think they can, can't.

 

[JimP]

Heck, most hunters that say that they are shooting 600 yards are shooting closer to 300. When they say that they put the cross hairs on top of a elks back and pulled the trigger at 600 yards and the elk dropped with a perfect double lung shot. You should see their faces when I told them that they had no idea of what the range was and that their all power full 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag drops over 48" at 600 yards.

As for elk I have personally shot them from 20 yards out to 798 yards which was verified and most of them were shot with a 30-06 shooting 150 grain cup and core bullets. I didn't start taking longer shots until I started using a .340 Weatherby, but it still drops a long ways at that 798 yard target.

What it comes down to is that you need to pick your shots. If you know that you are shooting a .308 don't take that 400 yard shot on most of the animals out there but get closer or pass up the shot. The same could be said about the .308 when hunting a eland. Know the range and know that you are going to have to get within 200 yards, preferably withing 100 yards. Then put the premium bullet where it counts and odds are you will have a dead eland. Now take that shot at 200 yards + and the odds go way down on a dead animal and way up on a wounded one.

The same can be said with a lot of calibers. That is where you need to know the cartridges capabilities and not just guess that it will work.

 

[Tanks]

Heck, most hunters that say that they are shooting 600 yards are shooting closer to 300. ...

The same can be said with a lot of calibers. That is where you need to know the cartridges capabilities and not just guess that it will work.

That's why one carries a rangefinder (I recommend the Leica 2700B) and set up a dope sheet for various ranges for their bullet/rifle combination prior to the hunt. If one uses a scope with a ballistic turret it becomes even stupid easy.

Though, at least for me, I do not expect to take long shots at where I will be hunting in Zim, too much foliage. I expect most plains game to be under 200 yards if that much. Buffalo will probably be under 50 yards.

 

[Accidental Villain]

My father guided the British District Commissioner in Uganda on some occasions and as tip he received some packages with Kynoch 8x57JS loaded with 224 grains bullets which he later used with success on a number of eland and zebras. Just make sure you have perfect aim he later said. I know they had a really long walk after one of them, and after finding it they got lost in the dark in the bush with lions and hyenas around. Interesting times but nothing a good cup of tea wouldn't cure .
The 8x57JS is by some regarded as a large 308WIN with the big difference that it usually handles heavy bullets very very well. That and the fact that it have relatively mild recoil combined will exceptional penetration is one of the reasons its so popular with wild boar hunters.
A couple of years ago I read a scientifically very well done test with Rhino bullets with relevance to Huge wild-boars. 2 cartidges penetrated the very tough test medium. Of course it was 9,3x62 and 8x57JS.. All the 30 cals including 308W failed, even the 9,3x57.
Personally I would not recommend anything less than 375H&H or put in another way, its the one I would recommend.
True trophy hunting your success may very well be depending on bringing a rifle cartridge combo that gives you extra margins in the decisive moments. Eland at a game ranch and your butt tucked in a nice chair by a man made water hole, with the PH supervising you exactly when and were to shoot I guess a 243W would do the job or even a 223 as mentioned earlier..But is that hunting? No in my book.
Cheers

 

[CoElkHunter]

I shoot Elk with .308 and no issues. Elk are large but not esp. tough. Just like Moose. I have been Colorado for 5 years and most hunters seem to think Elk need a .338 Lapua mag. I don't understand why.

My son has taken four elk with his old Rem 788 in .308W with Sierra 165gr BT (don’t use on elk or moose!). But two of the four ran several hundred yards with lung shots and one onto private property. We got all of them though. He has since been using a Rem 700 .300WM with 180gr Core Lokts and two one shot kills on elk with one running at 200+ yards. But an elk does NOT have the body mass of an Eland, so buyer beware! I’ll use my .338WM if I ever hunt PG in Africa. Regardless of all other variable factors, I feel CONFIDENT in this caliber and my ability to shoot it well!