30-06 RIFLES FOR HUNTING PLAINS GAME

[BARTFRNCS]

Whats the general opinion on 30-06 rifles with 180 gr tsx bullets or other premium bullet. This is my small antelope gun. I shoot a 375 (well) for the bigger stuff.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think if you take both you'll be very well prepared.

 

[WST416]

The 30-06 with a good quality and heaver bullet like the 180gr tsx is capable of taking any of the antelope with a well placed shot.

 

[Robbie]

What about a 308

Hi Guys

Going on with the topis at hand. Would a 308 180grain A-frame bullet be enough for Wildebeest and a Eland bull?

Looking forward to your reply.

Regards

 

[WST416]

Hi Guys

Going on with the topis at hand. Would a 308 180grain A-frame bullet be enough for Wildebeest and a Eland bull?

Looking forward to your reply.

Regards

Same as stated above about putting the bullet in the right place it can and will work, but remember depending on your guns barrel length and factory ammo vs hand loaded ammo your going to be anywhere from roughly 170fps to 250fps slower then the 30-06. IMO the 308 wouldn't be my choice for Eland sized game. Just my 2 cents.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Same as stated above about putting the bullet in the right place it can and will work, but remember depending on your guns barrel length and factory ammo vs hand loaded ammo your going to be anywhere from roughly 170fps to 250fps slower then the 30-06. IMO the 308 wouldn't be my choice for Eland sized game. Just my 2 cents.

+1, those Eland are mighty large creatures.

 

[enysse]

Robbies a 308 Win with 180 grain A-frames is very deadly and don't worry about it for eland and wildebeest. That would be like saying it's not a good moose gun...when it definitely will kill a moose, pretty easily in fact.

The 30-06 with a good quality and heaver bullet like the 180gr tsx is capable of taking any of the antelope with a well placed shot.

+1

 

[Diamondhitch]

Robbies a 308 Win with 180 grain A-frames is very deadly and don't worry about it for eland and wildebeest. That would be like saying it's not a good moose gun...when it definitely will kill a moose, pretty easily in fact.

+1

I dont know Eland but I do know this, if you plan on using a small gun to kill a big animal shot placement and keeping your range within the limitations of the rifle are key. Although I would never try it I am sure that my trusty .257 Wby would kill an Eland just as dead as any other rifle if I did my job and kept the shot short, for that matter a .243 would also get the job done at an even more limited range. A gun that is quite adequate at 100yds may be marginal at 300, any gun will kill right at the muzzle. The question really becomes how much do I want to limit myself and am I willing to acceopt the risks involved with an accidental large bone hit and the lack of killing that follows.

 

[dharding]

The main concern would be penetration. With a 30-06, premium bullets, such as the A-Frame or TSX should retain their weight, and penetrate all the way through an Eland, provided the shot is placed correctly.
An Eland still has relatively thin skin, so theres no real requirement to go heavier. Having a 375H&H in your hands would give you a bit more flexability, and provide more peace of mind.
That said, I use a 30-06, and I take more pride in the shots I didn't take. But I get to hunt often, so there'll always be next time.

 

[RayAtkinson]

Hard to beat a 30-06 with any good premium 180 gr. bullet..My choice would be the 180 or 200 g. Nosler partition, particularly the 200 gr. Nosler, the more I use it the better I like it..I push it at 2700 FPS in my 06