Plains Game Ammo

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

It’s relevant because a bullet that works well on elk might not be as effective on a kudu in Africa because the shot placement is different. A new hunter to Africa doesn’t always know that.

@375Fox
I have to politely disagree.
My son used a 308 with 150gn accubonds in Namibia. He shot oryx, zebra and other game no problems at all. Would I let him use that bullet on elk. Hell yes.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thread 'HUNTING Kudu' https://www.africahunting.com/threads/hunting-kudu.226/

Seems I'm not the only one advocating a broadside shot just behind the shoulder. I would hesitate to recommend a neck shot. I have had some bad luck with neck shots, especially large game. Also, it tends to make a mess of capes. Placing the shot high on the shoulder is intended to take out CNS and knock the animal over. However, vertebrate are very thick in that area. Shot placement there needs to be very precise to sever the spinal cord. Lungs are the largest vital target and provide the best probability for fatal damage. Shot placed just behind the shoulder hits the lungs.

Of course presentation makes a big difference. An animal quartering slightly towards me would be best shot on the point of shoulder. An animal quartering slightly away definitely should be shot behind the shoulder. An animal quartering well away should probably not be shot at all, but if necessary (wounded), aim for middle of ribs and hope for the best.

@Ontario Hunter
My black wildebeest was quartering away from me at 170 yards. I put the bullet in just Infront of the last rib. Bullet exited up just past the offside shoulder..
I don't think about where the bullet is going to hit. I think where do I want it to exit and aim accordingly. I draw a mental picture of where I want it to exit and work back to where I should shoot.
Quartering to me I want the bullet to come out near the end of the ribs so I know I have to aim forward of the shoulder.
I know it backwards but hey it works for me
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

So am I. I drive a 1997 LandRover

@Rule 303
What to the mechanics or the scrap yard.
My 97 Nissan diesel just did a 3 month 17,000 km trip around Australia and never missed a beat even towing a close to 2 ton caravan.
One thing you didn't say was how often the Landy was actually driven or do you just go up and down the driveway so you don't have to worry when it dies as you won't be far from home
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Rule 303]

@Rule 303
What to the mechanics or the scrap yard.
My 97 Nissan diesel just did a 3 month 17,000 km trip around Australia and never missed a beat even towing a close to 2 ton caravan.
One thing you didn't say was how often the Landy was actually driven or do you just go up and down the driveway so you don't have to worry when it dies as you won't be far from home
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

Mainly longer trips out west. As it is a 1997 Defender there is stuff all Lucas electrics in it, so not too much to worry about.

 

[375Fox]

@375Fox
I have to politely disagree.
My son used a 308 with 150gn accubonds in Namibia. He shot oryx, zebra and other game no problems at all. Would I let him use that bullet on elk. Hell yes.
Bob

I didn’t say a bullet that works well on African game wouldn’t be a good bullet for elk. I said not all bullets used on elk are ideal for African game. A lot of bullets marketed for deer and elk in US are soft non-bonded bullets and not ideal for shoulder shots on African game. I don’t see anything wrong with an accubond or most any bonded bullet.

 

[Rule 303]

@375Fox I have to agree with you. I know Giraffe have thick fighting pads up front and very strong bones so would need a bonded bullet if going this angle. Most other sizeable plains game have tough bones and as their vitals tend to be a little bit further forward shoulder shots seem to be the preferred option for a side on shot.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Bullets are cheap. Use the bullet that shoots best in your rifle as long as it is either a bonded, partition or copper X bullet. I would avoid the cup and core options for reasons already detailed here. Plus at the 300WM velocities, those do tend to break up more and penetrate less in some cases. It does not have to be uber expensive however. On my last Safari, I used a 308 with 180g bullets to take five PG animals. All were one shot kills at ranges from 20-202y. Nyala, Bushbuck, Duiker, Gemsbok and Impala. I ended up using the cheap Federal Fusion 180g bonded because they grouped best with my rifle. I wanted to use Swift A-Frames but those simply would not shoot well in my older slow twist rifle. The barnes did not shoot that well either. I could have went to a 165 or 150g bullet but wanted heavy for caliber in case I needed to penetrate deep in a less than perfect shot. All of my shots were pass thru shots and none of the bullets were recovered but Fusions have a reputation for expanding to up to 2.7x in this caliber. Largest was a Gemsbok and it dropped after running only 160y. I had planned on using the 308 on only the smaller critters on my list but it was working so well, my PH asked me to use it on everything except the Zebra and Wildebeest. The only time I had to take more than one shot was when I shot the Wildebeest with the 375HH using a 300g Barnes TSX at 160y. The 1st shot killed it but it took a pair of well placed followups to convince it that its change in life status was permanent. They expanded well and penetrated deep. But, Wildebeest can be tough and this one was huge.

For 2025 I am going back but decided to spin up a new (old) rifle for the PG side of the trip. I will be using a Husqvarna Swedish Mauser in 30-06. It shoots both 180g Sciroccos and 180g Barnes TTSX to 1/2" at 100y and 2" to 3" at 300y. It shoots the Fusions to 0.8" at 100y but at the moment I am leaning toward the Sciroccos but might take a few of the Barnes along too.

If you are hell bent on using Barnes TTSX, I would clean the bbl using KG bore polish #2 to remove the surface fouling. I did that for my 375HH and it shoots the barnes to sub-moa at 100y most of the time. Accuracy breeds confidence and confidence is important when taking those fleeting shots under pressure. 2" groups at 100y would not cut it for me. In my opinion, at well placed hit with any quality bonded bullet or partition type (or the Barnes) is far and away better than a poorly placed shot with the Barnes if your rifle refuses to shoot them. Keep trying, there is lots of great advice on this thread. If you simply cannot make them shoot in your rifle, then talk to your PH and discuss other options. A-Frame, Partition, Scirocco, etc. Hit well the game will go down. Since it is not DG you plan to hunt, it is not that big a deal.

[

 

[Safari Dave]

A Sendero is a heavy rifle to be lugging in situations where you might have to walk a long way. Personally, I would opt for a lighter rifle.

.300 Win Mag is perfect for PG in RSA.


If using TTSX, I would use 150g.

I'm sure Scirocco's would be absolutely fine



I used Federal Premium 200g Sierra Gamekings (NLA) in a .300 Win Mag on my last PG safari.

6 animals - bang, flop

 

[CBH Australia]

@Ontario Hunter
I draw a mental picture of where I want it to exit and work back
I know it backwards but hey it works for me
Bob

“Backwards”, can we call you Backwards Bob?

Now we know you used a .35Whelen for your hunt but does this method work for people who use normal cartridges like .300wm, .338wm or .375H&H?

All of these have been used on pg with great success.

 

[Rubberhead]

I haven't read this whole thread but I've already seen some very good advice and some questionable advice. I absolutely know that Nosler Accubonds are very well suited for the game you mentioned especially out of a .300 Win Mag.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I have had two instances of accubonds performing spectacularly bad, extremely shallow penetration, and I have zero instances of ELD-Xs doing the same on a couple truck loads of African PG.

See how that works.

I find that hard to understand. I have used 180 and 200 grain AccuBonds in a .300 Win Mag to take mule deer, black bear, moose, waterbuck, nyala, bushbuck and impala. I also used a 7-08 with a 140 grain Accubond to take a blacktail buck. All animals (except the moose) died on the spot or within a few feet of where they were hit. The moose was running at 165 yards and so hit him high in the back leg. It passed through the heavy bone and exited. A second shot put him.down. All AccuBonds that I have ever fired have been complete pass throughs. You could list me as a fan.

 

[YancyW]

I find that hard to understand. I have used 180 and 200 grain AccuBonds in a .300 Win Mag to take mule deer, black bear, moose, waterbuck, nyala, bushbuck and impala. I also used a 7-08 with a 140 grain Accubond to take a blacktail buck. All animals (except the moose) died on the spot or within a few feet of where they were hit. The moose was running at 165 yards and so hit him high in the back leg. It passed through the heavy bone and exited. A second shot put him.down. All AccuBonds that I have ever fired have been complete pass throughs. You could list me as a fan.

I don't doubt that all, and I have killed a ton of animals with the ELD-X, all without a single issue. The failures I have had with accubonds have been seen on here several times, I have photos and both times I was hunting with PHs who are on this site daily. However, I would use accbonds without hesitation, same goes with many other bullets.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I don't doubt that all, and I have killed a ton of animals with the ELD-X, all without a single issue. The failures I have had with accubonds have been seen on here several times, I have photos and both times I was hunting with PHs who are on this site daily. However, I would use accbonds without hesitation, same goes with many other bullets.

I guess if it's made by.man, you can have a failure, no matter what the product is.

 

[Sika98k]

Nosler Partition, Norma Oryx, A-Frame, all these bullets have been doing a great job on game. But nothing beats putting your bullet in the boiler room.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

On my last Safari, I used a 308 with 180g bullets to take five PG animals. All were one shot kills at ranges from 20-202y. Nyala, Bushbuck, Duiker, Gemsbok and Impala. I ended up using the cheap Federal Fusion 180g bonded because they grouped best with my rifle. I wanted to use Swift A-Frames but those simply would not shoot well in my older slow twist rifle. The barnes did not shoot that well either. I could have went to a 165 or 150g bullet but wanted heavy for caliber in case I needed to penetrate deep in a less than perfect shot. All of my shots were pass thru shots and none of the bullets were recovered but Fusions have a reputation for expanding to up to 2.7x in this caliber. Largest was a Gemsbok and it dropped after running only 160y.

The above quote was a typo. The Gemsbok only ran 60 yards. Typing is not my super power.