.308 Winchester for Eland and Argali Sheep

[Kenneth McMillan]

I was wondering would a .308 Winchester would be suitable for Eland (Giant and Common) and also for the Argali Sheep. I will be using Barnes TSX Bullets on both animals.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

It can be done for Common Eland. My son took a common eland with his .308 Win shooting 165gr North Forks. There is a difference between what CAN be done and what SHOULD be done however. I definitely don't recommend doing this. But if I did, I'd be shooting as heavy a bonded or mono metal bullet as I can. I would not go below 165gr in the Barnes, but it may be a bit long to stabilize in your .308.

In regards to the Giant Eland and the type of terrain they inhabit, I absolutely would NOT do this if I could avoid it. Shots will be closer to be sure, but that's an awfully big animal.

 

[Royal27]

I'm with Phil.

If I was out and about and this great bull presented itself broadside at a reasonable range I would shoot an Eland with a .308 without hesitation.

If however; I was planning an Eland hunt in advance I would personally be taking my .375 H&H. Any similar caliber will obviously do. I love barnes bullets and would definitely use them.

 

[K-man]

What kind of range will you have to shoot at your argali? If you are thinking over 300 yds/meters the .308 may not have enough ft lbs left to ensure a clean kill. It may be pretty difficult to get closer in the kind of terrain you will be in. I would go with a minimum of .300 win mag and practice out to at least 400 yds. Just my opinion.

 

[gillettehunter]

Having hunted Argali I will offer an opinion. My closest shot was 500 yards. How confident are YOU in your .308 at that range? I would suggest checking with Barnes and asking "what is the minimum velocity that whichever bullet you want to use will RELIABLY expand". Then use a simple ballistics calculator to see what distance you are limited to. Combine that with how far you are comfortable shooting. That will give you an answer. For Argali its best to be proficient to 500 yards, if possible. Your caliber will do it with many bullets. The real questions are, is the rifle accurate enough and have you practiced enough to be proficient at those ranges. Bruce

 

[Velo Dog]

It might be possible for a skilled mechanic to swap out an automobile transmission, armed with nothing more than a pair of vise grips.
But I fail to understand the point in doing such a thing.

Likewise, the .308 will very probably let the air out of a 2,000 pound animal if hit in just the right spot, with a tough bullet that holds together through all that muscle and bone, to reach and adequately damage a vital organ.

Just cowboy-up and get a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 or in .375 H&H or, a CRF Model 70 Winchester in .375 H&H.
Put a sturdy 4x scope or low power variable (1 to 4x or similar) in Alaska Arms low rings and practice mightily, from the sticks.

If my grumpy old man thoughts do not make any sense, at least promise yourself that you will consult your chosen PH on the subject of shooting an eland, especially the Lord Derby eland, with a .308, before you make up your mind.

Cheers.

 

[enysse]

I guess since they make sniper rifles in .308 caliber, it's appropriate for sheep. A 180 grain bullet will be just fine for eland hunting.

 

[lcq]

I was wondering would a .308 Winchester would be suitable for Eland (Giant and Common) and also for the Argali Sheep. I will be using Barnes TSX Bullets on both animals.

I'm with the others who suggest getting something bigger having experimented with my favorite gun. Savage 10fp in 308 20" barrel. The thing drives tacks, shoots cold, hot, clean or dirty and will digest anything it is fed with great accuracy. You can add 100fps to my numbers for a 24" barrel

Barnes 150 ttsx 2800fps 47gr Varget
Nosler 180 accubond 2570fps 44.5gr varget
speer 200gr hotcor 2344fps 41gr varget

As you can see the 308 runs out of beans very quickly with heavier bullets and while the Barnes can be driven hard and penetrate well their ballistic coefficient is pathetic and Barnes need velocity to open up.
By the numbers the 308 with a 180 has 2317lbf at 100 yds. vs 2334lbf at 300 for a 300wm.

If it is all you have then get close, very close and run her hard

 

[Kenneth McMillan]

What about the 300 h&h magnum

 

[Kenneth McMillan]

What about the 6.5 Short Action Ultra Magnum for an Argali hunt

 

[CAustin]

I agree with the others in that for eland something a little larger would be better. Took mine with a 300 WinMag at 240 yards. Heart shot followed up with a liver shot. He was dead on his feet after the first shot and the second was insurance. A 308 can do it but heavier would be better.

 

[Scoobyshoot]

I was wondering would a .308 Winchester would be suitable for Eland (Giant and Common) and also for the Argali Sheep. I will be using Barnes TSX Bullets on both animals.

Bullet Hornady 178gr ELD-X 46gr BigGame Brass Hornady S&Bprimer COL 72,50mm CZ557varmint 750M/s 3244Muzle 2800/110Yard. With meopta 6-24/56.
And waithing,and waithing. Shot=Aim i'm not LuckyLuke.

 

[crs]

On my first safari in RSA, my PH told me that he had killed everything but DG with his .308 using 180 grain Nosler bullets. He grew up on a large family farm and was shooting game at an early age. My buddy on that trip used his single shot 30-06 with 180 grain Noslers and killed a bunch of stuff including waterbuck , zebra, eland, ,, for a total of 10 animals; we kept the skinning shed busy!
Most of them were one shot kills.

My only recommendation is to tell your outfitter and or PH what rifle you usually hunt with and ask their opinion. Also be sure you are comfortable and practiced with your rifle.
Have fun and good hunting.

 

[Nosler guy]

If you have enough $ to go hunting Argali or Giant Eland - you should be able to buy a rifle of suitable calibre to handle the situation, for me that sure wouldn't be a .308

 

[fourfive8]

I tend to agree with most others here. Two very different critters, hunted under very different circumstances. I'd view the Argali like a big bighorn (maybe 350 pounds) living in big open mountains. The eland is iconic Africa. The eland is not fragile. A well fed, top condition mature bull is one impressive animal!! Seems like this really calls for two different guns/calibers or at least two different approaches. I also agree that if you can afford these type hunts you can afford the best rifle, best caliber and best ammo for the job. If you absolutely insist on one rifle (and there is something to be said for that)… maybe something like one of the 300 mags and two different scopes??

 

[Ray B]

Contrary to the EPA and other green groups, I prefer my bullets to contain lead.

 

[IvW]

308 Win is not enough gun for Eland, period.

If you include Giant Eland, best would be 375 H&H, but you would be restricting yourself for the Argali.

The two animals you mention are like chalk and cheese. I would suggest you use two different calibers to hunt them. Whatever is suitable for the one would be marginal for the other. The 308 Win in my opinion is not suitable for either.

Surely you could manage that if you could afford to hunt Giant Eland and Argali, so why would you want to attempt this with a marginal caliber? It would most probably be illegal to hunt Giant eland with a 308 Win in any case, if not it would be unethical to say the least.

 

[Scoobyshoot]

If you have enough $ to go hunting Argali or Giant Eland - you should be able to buy a rifle of suitable calibre to handle the situation, for me that sure wouldn't be a .308

oh yes i agree, no problem. I allready had a 7mmMag and a 7X64. Only the 7mag was satisfactory. I can pick up an 9X90 around, for 250€ because there is no use for it here. And i am allready afraid off the kick back from my 308, at high magnification its to close to my eye. But the fun here is to see the bore-hunters, they shoot with everything that says bang. Most impressed i was when a guy shot a fox with a 22-250 without allmost nothing left over an 250M. But most i like the forum here, to realize i have misted a lot in my life.

 

[Saul]

I think you meant to say .300 Weatherby for Eland and 6.5 Creedmoor for sheep.

 

[Scoobyshoot]

308 Win is not enough gun for Eland, period.

If you include Giant Eland, best would be 375 H&H, but you would be restricting yourself for the Argali.

The two animals you mention are like chalk and cheese. I would suggest you use two different calibers to hunt them. Whatever is suitable for the one would be marginal for the other. The 308 Win in my opinion is not suitable for either.

Surely you could manage that if you could afford to hunt Giant Eland and Argali, so why would you want to attempt this with a marginal caliber? It would most probably be illegal to hunt Giant eland with a 308 Win in any case, if not it would be unethical to say the least.

The only chance i can have here to proove it is or not is when one escapes from the zoo. But i keep up it on running in that case. But you are right,