Would any of you hesitate using 165 gr. Hornady GMX ammunition out of a .300 WM for a big, mature Eland bull?

Broadside, no worries.

Straight on, quartering away, quartering toward, I'd be waiting for a better presentation.

I got to ask.
Why not bump up to a 180gr or 200gr good quality bullet, GMX included.

What Will and Cecil said.

Heavy for caliber bullets is an accepted practice in africa. Killing an Eland with a .300wm depends upon presentation and heavy for caliber bullets. I've done it with the .300wm 180gr. SAF and recommend a bigger caliber if available. Keep in mind you will never catch a poorly shot Eland, the largest antelope on the continent, on foot.

Now we'll hear from all those africana experts who have killed Eland with a .17HMR.

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
I got to ask.
Why not bump up to a 180gr or 200gr good quality bullet, GMX included.

They do not offer anything heavier than 165 gr. in the GMX ammunition.

I shot a big Eland bull years ago with a .300 WSM using the 180 gr. FailSafe ammo Winchester used to produce, and it did well. I was just curious about the slight difference in weight. I typically shoot heavy-for-caliber bullet weights as well....but was curious about this particular load.

The question is mainly to address the possibility of being on a hunt for a different animal, and having the opportunity at a big Eland by accident (without a heavier rifle immediately available). I own two .375 H&H's....so when I deliberately go after another Eland, that is likely what I'll use.

My 1st safari I used a 300wm loaded with 200gr partitions at 2900fps.
Killed everything from steenbuck to eland with it.
Shot the eland twice, both rounds recovered just inside the hide on the opposite side.
You might want to consider Fed. Prem 180gr TTX.
Good luck on your hunt. Hope you get a GREAT 1.

Made a poor shot with my 300 win mag using 180 gr A Frames, and did retrieve the Eland. Not sure if a 165 gr would have ended well. Why take a chance?

I love the 300win. But on a massive mature bull eland I would shoot a 200gr TSX or North Fork or a CEB. But I really would shoot my light rifle a 375 with 300grainers.
However accurate shooting works much better than hap hazard shots.

Mike

Bullet weight and caliber is not a problem. But, I suggest you use a quality mono metal bullet.

I have killed eland with a 270 and 150 grain bullets without any problems at all.

On a perfect shot, any bullet and caliber suitable for elk will work. On an less than great one, I would opt for something a little bigger and tougher. I like my 375 personally.

Would you use that combo on a trophy nilgai hunt in your area?

375, 375, 375, 375

In the past I've killed Eland with my 300 WSM, as well as giraffe and other large plains game. However, today I would hunt Eland with my 375 and 300 grain quality bullets.

To my mind it comes down to how often you are going to get to hunt eland. If it is a regular thing, you're good to go with your .300 whatever. If the only shot you are presented with is a frontal/quartering shot then you can happily pass it up and try to get a more favourable presentation next time. If you can only expect to hunt eland a couple of times in your life, a heavier bullet that can be counted on to penetrate lots of flesh and heavy bone every time is in order. Shot placement is everything. Heavy bullets give you the chance to correctly place bullets from more angles.

Cheers,
Dean

You asked the question because you intend to hunt smaller game, and would like to have enough firepower in case an eland appears. Why not just use the .375 for everything? When sighted 2" high at 100 yards, a .375 is on at 200, and about 8" low at 300. If you need to shoot farther than that in Africa...well... Also, if there are dangerous game about, and you get into a dicey situation, you will be much better served with a .375.
Cheers,
Tim

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:
Would any of you hesitate using 165 gr. Hornady GMX ammunition out of a .300 WM for a big, mature Eland bull?

168 gr TSX at 100 yards or so straight on cost me $1600 for a wounded Eland in 2007. |I wouldn't do it again.

quote:

Bullet weight and caliber is not a problem. But, I suggest you use a quality mono metal bullet.

Mono Metal bullet would be my recommendation too.
And dont take stupid shots. If you dont have the patience to wait for good presentation then take a 375. Aim to break the shoulder on a quartering towards shot.

Your PH should have at least a 375 loaded with solids. He can call the shot and if needed put in a raking insurance shot from behind if the need arises. As has been stated, you will not catch up if you don't hit him properly.

By the way, a wounded Eland does not see a Game Fence, he will run right through it or jump right over it. I have seen Eland bulls clear 3,5m from a standing position next to a fence.

If you are hunting in SA and you do have wounded game, give me a call, we come in with a hound and get you your trophy. Just dont leave it too long or you will have degraded scent and end up with nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by maki:
To my mind it comes down to how often you are going to get to hunt eland. If it is a regular thing, you're good to go with your .300 whatever. If the only shot you are presented with is a frontal/quartering shot then you can happily pass it up and try to get a more favourable presentation next time. If you can only expect to hunt eland a couple of times in your life, a heavier bullet that can be counted on to penetrate lots of flesh and heavy bone every time is in order. Shot placement is everything. Heavy bullets give you the chance to correctly place bullets from more angles.

Cheers,
Dean

+1

I shot my eland with a 140 grn winchester pp out of a 7mm-08 piled up after running 100 yards frontal chest heart shot

Would it do the job? Of course, if everything was right. I'd echo what Tim Ferrel said: why not use a .375? And, I'd add, a .416 will do anything a .375 will do only better. Small plains game dies depenably with a dose of a 400 grain pill.

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
I got to ask.
Why not bump up to a 180gr or 200gr good quality bullet, GMX included.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
375, 375, 375, 375

What he said

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Bullet weight and caliber is not a problem. But, I suggest you use a quality mono metal bullet.

+1....or bump up to 220 Grain .30 cal....or bump up to .338.

My experience is limited to just one Cape eland which I shot with a 165 gr. Barnes TTSX in 300 WSM. The bull was broadside at a measured range of 223 yards. My PH told me to shoot it on the shoulder, and at the shot, the bull dropped. The shot was through the shoulder and did not exit. The recovered bullet was a typical Barnes bullet with almost all weight retained.

Methinks 15 grains of bullet weight to an animal that weighs 1800 pounds is really inconsequential. More important is shot placement and bullet construction. Regardless of their size, they die when hit well...

To answer your question, I would hesitate. No matter how familiar I am with my rifle, s**t can happen...I'd use a bigger caliber w/stronger, larger bullet, more forgiving if me or the critter needs it. .375 or larger. IMO.

It's not about the perfect shot. It's about what happens when the perfect shot turns to shi*. Go with the 375.

Shot placement!
Shot placement!
Shot placement!

Did you get what I said?

I would use a .270 and up if the shot could be placed properly.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Shot placement!
Shot placement!
Shot placement!

Did you get what I said?

I would use a .270 and up if the shot could be placed properly.

Not to pick on dogcat in particular, but I get so tired of that simplistic mantra. Of course shot placement is the most important factor, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But with the appropriate cartridge the shot can be placed properly from almost any angle. That matters for a couple of reasons.

The most important reason to my mind is that a cartridge/bullet combo that can be RELIED UPON to reach the vitals regardless of the angle may allow you to clean up a mess caused by a first shot that didn't go where it should have. The simplistic howl now going up is that the answer is to place the first shot correctly. Well no kidding, I wish I would have thought of that! Of course that is the answer, but stuff happens whether that stuff is operator error, an unseen twig or whatever. More powerful cartridges can't compensate for bad shooting, but they may give the person with the skill to use them more opportunities when things go wrong. And they eventually will, regardless of how hard we try to prevent that. Man proposes and God disposes, or Murphy's Law, describe it as you wish, the concept is the same.

The second reason to use a more powerful cartridge is also related to opportunity. Of course we try very hard to arrange a perfect broadside shot presentation. That doesn't always work out either and it is no big deal to walk away from a less that perfect opportunity when you are hunting the Back 40. There will be other chances tomorrow, later in the season, next year. But what happens when that less that perfect opportunity represents the first, last and only chance you'll get to complete a dream? What happens when years of planning, saving and extra hours of hard work result in an opportunity for a quartering shot where more powerful cartridge could be RELIED UPON to get the bullet to the right spot if you do your part? What if you are carrying a lighter rifle that can't be RELIED UPON to get a bullet through heavy bone and a couple of feet of gut to where it is supposed to go?

Rant over. Testiness at being in an office on a sunny spring morning 5 flipping months from hunting season somewhat eased.

Dean

I find it funny how many people either do not read previous posts when responding to a question....or just simply do not understand the question.

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:
The question is mainly to address the possibility of being on a hunt for a different animal, and having the opportunity at a big Eland by accident (without a heavier rifle immediately available). I own two .375 H&H's....so when I deliberately go after another Eland, that is likely what I'll use.

I am NOT referring to a situation where one would intentionally be going after Eland with the .300 (I have stated that the .375 is much more appropriate). I am referring to a scenario, for instance, where one might be hunting Impala....and the Eland of your dreams steps out in front of you. All you have is the .300 WM with 165 gr. GMX ammunition. Would that REALLY keep any of you from taking the shot??

I would say that the 165 GMX's from the .300 Win Mag will be plenty. The penetration from the mono metal bullets are unmatched, and that 165 will reach where it need to be.
The best penetration that I have seen was from a Kudu that I shot, walking away with my .308 Win loaded with 130gr hollow point monolithic solids.
It was almost a texas heart shot, and the bullet exited in front of the shoulder next to the chest. Since then, I have been a huge fan of the mono metal bullets.
Can't ask for more than that.

I shot a big Cape Eland bull with a .300 WSM 180 gr trophy-bonded bear claw and it dropped in its tracks DRT. My only worry would be whether the GMX would open up, they seem almost like solids and might just punch a puny hole and you could have a long chase. As others have said a 180 gr TSX might be a better choice although the 165 GMX are very accurate in my .300 WSM handloads.