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Hunting >> Hunting in Africa & hunting dangerous game

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Fjold
.275 member

Reged: 28/06/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Bakersfield, CA, USA

The right gun/load for Nyala
#255868 - 28/10/14 12:05 PM

Most of my guns are small bores except for the serious safari guns and I'm planning on a Nyala hunt for my next trip. Some of the outfitters are telling me to expect shots between 200 and 300 yards with an occasional shot a little longer. They prefer 300 Mags with 180 grain bullets up through 338 Win mags with 225 and 250 grain bullets. They want the Nyala dead right there before it can get back into the thick brush.

My choices are:

7mm Rem mag with the 160 grain Accubond (my gun will not shoot anything heavier accurately). Sighted in at 200 yards it has 6.8" of drop at 300 yards and 12.4" at 350 yards.

375 H&H with the 300 grain TSX.
Sighted in at 200 yards it has 10.8" of drop at 300 yards and 19.9" of drop at 350 yards.

I'm confident shooting either gun. The 7 Mag will hold an inch at 100 yards and the 375 H&H will group less than that. I've shot a zebra at 301 yards with the 375 H&H (one shot) and I've shot an antelope at 350 yards with the 7 Mag (one shot).

Do I take the flatter shooting 7 Mag or the heavier hitting 375 H&H?

--------------------
Frank

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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member

Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Fjold]
#255869 - 28/10/14 12:34 PM

I'd suggest going with the 375, and if you can get them to shoot, 270 grain TSX pills. They'll be a little bit faster, and have less drop than the 300 grain, although the load you have will sure get the job done. Usually, Nyala means hunting in thicker brush, so bullet drop shouldn't be an issue. I'd skip the 7mm mag in this case.

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Rell
.375 member

Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
#255891 - 28/10/14 10:17 PM

I have taken three Nyala and seen another two taken, so that must make me an expert ....

Seriously though my limited experience is that they are not that big or particularly tough. They look bigger then they are because of all that gorgeous fur. Maybe about the size of a good mule deer.

Three of the five where one shot kills and all three dropped to the shot.
1. 7mm them mag 150 nosler etip (125 yards)
2. 338-06 210gr Barnes X tipped. (225 yards)
3. 270 Win 150 Barnes X tipped (100 yards)

Two required or a least got a second shot.
4. 6.5x284 127gr Barns x LR (75 yards)
5. 338 federal 160gr barns X tipped (175 yards)

I would take the 7mm mostly because it's easier to shoot prone off of a bipod or sitting off of the tripod. Longer shots are possible but in each case we had time to stalk closer.

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.

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Ripp
.577 member

Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Rell]
#255898 - 28/10/14 11:51 PM

My initial thought is where are you hunting?

If you are on a game ranch in South Africa I would use the 7mag...

If you are hunting in other areas where you could bump into dangerous game while out and about, I would take the 375H&H...just because you could end up facing something much larger than Nyala

I shot mine with a 300RUM..dropped to the shot like it was hit by the hammer of Thor...200GR A-Frames..

Nyala are not a huge animal..put the bullet where it belongs either will work very well..

Ripp

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

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Mike_Bailey
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Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Ripp]
#255901 - 29/10/14 12:36 AM

Shot one only with a .25-06 in the chest at about 120 yards , it went 30 yards, Barnes triple X perfectly mushroomed on the other side, best

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mikeh416Rigby
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Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Mike_Bailey]
#255914 - 29/10/14 02:01 AM

One of the reasons I didn't recommend the 7mm is because I'm not a big fan of the Accubond bullet, which is the only bullet that shoots well in his rifle.

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Fjold
.275 member

Reged: 28/06/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Bakersfield, CA, USA

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
#255918 - 29/10/14 02:38 AM

Thanks guys, I just ordered a couple of boxes of Barnes 235 grain TSX bullets to try out. In my 375 they say I can get them to 2950 fps which will cut the trajectory difference between the 7mm and the 375, 300 grain bullets in half.

I'm looking at hunting free range properties in Kwazulu Natal and two outfitters have told me that the majority of their shots are between 200 and 300 yards.

--------------------
Frank

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NitroX
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40777
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Fjold]
#255919 - 29/10/14 02:58 AM

I'd use the 7mm on Nyala. If the bullet is suitable for the velocity and game animal.

No need for the .375 unless you're hunting something much bigger as well.

If I was hunting Nyala plus assorted plains game in Natal and hopefully will one day, I would take either a .30-06 again or the 8x68S. The 8mm merely because it is supposed to be my "world" hunting rifle and is more than capable on various plains game and flat shooting.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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mikeh416Rigby
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Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Fjold]
#255935 - 29/10/14 06:39 AM

Quote:

Thanks guys, I just ordered a couple of boxes of Barnes 235 grain TSX bullets to try out. In my 375 they say I can get them to 2950 fps which will cut the trajectory difference between the 7mm and the 375, 300 grain bullets in half.

I'm looking at hunting free range properties in Kwazulu Natal and two outfitters have told me that the majority of their shots are between 200 and 300 yards.

Sight that in 2" high at 100 yards, and you're golden.

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Rell
.375 member

Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
#255942 - 29/10/14 09:19 AM

If you are going to the Umkamaas Valley with Crusader Safari ask for Ryan Pinaar to PH you. I went in June and had the best trip of my life.

We looked at 20 mature Nyala bulls before we found the Nyala of my dreams. Not the biggest bull we saw by far but the shape was what got me. PM me if you want to go into details on Crusader Safari.mi won't even start in on the bushbuck they have ....

I''my jealous you are headed to Natal.

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27789
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Fjold]
#255943 - 29/10/14 09:46 AM

Quote:

Thanks guys, I just ordered a couple of boxes of Barnes 235 grain TSX bullets to try out. In my 375 they say I can get them to 2950 fps which will cut the trajectory difference between the 7mm and the 375, 300 grain bullets in half.

I'm looking at hunting free range properties in Kwazulu Natal and two outfitters have told me that the majority of their shots are between 200 and 300 yards.

Those are Very good bullets. I can get them to 2,845 in my .375/06IMP and cloverleaf groups.
The 270gr. TSX at 2,650fps also cloverleaf. Stiff loads, but I did back down a bit.

I concur with Mike - 2" high at 100, or 2 1/2".

2 1/2" will give a zero about 225yards, - 6.5 at 300, 13" at 350yds. and - 22 1/2" at 400.

The 235gr. TSX has a claimed BC of .270. It looks ore streamlined than that, but the grooves screw with the atmosphere causing more drag than a smooth bullet of the same size and weight.

There is another bullet, the 225gr. SP Hornady, with a full 1/16" thick jacket - that's .0625" thick, designed for hte .375 with deer sized game in mind. The BC of that one is .320.

The 235gr. TSX will, of course work better on heavier game if needed, due to it's solid construction.

Barnes data:

http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/375HHMagnumWeb.pdf

edited to include url

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

Edited by Daryl_S (29/10/14 09:48 AM)

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Fjold
.275 member

Reged: 28/06/11
Posts: 60
Loc: Bakersfield, CA, USA

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: DarylS]
#255949 - 29/10/14 12:26 PM

Thanks guys, I've been in touch with Crusader and a couple of other companies.

--------------------
Frank

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40777
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Fjold]
#255954 - 29/10/14 06:11 PM

A question, if the shots are from 200 to 300 yards, what sort of country does Crusader hunt in?

I usually associated both nyala and bushbuck with forested country and closer shooting??? Thanks.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Rell
.375 member

Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 642
Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: NitroX]
#255975 - 29/10/14 11:06 PM

It's a big deep drainage that feeds into the Umkomaas river. The tributaries streams are deep and the hillsides quite steep. Dense bush in the river bottoms, more open on the slope and pockets of grass higher up. The break down is probably 15% agriculture! cabbage, sugar cane, beets, citrus groves and macadamia nut stands. Maybe 15%, grazing for sheep and cattle. The other 60% is pretty wild. They burn in June and I would say July or August is best.

Lot's of big kudu ( brother took a 54 inch and father took a 58 inch), Nyala out the wazu. Bushbuck densities beyond belief.

They have a smattering of zebra, impala, warthog, reedbuck, blesbok, black wildebeest, and duiker.

Lots of bushbig, but you need to get them baiting early.

I'm booked to go back in 2016. I think I might need a monster kudu and a few more bushbuck.

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.

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NitroX
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40777
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: The right gun/load for Nyala [Re: Rell]
#255979 - 29/10/14 11:32 PM

Thanks. I see cross gully shots might be required if the animals are feeding out of the gullies. Or on the farm lands.

The bushpigs sounds interesting as well.

I never expected to hunt bushbuck at longer ranges but when hunting in South Africa in 2002, hunted on an irrigated cereal farm. Saw bushbucks from 50 metres to 900 metres away. Sometimes more than a dozen out at a time, somewhere nearby to well away in the distance. The irrigated fields were giant circles with boom irrigation units about 450 metres long slowly circling around from a centre. Surrounded by thick bush from whence the bushbucks came out to feed prior to dusk and early morning.

I think I shot mine (badly) at about 160 metres and wounded it. Having to follow it up in the very dark forest to finish it off. Have written about it on NE before.

The second was more what I expected in thick riverine bush in the Gwayi River valley, perhaps on the Shangaan River.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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