Ideal bullet weight for eland?

I've shot a handful using 300 grain Barnes TSX bullets from my .375H&H, the last one I took was with my .308 using 180 grain Swift Aframes. I'll be using my .308 with Aframes later this summer as well.
 
BeeMaa said:
338-06, 338WM and 35W are all sufficient to get the job done with proper bullet selection. I'd recommend the Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frame or Federal Trophy Bonded Tip.

That combined with proper shot placement will sort you out. Also keep in mind what else you may want to hunt. If DG is a possibility, you may want to consider a 375H&H as a "one gun" solution to your hunting needs.

Mine was taken with a 375H&H 300 grain Swift A-Frame at about 100 yards on the point of the shoulder.
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Thanks for reminding:>I phoned my dad and decided that no DG this time.In fact,if any old buffalos are on the list for us,we will be heading to RSA instead of Namibia,and my dad DO got something quite ODD……a so called ".366 Alaskan"if I remembered correct(yet only saw it once for we never had the chance to use it).But for such wildcats cailber requires a lot work preparing brass and cartridges,since none of us are looking for DG so I think .35 and .338 are going to be our choice.
 
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A Good heartshot said:
Thanks for reminding:>I phoned my dad and decided that no DG this time.In fact,if any old buffalos are on the list for us,we will be heading to RSA instead of Namibia,and my dad DO got something quite ODD……a so called ".366 Alaskan"if I remembered correct(yet only saw it once for we never had the chance to use it).But for such wildcats cailber requires a lot work preparing brass and cartridges,since none of us are looking for DG so I think .35 and .338 are going to be our choice.
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The 35W or 338WM will be perfect. Some Barnes TSX or Swift A-Frames (if you can find them) would be a great choices for these cartridges. The 336AK is a near ballistic clone of the 9.3x62, but with ZERO ammo availability in Africa. Your call on that one.

One more thing...don't forget to stop and smell the roses. It's pretty exciting to get all geared up for a wonderful African hunting trip, but also remember that there are many things you can do along with the hunting. Sightseeing, fishing and other activities are all available if you ask your outfitter. Finding a good balance is up to you.

Good luck to you and your father with the safari.
 
Next year, I'm taking the whole family on safari, and my son will hunt Eland and Bushbuck to finish his spiral slam. He is planning on using his 300WM with 200-grain Terminal Assent loads. That combination worked great for him in the Eastern Cape, but the size of the Eland has him considering a 375 H&H. Not every shot in Africa is a broadside shot, and the 375 H&H would eliminate those concerns.
 
180 grain expanding bullets. I had success with Swift A-frames, Hornady ELD-x, Nosler Partition and Barnes TSX. All from my 300 win mag
 
Art Lambart II said:
Next year, I'm taking the whole family on safari, and my son will hunt Eland and Bushbuck to finish his spiral slam. He is planning on using his 300WM with 200-grain Terminal Assent loads. That combination worked great for him in the Eastern Cape, but the size of the Eland has him considering a 375 H&H. Not every shot in Africa is a broadside shot, and the 375 H&H would eliminate those concerns.
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He will not regret using a 375H&H on eland, and your PH will be ecstatic with his decision. Still doesn’t make up for poor shot placement, but all things being equal…I’ll take the larger bullet.

Hope you all enjoy the safari.
 
Jefferry404 said:
@A Good heartshot
been designing loads for a 338-06AI will be building and looks like staball6.5 is a good fit for me. I ran the 338-06 thru my file for 250gn partition, shown below for eland (for iron sights):

View attachment 759714

as you can see, good load density and I set my pressure such that with the staball temperature changes, comfortable in a warm climate.
Retained energy at 270yd is a respectable 2772ft-lbs. Anyhow, might have your dad take a look at staball.
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@Jefferry404
You remind me.I thought what I bought was a A square,but after re-phoned my friend,it turns out to be a 338-06 Ackley Improved rechamberd from a 30-06.I wonder if any ready-made 338-06AI brass could be bought,or can the rifle itself fire 338-06 A Square ammo(Some says the way to get a AI brass is to fire a normal round from a AI chamber).
 
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I took my Eland using a single shot TC Encore in 300 Win Mag with a 180 grain Nosler Accubond. Front shoulder and piled up. I would think shot placement over caliber with anything 30-06 and above.
 
I had the experience of shooting a very large Eland with a 416 Rigby and a 350gr Barnes Solid. Was stalking a grysbok and it took off , then got distracted by an Eland heard right there in the background....was in close proximity and it was 2 hours of shadowing the heard before I got a shot at the bull, didn't want to work the action of the gun to change rounds in case they would have heard it. Bullet went in low lung heart area and end up in the shoulder bone on offside, no exit. I didn't have them loaded super-hot but I was still surprised no exit, but it was a big bull
 

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A Good heartshot said:
Just heard from a friend from Canada who went twice to Namibia for Plain game,he said that Eland tend to be harder to knock down than a moose，So I'm a little concern of bring my 338-06 rifle (bought from my friend at a fair price) to my eland hunt,and considering using a 338Win Mag for carry heavier bullets like a 275gr SAF or 300gr A Tip,or should I switch to my dad's .35 Whelen for better close range?Which one is better among these three cailber?What cailber and bullet do you prefer for your old eland bull?
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Should all be fine but why not get a .375. Then you are set for more African adventures!
 

I shot two big eland bulls with 300 grain premium bullets with the .375 H&H. Certainly smaller rounds will also do the job, however, if you can handle the recoil I would choose the .338 WinMag with 275 grainer or even a bigger caliber. Just in case somethings goes wrong!
 
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