Eland

[BWH]

If the the perfect broadside shot at 100-200 yards presents itself.... sure. If not, then no..... I was in precarious situation as many hunts/Safaris are.... you don’t get the perfect situation. I had a 30-06 that was absolute money on everything, the Eland wanted more & more. That is a big animal..... go bigger if you can

 

[IdaRam]

Eland are big and tough! If you only get 1 lung you are in for a looong day(s). Having said that, if you commit to only taking “the perfect shot” and place your premium bullet with precision, you will have your eland. But you are taking a risk.
For me personally, after having shot a grand total of one eland, it would feel about like hunting elk with a .223. Certainly can be done, but not much margin for error.

 

[Graham Hunter]

Eland are big and tough! If you only get 1 lung you are in for a looong day(s). Having said that, if you commit to only taking “the perfect shot” and place your premium bullet with precision, you will have your eland. But you are taking a risk.
For me personally, after having shot a grand total of one eland, it would feel about like hunting elk with a .223. Certainly can be done, but not much margin for error.

If you put one thru the heart dead animal regardless of caliber. One lung with the 270 might be the difference between 10yds or 150yds . As the animal runs the good lung is pumping blood out of the shot one. Dead animal. Use a good quality bullet and proper shot placement. Dead animal.

 

[Von S.]

When I take the boat 50 to 100 miles offshore to load up on tuna, wahoo and mahi eventually someone will want to
attempt to catch and land these fighters with and outfit and line that is more suited to catching flounder in the backwater under the guise that it is " more sporting".

Unfortunately by using gear not strong enough there are more times when loosing fish than there is with the big stuff.

I know of a few guys who who have taken this idea into hunting as well and use rounds that are barely sufficient to get the job done.

There are many here who will speak right up and say how a 220 Swift with a 70 great bullet isn't " the right stuff" to hunt a 100 pound deer, but yet it doesn't seem to be happening when talk of shooting a 2000 pound Eland with a 270 and a light weight bullet.

What's the deal there?

 

[IdaRam]

If you put one thru the heart dead animal regardless of caliber. One lung with the 270 might be the difference between 10yds or 150yds . As the animal runs the good lung is pumping blood out of the shot one. Dead animal. Use a good quality bullet and proper shot placement. Dead animal.

Big, tough animals can and do go for hours and miles on one lung. Just cautioning on being very selective on presentation the animal gives for a shot. Punching through a shoulder on an eland with any bullet from a .270 is not an option. Facing toward, quartering toward or quartering away shots may yield a below average result. Yes, just my opinion, but not an uninformed opinion.

 

[IvW]

Although the 270 Win is legal for hunting Eland bear in mind that a old large Eland bull weights more than a Cape buffalo bull. Wound one and you will quickly find out that of all the plains game and including buffalo a wounded eland will go for miles and miles without stopping and recovering a wounded one(especially with a marginal caliber) may not be possible.

The heaviest premium grade bullet would be the appropriate choice.

Unless the shot presentation is perfect broadside I would be reluctant having a client taking a shot with a 270 Win.

Having said that, where you will be hunting your eland would also make the choice easier. If it will be in a wide open area or if it will be in the bushveldt.

Yes the better you shoot your rifle the better choice it is to bring as you are so familiar with it, however using an appropriate caliber to ensure the animal you are targeting can be killed with one shot even if the angle or shot presentation is not ideal should be the first consideration..

The way I hunt eland, on foot and tracking, the 270 Win would not be my first choice, firing a 150 gr bullet at 3000 Fps it is much better suited to hunting medium plains game at longer range. Hunting eland on foot will rarely result in a shot over 150 yards.

For 1800-2000 pound eland there are much better choices, at minimum I would recommend, 30-06 or 300 with 200 gr bullets and bigger calibers.

Sell the 300 Weatherby you hate and buy an appropriate low recoiling large plains game rifle then you will have a very effective two rifle battery.

 

[IvW]

Shoot an Eland through the heart with a .270 and it will die.
Shoot an Eland through the heart with a .470 and it will die.

Correct bullet placement using a sturdy bullet will kill your Eland.
It will do the job but as mentioned above, not my personal preference.

Correct..

However, if that first shot is not perfect the chances of recovery are greatly increased with the larger caliber.

A quartering frontal shot that requires the bullet to smash through the thick hard shoulder bones of a 2000 pound eland is no problem for a larger caliber but should not be attempted with a 270 Win...unless you have well worn in hunting boots and can walk non stop for at least 2 day's...

I would only use a caliber that will allow me to take quartering shots and I know it will punch through the heavy bones and on through the vitals.

You may well have to pass up on the eland trophy of your dreams if you have the wrong caliber in your hands, I prefer not to and therefore use a 9.3 x 74R or 375 H&H when hunting Eland.

 

[One Day...]

It took two 250 gr Nosler Partitions from a 340 Wby at approximately 200 yards to kill my Eland.

The first shot off the sticks at ~200 yd was about perfect on the shoulder. The 250 gr Partition broke both shoulders and hit both lungs but the Eland did not get the memo and took off at a gallop.

Hunt Eland in South Africa

• One Day...
• Oct 1, 2018

It took two 250 gr Nosler Partitions from a 340 Wby at approximately 200 yards:

First shot was...

The second shot was an immediate follow-up, off-hand at a run away rump at ~210 yd and I owe it more to luck than skill to have connected. The 250 gr Partition plowed all the way through the paunch but did not reach the lungs. This is where a TTSX or an A Frame are likely better than a Nosler Partition. The NP shed its entire front core and did not retain enough mass/momentum to finish full penetration lengthwise. It delivered enough of a blow however to stumble the Eland forward, and it collapsed within a few yards.

South Africa Hunting Eland

• One Day...
• Oct 1, 2018

It took two 250 gr Nosler Partitions from a 340 Wby at approximately 200 yards:


Second shot...

It was a pretty big bull... Hell's own work to get it in the truck! Despite cutting it in two, being 3 reasonably strong men straining at it, and winching it aboard one half at a time, we barely got it done...

Eland

• One Day...
• Aug 25, 2018
• 1

Massive Eland. Look at that character! What else to say... Collected in August 2018 at...

My learning points are:

1. I really understand why in the golden days, the Brits recommended the .375 on Eland. They have a well deserved reputation for being lead sponges, and the old cup & core "soft" bullets were often a gamble when it came to penetration.
2. I really understand why the PH kept asking all morning to NOT shoot unless I had a clear lung shot, and to pleeeaaase break the shoulder on the way in.
3. I would not feel stupid with a .375 250 gr TTSX on Eland.
4. I feel about perfect with a strong .33 and 225 gr mono-metal (TTSX or similar) or bonded partition (A Frame) from about any reasonable angle.
5. I would feel less than perfect, but still confident with a fast .300 or 7 mm (.280) shooting a heavy for caliber TTSX (or similar) or A Frame: 180/200 gr in .300 and 160/175 gr in 7 mm, but I would restrict my shots to broadside or slightly quartering angles.
6. I would still feel adequate, but very focused and a little tense with a fast .270 shooting a 150 gr TTSX (or similar) or A Frame, but I would restrict my shots to only perfect broadside at fairly close range to increase the chances of a perfect shot.

If only to summarize what the community keeps saying time and again threads after threads, in one way of another: any bullet of reasonable caliber and good construction through both lungs will kill anything that walks.

Conversely, even the biggest slug in the guts will only be the prelude to a long (very loooong for Eland) tracking job. We all know that, but it bears repeating.

So, yes the .270 kills Eland, every year: all you need is to put in the right spot a bullet that has enough mass, and stays together enough, to punch through whatever bone is in the way and shred both lungs.

Bigger bullets will not make up for a bad shot, but they will generally (and we all know that this rule has exceptions) finish things faster when in the right spot, because they generally break more bones, they wreck more tissue, and, yes, they it harder, however we want to measure that.

I personally like better odds, so I shoot heavy .33 slugs at Eland, pushed by a fair amount of powder...

Just my $0,02...

 

[MarkCZ]

last year in Namibia I took an Eland with 30-06 180 grn bullet (RWS). My pal took his Eland with 7-08 his animal went 20 yards and fell over. My Eland needed a second shot just for insurance. It is all about placement of shot. Take what ever you shoot best.

 

[Areaonereal]

Last year took a young eland bull..cull hunt..with a 200 go Nosler Partition from a 30 06 at 200 plus yds, broadside thru the heart, tennis ball hole...dead on his feet but still needed a second one into the lung area as he thought he would just walk away. When they decide to go into that little trot, then you will get a nice stroll thru the country side...for me...no thank you. By the way the heart shot was an exit in the off side.

 

[tarbe]

When they decide to go into that little trot, then you will get a nice stroll thru the country side...

I love how you put that. I can see the rear end of that Eland and his dewlap swinging from side to side.

Add me to the list who says “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”.

If we are going to hunt an animal we should be willing to master the proper gear for cleanly taking the animal under all normal circumstances.

I don’t think I would consider any 270 an all-around Eland rifle.

Ok for an expert willing and able to pass up even slightly marginal opportunities.

My $0.02 as always.

Tim

 

[fourfive8]

Liking or disliking shooting the correct caliber/gun shouldn't be a valid criteria for using a marginal tool. Learn how to use the right "tool".

 

[Nyati]

I have seen one killed by a 25-06, so, yes you can do it with your .270.

But, you will have to make very sure that you take a perfect shot.

 

[tarbe]

I've got a 300 Weatherby that I hate

You have time to get a rifle that is suitable for all the game you plan to take.

Or, consider putting a Pachmayer Decelerator on the 300W, and maybe an 8-10 oz mercury tube inside the butt. Then get out and put 100 rounds through it, off hand.

I bet that 300W will feel like a different rifle.

 

[Michael Dean]

To appease the dissenting crowd of naysayers, I've made a management decision and will be bringing two rifles, the second will be a 338 Federal. Definitely enough medicine for an Eland. I'll be shooting 213 grain Hammer's as well.

 

[gillettehunter]

You started a pretty good discussion over on the other network. I figured that you would generate a good discussion here too. I salute you for taking a heavier caliber for the eland. I think that is a wise move on your part. Its all part of the Africa learning experience. I look at wisdom as the wise use of knowledge. Not having to learn in the school of hard knocks. I believe this to be a wise decision.
Bruce

 

[Graham Hunter]

Guess I'll just use my 270 for Bull Gerbils.

 

[tarbe]

Guess I'll just use my 270 for Bull Gerbils.

Just don't try a quartering shot!!

 

[Eventually_Africa_Again]

I know that a majority of African Hunting members love their big guns, the 375 H&H the 416 Rigby and the 458, that's not my question. I now the larger calibers are a safer bet when hunting the Eland, they are a big animal. My question is simple is the 270 WSM enough gun to ethically shoot an Eland with.

I shoot my 270WSM very well, I'm not as accurate with the bigger guns. I've got a 300 Weatherby that I hate. I'm going on a plains game hunt this fall for ten animals and I'd like to take all ten with my 270. So the million dollar question is if the 270WSM enough gun to get the job done or, do I have to accept the fact that I'll need a second rifle for my Eland?

Absolutley. A 270 bullet, properly placed, will be more than enough. Aim true and you will have a great trophy!

 

[Tra3]

I shot an eland last summer with a 7 rem mag. One shot and done. My PH led us in on an wonderful 90 minute stalk culminating with crawling to about 100 yards. I had a broadside shot on a relaxed animal. The size of the animal is impressive. Taking the time to insure ideal shot placement I’m certain makes a difference and allows for a smaller rifle. But we all know that doesn’t always happen.