best bullet for plains game
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thanks for all input found this while browsing makes for some interesting reading
Myth "meats" reality: rifles for African plains game | Guns Magazine | Find Articles at BNET
Myth "meats" reality: rifles for African plains game | Guns Magazine | Find Articles at BNET
Although NP,s are a good bullet I have had weight retention issues with them fragmenting on moose.minimal weight retention. 
I,m going to try barnes ttsx this coming hunting season and have heard excellant things about these bullets ,superb accuracy, controlled expansion to give deep penertration and very high weight retention.Have heard of the ttsx not expanding very well under 1900fps, but out of my .375 at 2800fps 250gr bullet I cant see any expansion problems.
Cant wait for elk season
I,m going to try barnes ttsx this coming hunting season and have heard excellant things about these bullets ,superb accuracy, controlled expansion to give deep penertration and very high weight retention.Have heard of the ttsx not expanding very well under 1900fps, but out of my .375 at 2800fps 250gr bullet I cant see any expansion problems.
Cant wait for elk season
I usually use and prefer a 7x57 Mauser when hunting in South Africa and it is about on par balistically with the 7-08 (since this is the balistics they tried to duplicate). It is about the best al round cal to use in my books. Kudu and impala are not plains animals but prefer thick stuff. Chances are that you would be shooting at under 100m for these two, unless you're hunting in mountains? Depending on where you go shooting condtions vary like night from day. Gemsbuck can either be found on plains or again in the thick stuff and ranges vary from very close (40m) to 200-300m depending on your abilities and terrain. Personnally I dont like to shoot at over 250m.
I found the light 130-140gr to be just a bit too light for kudu and gemsbuck but if you use a good guality 'hard' bullet it would not be a problem. I've not used the Nostlers but Sierra Gameking and Hornady Interlock bullets work well (and any quallity bonded bullet should). Steer well clear of any varmit or target bullets, though accurate they have a tendency to disintegrate on impact and you will have an unpleasant follow up.
The 7-08 has a similar twist to the 7x57 and my bullet of choice is the 175gr for the bigger game (or dense bush) and 130gr for springbuck or blesbuck (only because it recoil less and the rifle is an ultralight). If you're going to shoot at shorter distances a heavier and slower bullet will have more controlled expansion and thus a more reliable kill.
So if you want one load to do it all, which is what I would recommend, is to work on a load with a 170-175gr bullet of your choice. My favourate is the Hornady 175gr Interlock and I get superb accuracy from it and is man enough for any thin skinned animal that walks this earth. Though I usually take the 9.3 for the even bigger ones, it just feels right to do so, and it is not through lack of capability of the 7mm.
I found the light 130-140gr to be just a bit too light for kudu and gemsbuck but if you use a good guality 'hard' bullet it would not be a problem. I've not used the Nostlers but Sierra Gameking and Hornady Interlock bullets work well (and any quallity bonded bullet should). Steer well clear of any varmit or target bullets, though accurate they have a tendency to disintegrate on impact and you will have an unpleasant follow up.
The 7-08 has a similar twist to the 7x57 and my bullet of choice is the 175gr for the bigger game (or dense bush) and 130gr for springbuck or blesbuck (only because it recoil less and the rifle is an ultralight). If you're going to shoot at shorter distances a heavier and slower bullet will have more controlled expansion and thus a more reliable kill.
So if you want one load to do it all, which is what I would recommend, is to work on a load with a 170-175gr bullet of your choice. My favourate is the Hornady 175gr Interlock and I get superb accuracy from it and is man enough for any thin skinned animal that walks this earth. Though I usually take the 9.3 for the even bigger ones, it just feels right to do so, and it is not through lack of capability of the 7mm.
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300 Win Mag with a 200g Swift A Frame @ 2750fps = Perfection!
george joy
Well-Known Member
Im in complete agreement with Trevor about using your 7mm08 - based on personal experience. I have shot Kudu, Blue Wildebest, Impala, Warthog without any problems albeit at sensible distances (max 190yds) with my 7mm08 140grain. As long as you use a good bullet I dont think you will have any problem ie not Nosler Ballistic Tip.
Have a word with your PH about shot placement on the game you will be shooting as their vitals are located differently to what we are used to on our Deer - much more important than all the calibre debate nonsense,
Enjoy your trip
Have a look at the GS Custom bullets website, from what I remember they hunt a lot with the 7x57 which is ballistically equivalent to the 7mm08. Personally I would look at a monometal bullet such as the tsx or GS custom but if you cant get any then I would be happy with the accubonds or partitions. Other options would be the swift a frame or trophy bonded bearclaw
deerwarden
Well-Known Member
I took Kudo, impala red hartebeast, blesbuck, black and blue wilder beast, with 7x57, one year and 270 the next year, used Barnes TXs in both rifles all exited except one warthog, cracking bullet that the P.H. were impressed with and thieve seen them all, would use the 7x57 again but used the 270 second time for longer shots. Use the rifle you happy and competent with, a gut shot animal reacts the same whether shot with 375 or 7mm, as does a heart/lung shot animal. deerwarden
george joy
Well-Known Member
well worth reading, thanks
been working up some loads for my .375hh
im using barnes tipped tsx 250 gr bullets
started working up using 73 grains of reloader 15 with a mv of 2780fps
max load was 76.5gr of reloader 15 with a mv of 2950 average
the groupings were under 1inch at a hundred, the barrel length on my rifle is 21 inches sako 85 kodiak model
very impressed with this load, shall be going elk hunting in 2 weeks time!
cant wait
dan
im using barnes tipped tsx 250 gr bullets
started working up using 73 grains of reloader 15 with a mv of 2780fps
max load was 76.5gr of reloader 15 with a mv of 2950 average
the groupings were under 1inch at a hundred, the barrel length on my rifle is 21 inches sako 85 kodiak model
very impressed with this load, shall be going elk hunting in 2 weeks time!
cant wait
dan
Bandedsolid
Member
New Laws
What ever you use, you will now need to use something from 150gr and up. A new law has been set in South Africa ....anything from Kudu, Gemsbuck and up needs to be at least 150gr. Not many South Africans even know this yet... the law if you "google" it is called the TOPS law....There asre also minimum calibrs and Ft/LBS that must be met... (about time)
What ever you use, you will now need to use something from 150gr and up. A new law has been set in South Africa ....anything from Kudu, Gemsbuck and up needs to be at least 150gr. Not many South Africans even know this yet... the law if you "google" it is called the TOPS law....There asre also minimum calibrs and Ft/LBS that must be met... (about time)
Bandedsolid
Member
Tops.
Tops has only recently been gazeted (brought into law) will pm you the laws.... We have just been informed so we can warn clients before hand.
Tops has only recently been gazeted (brought into law) will pm you the laws.... We have just been informed so we can warn clients before hand.
SAHUNT
Member
Bandedsolid is absolutely correct. The legislation was published in the Goverment Gazette on 27 May2011, it is vol 551 No 34326 and is called "Norms and Standards for hunting methods in South Africa" and forms part of the "National Enviromental Management:Biodiversity Act 2004 (Act no 10 of 2004)". You will not find it on the SAPS website, they only deal with the issueing of firearms permits or licences. DEAT manages our wildlife and legislation on nature conservation. On our website is a full explanation of bullet weights for hunting rifles and handguns as well as the kinetic energy and arrow weights for bow hunting.
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