Which chambering for hunting plains Game?

[PeteG]

What took you so long???? I was getting concerned....

 

[spike.t]

I like the 7x64, i wouldnt take a poke at an Eland from too far away though. But 150m or less, i reckon you'd be fine. Use a good sturdy bullet and you may have to be patient to wait for the right shot to present itself.

I definitely wouldnt swap out the 7x64 for a 30-06 and the 9,3 is a fantastic caliber as opposed the that horrible old 375 whatchamacallit!

now @PeteG you beat me to it........

 

[stug]

7x64 with a premium projectile will be fine.

 

[Scrumbag]

7x64 with a premium projectile will be fine.

What do you reckon would be a good projectile? Something like the Norma Oryx or Vulkan? (Reckon the 285gr Oryx out of the 9.3x62 would do it or maybe even the 232gr version to be a little flatter shooting?)

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

@Scrumbag , If you are planning to hunt Namibia, best you leave the 9,3 at home. The 7x64 is a superb caliber with lots of power and a very good trajectory.

 

[Scrumbag]

@Scrumbag , If you are planning to hunt Namibia, best you leave the 9,3 at home. The 7x64 is a superb caliber with lots of power and a very good trajectory.

Good to know!

 

[Nyati]

I believe in the .338 WM with a 225gr Swift A Frame.

 

[stug]

Any bonded or monometal projectile. 160 accubond, a-frame, Barnes TTSX or similar.
With my 9.3x62 I shot a red stag through the neck at 100yds using 286gr prvi partisan projectile. The damage to the spine was impressive. The velocity was low 2200fps so a premium projectile is not needed, simple cup and core will work.

 

[Ragman]

Must be because of where I live, but I've never even seen a 9.3x62! I know absolutely nothing about that cartridge!

When I get back, I'll be taking either my Tikka T3 7mm Rem Mag with 160 grain Barnes TTSX, or my Browning BLR .308 Win again shooting Barnes TTSX. Largest animal that I will possibly be shooting would be kudu and blue wildebeest. Area will likely be EC.

 

[Red Leg]

@Scrumbag , If you are planning to hunt Namibia, best you leave the 9,3 at home. The 7x64 is a superb caliber with lots of power and a very good trajectory.

Interesting a Southern African would say this (probably some Dutchman ). The 9.3x62 is the quintessential caliber for German Southwest Africa. Based on my admittedly limited experiences hunting both central Namibia and the Caprivi, it would be a superb choice.

 

[Code4]

I would not use the 232 grain in a 9.3x62 for Africa. Bad Scrumbag .. bad, bad Scrumbag.
Its a projectile for small boar, Roebuck or chamois, for when you have no other rifle.
286 conventional SP is all you need, even for Eland. Tens of thousands of plains game were cleared in Tanzania with that combo (for colonial grazing and disease control) last century. That combo worked then and still works.

 

[stug]

9.3x62 has the legs at longer range, but you will need a scope. My 9.3, like yours, is open sight and I have made a first round hit at 255yds on a 16"x16" steel plate. On game though I would limit myself to 100 yds, possibly 150 yds with some more practise.

 

[sestoppelman]

You are already armed with two of the truly great PG rifles - the 9.3x62 and the 7x64. My personal favorite pure PG cal has been the .338 WM, but should I ever go back again for just a PG hunt it will be my 9.3x62 which I will carry. I tend to lean toward the heavy side because I have come to believe in an exit wound whenever possible. The .338 WM, 9.3, and yes, the .375 (my favorite all around cal when buff are also on the dance card) all usually deliver such a wound making follow-up on anything which doesn't immediately drop, a fairly easy proposition.

All of that said, I would not hesitate to use my 7x64R on any PG hunt. The Germans load heavy for cal bullets of fantastic quality which will drill very deeply through almost anything. My rifle is in a tiny Ruger No 1 based package by Heym which is like carrying a .22.

All this is a long way to simply say take either of those two rifles which you shoot best and put the investment toward another game animal or two.

7x65R?

 

[sestoppelman]

Yeah I had thought that, sadly the 9.3x62 is not drilled and tapped...

You could get it d & t'd easily enough no?

 

[sestoppelman]

I plan to hunt Namibia next year with eland numero uno on the list. I am planning to use either a .30-06 with 200 gr bullets, (Nosler Partitions or Accubonds), or a .338 Win mag. Sort of torn here because I have taken a .338 before and have never taken anything with a .30-06. Both shoot great, the '06 is lighter, and both work fine. I am leaning towards the '06 and with heavy bullets would have no qualms about shooting and eland with it. I would not consider the 7x64 inadequate either assuming good bullets and shot placement. I note one previous post about a poorly hit critter with a .338, as if somehow it was the fault of the .338 for poor shooting. The .338 hits quite hard but shot placement is always paramount. I lost a waterbuck in RSA with a .338 due to poor shooting. When I shot properly, even with marginal bullets its a lot of cartridge for PG. BTW, on that hunt I was using Hornady Interbond bullets. Fine for small stuff, but usually loses over half its weight. I was only driving them to about 2625 too so it wasn't a matter of too much velocity. I would not use them again, despite being a very accurate bullet.

 

[Red Leg]

7x65R?

yes

 

[lwaters]

I shot everything from springbok to eland with a 300 ruger compact mag. loaded with 180 grain nosler partitions at 2800 fps.

 

[sestoppelman]

And that is a maximum load in the 30-06. I am thinking on a load that would drive a 200 gr Nosler to about 2600 or so.

 

[Scrumbag]

9.3x62 has the legs at longer range, but you will need a scope. My 9.3, like yours, is open sight and I have made a first round hit at 255yds on a 16"x16" steel plate. On game though I would limit myself to 100 yds, possibly 150 yds with some more practise.

More range time required me thinks! That's pretty cool

 

[Scrumbag]

I would not use the 232 grain in a 9.3x62 for Africa. Bad Scrumbag .. bad, bad Scrumbag.
Its a projectile for small boar, Roebuck or chamois, for when you have no other rifle.
286 conventional SP is all you need, even for Eland. Tens of thousands of plains game were cleared in Tanzania with that combo (for colonial grazing and disease control) last century. That combo worked then and still works.

OK, I'm sorry!