The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Would You Build This Gun?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I’ll try to keep this simple. Let’s say you were going to Namibia to hunt eland, gemsbok, zebra, and kudu and you have a perfectly good 30-06 that shoots 200 grain premium bullets very well and you have extreme confidence in the gun. Would you build a 35 Whelen to take along with the ’06 just for the larger animals? Would an eland know the difference? I expect shots to be less than 150 yds. I’m sure there is some performance increase with the .35 but I’m just trying to justify it in my mind that it’s worth the cost over using that money for hopefully more trophy fees. ïŠ | ||
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While I'd prefer a larger caliber, I trust my own .30-06 enough to take all those animals. George P.S. Forget the Whelen, and build a a.338-06 instead.  | |||
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Wyattd If you weigh guns against trophy fes the trophy fees always win with me. If you have a perfectly adequate rifle which a 30-06 is I definitely would not buy another rifle if it would cost me even one animal. That's like buying a $10,000 plus double rifle to go on a 7 day buff hunt. If that turns your crank fine but it would make more sence to me to book a 14 day hunt and buy a $1000 rifle. After all is not the rifle for the hunting? Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
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The 06 will work but no reason to not have another rifle.  Always thought the 375H&H and the 06 were a wonderful pair. Semper Fi WE BAND OF BUBBAS STC Hunting Club | |||
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I expect sometime in the next few years to make a trip for buf. At that point I’ll need a .375 or larger gun. That’s another reason I’m hesitant to do the .35. I figure if the ’06 will be equal or nearly as effective then go with it and build a true big bore when I need it. | |||
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go with the trophy fees!!!!! Lance Lance Larson Studio lancelarsonstudio.com | |||
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Let me remember; I've been down this road before. Yes I would build the gun, use it and think what a great cartridge it is and then I'd take my 30-06 and go. It is not likely anything you will shoot would know the difference. But if you are afraid it might take the 35. Anyone who claims the 30-06 is ineffective has either not tried one, or is unwittingly commenting on their own marksmanship Phil Shoemaker Alaska Master guide FAA Master pilot NRA Benefactor www.grizzlyskinsofalaska.com | |||
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My dad shot all the critters on your list (less the eland) and then some with a .270 WSM a couple years ago in Namibia. It worked fine. Take your 06 and spend the "extra" money on a red hartebeest and something else. _____________________ A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend. | |||
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The .30-06 will do perfectly fine with 200gr premiums... In Namibia you will see locals using .30-06's for all the game you mentioned, regularly, without hassle, you probably won't see any .35 Whelens in use..... | |||
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Invader66's advice is sound wisdom if you are wanting another rifle and want DG sometime in the future. | |||
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I have taken all of the animals you have listed with a 30.06 using 180 grain partitions, so I see no problem with your 200 grain "premium loads". Even eland drop very quickly with well placed shots from a 30.06. A confidently placed shot from a 30.06 will work wonders. Enjoy. Bill | |||
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The reports seem almost unanimous....and I also say to forget the 35 Whelen...get an extra trophy fee instead. Your PH will loan a gun should the need arise..... /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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You guys are telling me what I think I want to hear...my gunsmith is gonna think I'm a wacko when I tell him I may be changing my mind! | |||
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That's why he's a gunsmith instead of a PH... In '97 a blue wildebeest and a gemsbok fell over quite nicely to a round each from my 30'06 (220 gr soft and 180 gr partition, respectively). On an earlier trip a red hartebeest dropped to a 150 gr roundnose soft from a borrowed 308. | |||
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What was it Finn Aagard said...the 30-06 plain works...shoot that Eland right though both lungs and it will die... i think something focus forget is a 300 win mag is a 30-06 is a .308 win just a matter of distance... and given wounded animals are paid for animals...htere is a tendency to minimize taking 250 yd plus shots Mike Legistine actu? Quid scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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"Would you build a 35 Whelen to take along with the ’06 just for the larger animals?" Forgeddaboudit!! "When you play, play hard; when you work, don't play at all." Theodore Roosevelt | |||
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I would never pass up a perfectly good excuse to build or buy another rifle! I won't tell your wife you don't need a .35 Whelen, if you don't tell my wife I don't need a new .416 Rem! Good hunting! ============== Todd J. Rathner The T. Jeffrey Safari Company www.tjsafari.com 520-404-8096 Please visit our BLOG: http://www.tjsafari.com/blog.cfm | |||
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Buy better optics and practice ammo if need be instead of building a 35 Whelen. There's probably nothing in Africa you could not kill (or that has not already been killed) with a 30-06. Nothing against the Whelen, but you really don't need a duplicate. Practice with the 30-06 and be confident in its abilities. It is light recoiling and you'll never miss. Enjoy the extra trophy fee! Jason "Chance favors the prepared mind." | |||
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While I wouldn't call a 35 Whelen a duplicate of a 30-06 it is close enough to put to rest any "need". If you want something bigger go with the 375. I do like the 35 Whelen and if you have an itch for a 35 cal rifle it is a good choice. | |||
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Having just arrived back from Africa I have become painfully aware that if you take a second rifle and ammo (and a second or larger gun case) you are almost certainly going to be paying for excess baggage on it - two rifles, cases and ammo will pretty well take up your entire 20kg luggage allowance. I ended up paying $US1,800 in excess baggage charges - could amost have gone business class on the difference the extra business class luggage allowance would have made. I applied my "frequent Flyer" points to get an upgrade but Qantas did not upgrade me and I was told by a staff member when I checked in that Qantas never upgraded on the direct Sydney Johannesberg flight, only on the flight that stopped in Perth. Out of interest I went to the ticket counter and asked to buy a business class seat on the flight and they told me they had seats available! mike | |||
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A M if you feel undergunned with an 06 with a 200 gn nosler going at 2700...there is something very wrong somewhere...for the really big stuff try the 200 tsx @ 2650 it just seems to penetrate for ever regards daniel | |||
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M 98, Those are actually the 2 bullets I'm planning to choose from. I used the 168 TSX on my last trip and it performed very well. For that reason I'm leaning towards the 180 or 200 TSX. The Nosler is also tried and proven so depending on the groups I get I may go with it. | |||
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WYATTD i feel the 200 gn TSX is a great bullet ON really big heavey ANIMALS WITH THICK HIDES...i shot a number of scrub bulls with this proj and had great results , penetration was extraordinary , however im still not sure how it will go on lighter game animals which dont offer as much resistance to expansion as the hides of those big scrub bulls, plus with those 200 gn TSX you will not get the velocity that you will get from the 200 gn noslers in the 06 the best powder to use to get a decent velocity at resnable pressures is R 22 or NORMA MRP DANIEL | |||
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I took 9.3 x 62 and my old faithful '06. The '06 always goes period... with 180 Nosler Partitions. I also own a Rem 7600 pump 35 W...nice gun and caliber. Have a 2.5 to 8 on top. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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Wyattd, the answer to your first question is NO! the answer to your second question is NO! 30-06 is enough, well loaded with a premium bullet. 35 Wheelen uncommon, if you need crtridges you do not find it. .338-06 (I would like to have one) the same. The alternative choice, by my opinon, should be between three calibers .375HH Magnum, 30-06 and 9.3x62. Tha main reason of my assertion is due to the diffusion of these three calibers in Africa. bye Stefano Waidmannsheil | |||
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OH MY GOD?!?! I took two rifles to both RSA and ZIm a few years ago and stuffed them in one pelican case, removed the padding and used my clothes for that purpose. Then I took a small carry on with other clothes and had the ammo in my second checked bag with clothes, gifts etc. Did you end up taking a third checked bag? Its important to remember that you are allowed a "personal item" in addition to a decent sixed carry on. I have had them squawk at the gate about the size of my carry ons but then they just check it and NO EXTRA CHARGE if they do it at the gate. SOLUTION = PACK LIGHT ! JMHO, John | |||
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You could also choose a 220gr bullet -those eland can be tough. | |||
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The desire to build a Whelen also comes from the fact that I've just always wanted one. Just trying to figure out if I now have a good excuse to get one. I think the excuse is valid, just don't know if I want to put funds towards it at this time. The '06 would go along as a backup becasue of ammo availabiltiy. Had lost baggage on last years trip and luckily my Dad was shooting a .308. No problem picking up ammo. | |||
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wyattd your still welcome to come up and shoot my 35. Wait about a week or so and you can also shoot my 375  ______________________ | |||
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Jogn I took a 470 WR Double and a Merkel 9.3x74R/12ga drilling. Neither light rifles. And, as I was a bit worried about them being damaged I took the in two shotgun style hard cases. Baggage allowance is 20kg and (I sweet talked them at both ends to give me an extra 5-6kg - sometimes having to use a wheelchair at airports helps, apart from being treated like you're mentally deficient). Excess baggage charges are $US36/kg going over and $US32/kg coming back. If I was doing it again, I get a single hard case custom made to take the two firearms, one on top of the other. Also, I took 45 rounds of ammo for each and used only 8 rounds of 470 and 15 rounds of 9.3x74R, mostly checking sights and giving other people a go with the guns. Less than 10 rounds on game. Last time I flew with guns, I recollect that they were not checked in through the usual check in counter and were not included in the weight allowance. Live and learn | |||
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I'd go up one step from the 35 Whelen to the 9.3x64. Fits in an '06 length action, the bolt face only needs to be increased by 12 thou' and you get very close to 375H&H and can have solids with an SD over 0.305 for DG, when the time comes. The 250gn loads have the same trajectory as 30/06 180gn. JMHO' mike | |||
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I would stay with the 306 and use the money for trophy fees. Who are you hunting with this trip? | |||
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