Is there a perfect plains game calibre?

[cagkt3]

Suppressors are legal in SA to the best of my knowledge, if you flip through enough reports you'll see them in there on the photos. I've read that more than a few guys state that they've brought them from the US with no problems.

I'm not 100% sure about other countries, but I would imagine some other folks can chime in

 

[crs]

Yes.
"Your favorite deer rifle that you shoot well" was the answer given by my PH before my first trip to Africa. He had taken all types of plains game including Eland with his childhood .308 .
I did as told and had a great trip- two of us took 16 head of game and for a mid hunt break, 13 species of fowl. Some of the creatures look different, but all were easy to take with properly placed shots. Period.

Several of my friends began their African experience with magnums of 300+ caliber and then backed off to calibers such as the 7mm-o-8 and were just as successful and less tired at the end of the day.

Have fun!

 

[njc110381]

Several of my friends began their African experience with magnums of 300+ caliber and then backed off to calibers such as the 7mm-o-8 and were just as successful and less tired at the end of the day.

Have fun!

6.5x55? That's my favourite but assumed it would be a bit on the small side?

 

[crs]

6.5x55? That's my favourite but assumed it would be a bit on the small side?

Nic,
Far be it from me to tell strangers what rifle is best for them.
However, I can recommend that you ask your Outfitter or PH if your rifle and ammo are OK for the game you and he plan to hunt.

Plus +++ recently I have been seeing more reports of 6. 5 rifles being used in hunts in Africa. Do some search engine research on the internet and you may find some good information.
While at it, you can compare the ballistics of your 6.5 with other rifles of interest; this can be very enlightening. I recently read a Ron Spomer web site article which showed the 7mm-08 very close to the .308 at most hunting ranges. Your 6.5 is only 1/2 mm smaller!!

 

[fourfive8]

Obviously a completely loaded question!--- perfect for everything from duiker to eland-- hah! However, something in the category of an accurate 375 HH bolt gun, shooting good bullets, mounted with a low powered scope would be about the best compromise. IMO

 

[njc110381]

Plus +++ recently I have been seeing more reports of 6. 5 rifles being used in hunts in Africa. Do some search engine research on the internet and you may find some good information.
While at it, you can compare the ballistics of your 6.5 with other rifles of interest; this can be very enlightening. I recently read a Ron Spomer web site article which showed the 7mm-08 very close to the .308 at most hunting ranges. Your 6.5 is only 1/2 mm smaller!!

I already understand 6.5 ballistics pretty well. It's been my favourite calibre for ten years or more and I've shot a lot of deer with it. In my mind, for the small to medium deer we have in the UK it is plenty good enough. Plus there are numerous reports of how good it is for elk in other countries.

Interestingly when I was comparing ballistics with the .458 Lott my 6.5x55 load retains more energy than a Hornady factory 500gr solid from a Lott at 1000 yards. I can't say I'm shocked, but I was a little surprised just how fast that big .458 bullet runs out of steam

 

[Ragman]

Yes! Lots of them! I've used 3 different perfect calibers in Namibia and South Africa...7mm RM, .30-06 and .300 WM. All three worked fantastic!

 

[Oldschool280]

I would have no problem taking the fast 7 with me. Mono bullets around 180 grain and up would be my choice. Whats your rate of twist?

 

[njc110381]

I would have no problem taking the fast 7 with me. Mono bullets around 180 grain and up would be my choice. Whats your rate of twist?

I'm not actually sure. The calibre isn't listed on the Sako old models document. I believe the rifle was imported from Germany to the UK as a special order. I'll see if I can look it up, failing that I'll have to rod it and find out!

 

[njc110381]

I believe twist is 9.5

 

[Ryan]

I used 168 grain Barnes TTSX out of my 30-06 with no problems in Namibia. I don't even see Barnes TTSX in 7mm higher than 150 grain, so assuming you reload go with the 150 grain Barnes TTSX for a monometal, otherwise the 160's in conventional bullets. In boxed ammo there's some good 160 grain bonded bullets I'd go with.

 

[Red Leg]

6.5x55? That's my favourite but assumed it would be a bit on the small side?

Not at all! I would be comfortable taking anything but an eland, and it would work on the eland. Just put them where it matters.

 

[BeeMaa]

Norma makes a 6.5x55 Swedish with 156 gr Norma Oryx bonded bullet.
Probably good medicine for PG.

 

[Oldschool280]

I used 168 grain Barnes TTSX out of my 30-06 with no problems in Namibia. I don't even see Barnes TTSX in 7mm higher than 150 grain, so assuming you reload go with the 150 grain Barnes TTSX for a monometal, otherwise the 160's in conventional bullets. In boxed ammo there's some good 160 grain bonded bullets I'd go with.

Hello, you are correct, the heaviest mono i did see is the 168 barnes, the woodleigh in the heavies was their weldcore, not a mono. As you stated their are plenty of conventional bullets in heavy weights if his twist rate can handle it.

 

[Shootist43]

njc, the 6.5x55 Swede. is my go to rifle. My handloads are getting 2775 FPS pushing a 140 Gr Partition. The factory Norma 156 Gr Oryx is in the low 2600 FPS range. I'm confident taking any PG up to and including Kudu if given a broadside shot. I would however draw the line at Eland. I'm into one shot kills mostly the DRT type. The Swede lacks the horsepower to take on an animal that large with confidence.

 

[Waterbuck2008]

I love my .375 H&H and have used it all over the globe in both hemispheres, but if I was only after plains game, the good 'ol .30-06 with 180's is familiar, predictable and pleasant to shoot in most rifle configurations. If you shoot them well, the .300 or .338 Win Mags would step up the game with 200+ grain bullets, but they will snap hard on lighter rifles, to the detriment of accuracy. You're always best with what you can shoot comforably, whether you're dove gunning or staring down a p.o.'ed dagga boy.

 

[Scott CWO]

I would suspect, were one to do a poll, that at,least 75% of the rental/loaner PG rifles available for clients from outfitters are chambered in .300 Win Mag. I would suspect 75% of them will be launching a 180 gr bullet, and the remainder one in 200 gr. It works.

I have used a .375 in recent years, not because it is better, but because my last four trips have also entailed buffalo. Also, when hunting a wilderness area, I prefer enough gun to deal with whatever fauna-based issues may arise.

However, neither of those reasons are really relevant on a typical PG hunt in South Africa or Namibia. There, a 30 caliber is an outstanding choice.

All that said, my own personal favorite pure PG caliber is the .338 WM. It hits with nearly the same sort of authority as a .375, and has the reach of a .300. I am sure I am at least partially influenced by having a lovely custom Mauser so chambered that I have used on two PG safaris in Namibia. I also cleanly took a leopard with it.

Red Leg is a wise man. The .338 with 225 grain bullets has the trajectory of the .30-06 but with the ability to better handle tougher shot angles and big bone for kudu and eland. It shoots plenty flat enough for African PG shot distances. It’s also a great round for leopard and lion. With both a .338 and a .458Lott, you can hunt anything on the African continent.

 

[Luvthunt]

Yes, agree with the 338 and 458Lott but the 340 is faster therefore flatter and has better momentum.

 

[Odinsraven]

Doctari Aka Kevin Robertson has written the perfect shot II ....... without offending anyone why is this a discussion ...have cullled PG with 7x57 7x64 and 7mm rem mag

8mm rem mag ...375hh even shot a fox with a 458 win mag ......place the shot and they die ....

All DG calibres were covered before the 1st war thr PG caibres covered before ww2 so .....why this obsession with calibre ....... 25 m better velocity on a shot ...an aquard shot get a good position dont take the difficult shot ..........

Velocity and bullet drop the difference between 7x57 and 7mm rem mag at sane hunting differences ..... we have rangefinders .....

Just my thoughts

 

[Luvthunt]

It comes to mind that that is the reason for this Forum to discuss and share ,with an open mind, opinions, expierenced and individual thinking on those items others wish to bring to the forum. As it is written we are all different but are the products of expierence,education and environment.
SO let there be freedom of sharing.