Namibia and a 30-06....Which bullet?

[lcq]

I can vouch for perfect performance of the 168g TTSX on animals from springbok to eland, 13 in total between me and my wife. Same performance on animals up to and including blue wildebeest and zebra with the 85 grain .243 TSX used by my son. By perfect performance I mean pass through or found fully expanded under the off-side skin on broadside shots.

Not that I am proud of it, but I can also say the the TTSX exhibits greater than 90% weight retention when fired into reinforced concrete at 2 yards. Penetration not great, perhaps 2 1/2 inches. I think an AP projectile fired at greater range would be the more appropriate choice if you were actually intending to shoot a concrete wall.

someone locked you in the butts and you had to shoot your way out. that would be my excuse

 

[Adrian]

I'm off in a couple of weeks.
I'm taking my 30-06 and Norma Oryx 180gr.

 

[Areaonereal]

You are well armed and will be a deadly threat to whatever you encounter....I have shot the Norma 180 gr Oryx...excellent choice for the '06. Photos of any recovered bullets would be appreciated, if there are any! Good luck and enjoy Namibia, I was there in July...fantastic.

 

[Adrian]

You are well armed and will be a deadly threat to whatever you encounter....I have shot the Norma 180 gr Oryx...excellent choice for the '06. Photos of any recovered bullets would be appreciated, if there are any! Good luck and enjoy Namibia, I was there in July...fantastic.

Thank you! I will post photos of whatever bullets I can recover.
Last year I used Hornady SST in 165gr as per my previous post.
However I did lose a Black Wildebeest on my last morning which has bugged me to this day so I am going with the best this time to reduce the risk.

 

[lcq]

Thank you! I will post photos of whatever bullets I can recover.
Last year I used Hornady SST in 165gr as per my previous post.
However I did lose a Black Wildebeest on my last morning which has bugged me to this day so I am going with the best this time to reduce the risk.

I have always found the SST to be very explosive even at low velocity out of a 20" 308.

 

[Adrian]

I have always found the SST to be very explosive even at low velocity out of a 20" 308.

Up until that final morning I had no problems with the SST and all recovered bullets had good weight retention.

The Black Wildebeest was hit fair in the right place, a good sound and reaction to the shot.
It made off with the herd so we left it a while expecting to find it shortly afterwards.
We found a good blood trail on the dirt and on the grass and followed it for hours and hours but never found the animal.

I am now thinking that the bullet possibly hit bone and exploded like you say and didn't penetrate as it should.
Either way, I lost the Wildebeest and left feeling pretty crappy.

This time with heavier Norma bullets it should help reduce the chance of losing an animal should the worst happen.

The Oryx bullets have good reputation for weight retention and driving on into the vitals even if a bone is struck.

 

[Waterbuck2008]

In my limited SST experience, around 6 animals, I've seen the SST (180 gr.) break up twice through big-bodied mule deer, but never whitetails, for whatever reason. Hornady is pretty honest about the potential for fragmentation, though. The SST is engineered for deer and speed goats - Stretching it to bigger plains game is reasonable, but there are a lot of other bullet options that are intended for more reliability through thick bone.

 

[fourfive8]

Why is there any surprise when a Hornady SST comes apart? That is how even Hornady describes what to expect from that bullet!! It is simply engineered to be an explosive bullet. It is a relatively cheap to make non-bonded cup and core bullet with a pretty good BC that Hornady markets as some kind of BS "big game" bullet.

 

[Waterbuck2008]

Why is there any surprise when a Hornady SST comes apart? That is how even Hornady describes what to expect from that bullet!! It is simply engineered to be an explosive bullet. It is a relatively cheap to make non-bonded cup and core bullet with a pretty good BC that Hornady markets as some kind of BS "big game" bullet.

I agree, 458. The SST "is what it is," and that's rapid expansion in thin-hided animals.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

@Pheroze I'd recommend keeping your known load and take the Woodleighs to Namibia with confidence.

I use them in many cals and have found them 100% reliable. Took my '06 to Namibia in 2016 and brought home 8 trophies with 9 bullets including gemsbok and kudu. The latter was a tough uphill quartering away shot on the run. The Woodleigh struck high at the rear of the ribcage, travelled down through over a metre of kudu and lodged in the opposite front shoulder. The bull was dead within 30 yards. My mate did similar work with his 9.3.

I'd look no further personally. I'm hunting with KMG in July and will be packing the Woodleighs once again

Cheers
Tim

 

[Timbo]

The goal is to hunt Namibia in 2018 so it's time to start planning! I am going to take my '06 this time. The largest animals will be Zebra and Gemsbok and the smallest will be Springbok. I love Woodleighs and have a nice 180 gr load @ 2730. However, I am thinking of trying the 150 gr GS Customs with an anticipated speed of just under 3000 fps in my 22" barrel. Problem is I keep hesitating to develop this load....Would you folks forgo the Woodleigh for the GS Customs for the distances and game we can expect in Namibia (assuming acceptable accuracy)?

Woodleigh Bullets perform beautifully as long as you don't push them any faster than the velocities for which they are designed. Woodleigh are very clear on this point. I've used the 180gr PSP on PG and they've performed beautifully every time. If I were you, I'd stick to what I've used and know from prior experience, and have a great hunt!

 

[Longwalker]

"there is something comforting with a 180 gr bonded lead core expanding bullet" I agree.

 

[Rick Cox]

I seriously considered the Barnes 165gr. But, if I go monometal then I have these GS Customs, hence the dilemma . I like the way the Woodleigh bullets performed in my 375, do you see a difference once we drop down to the 30 cal?

You are worried about spending $60 on a box of bullets in support of a trip costing thousands??

 

[Pheroze]

You are worried about spending $60 on a box of bullets in support of a trip costing thousands??

Not really, I spend far too much on bullets of all brands. I just like to tinker, and get caught up in overthinking which is the "right" bullet.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

@Pheroze I'd recommend keeping your known load and take the Woodleighs to Namibia with confidence.

I use them in many cals and have found them 100% reliable. Took my '06 to Namibia in 2016 and brought home 8 trophies with 9 bullets including gemsbok and kudu. The latter was a tough uphill quartering away shot on the run. The Woodleigh struck high at the rear of the ribcage, travelled down through over a metre of kudu and lodged in the opposite front shoulder. The bull was dead within 30 yards. My mate did similar work with his 9.3.

I'd look no further personally. I'm hunting with KMG in July and will be packing the Woodleighs once again

Cheers
Tim

Forget about the Woodleighs. Just remember the Queensland Diesel. That is all I ask.

 

[Rick Cox]

I can vouch for perfect performance of the 168g TTSX on animals from springbok to eland, 13 in total between me and my wife. Same performance on animals up to and including blue wildebeest and zebra with the 85 grain .243 TSX used by my son. By perfect performance I mean pass through or found fully expanded under the off-side skin on broadside shots.

Not that I am proud of it, but I can also say the the TTSX exhibits greater than 90% weight retention when fired into reinforced concrete at 2 yards. Penetration not great, perhaps 2 1/2 inches. I think an AP projectile fired at greater range would be the more appropriate choice if you were actually intending to shoot a concrete wall.

Hahaha! Glad I missed that one!

 

[Nicholas Barcomb]

Not really, I spend far too much on bullets of all brands. I just like to tinker, and get caught up in overthinking which is the "right" bullet.

Me too!!!!!!!!!

 

[Divernhunter]

The Swift A-Frames did me/us perfect on 2 trips for PG in 3 different rifles. Also used some TTSX bullets in the 257W on the last trip without problems.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Forget about the Woodleighs. Just remember the Queensland Diesel. That is all I ask.

Oh there will be that, I can guarantee.

OP too...none of this beginners bullshit

 

[1dirthawker]

i suspect that if you use a quality bullet of 165-200 grains, and don't shoot over 300 yards, shot placement will matter more than "which" specific bullet you use. i do think and 06 is a bit light for eland sized game, and i would want a heavier bullet for them. the 06 will kill them, just like it does our moose. i just think a larger gun/bullet is a better idea for a very large animal. have a good hunt!