calibers for plains game

[Builder45]

The question I have is the 30-378 weatherby enough gun for taking most of the African plains game, eg. kudu, gemsbok wildebeast. I plan on using the Swift 200gr A-frame just looking for suggestions. Thanks

[Dom]

Personally, I think the 30-06 is good for plains game. If you put a quality bullet in the boiler room at reasonable ranges, ain't much gonna walk far after the shot. I'd say it's more important you can shoot it well, and it'll be more than enough, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

[Andrew McLaren]

Builder45,

Given that you can shoot your rifle/bullet combination well, I would like to welcome you as a plains game hunting client. You are not likely to be under-gunned. Remember the famous words: "Use enough gun!". If, however the recoil and muzzle blast of this very potent combination makes you flinch (and it is not a shame to admit being prone to flinching) I would rather like you to come hunting as my client with something in the 30-06 or .308 win class that you shoot well.

Now for 99% of all plains game animals a well placed 150 grain premium hunting grade .30 bullet at .308 win velocities will do a dandy job of quickly killing the animal.

You ask: What about the other 1%? I do not want to sound clever, but in nature there is always the exceptional! Here I refer to that one individual that is simply exceptionally clever, or hard to kill, or fast or whatever. Now the individual plains game that is just exceptionally hard to kill, be it of whatever species of plains game, will survive a well placed Swift A-frame 200grains at whatever velocity your .30/378WM will push it, for long enough to make for some difficult tracking. Your combination may be good for 99.9% of all individuals.

But there is still the 0.1% of the really top-tough individuals which will not only survive a well placed shot from your .30/378WM, but some will do so even with a well-placed shot from a .460 Weatherby Magnum firing a premium grade soft point bullet for long enough to require some serious tracking before finding the animal.

Just plan on bringing any rifle that you can shoot well, .308 win to your .30/378WM, shoot straight I and my trackers will take care of the rest. ;)

In good hunting,

Andrew McLaren

[Builder45]

Andrew,

I usually hunt with the 150 gr Nosler ballistic tip. From what you have suggested should I just keep with the ballistic tip or go with a bonded or spire pt 150 gr. I already see that the 200 gr is a bit too much

P.s.

What does an average plains game w/ you cost - airfare?

Thanks,
Shane

[Andrew McLaren]

Shane,

With good shot placement a 150 Grain Nostler ballistic tip would be fine for almost all plains game animals, but a 200 grain Swift A would be better. Better because it would be slower and thus you can be more sure of good penetration.

Your question about the cost of plains game animals is as difficult to answer as the one about the length of a piece of string. Some time ago I have searched the Internet for all hunting outfitters who published trophy animal prices. These prices were all entered into a spreadsheet and I have published the average cost for some of the commonly hunted species on my website at http://www.mclarensafaris.com/new_page_22.htm Please remember these are NOT my prices, but the average prices as published on a total of 99 web sites on the Internet - so these should be a good guideline of what you can expect. I can beat these average prices in every instance, but not always the lowest individual prices. Just for interest sake the higest quoted price divided by the lowest quoted price vary between a typical value of 3 for the commonly hunted species to 8 and more for the more rare species.

Fyrthermore it is very improtant to know that hunting outfitting in South Africa is a very competitive business, and therefore you generally get what you pay for. This means that you are very likely to actually get a very good klipspringer when hunting with the outfitter who quoted $ 1250 while the guy who qouted $ 150 for the same species is not likely to be able to even show you one at a distance! ::confused: All this shows that you should be very careful of using price to evaluate a hunting outfitter.

Even though my web site http"//www.mclarensafari.com is still under construction please feel free to go to the planning section to assist you in planning a South African safari.

In good hunting,

Andrew McLaren

[Hi Ball]

Now if your speaking of Kudu, Wildebeast or Eland, I prefer the .338 win mag hands down. I have seen the results first hand with people using a 270 on such animals. Looking for wounded animals is no fun on a limited number of days hunt and not to mention writing the check for that animal if not found.

I think Impala, gembok and smaller are fine for such calibers as the 270 and 7mm's. I favor the heavy bullets in the .30 calibers everytime out the gate. The 180 or 200 grainers in a premium bullet as well.:)

[Hi Ball]

Doubled Up!:confused:

[Builder45]

Hi Ball,

I didnt see your post till today. Thanks for the imput. I have decided to go with a CZ-550 in 375HH. I can hit anything I want to with it and it has plenty of stopping power. Since I leave in two weeks I am trying some last minute load development with some 300 gr A-Square's and just took a break to check my email and the board.

[Hi Ball]

Builder45, I can't tell you about "A-Squares ammo" but did have problems with them a few years ago, not delievering the goods I paid for and then billing my credit card. Ummmmmm so did other people get left high and dry.

Any premium bullet you choose will do nicely on those plains game animals, more bullet weight the deeper penetration, especially on animals like eland, kudu and wildebeast.
Good Luck!;) ;) :D

[PhilLozano]

To All,

I agree with the 338 Win. Mag. as a very good choice. That is what I recommend my clients bring as their 'working' rifle.

Any rifle that is in the Elk class, I think will work fine. I disagree with the 150 grain bullets however in 30 cal.. I suggest to my client to bring a heavy bullets. Swifts are very good, but so is most (not all) factory ammo.

I have had clients bring, 270 Win. w/150gr. bullets - 7mm Mag. 160 or 175 gr. bullets - 300 Mag. 180, 200 and 220 gr. bullets - 338 '06 (not sure what his bullet was) - 35 Whelen 250 gr. bullets and 338Win. Mag 250 gr. bullets.

These are the cartridges client have brought as working rifles for the last 10 years.

All are 'about' the same to 100 yards. After that, bigger (diameter) is better.

There are other cartridges good for plains game as well. This list is just what I have seen work and work well. I was not, and am not a big fan of the 270, but it worked.

Best,
Phil

[safari007]

Just returned from Namibia. Shot a Gold Medal Kalarhi Gemsbok with 338 win mag using 210 grain Nosler Partition at 300 yds. He dropped in his tracks. Shot a Hartemann's Mountain Zebra at 280 yds. with same set-up. He ran 25 yds. Used a 270 win with 140 grain Trophy Bonded Bearclaw on 2 Gold Medal Kalahari Springboks at 300 yds. They both dropped with each shot. If you go over there, practice on a Tread Climber! Climbing all those mountains wore my little fanny out.

[Builder45]

Thanks for the advice guys. I chose the 375 H&H CZ 550. It dropped a steenbok zebra and a kudu each with one shot. Pics of them can be seen on www.reedercustomguns.com

[hutty]

As long as your are comfortable and accurate with it, you 30-378 will do the job. The key is practice, practice, practice.

I used a browning .300 wsm with 180 gr fail safes last season and took gemsbok, blue wildebeest, impala, and waterhog all with one shot. I put 6 boxes of shells through the gun within 3 months of the hunt from different distances and it gave me the confidence when it came game time.