Rifle/bullet combo for Namibia

[Northwest9]

As discussed in other threads on here, I am going to Namibia in May next year.

I currently own a 325wsm in M70 extreme weather, that wears a 3.5-18x44 Swarovski Z5

I have been shooting the Nosler 180gn Ballistic Tip projectiles at 2960fps with good success on Sambar hinds.

I recovered one projectile that had gone in the front shoulder of a fallow buck, and was found under the skin on the rump that weighed 147gn's having penetrated about 3 feet

I plan on hunting Gemsbok, Blesbok, impala, Springbok, jackal, zebra, warthog, baboon, Red Hartebeest and Wildebeest, depending on what shows up on the trip.

Will this suffice, or should I switch to the 200gn Accubond?

 

[Nosler guy]

I'm pretty sure your 180's would be just fine - but the 200 Accubond would definetly be a better bullet and in my opinion would be worth the time and trouble to make the switch, That .325 with 200 Accubonds should be pretty close to the ultimate plains game rig... enjoy and happy hunting

 

[Ryan]

Although I'm partial to monometal and bonded bullets I'd say that has proven itself more than worthy. The toughest of the bunch IMO is the zebra, just for it's mass and you've shown it'll go through that.
Good luck!

 

[Mekaniks]

I think the Ballistic Tips are a very good bullet for what they are designed. They have a thin jacket which is designed to come apart on impact and cause lots of damage.
Personally I would rather have a tougher bullet that is designed for more penetration. Like Accubonds, Partitions and A Frames or mono metal like Barnes. Just my 2c.....

 

[James Cook]

I think the Ballistic Tips are a very good bullet for what they are are designed. They have a thin shell which is designed to come apart on impact and cause lots of damage.
Personally I would rather have a tougher bullet that is designed for more penetration. Like Accubonds, Partitions and A Frames or mono metal like Barnes. Just my 2c.....

agree, not a question of bad and good, but good and better

 

[Northwest9]

the accubonds do shoot roughly as well as the BT's

Ill do a bit more load dev with them. I wonder if a jackal will be mountable or completely destroyed tho?

 

[Mekaniks]

the accubonds do shoot roughly as well as the BT's

Ill do a bit more load dev with them. I wonder if a jackal will be mountable or completely destroyed tho?

Accubonds are very good bullets, especially at longer distances. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a jacket with an accubond. If mounting the jackel I would rather shoot it with a accubond than a ballistic tip.

 

[Mekaniks]

For what it's worth, this is an accubond that I recovered from the shoulder of hog in Hawaii this year, from a 30-06 at 150 yards

 

[K-man]

Put either bullet in the right place and all you will have to do is pose the animal for pictures. BUT if you are a bit off (like we all have done) the heavier bullet would be my first choice, provided it shoots well in your gun.

 

[Spooksar]

I've used Accubonds in all my rifles for planes game in 9.3x62, 275 Rigby, 7-08 and a 300 WSM they work. I would go for the 200 gr for the 325 WSM

 

[IvW]

200 grain.

 

[kudukid]

Northwest9 I always prepare for the toughest animal on the list. In you case it is the zebra and gemsbok. I use Nosler BTs in my 300 WSM on thin skinned game but they are too soft for zebra and gemsbok. I exclusively use the Barnes TSX or TTSX on the tougher animals. They won't let you down. They will be a bit hard on your smaller animals but they won't go far.

 

[Dr Ray]

As discussed in other threads on here, I am going to Namibia in May next year.

I currently own a 325wsm in M70 extreme weather, that wears a 3.5-18x44 Swarovski Z5

I have been shooting the Nosler 180gn Ballistic Tip projectiles at 2960fps with good success on Sambar hinds.

I recovered one projectile that had gone in the front shoulder of a fallow buck, and was found under the skin on the rump that weighed 147gn's having penetrated about 3 feet

I plan on hunting Gemsbok, Blesbok, impala, Springbok, jackal, zebra, warthog, baboon, Red Hartebeest and Wildebeest, depending on what shows up on the trip.

Will this suffice, or should I switch to the 200gn Accubond?

Suggest the accubonds. I've had some bad experience with ballistic tips. Fallow deer aren't near the size of wildebeest etc.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

I hunted Namibia last year with my favourite .30/06 firing 180gn Woodleigh PP's. They did an amazing job, with 8 trophies in 9 shots with only one requiring a finisher. That was game from Steenbok up to Kudu and Gemsbok. Since you're in Australia I'd give serious thought to the Woodleigh .325/200gn PP which seems to give great results in the WSM.

I agree with the others that the BT's might be too frangible.

All the best
Tim

 

[ShortMag]

I too will be taking my M70 .325 WSM to Africa next year, though I will be going to South Africa instead of Namibia. My chosen bullet in this rifle is the 160 grn TTSX but I agree with the suggestions here to go with the 200 grn Accubond instead of the BT.

 

[Areaonereal]

Just returned from Namibia on a management hunt..Zebra, Oryx, Wildebeast and Hartebeast. 1 jackal turned inside out with a 168 gr TTSX from a 30 06 at 150 yds. My son used a 30 06 with 168 TTSX and I used a 30 06 with 180 gr accubonds, he recovered 4 bullets, I recovered 2..Most shots were in the the 250 to 350 yd range. Pass thru on the 180 accubonds on Oryx, and Hartebeast up to 350 yds, Zebra pass thru under 250 yds. Would not want to shoot anything but tough premium bullets on African game. Pass thru blood trails are easy to follow if you need to, we saw no need since most dropped within 10 yds. Have used the accubond and TTSX in a 30 06 on most Plains game up to Wildebeast down to Duiker....no issues at all....but the Jackal.....no saving what was left of pelt.

 

[Hogpatrol]

In Africa I shoot everything with Berger HVLDs. DRT 99.9999% of the time. I'm not in to blood trails and tracking.

 

[GA Hunter]

the accubonds do shoot roughly as well as the BT's

Ill do a bit more load dev with them. I wonder if a jackal will be mountable or completely destroyed tho?

This is what a 30 cal, 200 GR Accubound does to a jackal when it's fired from a 300 RUM at just over 3100 FPS.

 

[Areaonereal]

168 gr TTSX will do the same from a 30 06.....

 

[Nosler guy]

We shot a few Jackal with 180gr soft point bullets (outfitters gun / Hornady ammo) in a 300 Win Mag, and as long as we stayed behind the shoulder they weren't all that bad - as soon as you shot onto the shoulder they started to look a bit more like GA hunters pic

If you are interested in mounting your Jackal - talk with your outfitter, chances are he will have a small bore rifle (maybe .22 cal) that you can have in the truck, and it might work out to shoot with it