I just got back from hunting in tne Northern Province of South Africa. Had an excellent time. Hunted with Cruiser Safaris. Shot Kudu, gemsbbok, impala 23 7/8, warthog. My wife shot her first animals ever, impala and blue wilbebeast. WE had a fantastic time. Everything about the place was first rate. PH was very good. I can post pics when film is back. We videoed entire trip. Only bad parts to trip were flight on SAA from Atlanta and due to a bad shot on my part unable to find my Kudu. Man those African animals are tough. I learned alot on this trip. I intend to apply it next year for plains game again. They have got to do something about the seating on that flight on SAA. Next time I will do my best to find another airline.

300, it may be a bit further but fly into Dulles and then to Joberg on 747. They are flying this route only a few days a week but if we hunters make it more used they may take it to a daily flight.

Congratulations, 300Magmman! Sounds like a great trip except for the kudu episode. These things happen at times regardless of how hard we try and ensure they do not!

Look forward to your pictures and at 6'3", I feel your pain on those SAA flights.

Congrats 300magman,

I leave friday for Namibia through Joberg, what about the SAA flight was bad, maybe I can prepare for it. Also what grain bullet did you use on your 300? I am shooting the 180 nosler, hope it to be enough.

David

Well about the flight. It is very long to say the least. It was very hot. There are no personal air vents on the airbus. I am 6'3" and my knees were in the seat in front of me the entire time. Even my wife who is much shorter was very uncomfortable with the seating. The middle seats are narrower than the side rows but the metal boxes for the personal video controlers on the side seats block your foot room as well. There are no good seats on the plane other than the business class. The requirements for getting on the plane are changing constantly. No one looked at my guns or ammo in Atlanta. No one even asked about ammo in Atlanta. In joberg everone wanted to see everything several times. The flight was the absolute worst part of an otherwise fantastic trip. Oh and on the flight there was one bar service for the entire flight both coming and going. Also getting water or juice was difficult. You had to go and get it from the galley. Well that aside I used federal premium .300 win mag ammo 180 gr. nosler partition. Skinners Recovered 2 bullets only. My impala and gemsbok fell in place and never moved again. Kudu was not recovered eventhough I saw a perfect shoulder shot through the scope and the PH and the tracker also did. Warthog was a little low but shot passed through entire body quartering and out left side throug the shoulder. Wife shot wildebeast at 100 yards and perfect on shoulder. Bullet appeared to me to separate from front part of jacket. Shot Impala with passthrough also. Recovered 2 bullets total that appear identical to me. The bullets did the job but next time I will try a larger caliber.

Your 300 mags with the 180 grain bullets work best if you can slow them down to 2400-2500 fps.
Of coarse this is not possible with factory ammo!
In Namibia the speed should be alright if you shots are out in the open and long.

quote:

Originally posted by 300magman:
The bullets did the job but next time I will try a larger caliber.

Next time try Trophy Bonded Bear Claws or Barnes TSX, I think you will see a difference.

Thanks I was going to try the trophy bonded bear claws next time or the TSX. I experimented with the TSX before the trip but they would not group worth a damn. I may try them in some handloads next time.

I have found the Factory Federal TSX to be quite fast,(over 3000 fps), but they seat the bullets too deep.

I pulled some, and reseated them out further, and the groups were better.

So maybe your handlaods will do better too.

Start about .030 off the lands, ( if your magazine will fit them),and go deeper from there and see what happens.

Terry,
I just shot both - TBBC and TSX Federals- in my .300 win mag - both group very well at 100yds at about an inch. I am impressed with both and will take both to Zim next week. Will report on results.