Calibre for this shot?

[John Gryphon]

There is an accuracy thread going on atm and the following screen grabs from videos this morning pose the question.
Good Sambar stags take a bit of getting and are thus truly wanted. This stag ran uphill to bush edge, stopped on his toes for seconds, maybe 10-15. He is at a ranged 500 yards and its drizzling, you have to drop him on the spot or at least get a bloody good bullet into his shoulder because once they are in the bush they take finding (without dog).
What calibre rifle in your own arsenal is your go to rifle for this scenario? You need flat tracking and oomph, remember say the .308 Winchester will drop 4' at 500 yards.
Take note that under our hunting laws the minimum calibre for sambar is .270 Winchester, thus no 6.5`s and .243`s

 

[A Guy Out West]

A .300 Magnum for sure, 180 gr.

 

[ColinBr]

Nothing in my cabinet to legally take that shot then.

 

[John Gryphon]

Nothing in my cabinet to legally take that shot then.

You can opine Col lol.

 

[ColinBr]

You can opine Col lol.

7mm PRC would be my choice then

I had to look up 'opine' there John

 

[John Gryphon]

7mm PRC would be my choice then

I had to look up 'opine' there John

I only have my 40+ yr old dinosaur 7MM RM, it will do the task though.

 

[ColinBr]

I only have my 40+ yr old dinosaur 7MM RM, it will do the task though.

Pretty sure they would be much of the same thing John.

Still impresses me the size of the Samba deer. Must take some dragging

 

[John Gryphon]

Must take some dragging

yes even the boys take it out of you..a quick left and right barrel here and you have serious work.

 

[Kiwiguy]

You can opine Col lol.

Hi John, does the minimum calibre for Sambar also have a minimum energy figure?

If that was here in NZ I would have no hesitation in shooting that Stag with my 6.5-284 at that range.

 

[John Gryphon]

Hi John, does the minimum calibre for Sambar also have a minimum energy figure?

If that was here in NZ I would have no hesitation in shooting that Stag with my 6.5-284 at that range.

Well regs say min .270,there is an energy level but I cant quote it atm.

Of course there are many that will jump in and say what they can do with such and such but its all below from the compliance site. You are out cobber lol.

I had a look at Nathans site, he shows that not much energy at 500 yards. whereas the .270 has a bit more.
Any old how the below is what we adhere to.

A minimum calibre of .270" (6.85 mm) with a minimum projectile weight of 130 grains (8.45 grams)

 

[tusker]

300 win mag, 180 grain partition.
Tusker

 

[Bonzo dog]

Out of my cabinet the .300 H&H would be my choice.

 

[Tazz]

300 win mag, 180 grain partition.
Tusker

As above I have 300 WM they reach out a long way, I shoot 165 g Trophy Bonded Tips they retain weight very well I have had a dozen+ dug out of Zebra, Oryx, Waterbuck etc, impressive

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

.300 WSM - I’m running a 148 Grain bullet at 3434FPS, that I have no doubt would be sufficient. The reds certainly don’t seem to like it!

 

[John Gryphon]

300 win mag, 180 grain partition.
Tusker

Yes although the nosler partitions are actually a bit of a zip through in the 30 magnums at times.

Out of my cabinet the .300 H&H would be my choice.

Classic,sold mine,still stewing over it to lol.

As above I have 300 WM they reach out a long way, I shoot 165 g Trophy Bonded Tips they retain weight very well I have had a dozen+ dug out of Zebra, Oryx, Waterbuck etc, impressive

Yes and yes.

.300 WSM - I’m running a 148 Grain bullet at 3434FPS, that I have no doubt would be sufficient. The reds certainly don’t seem to like it!

View attachment 375171

Not that size ha ha

The 300 wsm is ballistically the 300WM/308 Norma Mag equiv and a very capable cracker.

 

[bobo]

What flat shooting calibers with medium size bullets are popular in Australia?
Popular flaf shooting calibers good for that shot, and they have in every hunting shop here, would be .300 Win Mag, or 8x68S.
Maybe 338 Win mag, but that would only be on the shelf in larger hunting stores here.

 

[John Gryphon]

What flat shooting calibers with medium size bullets are popular in Australia?

7mm`s 338`s 300 mag`s 9.3`s are all very popular in the sambar deer hunting community the 9.3 x 62 is the last one I would choose out of the first three mentioned. The 9.3 x 64 will do the job well though

 

[Selous]

.338 Lapua….

 

[User00056]

I love my .270 with a 130 grain bullet, but I think (given the opportunity of a shot like this) I'd be more comfortable with a 150. Most of my shooting is sub-200 yards, but at paper I'd be fairly confident I could manage a shoulder shot with a good holdover

 

[Nickb]

300 win mag