Just got back from Zimbabwe where I hunted plains species in the Bubiana Conservancy. My PH, George Brown, is also a 3d generation rancher, grew up on the ranch we hunted, first rate guy. When I asked him what he used for plains species he said a M70, .308 Winchester. When I asked him what he used for the big stuff, he said .308 Winchester. When I asked him what kind of ammo he used, he pointed to the ashtray of the Landcruiser. In it was South African 7.62x51 military FMJ ammo. He trades the police impala for ammo, 1 impala gets him 20 rounds. When I expressed my disbelief, he looked at me like a wayward child. He said that heart/lung shot giraffe, eland, kudu, zebra and everything else went 40-50 yards and fell down dead. This had worked well for years and he saw no need to waste his precious .375 H&H ammo. I thought this might be a fish story until I remembered seeing pictures of elephant culling using FAL's and FMJ ammo.Go figure.

Military FMJ ammo is designed to penetrate well.

Interesting, dont forget the Eles that Karamojo Bell took with a 7X57 Mauser and FMJ loads.

Bottom line is damaged vitals equal dead animals. But I still believe that there is a deeper lesson in that what usually works may not always be a good idea.

Wstrnhuntr, you hit the nail right on the head. Ammo is virtually unobtainable in Zimbabwe. Most all they have is either smuggled in from South Africa or what clients leave behind. When all you have is a hammer, everything else looks like a nail.