30-06 Rifle for Plains Game - How Big?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

100% this.

180 gr fired from 30-06 has ~same MV as 270 gr fired from a 375 H&H. With comparable BCs of bullets, ballistic arcs will be close enough that you won't be able to tell the difference.

Same sort of situation exists with 9.3x62 firing 286 gr and 308 Win firing 180 gr.

If I were hunting Free State, and I may be for black wildebeest and springbok in 2027, I'd be bringing my 280 AI. If you're going to bring 2 rifles, bring a fast 7mm or a 300 WM. Otherwise, just stick with the 375.

@sgt_zim
My son can comfortably shoot 600ml drink bottles at 400 yards with his 308 and 150gn projectiles.
Just because he can do it would I encourage him to shoot game at that distance. NO.
Would I allow him to shoot game the size of wildebeest and zebra at that distance with his 308. NO
The 308 is similar to the 06 and personally I think game of that size and at this distances a 300 win mag is more appropriate.
Will the 06 kill at those distances YES but there's BETTER around that are still comfortable to shoot.
Just my thoughts
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The .30-06 Springfield is my absolute favorite caliber for African plains game (with the 7x57mm Mauser being a close second). I have successfully taken all the African plains game upto the size of bull eland with a .30-06 Springfield. My ammunition choice has almost always exclusively been the 220Gr Remington Core Lokt, ever since my first African safari to Kenya in 1974. Yes, it’s not the most modern choice of ammunition but it continues to serve me very well for 50 years & counting.

Most of my shots were one-bullet kills. Whenever a second or third or even fourth bullet was required, only I (and neither the rifle nor the caliber nor the ammunition) was to blame. I seldom took a shot above 150 yards (closing in is part of the thrill for me). But for those who prefer to take shots at longer ranges, they will do well to select a 180Gr bullet due to the flatter trajectory.

A 180Gr Barnes TSX is as good a general purpose African plains game bullet as they come. A small word of caution is requisite, however. Initial shot placement on the big eland bulls with any caliber below .338 Winchester Magnum must be extremely critical.
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@Hunter-Habib
As the saying goes in Australia
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
The old 30-06 falls into that category. It just keeps in working.
Bob

 

[ofbiro]

Humble comment by an African beginner.
I am far from being an expert on Africa, as my experience is limited to two PG cull hunts, the first in SA with .30-06, the second in Namibia with 7mm Rem.Mag.
I took in SA my CZ 550 Mannlicher style, with a Zeiss 2-8 x 42 Duralyt (without parallax correction). The short and handy Czech is very accurate at 100 m (3 shots in 28 mm) but beyond 150 m due to parallax the accuracy decreases. However, the Sierra 165 grs HPBT performed very well on Hartebeest, Nyala, Warthog and Impala.

 

[vlwtx348]

@Hunter-Habib
As the saying goes in Australia
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
The old 30-06 falls into that category. It just keeps in working.
Bob

Or neck it up to .358!

 

[Jack Stevens]

Hemingway preferred the 220grn .30-06 loads in his day.

 

[Inline6]

Hemingway preferred the 220grn .30-06 loads in his day.

Technology has advanced a great deal.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Technology has advanced a great deal.

Yes, both as to bullet technology and propellant tech, like the hybrid powders that ammo-makers use now. These powders yield higher velocities with lower pressures. So today 200grn or 220grn ‘06 hunting ammo is doubly better than it was in Hemingway’s time.

 

[Rare Breed]

Technology has advanced a great deal.

While you are absolutely correct I still will be taking my leopard with the Remington Corelokt in 220 grains. Shoots 1/2 MOA from my 30-06

 

[ftrovato]

I’d have no problem using a 30/06 on kudu, zebra, and less with proper bullets like you described. It’s suitable for eland but I’d be much more selective on the shots I’d take with it. I’d likely opt for 375 in that case if you had it. I’d learn to shoot it well to 300 yards. Eland can vary a lot in body size depending free range or small farm, age, and region. I’ve them with 308, 300 win, 375 and killed them all quickly but I have felt undergunned at times. Eland bulls can get big. I’ve taken 2 in this size category. This one was taken at 250 yards with 375 H&H 300 gr bullets.
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That Bull is gigantic! Did the PH give you an estimate on live weight?

 

[375Fox]

That Bull is gigantic! Did the PH give you an estimate on live weight?

It would still just be a guess. Eland Bulls in that size category are larger than Cape buffalo though. It makes for a long slow drive back to camp with one in the back of Land Cruiser.

 

[capra-capra]

Never been to Africa so my comment may not mean much to you. If you decide on the 06, you need to be comfortable with what you have , place the shot were it needs to go. If you answer that you can not ,you go to a 300 win mag or larger to give you some margin of error.

End of the day if you are not comfortable or you doubt yourself i would not take it as you will mess something up.

If i ever go, at this stage africa does not tickle my fancy but if i go will bring my 270 win as i am comfortable and confident with that. Have shot a magnum and i do not like it due to recoil and not to keen to develop a flinch..... Yess i am one of those softies but would rather place the bullet where it needs to go with something i am confident in then do a texas heart shot with a heavier magnum.

Only you can decide what you want to use. If you doubt your shooting skills and not confident with an 06 do not take it.

 

[375Fox]

Never been to Africa so my comment may not mean much to you. If you decide on the 06, you need to be comfortable with what you have , place the shot were it needs to go. If you answer that you can not ,you go to a 300 win mag or larger to give you some margin of error.

End of the day if you are not comfortable or you doubt yourself i would not take it as you will mess something up.

If i ever go, at this stage africa does not tickle my fancy but if i go will bring my 270 win as i am comfortable and confident with that. Have shot a magnum and i do not like it due to recoil and not to keen to develop a flinch..... Yess i am one of those softies but would rather place the bullet where it needs to go with something i am confident in then do a texas heart shot with a heavier magnum.

Only you can decide what you want to use. If you doubt your shooting skills and not confident with an 06 do not take it.

You might consider actually reading the other posts on the thread. No one suggests using a magnum cartridge to allow you to take Texas Heart shots or have I ever seen anyone on this forum ever suggest that as an ethical shot with any cartridge. A more powerful cartridge does not make up for poor shot placement. It will however potentially kill faster on a good shot and leave a bigger and deeper wound channel depending on the bullet choice. Conventional wisdom is if you cannot shoot a larger cartridge accurately you step down to a smaller cartridge for better shot placement not step up to a cartridge you’ll shoot worse.

 

[capra-capra]

You might consider actually reading the other posts on the thread. No one suggests using a magnum cartridge to allow you to take Texas Heart shots or have I ever seen anyone on this forum ever suggest that as an ethical shot with any cartridge. A more powerful cartridge does not make up for poor shot placement. It will however potentially kill faster on a good shot and leave a bigger and deeper wound channel depending on the bullet choice. Conventional wisdom is if you cannot shoot a larger cartridge accurately you step down to a smaller cartridge for better shot placement not step up to a cartridge you’ll shoot worse.

I believe you did not read mine to begin with but it does not matter. I believe i said in my comment if you are not confident with your 06 do take a 300 win mag. I never said to take a 300 win mag to do a texas heart shot, unsure where you seen that in my comment. It was put in there as a pun intended, never did it say it is an ethical shot...

I also never said a powerful cartridge will make for bad shot placement,but if you develop a flinch it sure will. And i have seen it happen with peole who have bigger catridges but can not shoot them properly. Please do not add words to my text i never wrote

 

[375Fox]

I believe you did not read mine to begin with but it does not matter. I believe i said in my comment if you are not confident with your 06 do take a 300 win mag. I never said to take a 300 win mag to do a texas heart shot, unsure where you seen that in my comment. It was put in there as a pun intended, never did it say it is an ethical shot...

I also never said a powerful cartridge will make for bad shot placement,but if you develop a flinch it sure will. And i have seen it happen with peole who have bigger catridges but can not shoot them properly. Please do not add words to my text i never wrote

The words you wrote are clear to read in both posts. I disagree with your opinion.

 

[capra-capra]

The words you wrote are clear to read in both posts. I disagree with your opinion.

you are right i am wrong, let's leave it at that.

 

[Bandera]

Mil dot scopes are not the answer for hunting. The mil dots junk up the crosshairs. The extra large knobs on tactical scopes look… well they look tactical.
Of course a new rifle is always nice. One of buddy’s who has been to Africa 26 plus times told me he carry’s a different rifle every time.

I like the Leupold Firedot series. Easy to adjust dials. The dot is easy to use. I still have 20/20 vision at 58 but I like the dot as a added feature in low light. I also have Steiner scopes that are very nice.

Take the 30-06 use the Barnes or Nosler bullet that shoots the best in you rifle.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Mil dot scopes are not the answer for hunting. The mil dots junk up the crosshairs. The extra large knobs on tactical scopes look… well they look tactical.
Of course a new rifle is always nice. One of buddy’s who has been to Africa 26 plus times told me he carry’s a different rifle every time.

I like the Leupold Firedot series. Easy to adjust dials. The dot is easy to use. I still have 20/20 vision at 58 but I like the dot as a added feature in low light. I also have Steiner scopes that are very nice.

Take the 30-06 use the Barnes or Nosler bullet that shoots the best in you rifle.

Lot of sense spoken here

 

[Ridgewalker]

Took a 300 WM my first trip, then bought a 375 H&H for the next 3 trips. The 375 H&H worked perfect for mixed game IMO&E. From 30 yards to over 400 yards it completed the task.
You will need to carry both every day which is something I am not interested in doing. You never know in Africa what opportunity will show up.
My reports will show my experiences with the 375 H&H as well as different Barnes bullets if you care to read them.
Best of luck with whatever you decide to take!

 

[ftrovato]

It would still just be a guess. Eland Bulls in that size category are larger than Cape buffalo though. It makes for a long slow drive back to camp with one in the back of Land Cruiser.

I thought the one I took in Sept. in Mozambique was big....

 

[Inline6]

While you are absolutely correct I still will be taking my leopard with the Remington Corelokt in 220 grains. Shoots 1/2 MOA from my 30-06

Nothing wrong with that, I'm a believer that speed kills, especially when it comes to cats. What I believe really doesn't matter, if someone is not 100% confident in their setup, they are doing themselves a big disservice.

Good luck on your hunt! Looking forward to reading your report.