Link is for an article, written by Gould, with thoughts on selecting an African plains game cartridge. Nothing new, but seems to be a practical approach.

http://bigfivehq.com/bullets.htm

The term African is actually a BS term.....animals are animals....an 800 pound elk is the same as an 800 pound Kudu.

An Impala is the same as a small deer. A duiker is roughly the same as a jack rabbit.

Hunting elk is no different (per the gun you carry) than a Gemsbok, Wildebeest or Kudu.

I'm not sure why we need to differentiate between continents when refering to hunting species. Terrain can be important but the distances are not different either.....anywhere from 25 yards to 400 yards is the norm.

We'd all be better off asking what gun and bullet to use for 800 pound hoofed animals.

I think there is a difference in the survival mindset between an 800-lb elk who may have to deal with a little snow in winter and an 800-lb kudu who has to deal with ever-present prides of lions, hyenas constantly nipping at the young, and poachers in pursuit every season of the year.

This may change, and North American elk reactivate their store of tougher DNA when they realize that packs of wolves are once again hunting them.

Ever see a Gemsbok kick in the after burners?? Man, they can move. I didn't realize they had such a protective layer of fat (tissue or whatever) under their skin in the chest area either. Saw it when my last one was being skinned at the shed. About an inch or so thick. They also have nice pointy horns for stabbing Lions and such.

-Bob F.

As one who has not hunted Africa, I'm not entitled to an opinion, but I enjoyed the article.

Jaywalker

Looking at African game in the skinning shed is an eye opener. Kudu, Gemsbok, Wildebeest, all seem to have extra thick skin and an "armor" layer over their meat. Nothing like the thin skin of a Whitetail or Mule deer. I was amazed at the apparent toughness of African game, even the little Impala and Blesbok required well placed shots to tke them down.
LLS

I'm no expert with twenty heads under my belt but not exactly a virgin either. Compared to NA deer/antelope and elk I feel the African species ARE tougher.

FN in MT

Elk deal with a hell of alot more than just a "little snow in the winter".
Ever heard of a cougar?
How about a grizzly bear?
And wolves are not in the faroff future, they are decimating herds as we speak.
And yes Elk do endure extreme weather, but the snow doesn't usually bother them until it is higher than their stomachs. The Elks hide is much thicker than a warm weather antelope. It has to be to survive!
Africa is a enchanting place, but a 800lb African antelope will be no harder to put down than an 800 lb Elk.

Well, you have to rememeber that most african game are shot with tough controlled to non expanding bullets. I'm sure that a Rocky Mountain Elk would have one heck of a killing reputation if you had drilled it with a bunch of .375 FMJs and watch it go on as nothing happened, which is why most states make it illegal to hunt with them (FMJs).

African game are not bullet proof but I think pound for pound they are a wee bit tougher. Some, like the Kudu I think are actually "softer" than our elk but Gemsbok, Wildebeast, Sable, etc. are the equally of any big bull elk & carry less mass, IMO.

I think that some African animals are pretty tough and some are very tough. I and my son shot two Coke's hartebests to pieces and they were still going until we broke their backs, and then required finishing shots. Same with wildebests. I shot an impala twice with my brother's 7mmMag, both shots within a inch, but a little high, and he kept right on moving. Some with a little oribi, shot a little far back, and just kept grazing.

Some are pretty easy to kill, but you are paying the trophy fee if you draw blood and don't collect the trophy. You want to lay the animal down, DRT.

Lastly, in some countries, you can end up being the hunted! You want to have enough gun for what might come after you, not what you came after!

Can you take African game with smaller weapons? Absolutely! Many South Africans like the .243Win; however, they shoot a great deal; they take head and neck shots to save the maximum meat; aren't paying trophy fees in many instances; and aren't likely to be confronted by a lion.

I'd feel comfortable with a 30-06 or 7mmMag or their equivalent most anywhere in North America. In Africa, I favor the 9.3x62 anywhere you can encounter dangerous game, and a 30-06 class rifle with 180gr bullets or better anywhere else. If I were hunting in Alaska or in the lower 48 in big bear country, I'd like my 9.3 or 375HH or 45/70. So it isn't all that different. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by FN in Montana:
I'm no expert with twenty heads under my belt but not exactly a virgin either. Compared to NA deer/antelope and elk I feel the African species ARE tougher.

FN in MT

Having african experience I agre 100% with the notion of afrcan plains game being more resistant to punishment, especially the Blue and Black wildebeest

quote:

Originally posted by BFaucett:
Ever see a Gemsbok kick in the after burners?? Man, they can move.-Bob F.

No...I haven't.....mine dropped in less than 25 yards to a 200 grain A-Frame delivered by a 300 H&H case. Just like my elk did!!!

Hey Bob.....just having a bit of fun with ya!!!

I guess we can only make a judgement based on our own experience but personally I agree with Vapogog 100%. Some individual species may be a little tougher than others but a blanket statement based on what continent an animal lives on is far too general.

Mark