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30-06 enough for Nilgai?
#5952145
09/29/15 02:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
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Got invited on a Nilgai hunt at the King Ranch. Pretty fired up.
Anyhow, the title says it all...
My deer rifle is a 20-inch barrel .308, so though I'm certain it could kill one, I'd like a little more range and power.
Anyone have reservations on using the venerable 30-06 on a Nilgai?
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952152
09/29/15 02:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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the guides at the Mariposa Recommend a .300 mag of some sort. King Ranch used to have a min. restriction of 7mm rem. if I remember correctly.
Imo a .308 is gonna be light, load up a .30-06 with a 180 grain Barnes or Partition and you should be fine.
From what I've been told, running shots are the norm on the King ranch, most are hunted out of top drives.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952153
09/29/15 02:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,935
ChadTRG42
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It will do fine. Just select a heavy bullet for deeper penetration. A 180 grain Nosler Accubond has worked will in a 300 WM on Nalgai. For the 30-06, a 220 RN or 200 grain Accubond would be good medicine. I would NOT go lighter than 180 grains. If you need anything, let me know. I have these bullets in stock.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952157
09/29/15 02:05 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 19,804
TurkeyHunter
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Sure it will. As advised just use a quality, heavy bullet.
To be determined
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5952163
09/29/15 02:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,423
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
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the guides at the Mariposa Recommend a .300 mag of some sort. King Ranch used to have a min. restriction of 7mm rem. if I remember correctly.
Imo a .308 is gonna be light, load up a .30-06 with a 180 grain Barnes or Partition and you should be fine.
From what I've been told, running shots are the norm on the King ranch, most are hunted out of top drives. Way we hunted them. They aren't found of trucks and don't stay still long
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952165
09/29/15 02:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
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Thanks, all. Really fired up for this hunt.
We're allowed hogs and whitetail does as well, but we have been allotted 3 bulls. Hopefully one of us gets one.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952175
09/29/15 02:12 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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They are big animals....they surprise you how big a bull is. They run fast, head held up. Remember on them the lungs/heart are tucked in between their shoulder blades, not behind the shoulder. a lung shot on a whitetail is a gut shot on an antelope
Way I understand it most shots are running shots between 200-300 yards on the King. I personally have never seen one stand still for very long. Hit one keep shooting till he goes down.
What pasture are you hunting?
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952188
09/29/15 02:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,213
tShawnB
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Yep. With the right load, a 30-06 is big enough for any North American game and has probably killed more than any other caliber in existence. To that end, it's puzzling as to why more people don't use this caliber all that often anymore. I have one in my safe that rarely sees any action.
How come everybody I meet is a deer hunting expert?
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: tShawnB]
#5952204
09/29/15 02:22 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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To that end, it's puzzling as to why more people don't use this caliber all that often anymore. I have one in my safe that rarely sees any action. its boring. its not all that fast, all that flat, it kicks, and its not as strong as the .300 mags its the single cab, vinyl seat, gas engine,long bed 3/4 ton truck of the cartridge world
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: tShawnB]
#5952208
09/29/15 02:25 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,935
ChadTRG42
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Yep. With the right load, a 30-06 is big enough for any North American game and has probably killed more than any other caliber in existence. To that end, it's puzzling as to why more people don't use this caliber all that often anymore. I have one in my safe that rarely sees any action. I agree!!! The 30-06 is a GREAT round. Like I say, it's not a new, sexy round, but it is a round that all others are compared to. I think a lot of shooters get magnum-itis on things, and overlook the classic rounds. They spend too much $$ on toys, and not enough $$ on ammo and range time learning to shoot.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5952239
09/29/15 02:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
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What pasture are you hunting?
Haven't gotten details, but I know it's fairly north relative to the rest of the ranch.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952273
09/29/15 02:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,603
Sneaky
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A 30-06 is never a mistake.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5952354
09/29/15 03:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,785
Mr. T.
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My 5'2" wife has shot a 30/06 her whole hunting life and she has pulled the trigger 23 times and has 23 animals to show for it. You can never go wrong using a 30/06. I hunted mountain goat in British Columbia and was the only one using a 30/06 and I was the only one of the 5 of us that brought back a trophy.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5953427
09/30/15 01:19 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 833
Sq2 hunter
Tracker
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Seems a little light. I shoot a 300 WM with 200 gr nosler accubond and most outfitters say that's light.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5953649
09/30/15 02:52 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,156
Phantom
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with good bullets it should be fine.
Good is the enemy of Great
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5953736
09/30/15 03:57 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,809
Cleric
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If I had a 308 I would go 300 personally. I don't think a 30-06 is enough of a step up to warrant a new gun.
Just my view...
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5953891
09/30/15 11:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
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I'm not buying a new gun, I'm borrowing one.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#5953896
09/30/15 12:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Yep. With the right load, a 30-06 is big enough for any North American game and has probably killed more than any other caliber in existence. To that end, it's puzzling as to why more people don't use this caliber all that often anymore. I have one in my safe that rarely sees any action. I agree!!! The 30-06 is a GREAT round. Like I say, it's not a new, sexy round, but it is a round that all others are compared to. I think a lot of shooters get magnum-itis on things, and overlook the classic rounds. They spend too much $$ on toys, and not enough $$ on ammo and range time learning to shoot. that sums it up in a nut shell
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5953908
09/30/15 12:14 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
poisonivie
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You'd be well off to check with the outfitter/guide on any caliber restrictions in place. Many nilgai outfitters have 300 mag minimum. Some have 325 minimum.
Pee on Photobucket
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: colt45-90]
#5953916
09/30/15 12:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,902
Simple Searcher
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Yep. With the right load, a 30-06 is big enough for any North American game and has probably killed more than any other caliber in existence. To that end, it's puzzling as to why more people don't use this caliber all that often anymore. I have one in my safe that rarely sees any action. I agree!!! The 30-06 is a GREAT round. Like I say, it's not a new, sexy round, but it is a round that all others are compared to. I think a lot of shooters get magnum-itis on things, and overlook the classic rounds. They spend too much $$ on toys, and not enough $$ on ammo and range time learning to shoot. that sums it up in a nut shell Very well put Chad
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5954154
09/30/15 02:33 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 482
Deersteaks
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Outfitter's rules trump all. With that said,get on line and compare the size of the Nilgai to the elk. You'll find that an elk is quite a bit larger, and yet a 30.06 has "Probably" taken more elk than any other round. Bullet choice does make a difference,but you're not shooting at trucks.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5954311
09/30/15 03:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 759
Aggieman775
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Yes but it's all what you like my dad has shot at least one elk with a .270 so it's capable.
TSmith
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: Deersteaks]
#5954315
09/30/15 03:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,902
txtrophy85
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Outfitter's rules trump all. With that said,get on line and compare the size of the Nilgai to the elk. You'll find that an elk is quite a bit larger, and yet a 30.06 has "Probably" taken more elk than any other round. Bullet choice does make a difference,but you're not shooting at trucks. elk and a bull nilgai are approx. the same size...600-700 lbs a nilgai is probably the closest thing to a truck that your ever gonna shoot at too btw.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5954411
09/30/15 04:46 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 19,804
TurkeyHunter
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There are none on this forum of course, but it's surprising the number of hunters who can't shoot their magnum rifles very well in a real hunting situation. I have heard guides talk about making people shoot bigger calibers because of poor hunting shooting skills so they might at least have a chance to find the animal. Don't know whether or not that's a good idea but just an observation over the years.
To be determined
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Re: 30-06 enough for Nilgai?
[Re: cameron00]
#5954435
09/30/15 04:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast
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I know you're just borrowing a rifle, but if you get a good 30-06 and learn to reload for it, you will not consider asking this type of question. That rifle can transform from a fly swatter to heavy artillery with just a new shell.
Cast I have a short attention spa
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