Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa bullet weight for 30 cal ?

Fixed it for you!

I hunt Africa with 165gr tsx. The golf cart seemed to manage the Karoo much better than with the 180gr. Probably less weight to overcome. take a look at my avatar photo for full humour.

Randy

I have had stellar results on Elk using 180 gr. Partitions, Speer Hotcors and Hornady interloks. I use Partitions generally nowadays though and would certainly take them to Africa to hunt Kudu if I got the chance.

Whatever your rifle shoots best. 165's 180's as long as you shoot straight and not try and shoot an elephant with the 30-06 (for some or other reason I should perhaps not have said shooting an elephant with a 30-06). Specially not from the back of a golf cart

Have a friend who DID kill his first elephant with a 30/06, using the 220gr RNFMJ bullet. Frontal brain shot, from about 15 yards, when he was 12. Later became a PH in Rhodesia, as it was called then.

...........Same `ol yada, yada, yada.

Ballistically every 300 WSM/Win will do the job equally as well if not better.

30-06..........Famous and boring.

The late Jack O'Connor once wrote something to the effect that new shooters bought the latest fad calibers, but that connoisseurs stayed with the classics.

I agree with Jack, but in 1903 the 3006 was the 30-03 and not yet a classic. Perhaps one day one of these wunderkinds will not be a memory and be a classic. It usually takes military adoption to garner major acceptance but not always.

The Barnes X bullet was rejected by the majority because it was a new concept. I liked the concept and have used them from the start with consistant results that have never failed me. Some decry them still but they have become a classic causing cup and core bullets to pick up the pace, so to speak.

I resisted the 30-06 for decades because it had a cultic following, but in 2008 I bought one and realise it is pretty much as advertised by those I considered fanatics previously. By mixing the old cartridge with the new Barnes bullets I am very satisfied with the 165 gr for any game up to what I feel requires a 375H&H. Point in fact is that I have retired my 338 win mag from its former role as every day hunter.

Randy

But in 1903, making a quantum jump from BP cartridges to smokelss. There were smokelss rounds before 1903, of course, the 30/30 and 30/40, but they weren't in the same class. When the 30/30 first came out, Col. Whelen proclaimed it (with the 160gr bullet) the BEST Elk cartridge he'd ever seen. When the 03/06 came out, he went to that.

Ain't nothing wrong with Boring.. if hunting, your primary purpose is to put the game down quick and the 06 works. Taking something else out just to be "different" seems strange to me.

Boring is good when bullet placement is consistant and results are reliable.

The smokeless rounds were also present in mauser rifles very early. I also enjoy the 7x57 which is another boring rround.

I don't have much hunting experience with the 30-06 having own just two in my life a M-70 and a sako carbine. But I did take the Winchester Elk hunting some, it shot 165 gr TBBC loads from federal very very well so well you could cover the group with a quarter at 200 yards. The Elk never cared, they just fell over. So yea a good 165 gr Bullet will do fine on Kudu. I only had the chance to hunt those once a long time ago. What ever shoots best in your rifle. After all its you who is writing the check for it. My opinion on this is just that an opinion based on what I have seen over the years nothing more.

The 7x57 is not boring! The 300 WSM who cares.

Exactly my sentiment. My tongue was securely pushing my cheek when that was written. Those chamberings that have stood the test of time and passed with honours into this present have done so for a very good reason.

the 7-08 tried to duplicate the 7x57 why?
the 260 tried to duplicate the 6.5x55 why?
the 308 tried to duplicate the 30-06 why?

I believe it is so a new generation can believe they have improved on the previous. There have been improvements in ballistic projectiles to be sure, but were they eally needed? All the above just work even better than they did with cup and core, but did the game need to be more dead?

These are just some of the thoughts of an old recoil hound. The last couple of years I have succombed to a couple new age rounds. The 375 H&H and the 257 Roberts. I guess we are all affected by the "new is better" advertising.

Randy (aka squinty)

Randy and all - would there be any use for a .30-30 lever action in Africa? Like for warthogs and impala and that sort of thing? I thoroughly enjoy shooting and hunting with mine and was thinking it might be kind of fun to take it to Africa if I ever get over there. Am loading a 170 gr Rem Core Lokt to about 2100 fps with good accuracy.



The doggone thing is so light, handy and quick to get into action...

On the other hand I do have a good .30-06 and a .375 as well. Just got to wondering 'bout the .30-30 and Africa...

GuyM it will be bordering on sin to leave it at home. Perfect for smaller critters and impala and hogs. The 30-06 or the 375 will be a perfect second rifle.

Wow - good to know... thanks for the encouragement, as I was thinking it might be silly to even contemplate bringing a .30-30 along.

The .375 has to make the trip. I've truly no reason to own a .375 H&H rifle, but since I have one, if I do get to Africa, it's coming along! The rifle has been there before and apparently did quite well, but I haven't made the trip yet. That one shoots well too.

Regards, Guy

The idea that a 30-06 and a .375 is all most folks need seems to be getting on a lot of folks nerves. Maybe you should add fishing and golf as a boredom cure...

Guy, the only caution I would have is that you will grab that little rifle off the truck to chase a warthog (which it will handle just fine) and after following him for a quarter mile, the kudu of your dreams will be standing at 250 yards on the next ridge with a six inch window to his chest. I have used my Evans paradox over there, and have had exactly the that happen. Just have to be willing to laugh and keep chasing that stupid pig.