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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13
New Member
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OP
New Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13 |
Is the 308 Win used very much for plains game and what bullets and weights used?
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,503
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,503 |
It's just fine. I have used the 308 to kill a number of elk and my sister uses hers to kill moose and caribou, as well as a grizzly in Alaska.
I'd opt for 180 grain Partitions or maybe 165s,
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 25
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 25 |
It’s works perfectly. Bullet weights depend on the length of shot planned (typically longer in the N Cape, E Cape mountains and plains than in Limpopo bushveld). As an all purpose load I’d probably go with either 165gr bonded (Accubond, Scirocco, Interbond, A-Frame etc) or 150gr copper (CX, TTSX, TSX, E-Tip etc) - whichever shoots best in your rifle.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,695 Likes: 4
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,695 Likes: 4 |
Worked for me on Kudu with a lowly 150g Hornady Interlock.
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Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 759
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 759 |
Bullet selection and reasonable shot distance are the key. Keep your shots under 300 hundred yards. Use a good quality bonded bullet or Partitions/A-frames of 165 grains and you will do just fine. Bonded bullet or Partition/A-frame .... because the African game typically needs a shot through the shoulders to get to the vitals.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,325
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,325 |
From what I have learned from a lot of reading on African hunting forums, it seems that the .308 is quite likely the most common cartridge used by resident hunters for plains game hunting in much of Africa. Certainly South African "biltong" hunters and landowners have used the .308 for many decades with good success. Bullet weights for the .308 trend towards the 165-180 grain for most African hunting, simply because a variety of game is often available and bullet choice sensibly tends to be dictated by effectiveness on the larger species present. So yes, the .308 is capable, common, and widely used.
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,373
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,373 |
Super common round used by locals. The game ranger we had with us used a rifle chambered in .308.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,620
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 42,620 |
Absolutely FINE for really all African PG and I include eland. I prefer the 300s, but a 308 has probably taken more game in Africa with the possible exception of the 303 British than anything else. Great, well balanced round with mild recoil.. Nice for the ladies...
A good principle to guide me through life: “This is all I have come to expect, standard lackluster performance. Trust nothing, believe no one and realize it will only get worse…”
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 895
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 895 |
Just as a comparative reference point, a 150gr. TSX handloaded to 2950fps will completely broadside pass-through the shoulders of zebra (mountain and plains) out to 200m. I've done it a LOT while culling. Factory ammo is readily available in RSA, Nam and Bots but, not loaded as fast.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,138 Likes: 10
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,138 Likes: 10 |
Yeah, the .308 works fine. My wife Eileen with her zebra stallion, South Africa 2008--handloaded 150-grain Nosler E-Tip at about 2850 fps:
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,005
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,005 |
We used a .308 with a 150 grain TTSX load at 2900 fps for plains game last fall in Mozambique, and it worked very well on a variety of species including a big sable.
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,078
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1,078 |
I agree with other’s posts here. I’ve taken a kimber 308 for plains game three times, if I recall correctly. Always shot 168TSX and it was always very effective. The PH’s I’ve talked to over there all regard it very highly and have told me it’s probably the most commonly used caliber by locals. I made one of my longer shot with it one evening on a very nice zebra stallion at around 285 yards…. One shot through the “triangle” and he was finished. Great round for plains game.
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 52
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 52 |
You'll be fine with 308. The PH I hunted with loaded his own 30-06 ammo and turned it down to less than 308 loads and it worked fine. He even shot leopords with it.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 17,174
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 17,174 |
The more I use a 308 Winchester and read about hunters and their adventures; I have more and more confidence in this round.
Take care.
Randy NRA Patriot Life Benefactor
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Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 26
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 26 |
308 gets a bad rap. It's a great round that been put to the back of the line by newer and "sexier" cartridges. Still very capable.
chris
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 379
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 379 |
...FWIW: Pre '64 M-70 FWT, Federal 180NP Zebra, bushpig, tsessebe, bushbuck, impala, kudu, and leopard.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,908 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,908 Likes: 2 |
Never been to Africa just shot whitetail, mule deer and antelope with the 308 no problems. But I suppose obi wan and spec needs would tell us it is not impressive or inadequate anyway...mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,845
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,845 |
I've owned a few 308s over the years, they killed deer with boring regularity and I moved on to other chamberings. I was building (assembling a DIY pre-fit) rifle, was going to be a 6mm CM Proof at 24", and last minute had an opportunity to get a suppressor, changed the build to 308 as it was the only 20" barrel Proof had that would work, I thought the 20" would be a better fit with the 6" can. Anyway, got it all put together last minute for a first time hunt on extended family land in KS. Loaded 165 Hornady spire points and the worked as expected. I know this has nothing to do with Africa and I'm not in the position to give advice on that subject but the 308 is easy to shoot and there's a lot to like about it.
Last edited by 257Bob; 02/28/23.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,200
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,200 |
Is the 30-06 used? Of course. Why couldn’t the 308 be used? Not much difference.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,200
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8,200 |
I agree with other’s posts here. I’ve taken a kimber 308 for plains game three times, if I recall correctly. Always shot 168TSX and it was always very effective. The PH’s I’ve talked to over there all regard it very highly and have told me it’s probably the most commonly used caliber by locals. I made one of my longer shot with it one evening on a very nice zebra stallion at around 285 yards…. One shot through the “triangle” and he was finished. Great round for plains game. Funny, where I’ve hunted in the Eastern Cape, it seems all the PHs or landowners I’ve come across use and swear by the 270Win.
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