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From: Nitro (Original Message) Sent: 3/3/2002 5:56 PM
What do people consider is the best premium big game bullet available?

I'm particularly interested in the .375 and .458 calibres.

The bullets would be both solids or full metal jackets, and also premium softpoints designed for controlled expansion.

For various game, including: Cape Buff (solids and soft points); Lion (soft points); elephant (solids); plus the large antelope such as eland, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, sable etc.

Also North American game such as bear and moose.

Please also specifiy whether bullet is eg a spitzer or a round nose, semi-pointed etc

Any discussion welcome.

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From: moss Sent: 3/4/2002 10:21 AM
Nitro,
On something dangerous, and if your looking for the best money can buy?

In my book I'd have to go with the Barnes bullets in a round point.

For hunting any large game in North America (except Grizzlys, Browns And Polor bears) there are many quility bullets available to get the job done. My all time favorites (factory loads) are the Remington core-lok in 180 gr. round nose. I hunt mostly in the eastern part of the U.S.A. and the shooting distances are a lot shorter then in the western parts. In the western parts I'd probally be useing a boat-tail bullet. I like the nosler 165gr. boat-tails. I can push these with good balistics to 500 yrds.(using a bolt action remington 03/A3 with a tactical 6x24x42mm scope) And I'm sure with a proffessional sniper or shooter this would be a good combo to 1000yds.

moss

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From: Bigfive Sent: 3/4/2002 3:49 PM
Hi there Nitro,
My personal choice would be monolithic solids on Bufs and Elephant.On al the other animals you named plus the bufs I would use a partition bullet were the the lead in the lower half is bonded in so your weight retention stays good.The only thing with .375H&H and solids is that they may sometimes on short range be over penetrating.And you don't want to shoot a charging buffalo with a over penetrating solid that flies through that buff.You need the expantion to cause damage(as much as possible)and to give the buff brakes.All must however be of outstanding quality.The smaller game like zebra,kudu ect is that a big problem and quality softnose bullets would do just fine.Remember that shotplacement is the real question!!

Good shooting
B5

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From: Nitro Sent: 3/5/2002 12:47 AM
In the past I used Nosler Partitions quite a bit and still have lots of them in stock plus lots of loaded ammunition.

This is mainly for my .30-06. For 98% of hunting in Australia the .30-06 is more than enough gun. It will put down all the feral game (pigs, goats, donkeys, camels etc) well, it is way over the top for roos. For this sort of game I use a 150 gr Nosler Solid Base as they are cheaper, they have good ranging capabilities and the greater expansion is not a problem. I used to use a .222 a lot when I first started shooting but the little 55 gr bullet even with good placement just results in having to chase up too many wounded animals and I lost two good trophy goats in very rough country. They both would have died but would have run far enough that the multiple gullies and rocky outcrops hid them. So the 30-06 came into the armoury pretty quickly.

However I am not impressed with the ballistic tip bullets and preferred the older soft point solid bases or hollow points.

It handles all the deer species very well, sambar is the main deer species where some hunters may choose something bigger but it is not necessary to go bigger, but considering the very thick bush they inhabit, the once in a lifetime of seeing a big trophy animal while stalking, and the fact they will often be on the run and in the opposite direction, its can be a good idea to have a larger calibre rifle with good penetration, bush bucking to anchor the animal.

For deer I usually choose a soft point solid base or partition in 150 gr. Sambar I use an older 200 gr semi round nose which are no longer available. 220 gr would also be good.

But I also intend to try out my Browning 308 leveraction with a 180 gr round nose for sambar as that rifle is so sweet, quick and nice and light to carry.

I had a lot of problems with 180 gr Nosler Partitions in 30-06 in Zimbabwe, but the 200 gr Partitions I also luckily took worked fine. The 180 gr acted like solids and zipped right through, not doing much damage.

So I have stocked up and want to try the Barnes X points in my 30-06, as they have a very good reputation. Moss so I like that you find them effective. I will use up the Partitions over the next "50" years on deer.

For my 375 I have a supply of both Barnes X points (235 gr and 270 gr) as well as Woodleigh SPs and Solids (300 gr). Woodleighs also have a very good reputation and as they are made in Australia, the supply should be assured.

However most of my shooting of the 375 is the Australian made Taipan 220 gr which is made for the 375 Winchester, soft and explosive. Deadly on smaller game like pigs and goats. Good cheap practice too. When you shoot large limestone rocks for practice on top of posts rapid fire and the bits fly up to 10 metres away, it is quite impressive. Can never get enough practice, though my shoulder sometimes disagrees. Quite accurate too.

In the future 458 I will probably use Woodleighs again in 500 gr Solids and SPs, plus again something in the 350 gr RN/FP (these dinky little 45/70 bullets - LOL) for practice and fun.

I was just wondering what other people are using. I had a lot of faith in Nosler Partitions and don't want the bullets to let me down again. The bit of metal flying through the air in terms of cost is nothing compared to the total cost of a hunt. Theres a lot of bullets I am not familiar with A-Square, etc so I'm interested to hear how these other premiums measure up.

BigFive, you are 100% right, shot placement is the first requirement and then making sure the bullet is capable of finishing the job.

Which brings me to Moss's thread topic.

Good Hunting Everyone

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