What is the Perfect Plains Game rifle? and what is too much?

I am big fan of the 7x57 mauser or .275 if you are shooting a London rifle. I would not feel under gunned with quality ammo and knowing the limitations of the shots I could take. That said if I intended to hunt an Eland I would bring my 7mm Rem Mag and shot 175 grain Barnes that I elk hunt with.
 
I'm of the opinion the 9.3x62 would be my choice with 285gr. Grande Slams at 2,500fps, or my .375/06IMP. with 260gr. Noslers @ 2,600fps or 2,700fps should suffice & work on bigger game if needed.
Both of my 9.3 x 62's and the .375 put different weight bullets close together.
 
I’ll let you guys know after I get back from my first trip next year! Hoping for a chance on Kudu and Black Wildebeest, which are the biggest animals on my list.

I know I will be taking a Pre-64 M70 in 30-06. I will either load 168gr TTSX or 180gr Partitions.

I will either bring my 7x57 with 140gr Partitions or Accubonds, or my 375 Ruger just because. I have 250gr TTSX and several 270gr options.
 
I see that eland have come up in many posts as the point that further consideration needs to be taken. Being blessed enough to have seen one of the magnificent beasts up close, I can totally agree. They are almost unnatural in their size and strength. Even with my adrenaline on an 11/10, I still felt a twinge of fear as it ran by at 20 yards. My humble suggestion would be to take the biggest sword you can successfully wield. Awesome thread.
 
There is a u-tube video of a lad "taking" one with an Umarex .50 cal. Hammer using a 350gr. flat nose cast bullet. The bullet ended up on the off side, just under the hide. The bull eland walked maybe 50' and dropped dead. The muzzle vel. was between 800 and 900fps. The range was about 30 or 40yards.
Since these air rifles are now legal for deer and bear in B.C., I thought I needed one, so that happened. I would still rather take a 9.3x62 or my little .375 to Africa to hunt them.
 
Hedge774 said:
I see that eland have come up in many posts as the point that further consideration needs to be taken. Being blessed enough to have seen one of the magnificent beasts up close, I can totally agree. They are almost unnatural in their size and strength. Even with my adrenaline on an 11/10, I still felt a twinge of fear as it ran by at 20 yards. My humble suggestion would be to take the biggest sword you can successfully wield. Awesome thread.
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I spent a day and a half stalking eland but we could not find the bull the PH was looking for. We did keep finding the breeder bull for that property and he was a monster. Take this 2,000+ pound Belted Galloway. Make his hind legs 1-1/2 times longer. Stretch his front legs by 2x. Instead of a round barrel, make his chest about half again as tall in an ellipse. Add funky horns. Voilá ELAND!
1788784905305.jpeg


Big Daddy was very sweet, but he nearly knocked my tractor over when he hit a big round bale in front of the bucket from the side. And he was just playing - not pissed off. You did NOT want to piss him off.
 
MaineMan2 said:
I spent a day and a half stalking eland but we could not find the bull the PH was looking for. We did keep finding the breeder bull for that property and he was a monster. Take this 2,000+ pound Belted Galloway. Make his hind legs 1-1/2 times longer. Stretch his front legs by 2x. Instead of a round barrel, make his chest about half again as tall in an ellipse. Add funky horns. Voilá ELAND!
View attachment 790580

Big Daddy was very sweet, but he nearly knocked my tractor over when he hit a big round bale in front of the bucket from the side. And he was just playing - not pissed off. You did NOT want to piss him off.
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I remember when Galloway were all the rage back in the eighties. This is the first one I've seen in a long time. Simental was also a flash in the pan back then. And brown Swiss. Are they even still a recognized breed? Marketing games have made ranching pretty much a black angus business today although in Montana I do see a few stubborn ranchers clinging to charlais. I greatly disliked angus back then. Ornery in the calving shed and a pain in the ass to move off the range. But they calved easy and generally excellent mothers. I remember when I was a kid some folks who milked them ... and had the bruises to show for it. Angus are a nuisance when bird hunting. By the time I get back to Montana the ranchers have typically just sold calves and moved cows onto the low ground for the winter. Those poor bossies see my black Lab and come running and bawling thinking she might be their baby. Sometimes it takes a shot in the air to dissuade them. :D
 
Ontario Hunter said:
I remember when Galloway were all the rage back in the eighties. This is the first one I've seen in a long time. Simental was also a flash in the pan back then. And brown Swiss. Are they even still a recognized breed? Marketing games have made ranching pretty much a black angus business today although in Montana I do see a few stubborn ranchers clinging to charlais. I greatly disliked angus back then. Ornery in the calving shed and a pain in the ass to move off the range. But they calved easy and generally excellent mothers. I remember when I was a kid some folks who milked them ... and had the bruises to show for it. Angus are a nuisance when bird hunting. By the time I get back to Montana the ranchers have typically just sold calves and moved cows onto the low ground for the winter. Those poor bossies see my black Lab and come running and bawling thinking she might be their baby. Sometimes it takes a shot in the air to dissuade them. :D
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Ya say they are a mite protective?
 
Angus also are fence busters/jumpers. My Dad settled on Belted Galloways 50 years ago because they are easier to manage and friendlier. They also tend to calve well and very rarely need a vet for birthing. The downside is that they take too long to reach full size - making them a breed primarily for hobby farms. I finally had to let the last ones go because farming alone at 65 in Maine is no fun and can't find kids willing to work.
 
One of my close friends has had an 8x68S since 1979, on a beautiful bastone walnut stock. It likely has a 24" bl. Keith loves the caliber on moose and bears and used the 196gr. Norma dual core yellow tipped bullet a lot for moose.
 
Grady said:
I have followed AH for quite some time and have read many opinions on rifle selection. So here is the question, what is the perfect Plains Game rifle? Is it a 25-06, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, one of the 375 family or a different one? You decide, and tell us why... Additionally, is there something that is too much for PG? I am only limited this to plains game (up to and including Eland) and NOT dangerous game.

I know there will be MANY passionate opinions, but please do not berate or belittle someone else for their opinion, because it is just that...opinion. The basis for this question is not only stopping ability, but minimal meat damage and hide preservation. Additionally, let us all consider that the rifles are using the "mythical" perfect plains game bullet so that we do not get into the discussion of bullet selection.

I did do a quick search, but do not turn up anything that specifically asks this question. If I missed a post, please let me know.

My opinion is the 300 Win Mag is a very good all-around PG rifle. It has the ability to reach out and drop something if necessary, and shoots a larger enough bullet (200gr to 220gr) to put the hurt on the larger animal but can be down loaded for the smaller ones. While the 375 H&H is the quintessential "African Caliber" I think it is one the large side for most PG animal. Your thoughts?
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In 6 safaris till now, which included DG and plains game, I have used: 223 rem, 30-06, 300 H&H, 375 H&H, and 416 Rigby. Animals where in the range from steenbok to elephant, including large plains game such as Zebra, Sable, Kudu, Oryx, Eland, etc.

I have seen that smalish calibers in the range of 30, have slower effect, and if animal is not hit in neck, head, or spine, in some cases it will run and then the team will have to track it with unscertain outcome.

Yes every bullets kills, but not every bullet hits the spine, neck or brain.
Once the other vital or non vital areas are hit, from smalish hole, bleeding is less, and bullet effect slower. This gives the advantage of distance to wounded animals

I will not even speak about hitting non vital areas.

Thus I am of the firm opinion the bigger is better.

I am sure some will tell you that perfect eland cartridge is 6.5 CM, but for eland I would suggest entry level caliber to be 300 win mag, then better ones are 338 win mag, 8x68, 9.3x62, 9.3x64, 375 H&H, etc... in that range

Once you hit the animal, that decides to run instead of drop, you will prey that this animal bleeds fast. And if the animal is lost, full trophy fee will be paid.

So my suggestion is go as big as possible.
 
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mark-hunter said:
In 6 safaris till now, which included DG and plains game, I have used: 223 rem, 30-06, 300 H&H, 375 H&H, and 416 Rigby. Animals where in the range from steenbok to elephant, including large plains game such as Zebra, Sable, Kudu, Oryx, Eland, etc.

I have seen that smalish calibers in the range of 30, have slower effect, and if animal is not hit in neck, head, or spine, in some cases it will run and then the team will have to track it with unscertain outcome.

Yes every bullets kills, but not every bullet hits the spine, neck or brain.
Once the other vital or non vital areas are hit, from smalish hole, bleeding is less, and bullet effect slower. This gives the advantage of distance to wounded animals

I will not even speak about hitting non vital areas.

Thus I am of the firm opinion the bigger is better.

I am sure some will tell you that perfect eland cartridge is 6.5 CM, but for eland I would suggest entry level caliber to be 300 win mag, then better ones are 338 win mag, 8x68, 9.3x62, 9.3x64, 375 H&H, etc... in that range

Once you hit the animal, that decides to run instead of drop, you will prey that this animal bleeds fast. And if the animal is lost, full trophy fee will be paid.

So my suggestion is go as big as possible.
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I will take a shot in the boiler room every day over a shot in the neck. I shot my first bull elk and my last bull moose in the neck and they both almost got away. In fact, the moose absorbed two 180 gr 30-06 in the neck. Both times knocked down and both times it got back up. Later found one slug lodged in its spinal cord! Coincidentally both bulls were hit Texas heart shot (straight in anus) with followup and both still had to be tracked a significant distance where both were finished with head shots, elk running directly away ... and moose in self defense as it charged me.

I once tracked a cow elk for two days that some logger had muffed the head shot and blew off her jaw. Snow ran out and we lost the trail.

An animal shot in the boiler room (heart and lungs) doesn't always drop on the spot but it's not going far and Helen Keller could follow the blood trail. Boiler room is a large target. Brain and spinal cord are much smaller.
 
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Ontario Hunter said:
I will take a shot in the boiler room every day over a shot in the neck.
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I am in full agreement with you.

I will just add, if bullet misses the heart, and passes through both lungs, the final effect depends on bleeding to lungs.

Thus, again, bigger hole bleeds better, and larger caliber will have faster effect.
 
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Hi Dr. Ray, I will be in Cooktown from Oct 16 to Oct 23 fishing Lizard Island Black Marlin Tournament.

I have several "slack" days after fishing before I head for stay in Sydney and Fiji.

Do you have any recommendations for 1 or 2 day hunt near Cooktown?

I've hunted both DG and PG in 4 different countries in Africa.
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