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16-01-2017, 06:18 #11
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- Oct 2011
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- Northriding
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Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
I've, taken Black WB with my 7x64 at 350m using a 160gr Nosler Accubond.
All one shot kills.
One I shot center of chest and recovered the bullet in the right back leg, just under the skin.
Side on shots not recovered one yet. But will second what Messor said, Practice practice practice.
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16-01-2017, 07:16 #12
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- Mar 2014
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- Pretoria
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16-01-2017, 07:50 #13
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- Feb 2013
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- Boksburg
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- 59
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16-01-2017, 07:51 #14
Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
The longest individual shot I have ever taken was 275m on a Kudu with a 30-06 down into a valley. I am not too sure I would be happy to do that again and would prefer to be much closer, and flatter for that matter. Whilst on a driven hunt I shot a Kudu cow at circa 350m and downhill, I hit her and she went down, whether due to my bullet or not I do not know as she had about another 5 holes in her. Note to self, never take part in a driven hunt again, highly unsatisfying on most aspects for me. For the rest while in the bush one is generally under 150m. I think you may be greatly overestimating your target distances and this may well have a negative bias on your calibre selection.
For the meat hunter I think you already well equipped for you purposes and for the amount that you will hunt. As stated in the thread, for the smaller antelope, out to the distances you speak of, the 6.5mm with good shot placement would be sufficient. In the bush out to 200m the 7X57 will be great. The Boers were shooting the Brits at longer ranges (ok so we have softer skins).
No matter what you buy, the law of gravity states that every bullet will drop along the course of its trajectory, it is simply a question of how much. So either way, at longer distances you will need to compensate no matter how "flat shooting" the calibre is.
On the .375H&H. As a owner of such calibre I must confess that this was not a calibre selection born of hunting necessity but rather a calibre selection of wanton desire. So do not be fooled into believing that this would be a necessity for you stated target animals, the same goes for the .338WM. Robert Ruark was the advocate of "Use Enough Gun", enough being the operative word, not too much but enough.
Good luck in your choices.One too many wasted sunsets and one too many for the road .........
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16-01-2017, 09:08 #15
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- Jul 2013
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- 45
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- 895
Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
Well said.
And once you have the ability to take longer shots, the cartridge choice becomes somewhat irrelevant. Decent, reliable scope and range finder are a lot more important when you go beyond 250m.
More important than all the above (combined) is the ability to read wind.
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16-01-2017, 10:31 #16
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- Jan 2013
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- Alberton
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- 51
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- 566
Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
The reason the one gunshop said I must look at the 308 instead of the 7x64 is also reloading goodies, but I did see plenty of the big shops has got stock of dies and brass.
How is the 338WM, 300wm and 300HH on meat damage close range
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16-01-2017, 10:32 #17
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- Feb 2016
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- 1,310
Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
I'm with Bonedoc on this; know the range, know the balistics (drop) of your gun/ammo/optic combo at range and be able to read wind.
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16-01-2017, 10:43 #18
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- Jan 2013
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- Alberton
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Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
Thanks
I will defiantly practice more and yes it may seem that I am getting the new guns to make up for my inexperience and to a certain degree it may be so.
But
After reading a bunch of post and also a friend with a Game farm suggesting going for the 375HH especially because I want to hunt a BWB every year and maby going for a eland next year, rather have enough gun.
Yes I might only hunt out to 250 on voorsit hunts and from the bakkie in the kalahari, but want to make sure that as soon as I am capable of going out to 350m that the gun is.
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16-01-2017, 11:13 #19
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- Oct 2012
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- Noord van die biltong gordyn.
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Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
One of the things the 308 is good at, is allowing you to shoot a lot and build skill and experience. So for a beginner, it is indeed a good choice.
Since 350-400m shots are fairly advanced and need quite a bit of experience to pull of consistently with success, they are out of the question for most hunters with average skill levels. These shots may be quite do-able on the range, but the field is different and the cost of a poor hit is much higher.
My advice would be to work with an affordable rifle / calibre for now, such as a 308 or 7 x 57, and use it as much as you can. Once your abilities start to surpass those of your equipment, it will be time to upgrade.
The 300 and 338 Mags are all mincers at short range, due to the high impact velocities. You will be better served there with a slower combo, like a 308 or 7 x 57.
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16-01-2017, 12:23 #20
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- May 2016
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- port elizabeth
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- 60
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Re: Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs
Boerbull...Reading your posts and noting your valid queries on some of the advice given,i can see that you are putting a lot of thought into the matter and not trying to vindicate a descision already made.
Your 6.5 is perfect for springbuck but a bit light for long range gemsbuck hence my recomendation of a 300WM,which is tailor made for these conditions.However,you are perfectly correct in the fact that meat damage on springbuck at close range will be excessive.As also mentioned,recoil is on the stout side and a 300 is a bit more expensive to run than a standard caliber.
Where does that leave you,bearing in mind you could end up shooting a springbuck at 50m and a gemsie at 350m on the same day?
A 308 with 180gr bullets,sure,get used to bullet drop,sure,lower impact velocity,yup.
Now i will sound like a stuck record,but,with the above criteria,a 3006 with 180gr bullets would do the trick.Springbuck close up,gemsies far out,flat enough trajectory,carries oomph out at 350,easy to load,not specialised like a 300 and less recoil.Fit a suppressor and you have less recoil than a 308,practice and shoot all day in comfort.
I really did not want to punt the "06 again but dammit it is good.
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