I Think I’m Overthinking

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob to tell the truth while carrying the whelen I never felt overgunned as it’s not some big heavy long magnum. It felt just right, though while evading a bunch of buffalo in the really thick stiff, close enough to smell them and hear them I did wonder if it would be enough lol.
Most of my shots where 1 shot kills though some took insurance shots to be safe.
I’ll be taking my 20” barrel variant to Canada in September with a 225g barnes.

@45-70guy
I agree I have never felt under gunned carrying the Whelen. Dang with the right projectiles 280 AFrame, 275 or 310 gn Woodleigh I wouldn't feel under gunned even for buffalo. As I have posted before I'm sure you will like this
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Smaller calibers are definitely divisive. I could argue it both ways, but in the end of the day, it’s my coyote gun. The 70gr Ballistic Tip at 3450 fps makes hitting small targets easy. I can hold on hair out to 350 with a 250 yard zero. Bang/flop.

@Gomer
With the 25 I designed a 100gn Speer tbsp at 3,600 sighted 2" high is fine to 400.
My mate loads an 80gn outer edge mono boat tail to just under 3,900 fps in the same cartridge. God knows how far that is sighted but 2"high at 100 gives him over 400.
Forget the prissy little 243 it does nothing a good 25 won't do a lot better
Bob

 

[45-70guy]

@45-70guy
I agree I have never felt under gunned carrying the Whelen. Dang with the right projectiles 280 AFrame, 275 or 310 gn Woodleigh I wouldn't feel under gunned even for buffalo. As I have posted before I'm sure you will like this
Bob
View attachment 767130

Without using a MPBR zero, I just zeroed at 100 to try holdovers, and out to 200 yards ( my max distance on the range currently at home ) it was easy enough.
With a 225-250g bullet it gives much more authority than my 06.
300 yard shots at another range were no problem, and with a dial scope 400 is about what I would call for my loads and bullets the ballistic max ish.
Could shoot further if velocities were up there but in all seriousness I’ve never had to shoot an animal beyond 200.

 

[Gomer]

@Gomer
With the 25 I designed a 100gn Speer tbsp at 3,600 sighted 2" high is fine to 400.
My mate loads an 80gn outer edge mono boat tail to just under 3,900 fps in the same cartridge. God knows how far that is sighted but 2"high at 100 gives him over 400.
Forget the prissy little 243 it does nothing a good 25 won't do a lot better
Bob

Other than the 257 Weatherby, I’ve never been a quarter bore guy.

 

[45-70guy]

Other than the 257 Weatherby, I’ve never been a quarter bore guy.

I never was until I started messing with a 25-06.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Without using a MPBR zero, I just zeroed at 100 to try holdovers, and out to 200 yards ( my max distance on the range currently at home ) it was easy enough.
With a 225-250g bullet it gives much more authority than my 06.
300 yard shots at another range were no problem, and with a dial scope 400 is about what I would call for my loads and bullets the ballistic max ish.
Could shoot further if velocities were up there but in all seriousness I’ve never had to shoot an animal beyond 200.

@45-70guy
The Whelen with a 225 @2,900fps carries a lot of authority out to 400. Like you I prefer my shots 200 or less preferably less.
Had to shoot my impala at 275 and that was a doddle for the Whelen
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Other than the 257 Weatherby, I’ve never been a quarter bore guy.

@Gomer
There's nought wrong with a 25-06 and 100 grainers loaded to 3,400fos especially the TTSX.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I never was until I started messing with a 25-06.

@45-70guy
The 25-06 loves 54gn of 2208/H4350 and 100gn projectiles.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@45-70guy
The 25-06 loves 54gn of 2208/H4350 and 100gn projectiles.
Bob

Should have been 2209 NOT 2208.
2208 IS VARGET

 

[45-70guy]

Should have been 2209 NOT 2208.
2208 IS VARGET

I have not tried varget yet but imr 4831 gave great velocity with 100g Barnes

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have not tried varget yet but imr 4831 gave great velocity with 100g Barnes

@45-70guy
DINT TRY VARGET ITS TO FAST.
H4350 behind the 100gn TTSX is great. Work up to 54 gn this should give you around 3,400fps
Bob

 

[coreydb]

7mm Mauser is primo for plains game. Keep in mind the 7mm Mauser was developed to shoot 175 gr bullets. Any of the name brand ammo manufacturers make good ammo. If you're handloading, any of the name brand bullet manufacturers are good. Just up to your personal preference.
"Lead is Dead" but "Monolithic is Terrific"

 

[Gomer]

7mm Mauser is primo for plains game. Keep in mind the 7mm Mauser was developed to shoot 175 gr bullets. Any of the name brand ammo manufacturers make good ammo. If you're handloading, any of the name brand bullet manufacturers are good. Just up to your personal preference.
"Lead is Dead" but "Monolithic is Terrific"

I have some 139gr LRX and 140gr TTSX. I also have 140, 160, and 175gr Partitions. I have 160gr Accubonds and Fusion bullets. Something should shoot satisfactorily.

 

[Duke1966]

I’m doing research and getting ready to book a plains game hunt. I’m open to anything, but mostly interested in antelope species up to waterbuck or maybe zebra. I’m thinking I will wait on eland for next time.

With that said, I should be ok with just about any rifle/cartridge/load that is suitable for elk, right? I live where there are both Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elk and have taken them with no issues using standard cartridges and would love to take my 7x57 to
Africa.

But, part of me thinks I should play it safe and bring something like a 300 Win Mag or 338 Win Mag. What do you all think?

I was happy that i brought my 300 win mag to Namibia...those zebra can see for miles and they don't let you get too close

 

[ARHinAK]

Ok, the 7x57 it is. I currently have a fixed 6x on it now and will likely keep it on this rifle. I shoot a lot faster when there are fewer doodads.

I used a fixed 6x Leupold on a 30-06 for taking 5 plains game animals from 35 to about 150 yards. It could not have been more perfect.

 

[chonk34]

I took a .338 Win Mag and my dad took a 7mm Rem Mag. The key to putting animals down was shot placement. It was my first hunt of any kind and especially on my first couple of animals I made some bad shots. The animals that we hit well fell down quickly and the animals I hit poorly required tracking and follow-up shots. I think playing it safe means bringing the rifle you know well more than bringing a cannon.