Advice on Hippo hunt

[DWB]

You can always just buy the round noses and give them a slight makeover with a grinder

 

[Happyclient]

Ok. Time for an update on the search for the optimal hippoammunition.

After an extensive hunt for ammunition/bullets this is what I ended up with.

Left corner: Federal TBBC paired with norma factory, barnes banded solids. Round nose. They have the same velocity( ca. 2300 f/ps) and group well together at 100 meter.
I took DWBs suggestion litteraly and have sent 20 cartridges to the barber. A friend of mine have access to tools and can give them a shave that they get a sort of meplate. I then have to make sure they feed whitout problem in the Mauser.

right corner: Norma factory PH series. Bought the three remaining boxes in Norway. 20 softpoints and 10 solids. Have also found 20-30 450 grains solid bullets. These are woodleigh, 450 grains.

So what I am wondering now is the following. What would you choose for hippo?
400 grains TBBC with barnes solids( asuming they feed in my rifle after a shave), or 450 grains Woodsleigh. Round nose, but higher SD?

spike T: I know I might be overthinking this, but I cant help my self. I kind of enjoy doing research on these things befor a hunting trip.

 

[DWB]

Hahaha, you're not the only hippo crazy guy around. Have this on my office desk

 

[Nhoro]

Thank you. Just realised Peregrine bullets are available in Norway. But the company who imports themdo not have any solids in stock. They just recived a large shipment of bullets. Next delivery will be this winter at best..
Are their solids any good?
They have one type in brass alloy and one in copper. 400 and 410 grains. Just,curios, why choose brass instead of copper? Or copper before brass?
Per H has been very helpfull in searching for solids in Norway. No luck so far. Frustrating but it is a part of preparing for the hunt. I have no doubt I will find something I will be happy with in the end.

Peregrine solids are excelent. The copper is heavier and softer so probably easier on your barrel and i prefer heavy bullets. Brass is lighter so bullets are made same size but are lighter. I use Peregrines in my 458 lott. They also make a 450 gr bullet that is perfect for 458 win mag.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Buy the Norma PH FMJs and your PH can buy them back from you upon conclusion of the hunt. However that's great stuff for an elephant or Buffalo backup if those are ever in your plans!

 

[C.W. Richter]

Read up on what Kevin Robertson has to say about using non solids on broadside and head rhino shots, but take it from me don't try the frontal shot without a solid!!!

 

[Happyclient]

Nhoro: Peregrine is not an option. The company that import their products have no solids, and do not plan to import any in the future.
Same goes with the importer of Norh Fork bullets.
What you see at the photo is what I have. There are no other alternatives for me.

 

[Fatback]

I just used some Barnes Banded Solids, Flat Nosed, out of my 404Jeffery with excellent results on a hippo bull, on land. We were able to recover one of the bullets and I feel certain that it would be able to be reloaded and used again. Excellent penetration with this combo. I shot the bull at 15 yards. I would recommend these bullets for any application you would use a solid for. I plan on using this setup for an elephant in 2025.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Ok. Time for an update on the search for the optimal hippoammunition.

After an extensive hunt for ammunition/bullets this is what I ended up with.

Left corner: Federal TBBC paired with norma factory, barnes banded solids. Round nose. They have the same velocity( ca. 2300 f/ps) and group well together at 100 meter.
I took DWBs suggestion litteraly and have sent 20 cartridges to the barber. A friend of mine have access to tools and can give them a shave that they get a sort of meplate. I then have to make sure they feed whitout problem in the Mauser.

right corner: Norma factory PH series. Bought the three remaining boxes in Norway. 20 softpoints and 10 solids. Have also found 20-30 450 grains solid bullets. These are woodleigh, 450 grains.

So what I am wondering now is the following. What would you choose for hippo?
400 grains TBBC with barnes solids( asuming they feed in my rifle after a shave), or 450 grains Woodsleigh. Round nose, but higher SD?

spike T: I know I might be overthinking this, but I cant help my self. I kind of enjoy doing research on these things befor a hunting trip.

View attachment 554934

400Gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (as loaded by Federal)- For hippopotamus in water
450Gr Woodleigh round nosed steel jacketed FMJ solids (as loaded by Norma)- For hippopotamus on land

 

[Happyclient]

Thank you both. Hunter-Habib: is there a reason you prefer the TBBC instead of the 450 grains softpoint from Woodleigh for shots in water? I like the idea of having same zero on expanding/solids. According to Norma they have the excact same velocity. I have not had time to verify it just yet.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Thank you both. Hunter-Habib: is there a reason you prefer the TBBC instead of the 450 grains softpoint from Woodleigh for shots in water? I like the idea of having same zero on expanding/solids. According to Norma they have the excact same velocity. I have not had time to verify it just yet.

Happy Client, I personally prefer the solid rear shank of the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet for added penetration.

However, you can't go wrong with Woodleigh soft points either.

 

[bobdahunter84]

Can't speak to availability of ammo outside of the US. But I have intentions of heading back to Africa in 2025 for hippo, crocodile, eland, and giraffe. I used 500 gr TBBC exclusively in my 458 Lott in June when I was there with great success. The tracker had it pretty easy all week... My intention is to pair that round with the 500 gr trophy bonded sledgehammer for the hippo.

I'm leaning towards 350 gr tsx in my new 419 rem for the rest of the animals after i get it setup and make sure the gun likes it.

 

[Happyclient]

New update.
This is how the barnes solids look after a slight shave at the barber.
I think it looks promising. The weight loss is only 6 grains. I have not been able to test how they feed in my rifle, but I will be surprised if they dont feed reliable.
I am certain I now have two good options for the future hippo. I will probably follow Hunter-Habibs suggestion and use the Norma 450 grains in the end. A man that has shot no less then 8 hippos is worth listening to.
What is left for me to do is to become more accustumed to the recoil. I know some of you regard the 416 Rigby as a "medium" callibre, but I have no problem in admitting I have found it challenging to fully master the level of recoil. It was a big step up from the 9,3x62 that was my most powerfull rifle before the Rigby.However, it is getting better and, as long as I dont shoot to many rounds in a session, quite fun.

 

[bobdahunter84]

Can't speak to availability of ammo outside of the US. But I have intentions of heading back to Africa in 2025 for hippo, crocodile, eland, and giraffe. I used 500 gr TBBC exclusively in my 458 Lott in June when I was there with great success. The tracker had it pretty easy all week... My intention is to pair that round with the 500 gr trophy bonded sledgehammer for the hippo.

I'm leaning towards 350 gr tsx in my new 419 rem for the rest of the animals after i get it setup and make sure the gun likes it.

Fat fingers in the morning. Obviously meant 416, not 419.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

New update.
This is how the barnes solids look after a slight shave at the barber.
I think it looks promising. The weight loss is only 6 grains. I have not been able to test how they feed in my rifle, but I will be surprised if they dont feed reliable.
I am certain I now have two good options for the future hippo. I will probably follow Hunter-Habibs suggestion and use the Norma 450 grains in the end. A man that has shot no less then 8 hippos is worth listening to.
What is left for me to do is to become more accustumed to the recoil. I know some of you regard the 416 Rigby as a "medium" callibre, but I have no problem in admitting I have found it challenging to fully master the level of recoil. It was a big step up from the 9,3x62 that was my most powerfull rifle before the Rigby.However, it is getting better and, as long as I dont shoot to many rounds in a session, quite fun.

Well, I make a few lucky shots now & then. But I’m really very average.

Don’t worry. You absolutely got this. I highly suggest equipping your .416 Rigby with quick detachable scope mounts. It’s an absolute Godsend for hunting hippo on land, esp. problem animals in the sugarcane fields. Also get plenty of practice with iron sights. Wide V backsight and uncovered ivory bead foresight.

450Gr Woodleigh steel jacketed FMJ solid is perfectly adequate for the job.

 

[Happyclient]

Sound advice.
The open sights on my rifle did not work well on ageing eyesight.
The solution was replacing the backsight with a red dot sight. This is sighted in on 50 meters. Also have a leupold 1-5 in quick detachable mount sighted in at 100 meters. At first I had a Swarovski 1-8 mounted, but the scope came too close to my eye. Got a couple of kisses that did not help on my shooting performance…

 

[PerH]

Good setup with the sights you have there for the .416