Famous Users Of The .30-06 Springfield Against African Dangerous Game

[Hunter-Habib]

A friend writes hunting articles and thus asked me to post this thread on his behalf, so that he can collect data:

How many famous African hunters can you all think of who used a .30-06 Springfield to take members of the African Big 5 ?

Obviously, this would have to be in the years before African countries began to set the .375 bore as the minimum caliber for dangerous game hunting.

Obviously, we have people who used the .256 Mannlicher (C.H Stigand), 7x57mm Mauser (W.D.M Bell) & .318 Westley Richards (Dennis D. Lyell). But off the top of my mind, I can’t think of anybody who used a .30-06 Springfield during the old days.

The only one I can think of would be President Theodore Roosevelt who used this caliber on a couple of African lions.

Much appreciated,
Habib

 

[Hammergun]

Hemingway. He killed at least one rhino and a buff with his G&H ought six.

 

[dchum]

Hemingway. He killed at least one rhino and a buff with his G&H ought six.

This, I kept thinking it was Teddy with his Springfield but couldn’t find the story I thought I had read.

It was Hemingway. With a 220 grain solid at some distance.

Thanks @Hammergun

 

[baxterb]

I think either Harriet Maytag or Jack OConner’s wife shot an elephant with an 06 - perhaps both.

 

[PerH]

O’Connors wife used 06 In India also , it was her heavy rifle with 220 solids

 

[Hunt anything]

I think either Harriet Maytag or Jack OConner’s wife shot an elephant with an 06 - perhaps both.

You learn something everyday, I always thought Harriet Maytag was a fictional person that Harry Selby used to get under Robert Ruarks skin.

 

[Ruraldoc]

Gun writer, John Barness tells the story about one of his PHs who culled a couple of hundred cape buffalo with his 30-06 in his earlier days. The PH said his favorite load was the Nosler Partition 180 grain.

I will look for the name of that PH.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

General Mitchell (father of the USAF) used a 30-06 on Tiger in India.

 

[Ruraldoc]

Kevin Thomas is the name I was looking for. According to John Barsness, he killed more than 500 Cape Buffalo,all sizes in a culling operation with a 30-06. Mostly with 180 grain Partition handloads.

Sam Fadala took a Cape Buffalo bull using a 30-06 with a Barnes 220 grain solid in a handload as well.

 

[IvW]

We use to cull hippo with 30-06 using 220gr bullets....

 

[baxterb]

You learn something everyday, I always thought Harriet Maytag was a fictional person that Harry Selby used to get under Robert Ruarks skin.

Nope. She killed a whopper bull of over 120 lb up in the NFD, probably not far from Ruark’s last bull, but now that I think about it she had a double over her shoulder.

So maybe Mrs O’Conner was the one I was thinking of.

 

[Ruraldoc]

Koos DeMeyer of Kuche Safaris told me he had killed several lions with his 30-06.

 

[Tex .416]

Kevin Thomas in his autobiography mentions culling buffalo with a .308 and 147 FMJ’s. Ironically, later he discusses considering the .375 H&H as his favorite rifle, but marginal for buffalo best limited for use in more open areas.

Very interesting book.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I think either Harriet Maytag or Jack OConner’s wife shot an elephant with an 06 - perhaps both.

I heard it was O'Connor's wife, but who knows. If bullshit was music, Jack O'Connor would have been a symphony.

 

[pilar]

John "Pondoro" Taylor Liked a .318wr ?
but he preferred medium to large bore in some of his published Material​

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Thanks, everybody.
@Wyatt Smith do you know what rifle and load the good General used ?
@IvW do you remember the brand of bullet ? 220Gr Rhino solid shanks ?

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Thanks, everybody.
@Wyatt Smith do you know what rifle and load the good General used ?
@IvW do you remember the brand of bullet ? 220Gr Rhino solid shanks ?

I just re read the article, he said they were “special hollow points” no further details were given. The hunt took place in 1924 so I’m sure the bullet technology was primitive.
He found the 30-06 was lacking and shot his subsequent tigers with a .450 double rifle. His wife used a .405 Winchester and was satisfied.

 

[Brod]

Last week I read "The Rediscovered Country" by Stewart Edward White on his 1913 safari in German East Africa. He used his Springfield on some lion and leopard. Although preferring his .405 WIN, it seems he used whatever rifle he had in his hands. Bullets used were described as spitzer pointed bullet of Winchester 165 gr. and U.M.C. 172 gr. weight.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I just re read the article, he said they were “special hollow points” no further details were given. The hunt took place in 1924 so I’m sure the bullet technology was primitive.
He found the 30-06 was lacking and shot his subsequent tigers with a .450 double rifle. His wife used a .405 Winchester and was satisfied.

Thank you, Wyatt. Do you have a link to the article ? Sounds interesting.

 

[Ruraldoc]

Not African game, but Phil Shoemaker said that he had used the 30-06 with 200 and 220 grain partitions for years on many Kodiac bears in Alaska.

These bears weigh as much as a Cape Buffalo and can be as dangerous as any animal anywhere.