While the topic of Eland are being dissused, I have a question.

Is the 300 Win. Mag enough gun to be considered approiate for Cape Eland? If you think it can do the job, what preimum factory load would you recommend, assuming it shoots well out of my rifle? Thanks.

My one and only was taken with a 375 H&H, so I'm no expert but I'd say the 300win would do just fine. As to bullets I'd use a TXS, TBBC or Swift.

The 300 is good enough, I like barnes X or similar design bullets. I use 250gr Rhino bullets in my 338 Lapua. Use a 180gr or more and if you do your part the bullet will do his/hers.

I'm waiting on one from the taxidermist that thought 300 win mag was enough. Used 200 gr partition Federal factory ammo.

I shot mine with a 7mmRemMag, 160grTSX, one shot, but I think a 375H&H would be ideal. They are huge!

I took my eland with a 300 win mag using 150gr nosler bullets. I put three shots into it, the first would have done the job as it stumbled but I did not want to worry having it run off and having to track it.

I would answer it this way: If you're ranch hunting in South Africa it's probably OK with heavy stoutly constructed bullets since most of South Africa is fenced and the chances of recovery are good. If you're hunting free roaming animals in huge areas like much of Zimbabwe or Tanzania I would opt for a 338 with 250gr bullets as a minimum. a 375 or 416 isn't too much for these huge animals.

I have only taken one, a .30-06 with 220gr PMP and frontal brain shot from about 50m - predictable result.

They get taken cleanly with .270's but you also read/hear of long follow ups with smaller caibres and bullet faliure. I know of one that hit the deck after taking a 140gr X bullet from a .270 WBY. In SA they taken quite often with .30-06's and heavier bullets without fuss - but you need to be selective on shots. A friend killed one cleanly with a FailSafe 165gr out of .30-06 too, but put the bullet right through the heart (the eland went about 100m).

To be safe, I would not want to use smaller than a .30 cal 200gr premuim grade bullet. Hence, I think a .300 mag with at least a 180gr (preferably a 200 or 220gr) premium bullet will work fine.
I also feel that a bullet of at least 250grs in the right place makes a lot of sense...

Thank you gentlemen. I value your opinions.

I went to Zim in 72, and my wife was using an 06, 165gr Nosler, 59grs 4350. An injured Eland came across the track in front of us, and the PH said we should take him, because his left front leg was broken, and he'd die anyway. We got out as he had gone L-R,and went around the car, the PH hollered he'd come back going r-l, so went that way, we followed him a ways, and caught him going away, slightly R-l and I put one of the 165s in his left ribs, slight forward of the rear rib. The bullet went through to the right shoulder. The PH also shot at the same time, with his 458. His bullet went in under the skin on the left shoulder, out, in to the neck, and under the skin to the rear of the jaw. Never fazed him. He continued on, and it was getting to dark to track him (almost stepped on a puff adder while trying) so we came back next morning and found him about 50 yards further on. Had we had more light, would have been able to find him fast. He was in bad condition, as beside the broken leg, he'd been gored in the left flank, and it was infected. He'd lost a lot of weight. Anyway, I think a well placed shot with the 06 and either a Nosler partion, or one of the other premiums bullets should do the job. John Taylor (Pondoro) indicated Eland are big, but soft.

I took mine with a 300 winmag and 200 gr Partitions. Pick your shots well. As said previously. They are big animals. I couldn't believe how big he looked in the scope the first time. It was my first african animal. First shot was where the base of the neck meets the shoulder and he went down like a sack of potatos. another round in the hump and one in his heart put all wigling to bed. If you are going to use a 300 get as much lead in him as you can as they can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. Good hunting.

I am a bit of an Eland fanatic, like anyone knowing me would tell you. I have taken them with other .30's, but the heavier the better. Do not go under 180gr with the pill, and I would suggest you use the 200gr's.

My favourite weapon for Eland is my .375H&H, which works very well in the thick bush where we do most of our hunting. This might be another deciding factor for you, where are you hunting? (my other rifles that I have used with success on Eland are 30-06 and 308Win with 180gr pills)

Other good calibres is the 9x62 or the .338's, but I have not use the latter in hunting Eland myself. See Wimpie's thread about his Eland Bull that he shot...

Also remember to take the rifle you shoot best, as many of our buddies said here, even a badly placed 500gr pill will not do a better job than a well placed 180gr one! And no matter what, do not shoot it in the NECK if you are a first timer on Eland.

Good luck man, "Aim low and aim slow..."

www.infinito-safaris.com
"the call of the wild is on the wind"

For whatever it is worth I shot my Namibian eland with a 30-06 180 grn a-frame sn; it was the only animal that took more than one shot- I shot him twice both on the point of the shoulder which went ionto the heart/lung area. it did not run away, however, it took a while to drop: next time I will use my 375

IMHO, I think your 300 Mag is fine. But I agree completely that a well placed shot and a premium bullet (X, FS, North Fork, etc.) is critical.

I took a shot at the vitals of a very large eland with a 220 grain PSP from a .30-06. The animal was quartering slightly toward me and it hit the upper leg bone just below the shoulder. The bullet was shredded and flattenned like a pancake. After seven hours of walking in circles, we found it lying under a tree. It had just given up. I thanked the Lord that day for a great tracker, but I also cursed my carelessness.

I kept the bullet and the shoulder bone (photos on request :-)) as a reminder never to use anything but premium bullets on heavy game.

My Eland, at 120-140 yards in late evening was hit through both lungs, breaking the first shoulder, a rib on both sides and lodging just under the skin. He walked 20 yards slightly up hill and dropped. The bullet was a 180 Accubond from a .300 WM and it was recovered perfectly mushroomed, weighing 125gr. As an aside, we had to go for reinforcements and it took 10 of us to load him in the truck AFTER he was dressed out! They are big, and cover ground quickly with their normal long stride.

Eland are BIG!

I'm sure a well placed shot from a 300 Win Mag would do the trick. However, I would not have attempted the shot I took on my Eland with a 300 Mag.

It was a weird angle from approximately 50 to 60 yards away and no opportunity to get closer without spooking the eland or other game around him.

We were after buffalo, so I was holding my 416 Rigby loaded with 400 grain Barnes TSX's at a chronographed 2,425 fps. At the shot, the eland just rolled over with all four legs in the air. He did not even take one step.

Anyway, if I were on a plainsgame only hunt and eland was the largest animal on the menu, I would use a 300 Mag of some sort and a 200 grain (minimum) bullet. However, if hunting in DG country, I like carrying a 375 H&H (or at minimum a 9.3x62) as my light rifle. Also, where I have hunted in Africa (Chewore North, Zim) the shots are not usually over 100 yards.

Tim

quote:

Originally posted by GaryL:
As an aside, we had to go for reinforcements and it took 10 of us to load him in the truck AFTER he was dressed out!

GaryL,

Tell your PH to invest in a winch



Photo is of my Eland AND Zebra in the back of the Landcruiser.

quote:

Is the 300 Win Mag enough gun to be considered appropriate for Cape Eland? ... what premium factory load would you recommend ...

Yes. Choose any 200gr bullet from Federal Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX or MRX, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, Northfork, GS Custom, etc.

Enjoy your hunt.