What would be your choice of bullet for African plains game from wildebeest to eland? I'm thinking something like a 200-grain Barnes TSX or one of the GMXs from Hornady. I've heard good reports on the flat-shooting Nosler Accubonds, too.

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heard good reports on the flat-shooting Nosler Accubonds, too.

A month ago I'd have recommended A-Frames.....still a very fine bullet....but today I'd go with 180 or 200 grain accubonds.... and only for their excellent BC!

I think if you're interested you'll see that the 200 grain accubond carries more energy to 500 yards than the 180 accubond does....and I'm not at all sure it's important as either are going to do the job for you. I've not hunted eland, but have been told they can run to 1500 pounds....that's a lot of antelope!

Vapodog: That's kind of what I was thinking about the Accubonds. Rifle would be an original 1928 Springfield Armory 1903 NRA sporter with Lyman 48 peep ...
IF I can put in the range time to use it properly!

I had good luck with the plain old hornady 180gr BTSP interlock.

My velocity was around 2600 with 60 grains of H4831.

I don't think one particularly needs premiums with the heavy bullets weights in the '06 but will take 180 grain A-frames next time I go.

I'm not sure quite to tell you the truth, I think one just feels more confident somehow packing premiums and it can't hurt I suppose.

Everything I have shot with A-Frames has gone to the taxidermist.

I had good results with the 180 TSX in Namibia with my 30/06. With my zebra, it passed through the chest and left a good wound channel. With a kudu, it passed through the upper shoulder area and stuck on the far side of his neck and the mushroom was okay, but 2 of the petals fell off. I took some smaller animals too and the bullet passed through each of the times. All the animals were one shot kills and the bullet performed.

I didn't take an eland, but from what I understand, you would be very unlikely to take a shot much beyond 200 yards, so I wouldn't be too concerned with the BC of a bullet. The longest shot I took on any of my animals was about 130 yards. Even if you had an opportunity at a long shot, your PH probably would insist on getting closer.

Bill: I have been using 180 Nosler Partitions. with about 57 grains of IMR4350, on elk. They give spectacular results.

Jerry

For an iron sighted rifle, you are probably not too concerned with 300 yard trajectory. Since the plains game you mentioned are on the large side the heavier bullets would be my pick. Something like the 200 or 220gr Partitions or if monometal, the 180gr TSX. I would be concerned that you would run out of powder capacity with the monometals above 180gr.
That being said, Mrs Blacktailer did fine on her zebra with 165 TSX in her 308 so if you put the bullet in the right place, anything from 165 on up will get er done.

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Originally posted by Ed Scarboro:
Everything I have shot with A-Frames has gone to the taxidermist.

Me, too.

I don't know anything about Accubonds, but I know a lot about A Frames. No reason to change.

Two of the three of us on our plains game trip used .30 caliber 180 Nosler Partitions. One was in a .30-06 (about 2780 fps) and the other in a .300 Winchester (around 3000 fps). Both performed admirably on animals from bantam weight springbock to kudu and mountain zebra (700+ pounds).

I would be about as confident with those proven 180 Partitions, 180 Accubonds, 200 Partitions, or 200 Accubonds.

Since you are using iron sights, thus presumably limiting your shooting to a "stretched" hundred yards or so, trajectory and B.C. don't make a lot of difference. While I like the Accubond very much, I think I might opt for the time-proven Partition in the 200 grain. Its front section is a reliable expander and the back section always penetrates, making it as effective for smaller game as well as larger.

A good eland bull will probably outweigh a similarly good Cape Buff. But since the eland doesn't tend to come after you just because you shoot it, you can get by with a much lighter gun. Your fine old '06 will do the job on eland, but you probably do legitimately have an excuse for a truly heavyweight bullet if eland is your main quarry.

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A good eland bull will probably outweigh a similarly good Cape Buff. But since the eland doesn't tend to come after you just because you shoot it, you can get by with a much lighter gun. Your fine old '06 will do the job on eland, but you probably do legitimately have an excuse for a truly heavyweight bullet if eland is your main quarry.

Eland are really big animals so be sure to pick a tough bullet and I would say 200 gr at least, especially as you don't need velocity at the short distance.

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Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
What would be your choice of bullet for African plains game from wildebeest to eland? I'm thinking something like a 200-grain Barnes TSX or one of the GMXs from Hornady. I've heard good reports on the flat-shooting Nosler Accubonds, too.

That 200 TSX is very-very long, and I think you will do better with 168 or 180 TSX.

Another vote for Hornady 180gr, either FB or BT. If you want to spend a little more, the 180gr Accubond is another great bullet.

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I have been using 180 Nosler Partitions

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I would be about as confident with those proven 180 Partitions

+3!

Barnes 168 TSX or TTSX. Something about pulling one out of an animal and it being perfectly mushroomed and still weighing 168 gr. that inspires confidence. Shot from my '06 I have several from gemsbok, wildebeest, zebra, and kudu that fit that description.

+1 on the Barnes 200 being to long and it doesn't offer any better terminal performance for it's size. If yor considering a 200 grainer or better stick with the lead coded variety.

I've killed quite a few elk, carabou, deer and a Rocky Mountain Big Horn sheep with 180 gr Hornady SPBT InterLocks out of '06s. Never had one fail and see no reason to change when I go to Africa for plains game except perhaps to use the Hornady 190 gr SPBT on eland, gemsbock and greater kudu perhaps.

Larry Gibson

First choice from my bench would be 200 grain Swift A-Frames with a large dose of R-22 underneath them.

I live in Africa and my plains game rifle is a 30-06, the only bullets i hunt with are 180gr TSX at 2650fps. With a well placed shot that is the only bullet you will ever need for even the biggest PG. Swift A's are also great but over the past few years not readily available here so not many guys load with them. I wouldnt hesitate to use either

200 gn nosler @ 2700, its a really well balanced proj for the 06 velocities, keep away from the mono s, you still dont know which one will expand and which one will drill straight through .i have had great sucess with the 200 gn nosler, and the more i use it, in the 06 the more i like it , and the less im useing my 180 gn noslers, and thats really saying something

I used the 180gr Hornady Interlock RN on one plainsgame hunt and the 180gr Hornady BTSP on another trip. Shot about a dozen plains game animals the largest being kudu and zebra. I was very happy with bullet performanance. If I needed something more I'd bring a .338 winmag instead of a different bullet.

no experience with the mono's, but i know the 180gr partitions will get the job done.

Try reading this before you make up your mind.

http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-...listics/methods.html

It shows some extensive results of various calibers and bullet weights.

My firwst choice would be the 180 Accubond second choice the 180 Part. I've used both in numerous calibers. I've never had an accubond fail and they often eave a large exit. Plus in most cases I've found them easier to find an accurate load.

For the most part plains game are not that hard to kill assuming you do your part.

First trip to RSA was last year and I used 180 Nosler Partition pushing just over 2700 fps. It's performance was outstanding. No problems taking a Warthog, Nyala, Kudu and Waterbuck. Although I am a firm believer in proper bullet placement. Put the bullet where it needs to go and you should no problems.

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Originally posted by jetdrvr:

quote:

Originally posted by Ed Scarboro:
Everything I have shot with A-Frames has gone to the taxidermist.

Me, too.

I don't know anything about Accubonds, but I know a lot about A Frames. No reason to change.

Me three, in .30-06 and 9.3x62.

Mike, except you animals walked to the taxidermist!

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Finlander:
Try reading this before you make up your mind.

http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-...listics/methods.html

It shows some extensive results of various calibers and bullet weights.

Capt. Fin:

the link above is indeed interesting, and has much to offer! The two concerns I'd have, however, with are:
1. How many "shots" were fired for each specific projectile?
2. The impact velocity of projectiles of common weight & caliber varies; given such, it seems difficult to draw a
robust conclusion.

Another paper worth reading (for those who have too much discretionary time on our hands!) is a work by Fackler. It's now over 30 years old, but his method is sound and it should be a good starting point for discussion. There are a number of links that will take you to it, so I won't specify one here - just google:

WRONG WITH THE WOUND BALLISTICS LITERATURE, AND WHY; by M.L. Fackler, M.D.

Lastly, while I have concerns about methodology in the first link, it does raise questions about the penetration of Accubonds, particularly in .308 & .338 calibers. I'd be very intersted to see if these results could be repeated by other sources.

friar

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Bill: I have been using 180 Nosler Partitions. with about 57 grains of IMR4350, on elk. They give spectacular results.

Jerry

And I've used that same indetical load (WW Brass and WLRP) since 1981 and It's done in Lion, Leopard, Eland, most of the other antelope species on down to Dik-dik.
It chrono's at 2,725 fps in my 22" barreled Model 700 Remington. The rifle still gives less than one inch groups. It's on it's 3rd stock and I don't know how many scopes but it's worn a 2 1/2 X 8 Leopold VXIII for a couple of decades now.

Rich Elliott