Bullet Question?

04 January 2007, 06:58

RIP

For neck and head shots only, with a .223, you will stay inside of 200 yards now, won't you?

The answer is:

Whichever of those two your rifle shoots most accurately.

I would consider the 60-grain Nosler partition.

The 40-grain GSC HV would be the ultimate for the .223 and such shooting as you plan. Even works well with the usual twist.

04 January 2007, 07:02

Andrew McLaren

Montana,

I hope you have absolutely no wind - for drift on +- 50 gr. bullets - and just a hellofa lot of fun during your cull hunt! IMHO - not from 1000's of culling shots, but enough to form a humble opinion - I've never noticed any real difference between using fragile [Speer Game King 55 gr] or bullets like Barnes X from a moderete loaded .22/250 Rem. I nowadays only use the cheapest bullets available and accurate in my rifle. I do always have a few 55 gr Barnes X loads to use as a follow up possibly body shot in case I make a boo-boo and shoot a off a jaw.

If your hunt is planned for windy period - mostly in August - rather consider a rifle in 6mm [.243] and +- 100 grain bullets to reduce wind drift.

As culling hunts is something that I do myself, and offer to clients like you, please post a full hunt report, to help awaken the other hunters out there of the possibilities that such hunts hold.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

04 January 2007, 07:04

Montana

I currently shoot the HSM w/42gr Calhoon double hollow points. They are ungodly accurate in this gun. Shot about 800 rounds last August up in Montana on p-dog hunt. I am afraif they are too light and will only surface splash on the side of the head.

I would consider a 200 yard head shot to be extremly long.

I have not shot either of these bullets in my gun. I thought of the 60NP also, just looking for input from some that have done this.

W

Live everyday, like it was your last!!

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

04 January 2007, 07:12

gduffey

I like the 60 gr. NP if your rifle will shoot them. I am trying to get the TSX to shoot in my .22/250 now. The cheapest, best alternative is the 64gr. Winchester Power Point. I have loaded this for a couple of my friends kids to shoot in .223 single shots with good results. This bullet is a much cheaper alternative. gduffey

04 January 2007, 07:29

TheBigGuy

I haven't done the african cull hunt thing but I have done the southern deer cull hunt thing. Head/neck shots 223rem. Similar size animals to Springbok.

I know some here will strongly disagree but for head and neck shots Nosler BTs are perfectly fine for head/neck shots on smaller animals. Yes they do splatter but they tend to penetrate thin neck bones completely and the fragmentation increases your margin for error. That fragmentation will often stun them long enough for a follow up if you really screw up. Just don't pop one in the shoulder with that cartridge and bullet combo or you'll find out why some folks really hate that bullet.

"Never in the field of human conflict
was so much owed by so many to so few." Sir Winston Churchill

04 January 2007, 09:49

Rikkie

Ever consider an FMJ? I used to use a 55gr PMP FMJ in my .220 Swift for just the type of work you propose. Sure, it can (and does) overpenetrate, but placed correctly, it gets the business done. Botch your shot, and you can finish it off with a running body shot, if needs be.

In the final analysis, use what shoots well in your rifle - your targets are small. Any 'gilding of the lily' will be by way of increasing penetration, to cover for the event of a botched first shot.

04 January 2007, 10:24

Karl S

Any bullet over 50 gr will work. I like the Hornady V-Max and A-max, and the Nosler Balisstic tip is also excellent. I do not like FMJ, as I want the head to really break, so that even if you miss the brain, the bone fragments gets it. Springbok is pretty small, and if placed just behind, or even on the shoulder, these bullets work 80% of the time on body shots as well. Here is a photo of a recent cull with 2 teams doing the shooting.

Karl Stumpfe
Ndumo Hunting Safaris www.huntingsafaris.net
karl@huntingsafaris.net
P.O. Box 1667, Katima Mulilo, Namibia
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04 January 2007, 10:44

Jagter

quote:
The 40-grain GSC HV would be the ultimate for the .223 and such shooting as you plan. Even works well with the usual twist.

100% correct, RIP

And the effect of wind will be minimised if you take that 40-grain GSC HV up to 3850fps which is quite possible with the combination of a .223 and this premium grade bullet. Minimum meat damage on top of it - if you by accident miss the neck or head shots!

OWLS
My Africa, with which I will never be able to live without!

04 January 2007, 20:49

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by Jagter:
quote:
The 40-grain GSC HV would be the ultimate for the .223 and such shooting as you plan. Even works well with the usual twist.

100% correct, RIP

And the effect of wind will be minimised if you take that 40-grain GSC HV up to 3850fps which is quite possible with the combination of a .223 and this premium grade bullet. Minimum meat damage on top of it - if you by accident miss the neck or head shots!

Lead-free meat too!

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

_____________________
A successful man is one who earns more money than his wife can spend.

05 January 2007, 02:06

RIP

quote:
Originally posted by Karl S:
quote:
Lead-free meat too!

I don't eat the heads...
(Skaapkop, ja)

But the occasional neck or body shot might get polluted with lead, which would be a waste of good stew meat, burger or biltong.

("Skaapkop, ja": "Sheep's head, yes?" Please tell me you don't eat sheep brains! I quit eating squirrel brains.

)

05 January 2007, 06:49

L. David Keith

I use the Nosler 60gr Partition on Springbok and under game. It will take Impala/Bontebok sized game but only under the right circumstances would I use it for those animals. Penetration is 100% on the Springbok. I use a Rem 700 in Varmit Special. It does an excellent job and minimal tissue damage with proper shot placement. Good hunting, David/grayghost

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05 January 2007, 11:40

Karl S

RIP, yes, that means sheep's head. And no, I do not like the brains, too fatty for my taste. My post was first of all, tongue in cheek. Second, the amount of shooting I do per year with my .243, I can buy another few springbok just by using 105 Hornady's instead of GSC bullets, if meat was the issue. They will work very well for this application, but are just too expensive for even a 1000 shots a year. For other applications, more hunting oriantated, I absolutely demand premium bullets, but my first choice would not be GSC, or Nosler PT for that matter, rather Rhino, Swift A-Frame, Barnes X, with very little lead left in any carcass.