Hunting Bullets

[onelastshot]

After 40 plus years of contemplation I've finally pulled the trigger so to speak, and booked a hunt in Africa for this fall. I'll be hunting ten different animals anywhere from a springbuck to an Eland that can weigh upwards of 1,500-2000 pounds. Over the next few months my primary objective is going to be finding the proper bullets for my 338 Federal and my 270 WSM. In short I'm trying to find the best bullet for both cartridges.

For the 270 WSM I've focused on the Swift Aframe in 150 grains and for the 338 federal I've been working up loads using the 213 grain Hammer Hunter. So far these two respective bullets have given me the best performance and accuracy. My question is simple, are there any hunting bullets I should be trying in addition to these two? I've tried the Nosler Accubond but I'm getting better groups with the Swift Afraims. Are there any serious hunting bullets I should be testing against these two? I'm going to be shooting 600-800 rounds practicing so now is the time to develop rounds.

 

[Mark M.]

I don't know what distance you'll be shooting at, and with the size and distance of these animal's, I believe I would be more concerned with bullet performance than groups

 

[onelastshot]

I don't know what distance you'll be shooting at, and with the size and distance of these animal's, I believe I would be more concerned with bullet performance than groups

You're 100% correct! That's why I'm asking if I'm missing some bullet that has excellent performance in the field. African animals are known for being tough to kill. THe shots are going to be from 200-300 yards on average. I want the absolute best bullet that going to penetrate and retain bullet weight. African animals' heart is forward, you've got to shoot through the shoulder to hit the vitals so you need a bullet that can penetrate solid bone and retain most of it's weight. I simply want the best bullet available.

 

[Dave Garrett]

Swift A Frames and or Barnes Triple Shocks seem to be a good bullet choice for many of the species you will be hunting in Africa..You would maybe be better off asking your Outfitter and Guide what they would like you to use...JMO Dave..

 

[onelastshot]

I'm leaning towards the Swift A Frames, they have the weight and penetration. THe Barnes are too light the heaviest they have in the .277 is 130 grain where I'm looking for 150 grain.

 

[mmcu]

Barnes does offer a 150 grain TSX bullet in .277.

 

[Bill K]

I think most of the PH's like shots in and around 100-200 yrds, also I would ask you outfitter or PH what they recommend for your rifle calibers chosen.

 

[thatguyshm]

I'd probably look into a 185gr TTSX for your federal. I get 2730fps out of the 180gr Accubond with my 22" Ruger M77. You should be able to get to 2700 or maybe more if you went with 8208. I think I would want a bit of speed with a mono metal. There's also the woodleigh 180gr designed around the federal.

I think your choices are solid, and if that's the route you go you will do fine. I would check with your guide to see if they recommend a solid in 270 for the eland or something heavier in the 338 federal.

 

[Gary in MD]

If it were me, I would go with Nosler Partitions or the Barnes TSX. I’d take which one of those two shot best in my rifle.
Good hunting,
Gary

 

[Dusty Stevens]

^exactly. Go with sub 200gr in the 338fed.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

For the 270 the swift will be fine and for the 338 any decent bullet will kill them, partition or interbond if you get the warm feeling from bonded bullets. Im not a mono guy but a TTSX will also work, honestly I cant see any thing you will shoot over here standing after taking a 150gr Swift to the hart, Eland are big but we shoot them with anything from 6.5 and up, Friend of mine took this one just beyond 600y in the Natal mountains.

260AI
143gr ELDx


After receiving the ELDx the bull walked about 90y and dropped

 

[boltfluter]

For the 270 the swift will be fine and for the 338 any decent bullet will kill them, partition or interbond if you get the warm feeling from bonded bullets. Im not a mono guy but a TTSX will also work, honestly I cant see any thing you will shoot over here standing after taking a 150gr Swift to the hart, Eland are big but we shoot them with anything from 6.5 and up, Friend of mine took this one just beyond 600y in the Natal mountains.

260AI
143gr ELDx


After receiving the ELDx the bull walked about 90y and dropped

Beautiful animal in a very beautiful area. What a huge antelope!

Paul

 

[hogpatrol]

PM sent.

 

[hogpatrol]

Awesome eland, Capt. and killed at distance with a 260AI. I know this will offend just about every Africa hunter but the ones that live there (they kill animals with .22 rimfires that Americans need 375 H&Hs) but Americans are in love with "ARM CANNONS" and are overgunned and prone to mistakes and bad hits shooting off of sticks when hunting in Africa. I've seen it first hand.
For the OP, practice, practice, practice, off of sticks.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

With a 30.06 in hand there is not one plains game animal on this continent that you will not be able to kill with a decent bullet placed in the correct spot, no need for canons but if you can put that bullet where it needs to be with that rife bring it and swing it. Eland is big and they have heavy bones (that one had about an inch maybe a bit more of fat between the skin and meat as well), ill say that at shorter range with "higher powered" rifles and poor quality bullets is where you find yourself in trouble when you hit that heavy shoulder bone but I have seen them taken with allot of different calibers, personally if I take a body shot I try to place it tight against the shoulder especially if its standing at a bit of an angle away, call it a bow hunter shot maybe.

Like this one, rite there is where a VLD turns a heart to mush.

For a reassuring shot especially if your not worried about saving meat you can take him on the shoulder inline with his leg like below

Only two I can think of now where the hart sits a bit more "back" towards the stomach is Bue/BlackWilde Beast en Zebra

 

[hogpatrol]

With a 30.06 in hand there is not one plains game animal on this continent that you will not be able to kill with a decent bullet placed in the correct spot, no need for canons but if you can put that bullet where it needs to be with that rife bring it and swing it. Eland is big and they have heavy bones (that one had about an inch maybe a bit more of fat between the skin and meat as well), ill say that at shorter range with "higher powered" rifles and poor quality bullets is where you find yourself in trouble when you hit that heavy shoulder bone but I have seen them taken with allot of different calibers, personally if I take a body shot I try to place it tight against the shoulder especially if its standing at a bit of an angle away, call it a bow hunter shot maybe.

Like this one, rite there is where a VLD turns a heart to mush.

For a reassuring shot especially if your not worried about saving meat you can take him on the shoulder inline with his leg like below

Only two I can think of now where the hart sits a bit more "back" towards the stomach is Bue/BlackWilde Beast en Zebra

Good to see another VLD user. Except for the .17 Fireball and the SSTs in the muzzleloader, it's the only bullet I've ever used. The killing power of that bullet in the right spot, has no equal. On the '06, there have been more animals killed in Africa with the old military rounds than everything else combined. Bell killed a thousand of elephants with a 7mm mauser, one shot. Undergunned, it's a myth.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

180gr Barnes TSX from a .300 Winchester Magnum, bullets recovered from kudu and oryx shot at ranges from 100-300 yards. Springbok and blue wildebeest couldn't contain the bullet. Average weight retention >95%.

 

[hogpatrol]

Toby, were any of them runners?

 

[Down South]

You're 100% correct! That's why I'm asking if I'm missing some bullet that has excellent performance in the field. African animals are known for being tough to kill. THe shots are going to be from 200-300 yards on average. I want the absolute best bullet that going to penetrate and retain bullet weight. African animals' heart is forward, you've got to shoot through the shoulder to hit the vitals so you need a bullet that can penetrate solid bone and retain most of it's weight. I simply want the best bullet available.

If you are looking for good penetration the Barnes bullets will get it done. I shoot the TTSX 180 gr in my 35 Whelan with good results.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Toby, were any of them runners?

One of the oryx ran about 250 yards, leaving an impressive blood trail. The kudu went about 75 yards on a broken shoulder and ventilated vitals. The other 3 oryx didn't take a step after being hit.