calibre?
Question:
Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern Africa? I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as steenbok and duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of up to 200m. Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary concern of course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into account. Thanks. B Tombs. University of Cape Town
Response:
I have no actual experience in Africa, but here in the US on animals of similar size (raccoons, coyotes, etc.) .222 or .223 Remington are commonly used out to 200m. However, most animals that size are considered varmints (pests), so recovery of the game is not of the utmost concern. Since I would guess that you are interested in recovery of the animal, I would opt for a somewhat more authoritative caliber, like .243 Winchester or 257 Roberts, which are used in the US for everything up to and including whitetail deer. The heavier bullets are also less affected by wind drift. Scott – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern Africa? >I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as steenbok and >duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of up to >200m. >Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary concern of >course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into account. >Thanks. >B Tombs. >University of Cape Town
Response:
> Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern Africa? > I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as steenbok and > duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of up to > 200m. > Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary concern of > course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into account. > Thanks. > B Tombs. > University of Cape Town
The size and range is not much different than varmiting. The 22 Hornet will start running out of steam at the 100-150 yard range. I would recommend something like the 22-250. You might also consider a softpoint over a hollow point to keep from tearing up the meat so much. Robin
Response:
>Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern Africa? >I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as steenbok and >duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of up to >200m.
I am not really familiar with hunting in the Savanna terrain in Africa. But I have shot many head of game/vermin that is in that size range. >Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary concern of >course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into account.
I would not use the Hornet on this type of game with any bullet at 200yds with any sort of body shot. If you can get closer and take Head shots the hornet will do the rest. Here in Aus. we have the Kangaroo which weigh’s up to approx 100Kg (100Kg animal shot last week). For Eradication purposes I use a Sako HB 220Swift Usually shooting 50gn Nosler BT’s in the 4000 f.p.s range. 90 % or shots taken are at around 200 to 250yds and are all shot through shoulders or just behind. Death is like turning off a light. If you can find a Sporter weight .220SWIFT it would do the Job very well especially with the Barnes X (53gn XHP). These bullets will still break both shoulders in a Kangaroo and keep on going. Another more readily available alternative is the 22/250REM. Performance is similar to the Swift at the above ranges. If you are confident of putting the shot just behind the shoulder the Speer T.N.T (.224cal) kills like chain lightning and bullets don’t exit (pelts and meat unharmed). If it is meat that you are after pretty much anything will do the job if you place your shots behind the shoulder with a really explosive bullet. Calibers like .243WIN (75gn X) 25/06 (85gn BT) 257WBY (100gn BT) 270WBY (110gn H.P) etc etc even the 30/06 (125gn BT or 150gn BT 130gn SPEER HP) will do the job properly at 200 yds. After shooting many animals in this size range for pest eradication, you really don’t need anything larger than a 243WIN with lightweight bullets. Unless you want to to raking or texas heart shots. Mark — –Mark Przybylowski
Response:
|> Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern |> Africa? |> I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as |> steenbok and |> duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of |> up to |> 200m. |> |> Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary |> concern of |> course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into |> account. I guess I’d use the rifle I brought to hunt the bigger antelope. A .30′06 $0.02 — Michael Brady
Response:
>Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern Africa? >I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as steenbok and >duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of up to >200m. >Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary concern of >course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into account.
22 Hornet, no, insufficient energy and the bullets are too fragile. A 223 or 22-250 *would* do the job, ideally with 60 grain bullets, but under windy conditions will get knocked about a bit. A 243 would be ideal for you. Loaded with an 85-100 grain bullet pushed at around 300fps will do you nicely. The 243s acquitted themselves well on the North American pronghorn antelope last month, killing the antelope cleanly out to 450 yards. At 2900fps, the 95 grain Ballistic Tip was zeroed for 300 yards, 4" high at 100 yards, and 7" low at 350 yards. The pronghorn weighs, I’m told, 75-100lbs liveweight and some fairly big animals were shot that week by the 243s. –Jonathan Jonathan Spencer — forensic firearms examiner Mountjoy Research Centre, Durham, England, DH1 3UR tel: +44 191 386 6107 fax: +44 191 383 0686
Response:
> Is there anyone familiar with hunting in savanna terrain of Southern Africa? > I need advice on a calibre suitable for hunting antelope such as steenbok and > duiker ( both animals standing about 50cm at the shoulder) in ranges of up to > 200m. > Something like a .22 hornet or one of the .22 centrefires? Primary concern of > course is killing capability but meat spoilage needs to be taken into account. > Thanks. > B Tombs. > University of Cape Town
Not much different than varmint hunting. The 22 Hornet will start giving up on you at around a 100 yards for this size game. Suggest you use something like a 22-250 with a soft point rather than a hollow point. This will save the meat and hide some. Robin
Response:
> North American pronghorn antelope last month, killing the antelope > cleanly out to 450 yards. > The pronghorn weighs, I’m told, 75-100lbs liveweight and some fairly big > animals were shot that week by the 243s. > –Jonathan
Jonathan: I have taken many NW Pennsylvania whitetails with my .243 w/100 noslers. Even though I never shot one that weighed more than 125 lbs. live, I never had one take more than 3 steps after the shot. White-tails are much more heavily built that the fleet-footed pronghorn. The .243 is an able round. JB
