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I have a 7mm STW that I currently shoot Federal Premium Seirra Boat-tail soft points, 140 g, and works great for just about anything I want around here. We are considering an African hunt for palins game such as kudu, gemsbok so on. Is my set up sufficient, or would I need to alter it a little? I have never left the country on a hunt yet, and do not have many people to consult. | ||
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Warbird This might turn into a controversial answer, but your setup is not adequate for African plains game as mentioned. Rather go to a 175gr A-Frame, Barnes-X, Trophy bonded Bearclaw, any other bonded core bullet or mono metal bullet, or at the least a Nosler partition. Your gun is too fast for the Noslers, but will work infinitely better than your 140gr Sierras. I do not believe you need all that speed as speed does not kill, neither does energy, as some believe. Penetration through vital organs kill. Karl Stumpfe Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net karl@huntingsafaris.net P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia Cell: +264 81 1285 416 Fax: +264 61 254 328 Sat. phone: +88 163 166 9264 | |||
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Before I started handloading, I used the Sierra BTSP in my .30-06, and it was a killer on thin-skinned game up to about 200lbs. However, I would not trust the Sierra BTSPs to hold together well enough to penetrate deep into the vitals of a kudu or gemsbok at the close distances they may be encountered. If you are 'married' to the 140gr. bullet weight, switch to something like the Barnes X/XLC/TSX for deep penetration with good expansion. George  | |||
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Warbird, Your set up is definitely not optimum for large African plains game. Standard bullets like the Sierra Game King can be overstressed at very high velocities. That can cause them to blow up or expand violently and fail to penetrate. As Karl says, it would be best to go with a heavier, premium bullet, at least a 160 grainer, and better, I think, a 175. The ones he names are good ones. You have ample power with the 7mm STW for a heavier slug and for game such as kudu or gemsbok, a heavier, and better constructed, slug is warranted. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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Ditto. My first choice would be a good premium 175 gr bullet. (I'm just a heavy-for-caliber bullet kind of guy.) -Bob F. | |||
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I figured my current ammo would not work. It's great for everything in north america i've tried. I do appriciate all the input! -Jamie | |||
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Warbird, My buddy used 160 grain Barnes TSX last year in his 7mm Rem Mag and they worked very well. Sencondly, though you didn't mantion it, don't "over scope" your rifle ie. 4.5x14. A good quality 3x9 will handle everything you need. Depending on where you are going, you could be getting into some pretty thick stuff. BigBullet "Half the FUN of the travel is the esthetic of LOSTNESS" Ray Bradbury https://www.facebook.com/Natal...443607135825/?ref=hl | |||
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I have an old weaver 2x10x50..rock solid | |||
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The 160 grain Barnes XLC did a fantastic job on Gemsbok on down out of a 280 Remington. I'm sure the new versions of Barnes would be fantastic. I was always a heavy bullet for caliber guy, I've now backed down slightly with the monometal bullets. They are longer than traditional bullets and weigh slightly less. The 175 grain lead cored bullet in a premium grade bullet would also probabley be a great combination. Good hunting! | |||
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A few points.... 1. very impressed that there's a concenses of opinion on the ammumition issue here. No dissenters... 2. Sierra don't make premium (that I know of) bullets and it's pure false advertizing of Federal to claim their ammo to be "premium" when it's not. 3. There's a lot of smaller game animals in Africa and your set up will handle things the size of Impala just fine. 4. IMO the 7MM STW is a fabulous cartridge and is at it's best with the heavier bullets including the 175 grain bullets. Even a conventional 175 will work for you and if you wish to go that way may I suggest core-lokt's or interlocks or even gamekings. 5. You're going to spend several grand hunting plains game and the addition of $50 worth of A-Frames, NorthForks, TBBCs, interbonds, or other bonded core bullets is well spent insurance but for sure the old conventional bullets will kill plains game as well as Elk, moose, etc. Nosler's partition is also a proven bullet for the task. You probably would get by with 162 grain bullets as well in your STW and gain a bit of tradjectory as well....but the gain is slight and the heavy bullets, when you draw the crosshairs on that trophy Gemsbok will make you feel like you're in charge and in spades! I wish you well on your trip and may all the game you take be lifetime trophies. All mine are and none of them make any book anywhere....just mine. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Warbird, My brother shoots an old Sako 7mm RemMag w/ Leupold fixed 4x scope and 160gr Federal Premiums with the Nosler Partitions. It is absolutely shocking how many animals he and I have killed with that rife. He has taken animals as large as Zebra with it, and killed as efficiently as my 375HH. I would agree with the 160-175gr bullets suggested and add that for small animals these don't mess them up as much. I might even load some "slow" rounds just for those animals if they are on your dance card. Don't use a scope with an extreme large objective like your 50mm. You'll be better served with a 38 or 40mm objective if you have one. If you don't the 50 will be OK. Kudude | |||
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Unless I am terribly mistaken I do have Fed Prem Sierra BTSP, 140 gr. I have not been able to find the same bullet recently though. Perhaps it is not being produced anymore. In any case if that particular bullet never existed, Federal is indeed guilty of false advertising, being that is what is printed on the box itself! Thanks for the advice vapodog! I will double check myself, and if I am wrong, I apologize and stand corrected. WB | |||
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