Since I am definately more of a hunter than a shooter , I am going to ask all of you gun gurus out there your opinions on my bullet selection for the upcoming trip to SA in less than 2 weeks..

I am going to be shooting 180 grain Sciroccos out of my .300 RUM.. do you think this bullet is enough to match odds with the Kudu, and Zebra?? I heard good things about this bullet, but wanted to see if any of ya'll had any first hand expirence with it on medium sized African game.. I know it will be more than enough for the warthogs, impalas, and such, but just wanted to hear it from some of ya'll out there that know these bullet specs and performances like the back of your hand!!

The giraffe is the only animal on my list that is not going to be hunted with the RUM. I am going to use my PH's .458 LOTT to hunt that bad boy..

Thanks in advance for the help and another's point of view..

I think you would be better served with a 200 grainer in any of the 300 mags. Velocity is not of great use in much of Africa as most shots in most areas are under 150 yards and an even greater percentage of those are under 85 yards. Where are you hunting?

As far as bullets are concerned, I would venture to say that most hunters on this site prefer so called "Premium" bullets for African game. That group would include but is not limited to: Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, Swift A- Frames, Barnes TSX, North Forks, Woodleigh Weldcores, and a few others.

Maybe some of the other posters will chime in.

Geronimo

I've had poor performance with the Scirocco in a 300 WinMag. It would not even hit the list of bullets I would take elk hunting, so I wouldn't consider it for Africa. I would look to a 200 grain bullet and would recommend either a barnes TSX, a Nosler Partition, the Northforks or Swift A-frames. Best of luck on your hunt... increase your odds for success and don't hunt with the Scirocco.

Scottyboy
I HIGHLY recommend you change bullets.
I recommend you go with a 180 or a 200 gr Nosler Partition, Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, Swift A Frame,North Fork, or Barnes X.
With one of these bullets you can do it at long range or at ANY angle up close.

PS: Be sure you eat some Giraffe meat, it is very good. They are fun to hunt.
PSS: Use solids in the 458 Lott.

If you're stuck with the 300RUM then you need tough bullets. If you hand load you can slow it down some say to 30-06 velocities and reduce the chances of exploding bullets. I whole heartedly agree with the recommendations to use 200gr "tough" bullets such as those already mentioned. I would not use sirrocos for the animals you'll be hunting.

I agree with the above. The Scirocco is way too soft at 300 RUM velocities, even for the smaller animals.

465H&H

I would suggest 180 grain Swift A Frames with your 300 UM. I had four one shot "bang flop" kills on Kudu, Waterbuck, Gemsbuck, and Springbuck with my 300 Win Mag using those bullets. I had to follow up on my Eland only because of lousy shooting

Looking back, had I been using my 416 on that Eland, the results would have been the same.

I used 180 grain trophy bonded bear claws and fail safes in my .300 WSM in two trips to SA, killing 32 different plains game from Steenbok up through and including Eland without any problem. That also included two kudu, two zebra, waterbuck, gemsbok, hartebeest, nyala, blue and black wildebeest, etc. etc. I would go with the "premium" bullets as outlined above. After all, if you don't and you have a problem, you've spent an awful lot of money and gone an awful long ways to be disappointed.

sounds like I have a return trip back to the Sportsman's Warehouse to find a few boxes of the 200 grain Swift A Frames before hitting the range this weekend!!
thanks guys on the input..

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:
sounds like I have a return trip back to the Sportsman's Warehouse to find a few boxes of the 200 grain Swift A Frames before hitting the range this weekend!!
thanks guys on the input..

The 200 grain Swift A-Frame is as good as it gets.....IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:

I am going to be shooting 180 grain Sciroccos out of my .300 RUM.. do you think this bullet is enough to match odds with the Kudu, and Zebra??
Thanks in advance for the help and another's point of view..

No SCIROCCOs , they are too soft. I just got back, and I won't use them again at high velocity. In ther RUM, use TSX or A-Frames or TBBC. Or Accu Bond, at least they stay together.

I would listen to Terry. He goes there every year and shoots a bunch of plains game with a variety of bullets... He knows what he is talking about.

I've used the Sciroccos in the 300 RUM and have had great results. If you hit bone on the larger animals you are in for some tracking.

This past hunt I used only Nosler in 200 grain and in 165 for the smaller stuff. At the velocity the RUM travels I had a few pass through the Impala with an exit wound like a solid. Never lost an animal however.

On soft skin game the Scirocco is hard to beat as it is quite devastating and accurate. I have to agree with Tony use a Nosler or something similiar.

Point of impact between the Nosler and Scirocco is quite different.

I use them in my 300 rum for whitetail and will continue to do so, but would not consider using them for African game. As the other posters have said, they are just too soft.

I load a buddy 200 grain North Forks for his .300 RUM and he swares by them. He took a Trophy Bull at 420 yards in New Mexico. I took them to Africa for Buffalo and Plains Game for my .358 STA and .416 Rem, had perfect mushrooms and excellent kills on everything. If they shoot in your rifle (for me they are the most accurate of the tough bullets) you could shoot no better bullet in my opinion. Good luk and good shooting.

Scottyboy,

Absolutely to soft and with the added velocity you want a bullet to be able to hold up and penetrate...
Good luck on your safari...

Mike

Went to the range this morn and put some lead downrange in the .300 with the newly bought 200 grain Swift A-frames.. worked out great.. Gun is shooting like a dream and is ready to tackle some critters in SA!! Thanks guys for the heads up on the lighter bullets. These swifts should do a number on the game.

Now all that is left is the agonizing 10 day wait till we get on the plane!! Its almost go time!