Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa What would you use to hunt Cape Eland?

I used a .338wm with 225gr triple shocks in Namibia this year. Through the neck at something under 100yds = bang flop. I think it can be done though with anything 30cal. and up with quality bullets properly placed.

See my recent thread...I'm bringing my 416 Remington, using 300 grain barnes tsx. However, my actual chronographed loads will be only a bit more powerfull than a 375 h&h, at 2700 fps. I've practiced my a** of with this gun, and shoot it just as well as my 7x57.

From 30-06 on up, take what you shoot really well! Me? If I got to go back to Africa for a third safari, I'd take my Ruger No.1 375 H&H mag, that I used on the last trip....


maddog

I'd use a bow, 65# or higher..
But if I were gun hunting, a 300 win or 338 win should work well. Of course, well constructed bullets are a must.
I saw a few of them on a archery hunt. They are big critters.

Whilst it can be done with a .30 cal & a good, deep penetrating bullet, bigger is better.

Never forget that an eland very often weighs more than a cape buffalo.

In my single experience a 200 grain swift AFrame from a .325 WSM worked very well. Looking through the cross hairs at the sheer size of the animal I did ponder for an instant if I had enough gun.

Your .300Rum will be plenty Barnes TTSX and you are good to go
Took my Eland with a .338-06 and 185gr TTSX no problems
Nothing wrong with the .375 but,
I'd not want to tote and extra rifle to Africa if my primary rifle was up to the task at hand

George makes perfect logical sense. However, who needs logic? Where does your .375 belong if not Africa? Rusting is your gun safe?

or rusting in Alaska

Why not take both? There is no particular advantage to only taking one rifle to SA, eland are big and you already have a .375.

My eland were shot with a .375 and 300 grain TSXs. I don't remember wishing I had a smaller gun. On the other hand I cracked a big water buffalo and Australian scrub bull with a .300 Ultramag and 180 Accubonds in August. They worked; but the whole time I was stalking into position I was ever conscious that there were some shots that I simply couldn't take that wouldn't have been a problem with a .375 (or bigger) and proper bullets. I ended up just braining the buffalo which wouldn't be my first choice of a plan.

Well the overall concensus is to bring the 375 H&H with me when I return to the "Dark Contenent". I don't know why I didn't bring it this year, but I won't make the same mistake twice. You guys are right, why would I have one and not bring it along. I am gonna use either the 250 gr. Barnes TTSX or 300 gr. Barnes TSX. The 250's are a bit more accurate though. Here she is, Remington 700 KS Mountian Rifle with Leupold VXIII 3.5-10. Thanks again for all the help guys. Kevin

Your 300 RUM should be fine with controlled expansion bullets. Especially if you shoot it well...good hunting.

I used the piddly-azzed 9.3x62 throwing 250 gr X's in 2002 and had nary a problem. Given what I saw and learned discussing such matters around the fire, a 308 Win with the right bullet would be plenty.

Nice looking Eland EDM! Good Job!! Kevin

I have no experience hunting in Africa, hopefully that will change in the near future. Eland will be on the menu and I will be using my Ruger African in 9.3x62, my second rifle will be a 30-06.

I've never hunted in Africa, but I've seen eland in an animal park and they are huge. I think the terrain should have an influence on your decision; if longer shots are likely, the .300 RUM would be my choice. In thicker terrain, I would be inclined to use the .375. While it is kind of boring to contemplate, taking one gun seems so much simpler and as experienced hands have said, both would work fine. Shot placement and bullet construction are the two most important considerations no matter what you hunt.

If I were rifle hunting for Eland, my 375 would be my weapon of choice, and a Barnes 270 gr. TSX would be the bullet of choice.
That said- this massive Livingstone Eland fell to my Mathews Reezen 65# bow, and a Muzzy MX3 broadhead. Shot was a near passthrough, with the broadhead protruding from the far side of the critter. Yeah, I know, some here on the 'Fire think hunting Eland with a bow is a stunt- but my experience, granted a sample of one, is that it works just fine.

A stunt? not hardly. Now lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant rino we're in agreement! Beautiful trophy nevertheless and taken the hard way. Congrats.

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a Cape Eland with my .300 Weatherby, however I shot this one with my .375 RUM and a 270 gr TSX. It was also the only rifle that I took over there on that hunt.

Congratulations on all those beauties guys! I'm really Jonesin' for one of them babies!! I'm countin down the days. Kevin