Enough bullet for kudu?

[frog stealer]

I shot my first Kudu in 2000 on my first African hunt in the Limpopo Provence with a 140 gr Ballistic Tip bullet from a 7mm Rem mag. The PHs in camp all thought that those bullets were too light, but they did make one shot kills on that Kudu, a Blue Wildebeest, and "one of the quickest kills" that the Outfitter/PH had ever seen on a Gemsbok. I was a last minute addition to the group of guys on that hunt. That 7mm RM was the only rifle that I had available, and the 140 BT bullets were the most accurate that I had available.

In 2005 I took another 7mm Rem mag to Africa but with 160 gr Accubonds. I hunted two countries and several different properties on that hunt, and one of my PHs (who also handloaded 7mm RM) repeatedly commented on the large internal wound channels that those 160 gr Accubond bullets made.

I hunted the Eastern Cape in 2007, and the only rifle that I took was my .375 RUM with 270 gr TSX bullets. I shot my Cape Kudu at 165 yds, and the 270 gr TSX bullet went in the front of his left shoulder and stopped just under the skin in front of his right hip. Both of my Kudu bulls are very close to the same size, both in body and horn length.

That 160 gr Accubond is also my 7mm Rem mag elk load.

Thanks for weighing in...I'm glad to here your kudu from the eastern cape was as big as your other one. From what I've read, the kudu from the eastern cape were smaller than their northern cousins.

Kudu aren't as tough kilo for kilo as most plains game the same weight and I have no doubt can be put down quite quickly if properly hit with a 140.

If you are hunting Eland with that 7x57, I would use a 175 RNSP such as the Interlock.

Hopefully I have the .416 with me when we are out after eland...I've tried to find those 175 gr. Hornady's you're referencing, and everyone is sold out of them.

I used two different factory rounds for my kudu and both work just fine. One was a Win. 180 gr. XP3 and took my Greater kudu at around 100 yds or so quartering away. It penetrated about 3 ft of animal and broke the off-shoulder. The second Eastern Cape kudu was shot with some Barnes rounds w/ 180gr. TTSX bullets. It was shot at 370 yds. I just ended up using the heavier bullet because I wasn't sure what to expect for distance, terrain, animal size, etc.

Wow, 370 yds? I'm going to have to get closer than that...I'm confident that I wouldn't be confident shooting that far! My range only goes to about 150 yds, so I'll be trying shoot at least a couple times at 200 before I leave.

I haven't been able to find the nosler accubonds in stock anywhere, so I picked up a box of 150 gr. swift sciroccos. I think they are very similar to the accubonds. This weekend I'm hoping to get out and see what they can do.

Thanks guys for your reply's.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Thanks for weighing in...I'm glad to here your kudu from the eastern cape was as big as your other one. From what I've read, the kudu from the eastern cape were smaller than their northern cousins.



Hopefully I have the .416 with me when we are out after eland...I've tried to find those 175 gr. Hornady's you're referencing, and everyone is sold out of them.



Wow, 370 yds? I'm going to have to get closer than that...I'm confident that I wouldn't be confident shooting that far! My range only goes to about 150 yds, so I'll be trying shoot at least a couple times at 200 before I leave.

I haven't been able to find the nosler accubonds in stock anywhere, so I picked up a box of 150 gr. swift sciroccos. I think they are very similar to the accubonds. This weekend I'm hoping to get out and see what they can do.

Thanks guys for your reply's.

I wish you luck with the scirocco's, I tried those and could not even come close to what would pass as a poor group much less anything acceptable. If you get them to fly, you must share your magic.

 

[enysse]

The Swift Scirocco's are great!!! If they shoot well use them.

 

[RickP]

Wow, 370 yds? I'm going to have to get closer than that...I'm confident that I wouldn't be confident shooting that far! My range only goes to about 150 yds, so I'll be trying shoot at least a couple times at 200 before I leave.

I agree, 370 was a bit of a surprise for me but we crested a slight rise and 3 beauties were feeding on leaves from the trees. The closest was at 370 and there was nothing but open field between us so there really wasn't any option. But the good thing was that I was able to get prone and helped provide confidence for success. The adrenalin dump happened after the shot and then the shakes started.

I failed to mention previously that I was shooting a .30-06, not some big booming magnum.

Good luck.

 

[frog stealer]

I wish you luck with the scirocco's, I tried those and could not even come close to what would pass as a poor group much less anything acceptable. If you get them to fly, you must share your magic.

Oh, great. I wouldn't worry too much about your accuracy issues, except for the fact that you have the SAME rifle as I do! I'll give it wurl anyways, and hope for the best. I've got some decent loads worked up if these fail to produce any kind of accuracy.

I agree, 370 was a bit of a surprise for me but we crested a slight rise and 3 beauties were feeding on leaves from the trees. The closest was at 370 and there was nothing but open field between us so there really wasn't any option. But the good thing was that I was able to get prone and helped provide confidence for success. The adrenalin dump happened after the shot and then the shakes started.

I failed to mention previously that I was shooting a .30-06, not some big booming magnum.

Good luck.

Well, if that was my only shot at a nice animal, I would have probably taken it as well. That reminds me, I better get to memorizing bullet drop on the load I finally decide on, if that ever happens...were your other shots in the Eastern Cape that far?

 

[BRICKBURN]

....

Well, if that was my only shot at a nice animal, I would have probably taken it as well. That reminds me, I better get to memorizing bullet drop on the load I finally decide on, if that ever happens...were your other shots in the Eastern Cape that far?

OR, just buy one of these babies and program it.



It is awesome so far.

I can hardly wait to take mine to Africa.
It sounds like there are some pests in the EC that it would help manage.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Oh, great. I wouldn't worry too much about your accuracy issues, except for the fact that you have the SAME rifle as I do! I'll give it wurl anyways, and hope for the best. I've got some decent loads worked up if these fail to produce any kind of accuracy.

I haven't tried them in the 7x57, so there's hope.

 

[frog stealer]

I haven't tried them in the 7x57, so there's hope.

Ohh, thank goodness!

 

[RickP]

Well, if that was my only shot at a nice animal, I would have probably taken it as well. That reminds me, I better get to memorizing bullet drop on the load I finally decide on, if that ever happens...were your other shots in the Eastern Cape that far?

No, my other shots were probably 150 and under.......but they were with a .308 Win T/C Encore handgun.

 

[frog stealer]

Just an update guys, I was only able to shoot at an indoor range today near where I live, and their longest range is 75 yds. I brought two loads of the Sciroccos, 47gr. of H4350, and 47 gr. of H414. The H4350 load was pretty dismal, grouping around 2" average. However, the H414 showed a little more hope, I fired 6 3-shot groups, and average right around 1.25", some being .7" and others 1.5".

I think with a little development, I can get these shooting a bit better.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Just an update guys, I was only able to shoot at an indoor range today near where I live, and their longest range is 75 yds. I brought two loads of the Sciroccos, 47gr. of H4350, and 47 gr. of H414. The H4350 load was pretty dismal, grouping around 2" average. However, the H414 showed a little more hope, I fired 6 3-shot groups, and average right around 1.25", some being .7" and others 1.5".

I think with a little development, I can get these shooting a bit better.

Well done frog. Your 2" group was far better than anything I ever got in my .300 Win Mag.

 

[enysse]

Just an update guys, I was only able to shoot at an indoor range today near where I live, and their longest range is 75 yds. I brought two loads of the Sciroccos, 47gr. of H4350, and 47 gr. of H414. The H4350 load was pretty dismal, grouping around 2" average. However, the H414 showed a little more hope, I fired 6 3-shot groups, and average right around 1.25", some being .7" and others 1.5".

I think with a little development, I can get these shooting a bit better.

What kinda velocity were you getting?

 

[sestoppelman]

Just an update guys, I was only able to shoot at an indoor range today near where I live, and their longest range is 75 yds. I brought two loads of the Sciroccos, 47gr. of H4350, and 47 gr. of H414. The H4350 load was pretty dismal, grouping around 2" average. However, the H414 showed a little more hope, I fired 6 3-shot groups, and average right around 1.25", some being .7" and others 1.5".

I think with a little development, I can get these shooting a bit better.

I used Re22 with the 150gr Scir and got good groups once I passed 49grs, 51 was about best. This was in my 22" bbl Ruger No.1. I have become a big fan of W760 (H414), and use it lots these days. In my boys .284 Win., that we are taking to RSA this summer, I use 55.5grs of it behind the 140 TSX for just over 3000fps with MOA accuracy. For you .303 British fans out there I have not found a better powder than 760.

 

[frog stealer]

What kinda velocity were you getting?

Unfortunately, my chronograph is at my property in MI, a 3 hour drive away...so the velocity cell in my reloading spreadsheet shows a "?" for now.