NitroX
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| (.700 member) |
| 07/08/14 10:37 PM |
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Re: The BEST plains game rifle of all???
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I've used a .30-06, 8x68S, 9.3x74R and a .375 H&H Mag.
Mostly with the .30-06 and a borrowed 8x68S.
Mixed success with the .30-06, which really was more bullet failure than the cartridge. Using a different heavier bullet, I happened to have two loads with, which shot to the same point of impact, the heavier different 200 gr bullet worked far far better.
Decided a 8x68S would be my main "plains game" rifle. Borrowed Karl Stumpfe's Mauser 98 in 8x68S in Namibia to try it out. Since also bought one in Mauser M03 but never taken it to Africa yet.
I think a 200 or 220 gr well constructed bullet in it would be ideal.
Why not a 7x57 or something similar?
I think this is one of the answers (from the article):
Quote:
One of the realities of African hunting is that on occasion, you have to provide Major Thump. You can, if you wish, shoot a roan with a 7x57, but consider that a roan is 500-pounds plus, exceedingly tough, and the license fee for one is probably pushing $10,000 by now. If all does not go according to plan and you wound an animal and lose it, you still get to pay the ten grand. I, myself, would forswear the 7x57 for the .338.
Really with the cost of safaris and trophy fees nowadays, one really wants to drop them, be able to take shots which might be "less than perfect", so sometimes more is required.
I took my eland with a .30-06, and 200 gr Nosler Semi-pointed Partition. One other PH in camp said it was too light and couldn't be done. So my PH wanted to prove the twit wrong. It was a one plus one kill shot ie one shot kill with another just in case. But once the heart has been destroyed its going to die anyway.
Interesting that the .338 was named in the article. The good old .318 Westley Richards and the 8x60 were considered some of the best. Not much different.