I'm planning a plains game hunt that will include eland and have been told to expect shots to 300 yards. I've shot PG before but never eland. What cartridge do you recommend? Currently, an 8x68S is my biggest rifle, but articles I've read say a .375 H&H would be better. Thank you for your recommendations.
Roger

I used .30-06. Worked perfectly.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I used .30-06. Worked perfectly.

You do not need a 375 for an eland.

I know plenty of folks that have used lesser rounds with great success. Boddington’s daughter used a 7-08.

I took mine with a Barnes X bullet with my 8x68 and it was dead in about 15 yards.

I used my .375 on mine. worked great.

I personally have shot 5 eland and would recommend the 375. I agree you don't need anything bigger than an '06 to kill and eland but if you have a bad angle shot you'll need the penetration to reach the vitals. An eland is a huge target so I wouldn't worry too much about the 300 yard trajectory.

Mark

You do not need a 375 for Eland but it sure works great on them, I may use a 416 on one this next summer if presented the opportunity

I would use a bigger gun every time if I had the choice and the range wasn't to far

I also recommend the 375. I used a 375 H&H with good results and have used one on many safaris for many animals both plains game and DG and find it excellent in almost every way. I also recommend using a very good bullet as this is a very large and very heavy boned animal. I have used the Barnes TSX with good results and also use the Barnes solids when called for. An Eland hunt is a very fun hunt, enjoy !

I was a little less than impressed with a .30-06 with 200 grain partitions. It worked, and it killed the eland, but when close range finisher shots don't penetrate through the chest, I'm not real impressed... it went down well enough (eland are not that tough) but it took way too long to die, even with 5 shots into the chest.

I think the .375 is about as good as it gets on Eland, but a .30 did kill one for me.

Any good heavy for caliber bullet in a full rifle cartridge will work. Magnums just give you an easier time with range. I'd stick with a .270 or 7mm as as small a diameter as you should go... yes, the 6.5 is the latest wunderwaffe, and if everything goes well it will work, but too little margin for what it costs to hunt eland.

If you want to use your 8x68S, it will do the job, just use a good bullet and avoid poor presentations. I'd consider it essentially the same as a .338 Mag, which is bigger and more velocity that an 06. It will work. (but it is a reason to buy a new rifle...)

The .375 with a good bullet will allow you to shoot at quartering presentations without issues as long as you put the bullet in the right place.

Really few wrong answers.

I have 2 over the years and both were taken with my 338 Win Mag.

Shot selection is the name of the game. Do not take the shot unless you are positive of good bullet placement. A marginal shot will result in a long day or more trying to track your animal down.

Just because they say out to 300 yards or more for your shot, it is your hunt and work to get as close as possible.

I have shot eland with several different calibers.

From various 270 wildcats to different 375.

No difference whatsoever.

Use a good bullet.

Put it in the right place.

End of story.

quote:

From various 270 wildcats to different 375.

No difference whatsoever.

Use a good bullet.

Put it in the right place.

End of story.

Yep, I’ve used .270 Win and .300 WM with TTSX bullets

I‘ve taken two Eland…..one with a .300 WSM and another with a .375 H&H.

Both worked great. I personally wouldn’t want to use something smaller than a .30 caliber. If you expect longer shots….a .300 Win would be my choice. But I will say the .375 left a hell of a blood trail (not that it was needed, since he only ran 50 yards and tipped over).

As Ann said

quote:

I used .30-06. Worked perfectly.

Saeed nailed like Moose Eland are not tough but a misplace shot can cause problems.like Mark I have killed five Bulls. 3 with a 338 Win Mag and Two with a 308,Worked well on all.
I like a 338 for just about everything!

A large Eland bull will weigh near 2,000 lbs. I'd opt for a 375, but then again I don't shoot Whitetails with a 22 centerfire either.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
A large Eland bull will weigh near 2,000 lbs. I'd opt for a 375, but then again I don't shoot Whitetails with a 22 centerfire either.

You use a Blaser, no wonder!

I shot my Eland in Zimbabwe (then , 1972, Rhodesia), with an 06. Load was a 165gr Nosler bullet and 59grs 4350. Bullet landed at rear of Left side ribs, and angled into the right shoulder. Guides 458 bullet, went under skin on left leg, at shoulder area, came out, went under skin of neck and ended up behind the jaw. Ran about 50 yards and down. Shot was at maybe 50 yds, going away on an angle. Seemed to be plenty powerful enough. If I had had something bigger using it on other stuff, would have used it.

I've had real good luck with a .416. I've got a .375 in the safe but it hasn't been to Africa since 2008 and the only shots it fired that time were two on the sight in. The .375 is a great caliber, but you don't need it if you have a .416. I'm sure eland and buffalo could be taken with a .30-06 but why?

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
A large Eland bull will weigh near 2,000 lbs. I'd opt for a 375, but then again I don't shoot Whitetails with a 22 centerfire either.

An Eland bull does indeed weigh 2000+ lbs. but a well placed bullet of a proper construction, Nosler, TSX, etc. from any light/medium caliber will pay dividends and while it may not drop at the shot for obvious reasons, may go 50/100 yards and keel over.

That said, if it takes a hit on any one of its legs (rear more so) it will not go very far as the remaining 3 cannot bear the weight for too long and you are very likely to find it standing or lying down within a short distance.

A gut shot is a different story altogether, as with any animal.

There is absolutely no correlation between the size of the bullet and how quickly an animal dies.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I used .30-06. Worked perfectly.

Yup

375 has always worked for me

I use the .375 H&H Mag. for all African plains game.

Easier that way.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I use the .375 H&H Mag. for all African plains game.

Easier that way.

Now I do so too use 375/404 for all my hunting in Africa.

Solves the prof multiple rifles and various ammo.

But, previous, I used many smaller calibers for plains game.

From various 270 wildcats, 7mm and 338.

Never noticed that any of them kills any better.

I've shot 2, one with a 30-06 the other with a 404. Eland #1, 1st. shot broadside high shoulder at 70yds, took 4 more as he ran towards me. Eland #2, broadside high shoulder at 50 yds. took one and ran 30yds.The 30-06 worked but I felt undergunned, the 404 worked better, but truth be told Eland #1 was dead on his feet with the first shot and had he not run towards me I may not have got another into him. Shot placement means everything, cartridge used is secondary.

Your 8x68 with a heavy premium bullet is more than adequate. I used a 35 Whelen with a 250 grain North Fork bullet on my one bull. I considered it perfect and would use it again but would not hesitate to use my 300 Win Mag and a 180 grain Barnes X as well.

My 375 H&H has killed two eland bulls: both one shot. I think it is perfect for large plains game.

I killed mine with a 9.3X74R. Going for LDE in about 10 days. Outfitter strongly suggested the 9.3X74R is too small. Anyway it's a moot point after posting here about bringing in a rifle to Cameroon I decided to use the 375 camp gun.

quote:

Originally posted by Gundog 64:
I've shot 2, one with a 30-06 the other with a 404. Eland #1, 1st. shot broadside high shoulder at 70yds, took 4 more as he ran towards me. Eland #2, broadside high shoulder at 50 yds. took one and ran 30yds.The 30-06 worked but I felt undergunned, the 404 worked better, but truth be told Eland #1 was dead on his feet with the first shot and had he not run towards me I may not have got another into him. Shot placement means everything, cartridge used is secondary.

Wise words

We were up in the mountains in South Africa.

Went up on horse back.

Saw some bulls across a canyon, at least 400 meter away.

No one wanted to shoot at that distance.

I had a 270 wildcat I made up.

Had 150 grain Jensen bullets loaded fir it.

The Jensens were like the Trophy Bonded.

They had lead in the front, and a solid shank.

I tried it.

Eland jumped at the shot, ran a few steps, and stood with his down.

I fired another shot and he dropped.

One bullet went completely through.

The other was under the skin on the other side.

Both hits were with inches of each other.

Saw one standing miles away in Tanzania.

We just walked towards it.

Totally open ground.

About the same distance as the one above.

Alan puts the stick up and says “I don’t think he will let us get closer. A bit far, so aim high!”

I fired at him and we could hear the bullet hit.

He ran off behind some trees.

We ran to him.

Found him standing but shaking, almost falling off.

Shot him again.

375/404 and 300 grain Barnes X.

I have shoot eland with calipers from 7mm up to 500 NE. I nearly lost 2, one shot with 7mm and the other with 416 RM. Both due to bad shot placment.
I prefere the bigger calipers mainly because it gives you the ability to shoot through brush. With the 416 and the 500 you can shoot through quite dense bush without problems.

Good hunting
Carl Frederik

I've killed 3 and all were with a 7mm and 180 gr bullets. I'd suggest a .300 WM or bugger and 200 gr bullets or bigger. For a strictly eland hunt I'd likely be inclined to use a .338. Bullet selection is important. Shot placement trumps everything else.
Bruce

RogersGunWorks, as you’ve seen the consensus is a quality bullet in the right place is what matters over caliber, though most agree that a medium bore is probably your best choice. Your 8x68 is plenty as long as you put a good bullet through the heart/lung area.

I’ve had great results with my .338, shooting 225 grain TSX’s. Shot a big Livingstone’s at 325 yards a few years ago with that bullet and he went about 25 yards before tipping over. Bullet was under the skin on offside shoulder. I’ll have eland on license this August in the Selous, as well as LDE in Feb of ‘24 and will be carrying my .338 for both in all likelihood. I’m having a .375H&H built right now, so might take that to Cameroon, but either caliber is excellent for eland, as most have already mentioned.

Put a TSX, Bear Claw, Swift, or Nosler bullet in the right place from your 8x68 and share pictures with us when you get home.

my friend just shot 4 eland with 4 shots using 6.5 . he was using ttsx bullets. i think he even had a few passthrus

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
my friend just shot 4 eland with 4 shots using 6.5 . he was using ttsx bullets. i think he even had a few passthrus

I bet that was in South Africa!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by samir:
my friend just shot 4 eland with 4 shots using 6.5 . he was using ttsx bullets. i think he even had a few passthrus

I bet that was in South Africa!

Saeed, the 6.5 would work in Jurassic Park! Haven’t you heard that?

Only the 6.5 Can’t Miss would work in Jurrasic Park.

All other cartridges fear it’s authority.

Funny this.

Had a friend come over with a Tikka 6.5 Creedmoor, but no ammo.

Gave him a bunch of 308 cases, showed him how to form them.

Spend the whole afternoon doing it, ended up with a 100 good cases.

He ruined a few, but managed to get it done.

36 grains of Reloader 15 and Sierra 140 MK shot very well!

He is very very happy now.

Was tinkering with loads in my 375 H&H a few years back with a 270 TSX and Big Game powder.
Achieved 2850 FPS with a 24" barrel.
Shot very accurately but about the largest recoil I noted in a 375. Safe load in my rifle. Just appeared a magical combination in my rifle.
Point is it will shoot as flat as a 180 in a 30-06.
Covers a lot of ground for species in Africa without a lot of guess work.
I will take it with me on my next trip.

EZ