Is there a perfect plains game calibre?

[Red Leg]

Am in Zambia as I type and everything seems to be expiring permanently to the effects of a 170 gr bullet launched from a 275. Use a quality load from a rifle in which you have confidence, and it will be a “perfect” plains game option.

 

[kdenn]

Am in Zambia as I type and everything seems to be expiring permanently to the effects of a 170 gr bullet launched from a 275. Use a quality load from a rifle in which you have confidence, and it will be a “perfect” plains game option.

Sir, we'll need a hunting report and pictures. i am living vicariously through all who are hunting now. waiting not so patiently for NZ stag hunt.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Have you read The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber by Ernest Hemingway? Pretty much what you fear here.

Witty, a tad foolhardy, but witty nonetheless.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Good day @Red Leg: What bullet are you using in your 275?

Safe hunting and good shooting!

 

[Joker12]

Its very hard to beat the 30'06 with a good 180gr bullet. Its not sexy, just very good.

 

[IvW]

7x57mm with a premium 170gr bullet

 

[WAB]

7x57mm with a premium 170gr bullet

Totally agree. I load mine w 175 gr A-Frames at 2300 fps. One shot kills on zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, etc.. I’d step up a bit for eland but I’m absolutely sure it would do the job on one with good shot placement.

 

[IvW]

Totally agree. I load mine w 175 gr A-Frames at 2300 fps. One shot kills on zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, etc.. I’d step up a bit for eland but I’m absolutely sure it would do the job on one with good shot placement.

I have shot buffalo and eland with one....as long as you are not too over eager on eland it kills very effectively, a perfect ballance of speed, penetration and just works a lot better than any paper ballistics suggest...brilliant caliber for African PG with the right bullet

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I've always preferred the .30-06 Springfield for hunting all of my plains game , ever since my first African Safari in 1974 . Most of the plains game fall to 180 Gr Remington Core Lokt soft points , but I prefer the 220 Gr Remington Core Lokt soft points for the Kudu and Eland .

Not the most modern caliber or bullet choice , but I never had a problem .

 

[WAB]

I have shot buffalo and eland with one....as long as you are not too over eager on eland it kills very effectively, a perfect ballance of speed, penetration and just works a lot better than any paper ballistics suggest...brilliant caliber for African PG with the right bullet

I’m not surprised. On this side of the pond I’ve shot truckloads of deer, antelope, elk, sheep, caribou and bear with it. It was the only big game caliber I owned for 20+ years, so If I was hunting that’s what I was using.

 

[2L8]

The truth is by it's very nature the perfect PG Caliber is a compromise.

I've heard it said, "Weatherby has no place in Africa". I disagree, a more perfect Pronghorn Caliber than .257 Wby has never been created and it's just as great for Springbok. A .375 H&H is great for Eland but is it really ideal for Springbok?

Given the typical hunters ability to tolerate recoil and with the possible exception of Eland I think .30/06 is a very good compromise caliber.

 

[DLSJR]

To my mind, the .338 win mag is the perfect plains game cartridge. If you’re recoil sensitive or don’t want to shoot a belted magnum, you can’t do better than a .30-06.

 

[Eric Anderson]

In my mind, 30-06.
the huge bullet selection is a big part of that.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

To my mind, the .338 win mag is the perfect plains game cartridge. If you’re recoil sensitive or don’t want to shoot a belted magnum, you can’t do better than a .30-06.

@DLSJR
As good as the 06 is if you want better without the magnum recoil go a 35 Whelen. The best of both words, a bit more recoil than the 06 and less than the 338.
Bob

 

[DLSJR]

@DLSJR
As good as the 06 is if you want better without the magnum recoil go a 35 Whelen. The best of both words, a bit more recoil than the 06 and less than the 338.
Bob

I can't argue with your logic. I've never owned a 35 Whelan but have king wanted to try one.

 

[Flipper Dude]

30-06 or………Hell, just take the ‘06 and shoot well. All you’ll ever need.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I can't argue with your logic. I've never owned a 35 Whelan but have king wanted to try one.

@DLSJR
Try one you won't be sorry. In its normal factory guise it is good but with proper handloads it is awesome.
There's nothing wrong with a 225gn at 2,900fps or a 250gr at 2,700 fps out of the Whelen using speer reloading data. You can look at Whelen threads on AH and see how good it is.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

30-06 or………Hell, just take the ‘06 and shoot well. All you’ll ever need.

@Flipper Dude
Where's the fun in that. There's more to life than the good ol ought six.
Live and have fun as long as it's not a 243, 6.5 manbun or 338WM.
Bob

 

[DG870]

Ouch Bob ………throwing the 338WM into the same basket as the 6.5 Needsmoor and the 243. . Have another drink (I’m having my morning coffee so you’re probably having scotch down under) and think about that one.

 

[mdwest]

Great old thread..

Ive been a pretty dyed in the wool "308 for almost everything" guy for most of my life.. Other than big bears there's nothing in the western hemisphere that it wont easily handle, not much in Europe it wont easily handle, not much in Asia it wont reasonably handle... and I've taken everything from impala to zebra (and a bunch of stuff in between) with a 308 in Africa as well..

It wouldn't be my first choice for the tiny 10 by any stretch.. and I'd probably be a little hesitant with eland when shooting my preferred load (168gr TTSX traveling at a moderate rate of speed).. but for everything else, its performed spectacularly.. whether we're talking blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, ostrich, blesbok, waterbuck, etc..etc..

All that said.. I've really started to warm up to the 30-06 lately (I know.. I know... boring...)... I can shoot my same beloved 168gr TTSX at the same speed as my 308 and do everything my 308 has proven capable of... but.. I can also boost up to a 200gr TSX or some other quality bullet at a fairly solid speed rate and feel perfectly comfortable adding eland to the list..

Ammo is easy to find all over the world (not really an advantage over the 308... but no detriment is presented by going the -06 route).. its reasonably soft on the shoulder.. and you don't have to carry a heavy brick around with you all day...

One of the greatest benefits I've found in the 308 are the lightweight platforms my wife and I shoot it in.. she has a kimber adirondak.. with an optic and loaded its right at 6lbs.. Ive been playing around with a Rem 660 in a B&C stock in 308 quite a bit lately that's maybe 7lbs loaded with optic.. both are a dream to carry in the field... I haven't found a 30-06 in the 6lb range (no optic, unloaded) that I really like yet... but there are several options out there.. Im thinking once I find one that I do like, that it might my next purchase.. and may become my primary PG rifle for future trips to Africa..