I was just wondering what calibers everyone here has used on Eland.

I took two nice ones in may with my 7mm Rem Magnum. I'm not saying that was the best choice, but it worked great. Next time I'm using my .45-70.

I'd love to here your opinion.

Joel

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Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
http://www.slatesafaris.com

Joel-
I have taken three, all with my 300mag using either 200gr partitions or 180gr Fail Safes. The first one was taken at 275yds, one shot knocked him over and one to finish. The other two were taken at closer ranges and overall I have been very pleased with the 300mag. Don't think I will change a thing!

Partner of mine lost the biggest one anyone on the staff had ever seen with a .300 H&H and a 200 gr. partition. After reading The Perfect Shot, he swore that it was a case of bad placement but the PH said that as far as he was concerned, none of his clients were going after eland with "small bore" rifles ever again. Appearantly this had happened before! I took mine with a .375 H&H: One Planet, One Rifle!
Sarge

375 H&H with 300 grain A-Frames. One shot on the shoulder. Bullet recovered under hide on off-side shoulder.

Jim

I took mine with a 338/404 and a 225 gr Barnes XLC I couldn't have ask for better bullet performance. The bull staggered on impacted, rocked back and fell forward on his nose. The bullet traversed the vitals and layed under the skin on the opposite shoulder.

I took the 375 to shoot the Eland with but was carrying the 338 at the time we saw him.

Good Hunting
Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

Thanks everyone for your input. If more people have something to add, let's hear it!

By the way, Santala, I went to school my freshman year of college in Butte. Spent a little time at the Vu, Whatzits at the M&M, and Pork Chop Sammiches...

Joel

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Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
http://www.slatesafaris.com

I took my eland with my 416 Rem. It just happened to be the rifle I was carrying that day. The first shot was around 250 yards and went through the near shoulder. He required a finisher because he refused to go down. The previous group to me in that area had lost a big eland that had been shot with a 300 Weatherby. They tracked it for the better part of two days but never found it.

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JD

I took a Patterson's eland in Tanzania with a .300 Winchester loaded with 180 gr. Winchester Fail-Safes at just under 300 yards. My shot hit him through both lungs, he then went about 50 yards and fell over.

My second Eland was a Livingstone's from Zimbabwe. He was running at about 70 yards, so I led him, kept the rifle swinging, and pressed the trigger. The trouble was, I led him a bit too much, so we had to follow up for a finishing shot. I took this bull with a .375 H&H loaded with 300 gr. Trophy Bonded bullets.

This season, I took a Cape eland in Namibia. This bull was standing broadside at about 100 yards. I was using a .300 Winchester loaded with 180 gr. Nosler Partition Protected Points. I shot this bull right behind the left shoulder, he then ran about 80 yards and fell over. The bullet was found under the hide on the opposite side, and his lungs were an absolute mess.

What I've learned about eland is that they're a lot like moose, only they're a lot more agile, mobile, and intelligent. They're big alright, but with well-placed bullets of good construction, they're not exactly bullet-proof.

AD

Allen,
Where did you hunt in Namibia? How big is the Patterson's eland in relation to the Cape Eland?

By the way, how are things in the People's Republic of Dundee?

Joel

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Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
http://www.slatesafaris.com

Joel, the East African Patterson's eland strikes me as bigger in the body and longer in the horns than either the Livingstone's or Cape varieties. Some people argue that there's no real difference between any of them, save the Lord Derby's or Giant eland strain. I wouldn't want to argue for or against that theory. All of my Eland were very old bulls with heavy, broomed horns, heavy bases, and a full, dark facemask. They also had a full, heavy dewlap and that dark grey "blue bull" appearance. In my opinion, Eland bulls of this sort are the only ones to hunt.

I hunted this year with Jan Oelofse in Namibia. Steve Tors was my PH, and he was absolutely great in every way. I took seventeen trophies in ten days. I give the entire operation a five-star rating!

The "People's Republic of Dundee" continues to limp along. We need a bypass in the worst way, but our local wines are getting better & better!

AD

I have used the 300 H&H, 9.3x62, 338, and 375 on Eland all did a job on them. The only problem I ever had was an Eland covering a lot of ground in a hurry at 200 yds to 300 yds. I put 5 consecutive offhand shots in him as he passed by with a 375 using a max load with the 270 gr. Swifts before he went down..He was still alive when I got to him and put a 6th shot finisher in him...He was big tough old boy...All shots were killing shots..Just goes to show you that a big animal can be very hard to kill on ocassions if things are just right and this has notheing to do with the capable 375 H&H or the Swift bullets, it just one of thoes experiences that all hunters will see from time to time with Eland or any animal pumped with Adrenlin. Never ceases to amaze me.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com