.416 vs .458: Just how tough are Nilgai?

[Hank2211]

In my copy of the July issue of The Hunting Report, which I received today, there was brief discussion of the appropriate caliber for hunting nilgai - an animal I have never seen in the wild, let alone hunted.

In the June issue, an individual had said he used a .416 (didn't say which one) he planned to take to Africa to shoot Nilgai in Texas. Apparently this set someone off, who actually phone The Hunting Report to say that he believed that the .416 was 'inadequate' for nilgai, and that nothing smaller than a .458 Win Mag would be appropriate.

I was more than a bit surprised by this statement (and that anyone would feel strongly enough to call!). I've shot elephant with a .375 H&H and while I thought I was a bit under-gunned, I've never questioned that my .416 Rigby is entirely appropriate for elephant. And if it's appropriate for elephant, is should be more than enough for nilgai.

I also think that the .458 Win Mag, in factory loads, has very little additional punch than the .416, if any. Note that the caller did not say the .458 Lott, which would be a much different comparison - this was the Win Mag. In addition, while I would never have called the .416 flat shooting, it sure seems to be when compared to the .458 Win Mag. And aren't Nilgai typically taken at a distance?

I have never found a PH in Africa who thought so highly of the .458 Win Mag (even if he had one) that he would take it over the .416 Rigby for any purpose. Maybe I'm talking to the wrong PH's?

So this takes me to the two issues. Who thinks the .458 Win Mag is a better caliber for tough game than the .416 Rigby (or Remmington, or Taylor . . . or maybe the Weatherby Magnum?), and who thinks that you need to go to a .40 caliber to shoot nilgai?

 

[fourfive8]

For how many years have the various 416s been cleanly killing game from dik diks to cape buffalo to elephants and some anon coffee shop expert comes along and says not enough for nilgai- good grief! Just consider the source, ignore it and move on. Really, no need to compare to a 458 WM just because it was brought up in the ridiculous statement about nilgai. I think nilgai are taken at all distances... if one is so inclined. Either a fenced TX hunt or feral "free range" TX hunt. What do the the largest bulls weigh... maybe 600-700 lbs.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Hank,

While I am by no means a Nilgai expert, I have harvested two of them. The last one, I was told, was the largest harvested on the south Texas ranch that I was hunting on, for that year. Nilgai are hunted year round.

Most places that offer Nilgai hunts have a 300 win mag as a minimum and that seems appropriate to me. That's what I used and the first was a one and done and the second one ran about 50 yards after the first hit and required a second shot. So my opinion is a 300 wm or 338 is about perfect. There's nothing wrong with using a bigger gun, just not required. Supposedly, Nilgai have really tough skin and that's why expert suggest the 300 wm or bigger. Whatever works on a kudu or elk will work on a Nilgai.

 

[Hank2211]

I think on the first question of what is an acceptable caliber for nilgai, we can agree that it doesn't have to start with a 4.

I still believe though that the .416 is a better caliber for tough game than the .458 win mag. It seems even @fourfive8 isn't prepared to defend it and he's got it as his name!

 

[BRICKBURN]

The phone call must have come from a dementing Whitetail hunter.

 

[BWH]

They are strong animals. Delicious too..... However, the 416 & 458 is more than plenty. Thousands ave been shot with 270's to 300's, seein's how we are in Texas, and many were shot while deer hunting.

 

[sheephunterab]

I killed mine with a 30-06...0ne and done! I'm not sure where this thought of the nilgai being so impervious to bullets comes from.

 

[BWH]

Yep..... You won't find many hunters down here that shoot anything stronger than 300 win mag.

 

[lwaters]

I want to hunt one free range mainly for the meat. If I do I will use a 375 ruger with 250 or 260 grain bullets

 

[BWH]

The free range ones are down around where they arrived...... Kingsville, TX. The King Ranch

 

[CAustin]

For how many years have the various 416s been cleanly killing game from dik diks to cape buffalo to elephants and some anon coffee shop expert comes along and says not enough for nilgai- good grief! Just consider the source, ignore it and move on. Really, no need to compare to a 458 WM just because it was brought up in the ridiculous statement about nilgai. I think nilgai are taken at all distances... if one is so inclined. Either a fenced TX hunt or feral "free range" TX hunt. What do the the largest bulls weigh... maybe 600-700 lbs.

+1

 

[Bullthrower338]

Killed one with a 264 win mag and one with a 243. Heard all kinds of stories about the armor laden blue bull, 264 was a heart shot, he went 20 yards. Second one was a head shot, went exactly 0 yards. They are some fine table fare but I think you can leave the claymores and 50 BMG's at home.

 

[crs]

What Bullthrower said +1 A .308/30-06 is all the gun you need if you know where to aim.
Recently, my son and I both took medium sized eating Nilgai bulls with my .405 WCF and his .458 Socom (same bullet and velocity as .45-70). On this site in Hunt Reports USA:

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/usa-south-texas-nilgai-hunt-with-405-double-rifle.38976/

 

[mdwest]

I was planning on looking into a nilgai hunt sometime in the next 12 months and was planning to use either my .308 or my 7mm WSM.. I dont think either will be any problem at all with the right bullet and good shot placement..

 

[sheephunterab]

Some ranches do have a 300WM minimum.

 

[Pheroze]

So this takes me to the two issues. Who thinks the .458 Win Mag is a better caliber for tough game than the .416 Rigby (or Remmington, or Taylor . . .

This is an interesting question...I have no experience with either, but are the thoughts?

 

[Saul]

Saw an article where they sang the praises of the.338 Lapua as the ultimate Nilgai medicine. Like I need another reason for one!

 

[Badboymelvin]

Who thinks the .458 Win Mag is a better caliber for tough game than the .416 Rigby (or Remmington, or Taylor . . . or maybe the Weatherby Magnum

How I would honestly answer this question is that they are both fine for tough game. They are both proven rounds and they both killed PLENTY of elephant, buffalo, lion etc...
If I was to choose I'd choose the .458 because that is my favourite caliber and I have supreme confidence in both my rifle and hand loads. The next guy might very well choose the .416 for the very same reason. Who's right? We both are! They both work so take what you personally feel more comfortable shooting..

Just my 2 cents of course...

Cheers,

Russ.

 

[Dr Ray]

In my copy of the July issue of The Hunting Report, which I received today, there was brief discussion of the appropriate caliber for hunting nilgai - an animal I have never seen in the wild, let alone hunted.

In the June issue, an individual had said he used a .416 (didn't say which one) he planned to take to Africa to shoot Nilgai in Texas. Apparently this set someone off, who actually phone The Hunting Report to say that he believed that the .416 was 'inadequate' for nilgai, and that nothing smaller than a .458 Win Mag would be appropriate.

I was more than a bit surprised by this statement (and that anyone would feel strongly enough to call!). I've shot elephant with a .375 H&H and while I thought I was a bit under-gunned, I've never questioned that my .416 Rigby is entirely appropriate for elephant. And if it's appropriate for elephant, is should be more than enough for nilgai.

I also think that the .458 Win Mag, in factory loads, has very little additional punch than the .416, if any. Note that the caller did not say the .458 Lott, which would be a much different comparison - this was the Win Mag. In addition, while I would never have called the .416 flat shooting, it sure seems to be when compared to the .458 Win Mag. And aren't Nilgai typically taken at a distance?

I have never found a PH in Africa who thought so highly of the .458 Win Mag (even if he had one) that he would take it over the .416 Rigby for any purpose. Maybe I'm talking to the wrong PH's?

So this takes me to the two issues. Who thinks the .458 Win Mag is a better caliber for tough game than the .416 Rigby (or Remmington, or Taylor . . . or maybe the Weatherby Magnum?), and who thinks that you need to go to a .40 caliber to shoot nilgai?

Obviously nilgai a large antelope, are steel plated.

 

[Dwight Beagle]

I have a friend who owns a decent amount of land in Brooks county. He shares some fence line with the King Ranch. There are numerous Nilgai on his land. Back in the 90's I killed a number of nilgai on his land, they were targets of opportunity. My .270 worked just fine. If I were to go on a dedicated nilgai hunt I'd use my .270 or 30-06.