Advise on plains rifle, 7x64 vs 308 vs

[458Exp]

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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[wave.jaco]

8x68S?

This is one heck of a caliber. Although I do not know about the availability of rifles in this caliber locally?

[gary-t]

I have a 6.5x55, and 7x57, after a post by TStone about the capabilities of the 6.5x55, especially for a new hunter / shooter, I want to get something else, something capable of taking Springbuck to Gemsbuck / Kudu up to 350m, and further if I get better. Will keep the 6.5

For bushveld, I am sorted, getting myself a 375HH, selling my 7x57, I like hunting BWB, and feeling the 7x57 in my hands not great now.

So looking at 7x64, after reading a post recently on GS, had a chat with couple of shops and was told to rather look at a 308 with 1-12 twist. Will have a bit more legs for Gemsbuck, especially shooting 150gr bullets

Then advised maby get a 338WM.
So what rifle for a new shooter, to take plains game up to 350-400m from Springbok to Gemsbok, and what bullet combinations and speed

For Kudu and Gemsbok at 350m very little beats the 300wm.

[Andrew Leigh]

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.

[Bonedoc]

The new shooter needs to carry 2 things, accuracy and confidence, and 350-400m is not a distance a new shooter should be shooting at.

I would spend my money on ammo and practice instead of trying to buy confidence in a new caliber.

Use the 6.5, with strong high BC bullets, they will reliably take the animals mentioned.

5% caliber, 95% shot placement
Which one do you think you should focus on most?

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.

[Boerboel]

7x64 high BC bullets from 160-175 that will do well out to the range you mentioned.

308 180gr bullet at 2600fps - lots of bullet drop out at the longer range Also saw Pre64 post about 150gr not being ideal.

30-06 180gr at 2800fps with correct barrel length - much better trajectory, Friend shot his 30-06, think BRNO (you helped me with load data) at Griekwastad but with 168TTSX and had some meat damage, Don't like the 30-06,

338WM - flat shooting, but recoil becomes a factor

You have a 6.5,and you will be getting a 375 so you are all set for smaller game and big stuff in the bushveld.

Your requirements are now pretty specific and i think you should have a serious look at a 300WM or 300H&H. What about close shots on springbuck 100m, is it not to fast

A 308 with 150gr bullets is not ideal and the 7x64,which i think of as the pick of the litter in 7mm will not give you the reach of a 300WM out yonder.Go with a good 30cal bullet and a minimum of 180-200gr in weight in conventional bullets or look at your options with a lighter mono.

The new shooter needs to carry 2 things, accuracy and confidence, and 350-400m is not a distance a new shooter should be shooting at. , We had a hunt in Griekwastad and plenty shots was between 200m and 300m on springbok and one or two a bit further, we could not get closer and also had shots at Kudu and Gemsbok at 300m that I did not take, all shots was voorsit, with a couple on foot as well. I will stick to the distances that I feel comfortable. We are going to the Kalahari and want something better

I would spend my money on ammo and practice instead of trying to buy confidence in a new caliber. I have confidence, but I am no where near the level of alot of you guys, Messor, TStone, DaleSH, 458Exp, Pre64, Treeman and so would like a caliber that gives me a bit more confidence, I am going to practice plenty now and will use the 6.5.

Use the 6.5, with strong high BC bullets, they will reliably take the animals mentioned. As mentioned TStone made a comment on a thread, where he said, the 6.5 is not the correct rifle, where he said how many animals he has taken.

5% caliber, 95% shot placement
Which one do you think you should focus on most? 95% shotplacement

Where do these 350m-400m plains game shots come from? Are they truly the norm? Somehow have my doubts. At 400m springbok are just little white dots, why would one attempt such a shot? Yes they are not the norm, but would like to buy now and not buy again and know that the rifle is capable of doing it, I might not be, but I want my rifle to be

If the 7x57 uses a strong, modern action, and you understand handloading well, I would consider loading that to "modern pressures".I do load for the 7x57, but I think there are better rifles for what I want and if I want my 375HH I must sell this one.

I've, taken Black WB with my 7x64 at 350m using a 160gr Nosler Accubond. Thank you

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. Will do

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7df413bbab.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...47c83069c4.jpg

8x68S? I want something that has ammo and or reloading goodies freely available

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

[MrK]

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.

[Boerboel]

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.

Thanks

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.

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.

[A-R]

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

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.

[pre 64]

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.