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Good article.

But sometimes an animal just refuses to die. Often after it has been wounded first. Perhaps adrenalin is a factor behind the "iron-clad" African game reputation.

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I used to target a behind the shoulder lung shot. Had too many woundings with that point of impact. Then decided it was stupid to worry about meat damage on an African trophy and aim to penetrate the shoulder instead, and still damage the lungs or heart. Why worry about a bit more meat damage when the meat can't be brought home and the trophy fees are expensive.

The various "x-ray" African game shooting guides such as the one put out by "African Hunter" in the past, also tends to show the heart slightly more forward than for example European deer species. Perhaps there is a reason for the difference? Is this true, or ?

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The bullets and cartridges I have used on African game.

First safari in 1994 for plains game. .30-06 with 180 gr Nosler Partitions. Terrible performance. They acted as FMJ's and generally just zipped through. I think the bullet lot was too hard and harder than normal. OR the front tip was too fragile and blew up with superficial damage with the rear half zipping through. Probably the last.

Then switched to 200 gr Nosler Semi Pointed, which were available at the time. They worked very well. The head tracker thought it was a different rifle. I had two lots of bullets by chance. Both shot to a similar point of impact.

Second safari. .375 H&H Mag. 300 gr Woodleigh Weldcore Round noses. Worked fine on buffalo and various plains game. Always worked fine except when one time which was my fault. A .375 with a decent bullet should be more than equal for any medium game.

Next trip. For elephant, buffalo and plains game. .450 for elephant. 9.3x74R double rifle and 8x68S for plains game. The 9.3 with 286 gr Woodleigh Weldcore PP's slew a goodly number of warthog without problem. As should be expected. The 8x68S with 200 or 220 gr (I forget) A-frames worked very well on everything. Again, a cartridge and bullet which should be able to handle well any medium species.

One of NE's first members and from South Africa, used a .460 Weatherby Magnum and a .243 for everything.

No reason the 6.5mm's, 7mm's or .30's shouldn't work well with proper shots and decent bullets. Above .30 calibre, why not, if it means less time tracking wounding beasts and days wasted following up for less than perfect placement. The reason I bought a 8x68S was for a good powerful 'magnum' class rifle with good range and able to pack a good punch at the other end. But it would not stop me using a 7x57/.275 Rigby, or a 6.5x54 M-S or 6.5x65mm if I felt like it. Just a little more care needed. Or my .30-06. And all of them have less recoil and are comfortable to shoot.

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My first I used Nosler Accubonds as they shot so accurately out of my 300RUM--180 gr bullets..horrible performance..blew up on impact at close range..similar performance to a Berger..used my .416 shooting A-Frames for the remainder of the trip on everything from the smallest antelope to cape buffalo..

Second--took same rifle combo in 300RUM and 416 REM..but both loaded with A-Frames--180's in the 300RUM and 400GR in the 416...

Third, fourth and fifth..same combo with the exception of using 200gr A-Frames in the 300RUM..still used 400GR A-Frames in the 416--all performed perfectly..90% plus weight retention on those we recovered--on 3rd Safari actually blew through one cape buffalo bull and kill another bull on the other side..both dead with one shot out of the .416--was hunting with Nixon in Zim when that happened..he stated he had never seen a soft blow through a cape buffalo before let alone kill another bull on the other side..

6th safari--took one rifle--in 375H&H..loaded with 270 GR A-Frames--never got my ammo --but PH had Trophy bonded Bear Claws and some holdover factory loaded A-Frames..both worked extremely well as to bullet performance..both had 90%+ retention..biggest surprise to me was how much less effective the 375 vs the 416 seemed to be on cape buffalo..and a smaller species to boot..while I know this was just one incident, when I go back again for cape buffalo it will be with a .416..

IMHO, when in Africa and hunting in NON-fenced areas such as Zim, Tanzania, etc..will only carry a .375H&H or larger even for plains game..experience has shown me on more than one occasion, you never know what is around the next corner..

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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

Edited by Ripp (07/09/17 11:44 PM)

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