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Suggestions on bullet weigh for SA plains game
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My son and I will be hunting together in South Africa this summer, and I'm interested in your opinion on what bullet weights you'd recommend. Our calibers are .270 and 7mm Rem Mag. The likely game include:
Impala
Red Hartebeest
Warthog
Blesbuck
Kudu

It's likely that the bullet we'll use in both rifles will be the Barnes TSX. My initial thought was 160 gr for the 7mm (2940 fps) and 130 gr for the .270 (3060 fps).

Your thoughts?
 
Posts: 25 | Location: Westchester County, NY, USA | Registered: 01 June 2006Reply With Quote
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The only thing different I would do is use North Fork bullets in the same weight.
 
Posts: 527 | Location: New Orleans,La. | Registered: 27 September 2003Reply With Quote
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I would use 150 grain bullets in the .270.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13834 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Used 160 A Frames in my 7mm mag on all of the above, with sterling results.
 
Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006Reply With Quote
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I'm using 200 gr Nosler Partition 30 Caliber. In July I'm going to S.A. for plains game.
 
Posts: 2209 | Location: Delaware | Registered: 20 December 2002Reply With Quote
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Muggles,

Firstly where in South Africa are you going to hunt ? Open plains or bushveld.

If open plains don't change anything and if bushveld go a bit heavier and slower.


Frederik Cocquyt
I always try to use enough gun but then sometimes a brainshot works just as good.
 
Posts: 2552 | Location: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa | Registered: 06 May 2002Reply With Quote
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Great bullet that TSX use them in my 375 and my 6.5x55. I'd really look at the 140 in the 270, and 150-160 in the 7mm


Yes it's cocked, and it has bullets too!!!
 
Posts: 582 | Location: Apache Junction, AZ | Registered: 08 August 2003Reply With Quote
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I think your on the right track wtth your chosen bullet weight, maybe go a little lighter in the 7 mag. That only works with monolithics, They work in the lighter weight because you can drive them faster and you need to do that to make them expand....I would choose the 140s in the 7 mag and 130s in the .270.


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
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Posts: 42320 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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I had one shot kills on the antelope you listed with 140 gr BT's and 160 gr Accubonds in my 7mm Rem mags. For the 7mm Rem mag I would recommend the 160 gr bullet in either an Accubond or a TSX.


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Posts: 1642 | Location: Boz Angeles, MT | Registered: 14 February 2006Reply With Quote
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Posted Apr 29, 10:26 PM Hide Post
I would use 150 grain bullets in the .270.
I'd follow MR's advice on the .270 and stick with 160s in the 7 mag. Go with the Nosler Accubond in both calibers. Federal loads it in their Vital Shok line. The bottom line will be how well YOUR rifle shoots them, but for accuracy, foot pounds of energy and performance, they will lay out anything you and your Son can hit in the steam engine. Don't get me wrong, Barnes makes excellent bullets, but if your load isn't compatible with the bullet, they will punch holes and not give you the desired expansion. Some expansion will be optimum at specific ranges. Under or over that "sweet spot" and you get a penciled animal that disappears and you wind up paying for a lost trophy. If you have questions about the Accubond, call me. I do not work for Nosler, but for what you want to do their bullet is a top performer. LDK


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Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running......

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Posts: 6825 | Location: Tennessee | Registered: 18 December 2006Reply With Quote
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In Africa, the laws of physics do not apply and the climate and topography are truly unique. The animals have completely different physiology and even the birds are tougher and faster than anywhere else. Absolutely positively do not hunt in the same clothes you hunt in here; your boots must be of kevlar construction with NASA foam inserts to resist the incredible thorns of Africa. The rifle and ammo that have worked so well for you on elk and deer will definitely not work on plains game. For plains game you need the new .209/338 Weatherby with monometal tungsten bullets; and for dangerous game need a new double rifle of at least 500 caliber with a stock made of rare atabula wood. Your scope must be of titanium construction with liquid quartz lenses. Bullets of depleted uranium are strongly recommended for the larger species.


Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC
BigfiveHQ.com, Large Calibers and African Safaris
Doublegunhq.com, Fine English, American and German Double Rifles and Shotguns
VH2Q.com, Varmint Rifles and Gear
 
Posts: 2935 | Location: Texas | Registered: 07 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Having just posted the above, I will say apologies, nothing personal muggles, I have read so many posts along these lines ("will the 30-06 with 180 grain bullets be adequate"....is one of my favorites) that I just had to make this point via parody.


Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC
BigfiveHQ.com, Large Calibers and African Safaris
Doublegunhq.com, Fine English, American and German Double Rifles and Shotguns
VH2Q.com, Varmint Rifles and Gear
 
Posts: 2935 | Location: Texas | Registered: 07 June 2003Reply With Quote
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muggles,

Just use North Norks in the weights you suggested......................or TBBC.


Verbera!, Iugula!, Iugula!!!

Blair.

 
Posts: 8808 | Location: Sydney, Australia. | Registered: 21 March 2007Reply With Quote
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Why are you taking two different calibers that are so close together from a "power" standpoint? Would seem to make the most sense to take two rifles chambered for the same cartridge....??
 
Posts: 860 | Location: Arizona + Just as far as memory reaches | Registered: 04 February 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Russ Gould:
Having just posted the above, I will say apologies, nothing personal muggles, I have read so many posts along these lines ("will the 30-06 with 180 grain bullets be adequate"....is one of my favorites) that I just had to make this point via parody.


I'm starting to think I'll take my moderated 243, 105gr speers and stick to game smaller (and cheaper) than Kudu.
 
Posts: 2032 | Registered: 05 January 2005Reply With Quote
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I would use those weights/bullet combo if I
had too,but I would prefer to go up in on both
weights. Placement is the key and that means
lots of things like patience,position,
confidence, ability, and opportunity. I read
Boddingtons SAFARI RIFLES several times before
my 1st trip. I built my set-up around the idea
of heavy for caliber loads regardless of bullet
type. Many trips and animals later I see the reality of heavier than whitetail loads and
vital area hits. It's my responsibility to
put the shot in there then enjoy a short tracking job. Usually your PH will put you
just where you need to be then it's up to you.
You'll love it.
Ed
 
Posts: 29 | Location: louisiana | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Muggles, are you passing up on the zebra, wildebeast,eland? 7 will surely handle the
job but eland is abit of a higher league.
Damn fun to hunt too.
Best of luck.
Ed
 
Posts: 29 | Location: louisiana | Registered: 28 February 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Muggles:
My son and I will be hunting together in South Africa this summer, and I'm interested in your opinion on what bullet weights you'd recommend. Our calibers are .270 and 7mm Rem Mag. The likely game include:
Impala
Red Hartebeest
Warthog
Blesbuck
Kudu

It's likely that the bullet we'll use in both rifles will be the Barnes TSX. My initial thought was 160 gr for the 7mm (2940 fps) and 130 gr for the .270 (3060 fps).

Your thoughts?


Your selections, including the use of Barnes TSX's is spot on. My suggestion from only one plains game trip to Namibia would be this: you can't bring the meat back with you, so don't use your deer hunting experience of aiming for the lungs to reduce wasted bloodshot meat. Aim for the shoulder bone and count your one shot kills. One other thing...even with hitting bone, every one of my Barnes X bullets was a pass through. Know what is on the other side of your intended animal or two could drop, costing you 2 trophy fees.
 
Posts: 4799 | Location: Lehigh county, PA | Registered: 17 October 2002Reply With Quote
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quote:


I'm starting to think I'll take my moderated 243, 105gr speers and stick to game smaller (and cheaper) than Kudu.


A lot of locals in RSA use 222 Rems and 22-250s for springbok, duiker, steenbok, impala. 243 is quite popular also for these smaller species. You won't find a lot of locals shooting 300 Weatherbys, that's for sure. And they can't get or afford the fancy bullets that are touted on this forum. That's why medium velocity calibers like the 7x57, the 303 Brit, the 308, and the 9.3x62 are popular..they work well with convetional bullets.


Russ Gould - Whitworth Arms LLC
BigfiveHQ.com, Large Calibers and African Safaris
Doublegunhq.com, Fine English, American and German Double Rifles and Shotguns
VH2Q.com, Varmint Rifles and Gear
 
Posts: 2935 | Location: Texas | Registered: 07 June 2003Reply With Quote
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I have just Guided a hunt here in Zim and my client Rick Rice used a .270WSM with 150 gr Triple Shocks. I was very impressed with the performance, we took Zebra, Wildebeest and many animals of that size. I am very partial to the Swift A frame as I am yet to see one fail, but the Barnes did a great job. I would not go lighter than the 150gr. Keep your bullets heavy but dont sacrifice too much velocity.
Best of luck on the hunt.
Woodley
 
Posts: 3 | Registered: 03 April 2007Reply With Quote
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