7mm Rem Mag for Eland

[Arty0802]

As the title implies, what are your thoughts on 7mm Rem Mag for use on Eland?

I've used 160gr Barnes TSX (~2950fps) with great success on multiple plains game species (warthog, blue wildebeest, zebra, blesbuck, impala, kudu) during my first trip to Africa, as well as on North American game (whitetail and wild hogs) and Axis deer in Hawaii. While hunting in Africa, my PH (who told me he was lukewarm to the cartridge at the beginning of our hunt) commented on more than one shot occasion how hard the round was hitting the animals. Obviously "hard-hitting" is more of a colloquial description than an actual unit of measure, but he was clearly impressed with the performance. So much so, in fact, that he jokingly remarked that he "wouldn't hesitate to use it on buffalo". No need to discuss the merits of that remark, he was just making a point haha...

It may be worth noting that zero bullets were recovered from any of our African animals, all shots resulted in full pass-through. Including a shoulder shot on a VERY round zebra that my wife harvested.

A "proper" eland is at the top of my list for my next hunt and I was just curious what the consensus was for applying that same rifle/cartridge combination to the situation. What say you?

 

[BeeMaa]

You are good. Put that pill where it belongs and you will have one in the salt. Get a copy of ‘The Perfect Shot II’ to review proper shot placement from all angles to assist you.

I used a 375H&H, but my PH said he was comfortable shooting eland with anything in the 7RM/30-06/300WM range with premium bullets.

 

[PARA45]

I have not shot one yet, but my last PH when I hunted in the Eastern Cape, said that is what he uses for PG all the way up to Eland. The TSX is a great bullet, and you'll have no issues. Put it in the shoulder, and you'll be good.

 

[Altitude sickness]

7 rem mag with that bullet an Eland would be deader than a buzzards dinner in 80 yards.

 

[Mark458]

I've taken most of my plains game species with my 7 mag. It definitely gets the job done. My second most used PG rifle is my 338 win mag. I like it for the bigger animals shooting 230 grain bullets. Just a little more thump on the other end. The 7 mag is just a necked down version of the 338 and a little flatter shooting if you're in an area that lends to longer shots.

I took my 6.5 prc last September for a springbuck slam and my ph told me about a lady that was there earlier in the year that took an eland with her 6.5 prc. He was hesitant about it but she insisted she could make the shot. She had already shot a number of animals and she knew how to handle a rifle. He said the eland only ran about 30-40 yards and went down.

Your 7 mag with those TSX won't be a problem. Sounds like you have that one dialed in. Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

 

[Arty0802]

7 rem mag with that bullet an Eland would be deader than a buzzards dinner in 80 yards.

That's what I was thinking as well, but figured I should still ask haha. I know some people have very strong opinions when it comes to the 7mm vs 30-cal debate. I'm a believer that anything a 30-cal can do, a 7mm can do just as well.

 

[skydiver386]

Haven't shot an Eland yet, but if that combination of caliber and bullet were what the PH had as a rental rifle, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[Philip Glass]

As the title implies, what are your thoughts on 7mm Rem Mag for use on Eland?

I've used 160gr Barnes TSX (~2950fps) with great success on multiple plains game species (warthog, blue wildebeest, zebra, blesbuck, impala, kudu) during my first trip to Africa, as well as on North American game (whitetail and wild hogs) and Axis deer in Hawaii. While hunting in Africa, my PH (who told me he was lukewarm to the cartridge at the beginning of our hunt) commented on more than one shot occasion how hard the round was hitting the animals. Obviously "hard-hitting" is more of a colloquial description than an actual unit of measure, but he was clearly impressed with the performance. So much so, in fact, that he jokingly remarked that he "wouldn't hesitate to use it on buffalo". No need to discuss the merits of that remark, he was just making a point haha...

It may be worth noting that zero bullets were recovered from any of our African animals, all shots resulted in full pass-through. Including a shoulder shot on a VERY round zebra that my wife harvested.

A "proper" eland is at the top of my list for my next hunt and I was just curious what the consensus was for applying that same rifle/cartridge combination to the situation. What say you?

160g Barnes will be great!

 

[Arty0802]

160g Barnes will be great!

I have found them to be fast, mean little bullets. Thanks!

 

[JG26Irish_2]

I have not yet shot an Eland but have it on my hit list. I do have a nice 7mm RM but to date have only used it to take a whitetail deer a couple of years ago. That was with a 150g Fed Fusion bonded bullet and it hammered the deer at 125y. I am considering using this rifle in the fall to hunt Moose which is in the same size class as Eland but likely not nearly as hard to kill.

With all that said - my PH in RSA told me that when his clients want to use a rental rifle for Eland his go to is the 308 loaded with 180g bullets. Mind you that in Limpopo the shots are usually not terribly far so the impacts are pretty fast. If the 308 can do the job then the 7mm RM is only going to do it that much better as it does indeed hit hard. My only other choice would be the 338wm. I have one of them also and it has been one of the most effective hunting rifles I own. It does not have as flat a trajectory as the 7mm Mag and mine is not nearly as accurate as the one I gave my sone last year but it is accurate enough out to about 300y and I do not like shooting live big game much past that distance.

I am a big fan of the 160g TTSX bullet in the 7mm. I also like the 150g Swift Scirocco and the Federal Fusion. All shoot well in my rifle. While I like to nerd out on bullets and cartridges for hunting, the reality is this. Get as close as you can, even if the shot is already within your shooting range and then place a quality bullet exactly where you need it and the result will be good every time. That good first shot is far more important than the caliber or the bullet type. Both variables matter but not nearly as much. As long as it is heavy enough to penetrate to the vitals it will work. By getting closer, the penetration will be better regardless of caliber or bullet type and weight. Using more gun can help one to overcome short comings in stalking or shooting skill but can cause other issues. I tolerate recoil pretty well but that is not true of everyone. Your 7mm can do the job. The Barnes bullet is a great choice. Good hunting.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I've never shot an Eland, but have shot 7mm Rem Mag for a number of hunts. Barnes TSX bullets have great penetration and expansion at that velocity. It should do the job with no concerns.

 

[Firebird]

Kevin Robertson wrote the perfect shot books and identifies the 7mm specifically as the minimum, and recommends bigger calibers and bullet size.
I guess as long as everything goes smoothly and “Africa” doesn’t catch up to you, the 7mm will be fine. But things and stuff happen and the eland is one of the biggest, most athletic animals available-so I would ageee with Dr. Robertson and hedge my bets with something bigger if you can pull it off. Most of us have something in the .375 family and this is a perfect opportunity to use them.

 

[coyote wacker]

Wife uses in her 7mm Rem Mag 150 gr. Barnes TSX's have never seen a animal she shot go more than 60ft, its one and done. I've only shot one animal with the bullet using her gun, a hard quartering away shot moving at a good pace , he rolled like the earth was pulled from under him.
Have yet to recover a bullet from a game animal !

 

[rookhawk]

As the title implies, what are your thoughts on 7mm Rem Mag for use on Eland?

I've used 160gr Barnes TSX (~2950fps) with great success on multiple plains game species (warthog, blue wildebeest, zebra, blesbuck, impala, kudu) during my first trip to Africa, as well as on North American game (whitetail and wild hogs) and Axis deer in Hawaii. While hunting in Africa, my PH (who told me he was lukewarm to the cartridge at the beginning of our hunt) commented on more than one shot occasion how hard the round was hitting the animals. Obviously "hard-hitting" is more of a colloquial description than an actual unit of measure, but he was clearly impressed with the performance. So much so, in fact, that he jokingly remarked that he "wouldn't hesitate to use it on buffalo". No need to discuss the merits of that remark, he was just making a point haha...

It may be worth noting that zero bullets were recovered from any of our African animals, all shots resulted in full pass-through. Including a shoulder shot on a VERY round zebra that my wife harvested.

A "proper" eland is at the top of my list for my next hunt and I was just curious what the consensus was for applying that same rifle/cartridge combination to the situation. What say you?

My Son used his 7x64 Brenneke with a Barnes TTSX on Eland. Perfect shot, bullet made it to the heart. Not one drop of blood. It took us at least an hour to recover the eland that had gone only about 200 yards before it fell in the tall grass. We got distracted by the other eland and confused as to which way it went.

Bottom line, it lacks the penetration and the wound channel size. I don't recommend 7mm for eland.

 

[375Fox]

I’ve shot 9 eland bulls. I’ve used 308, 300 win, 375 H&H. They aren’t that difficult to kill with a good shot, but I’d feel undergunned with anything less than a 338. I think 375 is perfect. A 7mm will work but choose your shot carefully.

 

[DaleGribble82]

That's what I was thinking as well, but figured I should still ask haha. I know some people have very strong opinions when it comes to the 7mm vs 30-cal debate. I'm a believer that anything a 30-cal can do, a 7mm can do just as well.

I completely agree.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

For me eland are 250 gr .338 and up game.

 

[Arty0802]

For me eland are 250 gr .338 and up game.

No doubt that would be a deadly combo.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Here’s what 7RM and Barnes TSX on Eland looks like:

 

[Arty0802]

I’ve shot 9 eland bulls. I’ve used 308, 300 win, 375 H&H. They aren’t that difficult to kill with a good shot, but I’d feel undergunned with anything less than a 338. I think 375 is perfect. A 7mm will work but choose your shot carefully.

Well you've certainly got some data points to draw from. What was performance like on the ones taken with a .308? THAT would make me feel pretty undergunned.