Howsit Carter123 and Fellow Hunters,
The .30-06 is a very fine hunting cartridge.
I’ve used it in two African countries plus, in several of the USA western states, including Alaska, always with excellent results.
Loaded with 200 grain and / or 220 grain bullets, especially the Swift A-Frame or, any similarly extra tough bullets, I suspect it will usually work well enough for hunting eland.
An added feature of 200 gr- 220 gr bullets at .30-06 bullets is that for shooting smaller game, such as impala, warthog, duiker, N. American and European deers, etc. is that, even though indeed very effectivo, they do not ruin much edible meat and skins, compared to lighter / faster bullets.
However in my opinion, ALL, regardless of design .30 caliber bullets, regardless of how much supreme galactic magnum velocity they might be loaded to, all .30 caliber bullets are on the light side for animals weighing 1,500 - 2,000 pounds.
This becomes important for the times when that huge blue bull is quartering toward you, requiring that you smash through the quite thick and tough shoulder bone, in order to reach deep through the heart lung region of such large critters.
If one is planning to very often hunt things like eland, N. American bison, Aisian water buffaloes, Alaska - Yukon Moose, etc. I recommend cartridges beginning at .33 caliber, shooting 250 grain bullets @ 2400 feet per second, minimum.
The 9.3x62 Mauser cartridge comes to mind.
Likewise for this same reason old Velo Dog’s personal favorite hunting cartridge is the .375 H&H, with 300 grain bullets.
It however generates pretty much twice the recoil as the .30-06 with 220 grain bullets and therefore is not the best choice for your “first rifle”.
Having said all that, again I repeat that the .30-06 with 200 gr - 220 gr today’s super tough bullets, such as the A-Frame, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, etc. will probably work, as long as you have the wherewithal to hold your fire when any huge, heavy animal (1,500 - 2,000 pounds) is quartering toward you.
Nonetheless, in all fairness to the .30-06, myself having personally not shot anything larger than guldang wilderbeests with .30 caliber rifles, I am only guessing.
My opinion results from having examined eland, moose and bison shoulder bones, during the butchering process.
Therefore it is only a theory. to be taken with a pinch of pepper.
Anyway, at the end of the day, keeping tolerable recoil in mind for your first rifle, I cast one more vote for the boring old .30-06 cartridge.
It is not my absolute favorite hunting cartridge but, it it is one of my favorites.
It’s a real peach and I like it a lot.
Best Regards,
Velo Dog.
and global warming.
