What do you consider the minimum for shooting Eland ?

What have you used ?

Any advice on hunting Eland in NW Limpopo appreciated.

Don't know if its the required "minimum", but this past May in Namibia I used my CZ 550 in .375 H & H to take mine. It still took 3 shots from the rifle to put this huge animal down for keeps. I was using 300 gr. Nosler Partions, recovered 2 of the fired slugs, 1 weighed in at just a shade over 200 gr, and the other was at 189 gr, recovered weight. Of course the first or second shot might have been enough, but since I've lost African animals before, ( 2 gemsbok now on two different trips, 1 shot with a .338 win mag, and the other with the same a-fore mentioned .373 H & H), if its moving, I keep shooting these days.

I don't think I would tackle a eland with anything smaller than a .300 win mag with heavy bullets. just my 2 cents.

I'd not hesitate to use a .30-06 on Eland from what I've seen.....yes, I've not killed Eland.....and they're pretty big animals but I'd use the old '06 on em for sure.

If I was hunting in an area where there was a potential that one might be forced to defend against other larger beasts then the old '06 would be replaced with a .375 H&H

I would consider something in the .30 cal with a bullet like Barnes TSX, Rhino or Swift in the 180gr class or even better 200 or 220gr class the mimimum. Sure you can take the animal with even smaller calibers but why take chances and then if there is a little angle involved you have trouble.

Most important shot placement Eland have huge bodies and people loose that idea of proper placement and shoot for the middle.

I shot one with a 20 gauge! Went down within 50 yards.

Well, it was a 500 grain paradox bullet.

I have seen them anchored with a 30-06 ... but err on the side of 200 gr plus bullet and make it a tough one.

I have seen them lost to a high shoulder hit from a 300 Wby.

I would say shot angle and bullet are more important that the dia of the hole in your barrel.

I agree with Russ, It's amazing how fast most African animals die then shot in the right spot!

The 375 H&H with a 300 gr bullet is top of the line for eland. The eland is a large animal, a big bull is 300-500 lbs heavier than a Cape buffalo, so work from there!

I personally like 9.3mm , 375 and 404 type calibres.
Not sure if one would call the 9.3x62 a minimum Eland round, but that's what I like as minimum when hunting Eland.

I have shot plenty Eland and just about all of them have been taken with either my 30-06 or my 300 win mag.My 30-06 is loaded with 165 grain swift A frames and my 300 with 220 grain swifts.My last two eland i shot was with my 375 300 swifts.Ive had perfect penetration with all calibers and results.All the eland that i have shot with my 30-06 have been under 75 meters.

I know someone in South Africa who shoots them with a 53 grain SP from the 220 Swift! Not my personal choice, but that is what he uses, and he has not complained yet!

Personally, I think any caliber from the 6.5x55 Swede and up will do just fine for eland.

I have shot a number of them, with different calibers. From 270, 30, and 375.

I have not noticed that any of them kills any better.

quote:

shoots them with a 53 grain SP from the 220 Swift

Does he shoot them in the eye or what...??

My one eland was shot with a 30-06 sing ASquare 180g softs.

I shot 3 30/06, 300 RUM and a Bow. I saw one last year shot with a 270.

I've heard about Saeed's shooting on an Eland from a PH who was still amazed at the shot!

I shot my Cape Eland with a 358STA and a 225Barnes X in 1995. One shot, on the run, through the lungs. The bull ran 150 yards and collapsed.

A mate of mine has shot 3. He shot them all with a 300WM and 200 Partitions.

I'd say that is your minimum...........338 with 230-250 grainers would be better.....they are big, but not as tough as some other PG species.

I think with the caliber Winchester Magnum 338 and 250 grains will be sufficient to reduce an Eland, but I do not know what type of bullet in this weight would be appropriate.

Oscar.

In open terrain a .270 win with premium bullets and good shot placement will be adequate, in mopane or bushveld where angles may play a bigger role and the chance of a second shot is slim then a .375; 9,3 etc will be better.

As always good shot placement and use the correct tool (gun) for the job

My only eland experience is with a bow, but I got a pass through, and it didn't look like the arrow hardly slowed down. the big bull fell in 80 yards. I guess my point is that any quality bullet if placed in the right spot will punch a hole through if an arrow going 300 fps will. If I were shooting a gun, I would want 300Wm minimum with real premium bullets, but like most, think a .375 is about perfect. Shot placement is key...

A .308 in the right spot would work. My gun of choice is 375.

You guys are on overkill mode -- 625 grains at 250 fps will get r' done!

I have killed two, both with 375H&H but would have no qualms about using a 30-06 with 220 gr Partitions.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
The 375 H&H with a 300 gr bullet is top of the line for eland. The eland is a large animal, a big bull is 300-500 lbs heavier than a Cape buffalo, so work from there!

I have to agree with Mac. I did use a .300 H & H with 220 grains in Kenya because it was in my hands, otherwise always a .375. Well, I'll correct that, I guess I used a .450x3.25 in the Sudan

Shot placement,shot placement,shot placement...

Like usual good quality bullets...

DO NOT do what I did

Here you can see on the femur my first shot,you can see the trickle of blood...






375 w/ 300gr. A frames never penetrated the vitals.The bullet mushroomed and shatered the bome and stopped.About 125 yards broadside.Then he ran and turned ass end too and I broke the other femur at 175...Both shots same spot!

With no front legs he collapsed under his own weight,and I put a finisher in his neck at 10 yds....No tracking to find him and a quick end in a short timespan of a few minutes,but damn I felt undergunned.

This photo shows how I hit him better,I was worried about too high,but the shear size of this animal can be deceiving.





They can be one fine hunt.

Dan

An eland is like a lot of big non dangeroud game. Given a broadside or other good shot they can be killed with a relatively light rifle. When that same animal offers a raking or going away shot there is no shot with a small rifle. My choice to hunt eland on purpose would be and has been the 375 with a premium bullet. With the 375 you can be comfortable taking whatever shot is presented.

Mark

Shot my first (1997 or 98) with a .300wm shooting Nosler Partition 180 gr. Frontal chest shot and the race was on. Had to hit him a couple more times in the forest. Second one (2003) broadside, dropped to the shot of a .416Rem 400 gr. Swift A-Frame.

I consider Eland, along with Zebra, to be some of the toughest PG to bring down.

I agree with the "shot placement" emphasis and it really does makes caliber selection nearly a non issue. Everyone knows someone who shot an eland with a smaller caliber rifle. I have a friend that killed one with a 250 Savage. The eland I've hunted did not stand around like cattle in a field and present broadside shots. Everyone I've hunted was in cover, quartering away and moving. Shoot one with a 270 or 308 under those circumstances and you better have some comfortable boots because you are going to be hiking. If you catch one lung, that bull is going to lead you on a merry chase. Remember when you hit that eland you own him and are on the hook for the trophy fee whether you recover him or not. Spend two days of a 10 day hunt trying to catch up with a wounded animal and you will start thinking about improving your odds with a more appropriate caliber. IMHO opinion I would suggest anything from a 338 with 250 grain bullets up for eland.

Since you've asked for opinions, here's mine. I would hunt eland with a 30-06 if that's all I had. In other words, the 30-06 is my minimum. Now, on the other hand, if you asked my opinion on an optimal cartridge for eland, I'd be taking my 375H&H.

I agree, shot placement is everthing. I still like to leave a margin for error, however.

quote:

Originally posted by Wooly ESS:

I agree, shot placement is everthing. I still like to leave a margin for error, however.

I shot my Eland in South Africa with a .340 Weatherby Accumark using a 225 gr. Barnes TSX bullet at 250 yards shooting up a steep hillside.If I were to shoot another Eland I would use the same rifle and the same cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by Ehg5640:
I shot my Eland in South Africa with a .340 Weatherby Accumark using a 225 gr. Barnes TSX bullet at 250 yards shooting up a steep hillside.If I were to shoot another Eland I would use the same rifle and the same cartridge.

That would be my #1 choice but as a personal minimum one of the 300s and premium 180gr pill. jorge

There are TWO "little" .30 caliber holes here (Barnes-X) from a .300.

180-200grns is okay...270-370grns is better!



Note the SIZE and body mass of a big old bull eland.

I've shot three (Lord Derby, a Zim monster, and a somewhat smaller East African).

375 H&H and 270gr Barnes X will work.

I shot mine with a .375 with a 270 Barnes X, went down on the spot. I would not hesitate to shoot a .30-06 or .338. I see no reason a .270 wouldn't work either.

I consider the absolute minimum a .338 caliber but I use a .416 when knowingly hunting eland.

I think a .338 Win. Mag. is the minimum I would use for eland. I used one loaded with 250 grain Nosler Partitions this year on an eland. It was a 30 yard shot through the shoulder taking out the heart. He ran about 20 yards and collapsed. The bullet was recovered in the offside shoulder.

Greg

As far as the minimum, if a farmer told me I could hunt eland on his property but had to use his .223, I would do so happily.

I used my 375 with a 300gr Nosler on my one and only eland. It worked well even though it was one of the worst shots that I have ever made.

So guys like to say that the 375 is too big for plains game and too small for dangerous game. Even those guys would have to admit that the 375 is perfect for eland.


Jason

My hunting companion (man on the right) took a very respectable eland in Zim recently with 257 Weatherby and 117gn triple shocks.

These types of small and fast calibers will work for the large animals, but you can hardly call them ideal, Imho, far from.

A friend of mine used 8x68S - great! - with wrong pills! - got in a fight in some thickets - after 3 confirmed hits and 3 days tracking he came home empty - he used 180gr RWS KS (cone point) softs going 3200...

P.S. I used 9,3x62 300gr FN Bridger mono solid and it worked.

I used a 375H&H with 300 grain A-Frames in RSA. First shot @ 375 yds., on the shoulder. Second @ 200, through the heart, bull dropped. Recovered bullets weighed 292 grains. Wouldn't hesitate to use it again. BN

Minimum is probably not much under 30cal. With premium bullets and very careful shot placement, you could probably use a 270. For most of us visiting hunters where you have limited time to hunt a given species and can't always wait for the perfect shot presentation, bigger is better. A 338 on up allows a much larger margin for error. JMHO