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Tell me of your direct experience with these two time-honored cartridges while hunting plains game in Africa. Loads, species, distances, etc. Any information is appreciated.

Thanks, RS

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My Loaner rifles for the last 20 plus years have been a 30/06 and a 375HH

The 30/06 has been responsible for at least 1000 animals. I've used several different loads all of which worked with perfect results when the bullets were placed properly. The Hornady 165 interbond, the 165grain Swift A frame, and the Nosler Partition have all been excellent. Especially in the 165 grain weight.

However the bullet used for the last decade or so and the one that nothing can compare to for overall performance, and even recovery of less then perfect shots has been the 165 grain TSX. ( TTSX is equal if you feel better about the plastic tip)

Develop a load that will leave the barrel at 2900fps and you will harvest any plains game animal that exists without a problem. I've shot a giraffe with this combo. My clients use this on plenty of eland, and sable. It's our opinion, a collective opinion of a dozen or more PH's, trackers, and outfitters in this business that .308 diameter is the base line for an expected blood trail. Smaller then this diameter with only an entry hole have been the most frequent complicated tracking jobs, and the most often coincidentally involved with lost game. ( if you believe in coincidence?)

.308 diameter is not the answer to this situation, but rather the starting point of a reasonable expectation of blood tracking. .338/ 8mm and above is the answer to blood tracking success. I think you will find that most Outfitters providing a loaner rifle use the .308 diameter. Some I know offer a 7mm but that is usually on hand for those not very experienced with rifles. Often a woman or a young boy will opt for this choice.

It's not difficult to get a TSX at 165 grains to 2950 plus or minus fps. This bullet will retain all it's 165 grains when recovered. Compare this the original cup and core 180 grain bullet from a 300 win mag which has a 3050fps velocity.

That 300 mag was the most lethal and one of the more commonly used cartridges in use for plains game when introduced. The success was amazing on all species. The 30/06 with the 165TSX loaded to 2900 is a far more lethal cartridge then the 180 grain cup and core at 3050fps. The weight retention of the TSX trumps the 100fps advantage of the 300 win mag. All this with a definite or maybe I should say significant reduction in recoil. Heck I have had well in excess of a dozen ladies and at least that many young teen boys use this 30/06 with flawless success. My 100 pound 12 year old was shooting it from the bench with this load. He would have been done after the first shot with the 300 mag.

Hope this insight helps you.


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Not exactly what you requested.... but pretty close.

A few years back my youngest son and I hunted both RSA and Zimbabwe with a M70 Classic 7x57mm Mauser shooting 175gr. Nosler Partitions and Kimber Classic .308 shooting Federal High Energy 180gr. Nosler Partitions (same fps as 30-06).

Blesbok, Reedbuck, Warthog, Kudu's, Zebra, Nayala, Bushbuck, and Leopard taken. Shots from 20 - 200'ish yards. All DRT / no tracking.

I'd have no qualms using either for PG again.

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Taken a 7x57 on three safaris and a .30-06 on two.

Bullet of choice in the 7x57 was 175 Grain Nosler Partitions

Bullets of choice in the .30-06 were 165 grain Swift A-Frame or 180 Grain Barnes TSX.

Killed all the common PG with them both except Eland. No gripes on performance.


7x57

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I've seen JJHack's .30-06 in action. Even with less than optimal shot placement by some shooters, it is all you'd ever need, with the TSX load he mentioned.

Clarence

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Hello RS,
I was hunting in the Eastern Cape in 2012.
I used a 30-06 with 168gr ammo from a company called PMP.
It was regular soft point ammo made in South Africa.
I shot a Kudu at 195 yards (one shot).
Also an impala at 45 yards with one shot and a springbok at 200 yards,,,this one took two shots. My first round was not a good placement.
I think the '06 is all you need for plains game.


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Wow, just learned that I am either a young boy or a woman. Dang.



“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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Originally Posted by RinB
Wow, just learned that I am either a young boy or a woman. Dang.



How did you figure that out?

Inquiring minds....


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I may never get to Africa but I do have a 30/06 and 7x57. The 7x57 is new. Its a MRC model 1999. What are the better factory loads available? I do handload and have the dies and brass but haven't yet with the 7mm.

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Hijack alert --

Ingwe that 7 x 57 is stunning. Tell us about it!

Kudu's pretty good too!


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Set my daughter up with a Ruger #1 in 7x 57. //h4350 with TSX 160s took zebra and kudu on the big end no sweat. Classic.


"The Democrat Party looks like Titanic survivors. Partying and celebrating one moment, and huddled in lifeboats freezing the next". Hatari 2017

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Originally Posted by Talus_in_Arizona
Hijack alert --

Ingwe that 7 x 57 is stunning. Tell us about it!

Kudu's pretty good too!



Thats a 1909 argentine Mauser built by Dennis Erhardt. Square bridged, integral quarter rib, one standing, one folding...everything done right.

I was using it on the insistence of a friend that owned it... cry


Exquisite rifle, and as you see, open sights only.


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Very nice ingwe.

donsm70


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We did a family trip in 2011, wife and three son's. My youngest son, then eleven, used "his" Walther Mauser in 7x57 and the 160 he AB launched at 2650 fps. Kudu, blesbuck, wildebeest, warthog, impala and more warthog fell out to 400 yards on the kudu. He was a happy camper...


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I can see nothing wrong with either, although the 7x57 has been my choice, I used 160 partitions at 2750 fps or so.

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Have used both while on safari, the 7mm with 160 Accubonds and the '06 with 168 TSX. Both have worked without complaint. If I had to made the choice, I'd choose the 30-06.


BigBullet
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Originally Posted by ingwe
Originally Posted by RinB
Wow, just learned that I am either a young boy or a woman. Dang.



How did you figure that out?

Inquiring minds....


If you tell the Internet about accepting yourself as a young boy or a woman, you'll be a hero and a media celebrity for a week. Ala Bruce Jenner

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ingue and idahoguy
J J Hack said only women and young buys shoot plains game with an under 30 caliber cartridge. Therefore....



“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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I said this?

"Only"

It's an option they choose, not one I or anyone else decide for them. Why do I even bother when there is such a bizarre agenda to pick apart posts on this site.


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Wish most of the people on here would read this post, as then MAYBE the BS about taking their 375, implication being it's needed for plains game, would quit. I used a 280 Rem in 2009, to take 18 head of game, mostly Springbok and Gemsbok, 140gr TTSX bullets at 2900 fps. In 2011, took Impala, Kudu, Waterbuck, and warthog with the 308 and 150gr Ttsx bullets, then in 2013, I took the god grandson to RSA and he took Impala, Zebra, black wildebeest, and Nyala, using my 308 (savage 99) and 130gr Ttsx bullets a 2990 , chronographed). In 1972, I took an Eland with one shot, 06, 165gr Nosler partition. So as indicated in this post, NO need for magnums.


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