Kudu and Caliber

[Warren Knudsen]

 

[matt vejar]

30-06 with 150 gr Remington Core Lots. The deadliest mushroom in the forest!!!

 

[ThinusS]

I have hunted kudu successfully with the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x55, 7x57, .30-06 Spr, .300 win mag, 9.3x62 and .375 H&H. Bullet construction, knowledge of kudu anatomy and shot placement are more important than caliber.

 

[BFaucett]

You're on the hunt for a trophy Kudu. What caliber are you using?

Location: The northern area of the Limpopo Province (near Maasstroom) of South Africa way back in 2005. This was my third trip to the same location and Kudu was on the agenda. This is bushveld country so the shooting distances are relatively short. My longest shot on my two previous trips was about 160 yards (estimated; stepped off after the shot).

My rifles and loads:

1. CZ 550 American 9.3x62

handload: 286 gr Woodleigh RN at 2395 fps (chronographed)​

I primarily used this rifle.​

2. Remington Model 700 Classic 8x57JS

handload: 220 gr Woodleigh RN at 2400 fps (chronographed)​

I took this along as a backup rifle.​

Kudu #1 -- CZ 550 American 9.3x62

Kudu #2 -- CZ 550 American 9.3x62
(56 inch field measurement. I never had it officially scored.)


BTW, I did put the 8x57 to good use.

Remington Model 700 Classic 8x57JS

Many thanks to AH member and my PH on the trip, IvW. We had a great time together!

Cheers! Bob F.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Beautiful Kudu, Bob!

@crossfire3006
Thanks mate he now graces my lounge room wall
Bob

 

[mark-hunter]

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.

 

[CBH Australia]

I used a hired 7mmRM on my Kudu.

The PH guiding me also had a .300wm hire rifle.

The outfitters wife had 2 nice Kudu on the wall taken with a .25-06, shot by a girl.

If I back I would like take some form of 7mm, maybe my .300wm.

 

[crossfire3006]

I used the PHs 30-06. Went about 50-60 yards.
View attachment 717279

Very nice Kudu, Rumrunner!

 

[crossfire3006]

Only recommendation is don't undergun, don't underestimate, even kudu. Some bulls are very large and heavy. I've killed 5. One with 30-06 and four with 338-06. Use a good, strong, proven premium bullet. I've never shot one over about 150 yards.

This bull is very large and heavy. Prime condition early in year- April.

View attachment 717287

Beautiful Kudu, fourfive8!

 

[Beck]

8x68S, .300 win/wby, 9.3x62 or .338 Win

 

[IvW]

7x57mm is my favourite pg caliber with 170gr Rhino bullets

 

[JG26Irish_2]

375HH at 50-60y. 300g Swift A-Frame. More gun than necessary but very effective. About anything you would use on an Elk will work. That day I also had with me a 7mm/08 with 140g Fusions that I could have used but it was still in the cab of the truck.

 

[FlyGuy]

Conservatively, I've shot 50+ kudu bulls over the years with everything from a 6.5x55 to a 375H&H.
Today, if I'm specifically targeting kudu bulls, I only use 2 cartridges.
30-06 with 200gr bonded bullets in thick bushveld, and 300H&H with 180/200gr bonded bullets in mountainous terrain, where cross valley shots up to 400m is the norm.

The heaviest bull I've ever taken had a carcass weight of 570lb, so they can get pretty big and heavy.
They're not hard to kill if shot placement is correct, but I'd always suggest a 7mm or bigger with premium bullets, in case you have to take that quartering to or going away shot.

Your favorite elk cartridges would be a good choice.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

2 Kudu on the same hunt with 7 REM MAG

 

[SwampTrooper]

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.

 

[Philip Glass]

You're on the hunt for a trophy Kudu. What caliber are you using?

.300Win

 

[aminkus]

9.3x62 250 grain Barnes TTSX

 

[Ryan]

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.

 

[Christopher Kennedy]

Browning A-bolt, 30-06 Federal premium 165 gr.

 

[Firebird]

my intention wasn’t to knock the eld-x, my experience with it, is that it really does perform better farther out than closer in. I think I may have been misunderstood earlier