Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Eland caliber=260 Rem?

Got my SCI rag in the mail yesterday. Noticed an article about eland hunting, and since an eland is on my list for next June I read the article first. Finally got to the end where the petite lady smacks a giant eland at 196 yards with a 260 Rem. Perfect shot no less. The pics look this eland to be 1200 lbs plus.

I've been to Africa and have seen Eland and they are big, especially a mature bull. I'm going back next June and have eland on my list, right after waterbuck. I'm planning on using 9.3x62 or 300 H&H as my heavy rifle and 7mm08 for the light PG stuff.

Just wondering if that 260 use on eland was a smart choice?

Not my idea..I've been within 30 yards of several and my .338 felt ..well, small..
Good shot for the lady tho...

No one with any brains will argue shot placement is not key but, I would seek to do as much damage as possible to an animal of that size and his major organs. I would prefer a 36 or 37 caliber rifle over a 25 or 26 or 27 caliber rifle. I suspect I would also try to break him down if given the opportunity by breaking the shoulder complex.

Personally, unless I could not shoot a larger rifle I would not go that route. And if I could not shoot a larger rifle then I would likely pass on the species altogether.

the 260 aint much different than the 6.5x55 and 6.5x54MS which killed a hell of alot of large game.....that said my understanding from what ive read is eland can put alot of distance between you and them without alot of effort with their lope and generally your on a limited time frame on your hunts anymore....as much as im a 6.5 slut i think i would prefer something a tad bigger cause i really wouldnt want to spend any more than i had to chasing hit game....course as the gal showed if you can put the bullet in the righ place it shouldnt be a problem......but i still think i would prefer something a lil bigger....

They shoot moose in Sweden with 6.5x55's all the time so why not. Sorta the same size.

I've shot three Eland. Two with a .338 Win Mag. and one with a 375 H&H. They're big animals who can absorb alot of lead. Personally, I wouldn't use anything smaller than a .338 or one of the 30 caliber magnums with a premium bullet.

I have no doubt I could kill a cape buffalo with a 30'06. Doesn't mean it is the best caliber to use on one.

YEP!

Wieght on a big bull eland is way over the 1,200 lbs you estimated. Double that and you will be closer. Think of a Clydsdale with horns and you will be getting a better idea. they are freaking HUGE and can take a lot of killin.

Here is one of mine, my biggest and best, for comparison and sizing. I am 6'4" and 255lbs for reference.

Mark.

I'm sure you got some mighty tasty steaks out of the filets on that one. Ummmm good!

Mark that's a monster congratulations.

To attempt a shot at an eland at that distance with that caliber is irresponsible. In this case it obviously worked but would you have read about it if they were still trying to locate the eland?

Try and purposefully hit between two ribs of any animal at that distance and see if it works.

Eland are huge. I've only shot one, but I surely was careful with my .30-'06. The weight on mine was 1,069Kg ... 2,352 pounds.

By the way, both of my Professional Hunters on that particular trip had been charged and badly hurt by eland during previous safaris. Neither had ever been bothered by Cape buffalo. Intersting.

Blessings,

Steve

If there were eland in Alaska, there would be guys recommending a .223 AI.

.......................I like reading about the exploits (advance teams so to speak) of others such as using a 260 Rem on large eland.

Good to know the 260 worked so well. Then when I go to Africa someday for the first time, I know and can be well assured that when doing my part, either of my three cartridges below will certainly work extremely well.

To me that's just crazy and frankly irresponsible. Can it be done? of course. I'm just a neophyte but to me the smallest caliber I'd feel comfortable with is a 300 and with a Premium bullet.

I agree. I've shot two, both with a .375 H&H and I wouldn't recommend going with any less than a .338. If everything is perfect, I am sure a smaller caliber would work just fine, but I had to take a severe quartering away shot on my second eland. When he was skinned we were able to determine that the 300gr tsx had penetrated about five feet to reach the vitals. I was confident in the shot with the 375, but would not have taken it with anything less than a .338 and would have missed out on a 40+ inch eland of a lifetime.

PeterKriel and Jorge be careful with the irresponsible talk! You're bordering on ethics and we all damned well know America is now a nation of moral relativists. So, if it's good enough for a little girl to pop a big beastie like that with a deer rifle then the rest of us should butt out because it's all about her and what makes her clock tick...

What did PHC say in one of his stories, "It's simply not done, Old Boy. At least not by Gentlemen and sportsmen." Sadly a time now gone by.

what i would do when i have a whole hunting season and what i would do when i only have 7 days to get everything done in are two different things.....the 6.5x54 was one of the preferred rounds of turn of the century big game hunters on anything short of the big 5.....by serious hunters....

i have no doubt that a 260 will work on eland, if eland lived in Montana and i got to hunt them regularly with a 6 week season a 260 with premiums wouldnt phase me.....but when ive got 7-10 days and alot of other critters i would also like to shoot DRT beats tracking so something like a 338 Win or 9.3x62 and holding on bone has alot of appeal....a half day traking an animal thats dead on its feet is likely more time than i want to spend....

This discussion is headed towards the circle-jerk abyss. You can also kill eland with a muzzle loader or even a 22. You can also use a spear. There's a reason as to why there are many calibers to choose from; depending of course on common sense and the size of the animal. And please spare me the "Pondoro" Taylor exegesis about the 7X57 & 256 Manlicher on elephant. For me a 375 H&H, but I'm just a neophyte...

And I thought a bull moose was a big animal... sheesh.