The Great Eland Debate

sheephunter

sheephunter

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
While at SCI last week, we took the oportunity to conduct an informal poll of a large number of PHs about calibre choice for eland and all felt that the .30-06 shooting quality bullets was more than adequate for eland. All also had some great stories of hunters with egos bigger than the calibre they carried and how it usually resulted in some sort of disaster. Our PH even told a story of seeing and shooting several eland with a .270 over the years. He felt that both zebra and gemsbuck were far tougher to bring down than an eland.

There were several life-size eland mounts there and while a sizeable critter, their weight seems much more evenly distributed between their front and rear ends than a moose or bison. The life size bison and moose there appeared to be much larger in the front end than the eland and of heavier bone construction. While I've seen several eland live and mounted before, this was the first time I ever really studied them in detail and they are definitely not as heavily constructed in the shoulders and front end as an Alaskan moose or american bison and they are far shorter than a moose at the withers.

I'm definitely no expert but we sure talked to lots that just chuckled when asked about the the .30-06. Most asked Vanesssa if she could shoot it and when answered yes...then they said it was more than enough for eland. Not one PH questioned whether it was enough gun.....interesting
 
sheephunter said:
While at SCI last week, we took the oportunity to conduct an informal poll of a large number of PHs about calibre choice for eland and all felt that the .30-06 shooting quality bullets was more than adequate for eland. All also had some great stories of hunters with egos bigger than the calibre they carried and how it usually resulted in some sort of disaster. Our PH even told a story of seeing and shooting several eland with a .270 over the years. He felt that both zebra and gemsbuck were far tougher to bring down than an eland.

There were several life-size eland mounts there and while a sizeable critter, their weight seems much more evenly distributed between their front and rear ends than a moose or bison. The life size bison and moose there appeared to be much larger in the front end than the eland and of heavier bone construction. While I've seen several eland live and mounted before, this was the first time I ever really studied them in detail and they are definitely not as heavily constructed in the shoulders and front end as an Alaskan moose or american bison and they are far shorter than a moose at the withers.

I'm definitely no expert but we sure talked to lots that just chuckled when asked about the the .30-06. Most asked Vanesssa if she could shoot it and when answered yes...then they said it was more than enough for eland. Not one PH questioned whether it was enough gun.....interesting
Click to expand...

This confirms what I have been told for many years, the .30/06 220 gr load is big medicine in Africa, its just not a buffalo gun.
 
eland

My only Eland came with a .30-06 and PMP factories with a standard 220gr bullet. I have seen one go down within meters with a 165gr Failsafe from a .30-06 and just this last october my friend guided a client on a ranch he manages onto a very large bodied bull, first shot with a 180gr PMP Pro-amm from .30-06 did the job from over 200m but they decided on a second shot too.

I studied with a guy who had opportunity to take an Eland bull anually in the Drakensberg and he used a .30-06 with 220gr PMP bullets at only 2350fps. He limited himslef to broadside shots and never had an issue at all - but he was careful.

Many eland are taken by locals with 7mm/30-06 class cartridges BUT I don't think they are ideal, adequate for a patient hunter and careful placement but ideally I think a good eland bullet starts at about .338 and about 250gr class. If I was to hunt another (I hope!) I would prefer a 9.3/.375 to a .30-06 but if the .30-06 was all I had I would definately use it, prefering heavy bullets or very stong bullets like a TSX, an eland requires a good deal of penetration!

I also agree with Boomer - .30-06 with 220gr bullets a real African classic load, not glamorous but very effective! (like 175/7mm, .311/215gr, .330/250gr, 9,3/286gr, .375/300gr at around 2400fpsetc etc)
 
Last edited:
I would give different consideration to what my rifle was chambered for if hunting common Eland in South Africa vs. Lord Derby Eland in the Cameroon.
 
Do we have to discuss this further? Afterall the last thread was so much fun.

I'm sure you were able to find a bunch of guys to back up your opinion, but I think it's pretty stupid to raise the issue again. You go ahead to Africa, shoot one then bring back the pics. Until then why don't we just let this go.
 
martinbns said:
Do we have to discuss this further? Afterall the last thread was so much fun.

I'm sure you were able to find a bunch of guys to back up your opinion, but I think it's pretty stupid to raise the issue again. You go ahead to Africa, shoot one then bring back the pics. Until then why don't we just let this go.
Click to expand...

I didn't go looking for anyone to back up my opinion.....I asked the opinion of some experts with no preface. One comment I did find interesting, however, was that two PHs said that a frontal shot at an eland was a low percentage shot regardless of calibre as it was far too easy to only take one lung out and then yes, the eland could be lost. Most agreed that eland were quite easy to kill relative to their size. Zebra came up often as being very tough to put down as did wildebeest and our PH had great respect for the gemsbuck. Sorry for trying to bring a little expertise that was shared with me to a messageboard..........:rolleyes:
 
lies. all lies. the .30-06 is over 100yrs old. OLD! or as the hunting marketing machines says: OBSOLETE!

yes. old. antiquated. obsolete. it won't work anymore.

your eland, moose, bear, 2mth old fawn next to a timed feeder in barrie needs a .300 RUM.

you have been told. all hail Hunting Magazines!
 
sheephunter said:
. One comment I did find interesting, however, was that two PHs said that a frontal shot at an eland was a low percentage shot regardless of calibre as it was far too easy to only take one lung out and then yes, the eland could be lost.
Click to expand...

my outfitter, an ancient german, says the same thing with moose/bear. never really understood it. everything I've shot, or let my clients shoot through the brisket has gone down within 40m.
 
sheephunter said:
One comment I did find interesting, however, was that two PHs said that a frontal shot at an eland was a low percentage shot regardless of calibre as it was far too easy to only take one lung out and then yes, the eland could be lost.
Click to expand...

If a stationary big game animal presents itself head on with its head high, a shot with a center hold under the chin is pretty much a sure thing. There is little resistance before the bullet hits the spine, and close to the head the spine is very wide. This shot would only be low percentage if the range was excessive, if the hunter had chosen an inappropriately fragile bullet, or if the hunter was unable to keep his shots within 2" of his point of aim due to either the range or his marksmanship ability.
 
Boomer said:
If a stationary big game animal presents itself head on with its head high, a shot with a center hold under the chin is pretty much a sure thing. There is little resistance before the bullet hits the spine, and close to the head the spine is very wide. This shot would only be low percentage if the range was excessive, if the hunter had chosen an inappropriately fragile bullet, or if the hunter was unable to keep his shots within 2" of his point of aim due to either the range or his marksmanship ability.
Click to expand...

I think the PHs were talking about the more common shot to the centre of the chest.
 
I don't know much about Eland shooting, but an Elk or moose shot centre chest has usually been a successful shot the times have taken it and seen it done. The times it has not worked successfully has been when the shot has strayed left or right into muscle, ...
That said,... it is a shot with little room for error and is easily fowled by improper bullet selection.

I have only seen one bang flop from a chest shot head on (not a front on neck shot that takes the trach and spine) and it was with a 45/70 on an elk at 70 yrds.

No doubt a 30/06 is plenty rifle. Choose your bullets right, know your range,...not too much is gonna get away from the properly placed shot.
 
I've found ona front on shot, under the chin to the V where the neck meets the chest is a good shot. I'ts hard not to hit the spine. Lower down in the chest works well if you have a good bullet, but also has some risks of the bullet missing vitals or not gettign enough of them, due to deflection or lack of penetration or whatever else causes bullets to not kill well.:p

If in doubt, wait for broadside. ;)
 
BigUglyMan said:
As a total aside, what did you think of the show? I haven't spent that much time on my feet in quite a while.
Click to expand...

I thought the show was awesome as usual. Attendance was definitely down and many outfitters that we spoke with said booking were down but I guess it's just a sign of the times. I love that show as nowhere else are that many manufacturers and outfitters gathered together in one venue. It truly is a hunter's paradise!
 
When I took my Eland I used a 375 H&H and it worked very well of course. I really only used it because I owned the rifle and it seemed like a good hunt to use a rifle that I really like and shoot well, I have no doubt at all that a 30-06 will do the trick. It was said earlier and I would agree that there's a difference between taking a Cape Eland in a mixed bag plains game hunt or going to C.A.R. or Cameroon for Lord Derby Eland, I think for the Lord Derby most would want to take a 338 Win or 375 H&H. It doesn't surprise me that many PHs recommend the 30-06, I think they've all seen too many people show up with larger guns that they can't shoot, it's unbelievable that people go all the way to Africa with guns they aren't familiar with or don't shoot well. If you read African Sporting Gazette there is a section where the editor does a Q&A with a PH each issue, when asked what guns he would recommend the PH almost always says 375 H&H for dangerous game and 30-06 or 300 Win for any and all plains game. He usually also says something about bringing a gun that you shoot well rather than a large gun.
 
sheephunter said:
I thought the show was awesome as usual. Attendance was definitely down and many outfitters that we spoke with said booking were down but I guess it's just a sign of the times. I love that show as nowhere else are that many manufacturers and outfitters gathered together in one venue. It truly is a hunter's paradise!
Click to expand...

I was damned near run over by the oldies driving scooters. I can't imagine how they get around there in a busy year! The guys I talked to said that attendance was down as were bookings. That being said, I plunked down my hard earned for 2010.

I hope I can go back next year. It was something to behold.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I was damned near run over by the oldies driving scooters. I can't imagine how they get around there in a busy year! The guys I talked to said that attendance was down as were bookings. That being said, I plunked down my hard earned for 2010.

I hope I can go back next year. It was something to behold.
Click to expand...

Ya, we spent some dough there as well. It looks like Argentina is in the works for 2010. It was a good year to be dealing on hunts though. Some good deals to be had. Austraila is looking awfully tempting as well as New Zeland for 2011. Nothing like saving lots of money spending money you don't got! :D

What did you book for hunts?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom