Bullets for Kudu/ Oryx

[Ianred]

What other bullet would you recommend for the .270 - thinking of also getting the 150gr Nosler Partition?

What is the heaviest bullet one can load for the 270?

Mostly want to use it for shooting the usual oryx/kudu at average 100 - 250m. Quite happy with the performance of the Nosler - used it in the 243. Only problem is at close range, there is a lot of meat damage.

Can understand you want all the energy dissipated within the animal, but with a through shot the bleeding becomes more - faster blood loss and easier spoor to track.

Take for example the Oryx bullet, which we have used in the 8x68S. The bullet has no controlled expansion - at high velocity,Shooting at close range) the bullet expands up 90% of its length. Shot a kudu bull at about 15m in the neck and the bullet did not exit, but expanded to the size of approximately a N$5 coin. Also, with most of the animals already shot, the bullet does not exit,All energy dissipated within animal), BUT the entry wound closes up and there is no blood trail, which could be deceiving at times, especially at long shots.

I presume it is a very debatable topic - do you want the bullet to exit, or do you want it to decipate all the energy within the animal.

Thanks
Ian

 

[StephenPerry]

Ian
For a .270 you might look for some Winchester Silver Tip ammo in either 150 or 170 grn. You can't you better bullet or ammo for game. Other choices if you load are the Barnes, Speer Grand Slam or the Nosler's that you already shoot. Any Mule Deer load would do fine.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

 

[M700]

Ian - I've never hunted kudu or oryx - but am a big fan of the Nosler Partition. The front is soft and expands rapidly, causing a lot of damage. The rear stays intact and drives forward, often completely penetrating. I've never recovered one. Mostly though, I hunt mule deer. Have also taken elk, and the 7mm/175 gr Nosler Partition penetrated all the way through - dropping the 700 pound animal very quickly. They are decently accurate bullets too, although not rivaling match bullets, I can generally load them to shoot rather well, MOA or better.

A buddy of mine hunted Africa last year with a .300 Win mag. He had 180 grain ammo both Nosler Partitions and Nosler Ballistic Tip. Said the ballistic tip ammo performed better, dropping game faster. No need for tracking in most cases. He did shoot both kudu and oryx/gemsbok. We were both surprised that the ballistic tip turned out to be the favored bullet.

Regards, Guy

 

[12man]

Nosler's Accubond bullet is an excellent one with the best of both the ballistic tip & partition. Accurate & still holds together Good Luck

 

[Twud]

I've hunted both with a 300 Wby and 180 gr. Nosler Partitions. The bullet performed great with no exit wounds, excellent expansion and no fragmentation. The shot on my Gemsbok was raking forward, and that bullet did peel all the way to the partition.
I think you'll be OK with a 270, but I would sure be more comfortable shooting one of the fast 30's. Even though the ranges can be long over there, you still need to shoot a heavy bullet. Dem critters is tough.
IMHO

 

[Rustystud]

Both of these animals are both heaver and tougher than an American deer and maybe an elk. For gods sake use enough gun with a premium bullet. This means a 300 win mag or larger.
Rusystud

 

[Twud]

Remember, if you cripple one and it can't be found you still pay the trophy fee. This thought was going through my mind when I decided to take a 1,500 lb. Cape Eland with the 300. Trophy fee-$1,000. Took 3 shots on the wink to drop him. Absolutely under gunned.

 

[dsbw]

Berger 168gr,7mm, speeds between 2800 & 3000. Killed numerous Zebra, Kudu & Gemsbok. Only problem being close range,200m and less) where soft jacket has shown to be a disadvantage at times.These are the typical species we hunt here all year round, I've been using Berger 168 for last 4 years, premium performance, superior accuracy.

 

[rstreich]

I've been really happy with the Swift Scirocco II and the Barnes TSX bullets, Ian. I lean towards the Swifts because they have a BC edge over the Barnes, but that's probably not important to you. Both have been very accurate,for hunting bullets) in my rifles. I switched to these for the same reason as you--I didn't like all the meat damage from other bullets.

Weight retention has run over 90% for me with the Sciroccos including an errant shot smack into the shoulder of a Caribou.
The few Barnes I've used and recovered ran 99% weight retention. Both bullets have had reliable expansion and killed as well as or better than any other bullets I've used.

The only local knowledge I can pass on is that Pierre Vorster,South Africa) was recommending the Scirocco IIs to his clients.

As to whether or not a bullet should expend all of it's energy in the animal: Who can say? With a solid lung shot, most of the bleeding is going to be internal anyway. I guess if it were a misplaced shot, it'd be better to have an exit wound as you'd likely have a better blood trail.

 

[Ianred]

Thanks for all you replay's

What is your shooting distance on medium and big game in the USA.
What do you think of the new Barnes MRX bullet.
http://www.barnesbullets.com
Send me a Photo of shot placement and Game.

Ian from Namibia