Kudu and Caliber

[BryceM]

If you understand the design of a bullet, you can make that work for you.

This! There is a complex interplay of shot angle, anatomy, velocity, and bullet design. Really understanding it is a minor superpower in the hunting world.

 

[Creigh]

Anything around the 30 cal range will be right on the money.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have taken kudu with 375 h&h.

I know that 3o cal will work.
But on my last hunt, to make a paralel with kudu, i hunted sable, high value plains game animal.
Choice was 416 rigby, or 30 06.
I used 416 rigby. One shot, one kill.

I prefer calibers with better punch, when high value animal hunt is in question, i beleive that in case of marginal shot, it will have better stunning effect, at least to give me a chance for a back up shot.

And bigger hole, bleeds better. Thats scientific fact.

@mark-hunter
@Rick HOlbert used a lowly 358 win loaded with 225gn Woodleigh rnsp at 2,520 fps for his sable.
One and done. He was hoping to recover the bullet but even on the Sable it was complete penetration.
Bob

 

[mark-hunter]

I had neck shot on sable. Pass through with 416.
Down on spot.

It would be the same with... Can i say, 243 win? (sorry i couldnt resist)

But level of trust i had in that rifle, is incomparable to my level of trust in 30 06, with animal of that size, and in case of marginal shot.
In hunting and shooting, trusting the rifle is better half of good shot. The other half is skill and opportunity.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My father recently took this old Kudu bull at 200 yards with an almost frontal shot with a .308 (crazy I know based on how people prefer such heavy calibres) in 167 grain accubond. Once again, a good constructed bullet put in the right place is more important than calibre every single time. Kudu are not as tough as zebra, wildebeest, or even gemsbok. I saw another hunter massacre a poor kudu with five shoots of 150 American whitetail with poor shot placement and bad bullet construction. It was horrific to see. Do your part and the kudu will have a good end.

@SwampTrooper
My PH said the frontal shot is the riskiest shit because there's to much room for error. You risk missing the heart and a double lung shit isn't practical.
Done properly with a good projectile it works well. Mine was a frontal shot that took out the heart and good damage to the lungs. Bullet then went on thru the paunch and intestines and lodged in the ham.
Bob

 

[SwampTrooper]

@SwampTrooper
My PH said the frontal shot is the riskiest shit because there's to much room for error. You risk missing the heart and a double lung shit isn't practical.
Done properly with a good projectile it works well. Mine was a frontal shot that took out the heart and good damage to the lungs. Bullet then went on thru the paunch and intestines and lodged in the ham.
Bob

Yes this Kudu was a bang flop which I had never seen before personally in my limited experience. The shot was perfect, hitting the heart but I shot my kudu at 130 in a broadside also through the heart and he still ran after a back kick and jump! When we got up on this one after the shot, we could see he was just old. His hips were starting to sink in and his teeth were worn down. It was just his time and he was tired of running. He sort of just gave himself up. Bullets can do funny things with frontal and oblique shots, lots of room for problematic deflection but Kudu are not too tough so this risk is reduced with good marksmanship and bullet construction.

 

[SwampTrooper]

@SwampTrooper
My PH said the frontal shot is the riskiest shit because there's to much room for error. You risk missing the heart and a double lung shit isn't practical.
Done properly with a good projectile it works well. Mine was a frontal shot that took out the heart and good damage to the lungs. Bullet then went on thru the paunch and intestines and lodged in the ham.
Bob

Sometimes the kudu gives you the shot he wants not the shot you want

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I had neck shot on sable. Pass through with 416.
Down on spot.

It would be the same with... Can i say, 243 win? (sorry i couldnt resist)

But level of trust i had in that rifle, is incomparable to my level of trust in 30 06, with animal of that size, and in case of marginal shot.
In hunting and shooting, trusting the rifle is better half of good shot. The other half is skill and opportunity.

@mark-hunter
If'n you haven't got faith in your rifle and cartridge leave it at home. It needs to put the first bullet on the spot every time regardless of if it's clean or dirty barrel. A friend had a 270 that would throw the first two shots then settle and shoot well.
That's NO use to me. If I have to fire a few shots to get the rifle to shoot before a hunt it goes down the road.
Faith in your equipment and your ability is a big part of the hunt
Your shot with the 416 was a pass they but with a 243 it would have just wandered off to see his local chiropractor to fix his sore neck.
Bob

 

[Hunt anything]

I think I’ve seen 6 kudu shot, all one shot kills. From 80 to 200 yards. Four were shot with 7mm REM Mag with 154gr superformance and two with 30-06 and 180gr Hammerheads. Only one went anywhere after the shot, he walked off wobbly and was hit in the liver at around 200yards. He stopped on the backside of a tree not offering a follow up shot, stood there and fell over after about 5 minutes.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yes this Kudu was a bang flop which I had never seen before personally in my limited experience. The shot was perfect, hitting the heart but I shot my kudu at 130 in a broadside also through the heart and he still ran after a back kick and jump! When we got up on this one after the shot, we could see he was just old. His hips were starting to sink in and his teeth were worn down. It was just his time and he was tired of running. He sort of just gave himself up. Bullets can do funny things with frontal and oblique shots, lots of room for problematic deflection but Kudu are not too tough so this risk is reduced with good marksmanship and bullet construction.

@SwampTrooper
Mine ran about twenty yards and nose dived into the red Kalahari sand.
Bob

 

[Ozishooter]

Hi All
last Kudu shot at 649yrds with Gunworks 7mm LRM 185 bergers

 

[Hedge774]

This guy fell to a 180 grain ELD X from a 300 WM at 370 yards. I wouldn't have taken the shot if I'd have known the range. Broke the shoulder and lodged under the skin of the other. (Northern Limpopo 2025)

 

[mark-hunter]

Qui

If'n you haven't got faith in your rifle and cartridge leave it at home.

Quite the opposite Bob. The rifles of faith, I left at home. I used camp guns. Difficult for me to bring rilfes to Zim

 

[Beck]

Were I to take a 3rd, I'd repeat the first two. 30-06 with 168 grain TTSX handloads. Honestly I wouldn't hesitate using anything from my 7mm-08 to my 375 Ruger. But the tried and true 30-06 has worked with such consistency, why knock it.View attachment 717373

It's hard to argue with a .30-06 other than it is super boring

 

[Fatback]

I’ve killed kudu with a 300 Win, 30-06 and 375 H&H. All died relatively quickly without much fuss. All shots were between 75-200 yards.

 

[HookMeUpII]

If I am using a dedicated PG rifle, my 300WM. If I am also hunting buffalo, no reason not to use a 375HH.

Any capable 30 cal is fine. 308, 30-06, 300WM, etc.

 

[Art Lambart II]

I took my one and only Kudu with my PHs 270, I planned on using my 35 Whelen but Delta left my guns in Atlanta so I had to make due with a 270. My son took his Kudu with a 300WM.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

I took a kudu with a .300 WM, 200-grain Swift A-Frame from a bad angle. It was the only shot I had after four days of kudu hunting.

The bullet entered the bull's lower abdomen from the side and exited the front shoulder, going through almost the entire length of the animal.

I'll stick to the .300 WM or larger, since you never know what angle you may have to shoot from.

 

[RolandtheHeadless]

I took a kudu with a .300 WM, 200-grain Swift A-Frame from a bad angle. It was the only shot I had after four days of kudu hunting.

The bullet entered the bull's lower abdomen from the side and exited the front shoulder, going through almost the entire length of the animal. A kudu bull is not a small beast; it's larger than a caribou bull.

I'll stick to the .300 WM or larger, since you never know what angle you may have to shoot from.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Have killed more than a few cull cows at longer distances using168 VLDHs in a 28 Nosler and 210 VLDHs in a 30-28 Nosler. None walked a step. With correct shot placement, I don't see them being more difficult to kill than any other plains game. YMMV.