Hornady Bullets for Africa

kesha

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I am using a 375 H&H with 270 gr Interlocks for plainsgame as I was told needed 375 for Eland well I shot Eland 6x from under 100yds never flinched once broke both shoulders heart lung shots anchored with a gut shot quartering away dug a bullet out and maybe 70gr left my opinion sorry bullets for Africa. My son was shooting 308 win wanted 165 gr bullets but none were available before we left emailed Hornady and was told to use American Whitetail 150 gr Interlocks they are shit as PH Quoted had to make several followup shots when hit perfect but will not be buying anymore Hornadys for future trips .
 
I am using a 375 H&H with 270 gr Interlocks for plainsgame as I was told needed 375 for Eland well I shot Eland 6x from under 100yds never flinched once broke both shoulders heart lung shots anchored with a gut shot quartering away dug a bullet out and maybe 70gr left my opinion sorry bullets for Africa. My son was shooting 308 win wanted 165 gr bullets but none were available before we left emailed Hornady and was told to use American Whitetail 150 gr Interlocks they are shit as PH Quoted had to make several followup shots when hit perfect but will not be buying anymore Hornadys for future trips .
Totally agree with you about Hornady , I use a HS precision 243 here in New Zealand , tried 100 grain hornady on Red Deer and pigs , no good . Very accurate , the little HS had great groups but they wouldnt stop anything . They tended to fragment and some almost disintergrated .Gave up with them got sick of looking for wounded animals . Went back to rem core lokte no more problems .
Probably Take them to Namibia when I go .
 
Have to agree on the difference between Interlock an Interbond. I used the little 6.5 Creedmoor Interbond on a Red Hartebeest and it blew a nice hole through both shoulders and dropped it. Also shot a bushbuck facing to slightly quartering and it ran through the point of the shoulder, through the vitals and ended up somewhere in the rear end of the critter. It dropped where it stood.

My PH was a huge fan of Interbond and GMX bullets, reloading for himself with Interbonds.

I did use the 375 H&H 270 grain SP RP Superformance Hornady because it shoots so flat and accurate in my gun. I had to shoot my Eland 3 times (it was done for after the second but still moving) as well but it started with a bad first shot too far back. Once I got a bullet into the lungs, it was soon done. I think that is an Interlock bullet... Wish they loaded it with Interbonds. But it did the job in one shot on my Kudu and Gemsbuck, as well as several other smaller critters.
 
Hello fellow Hunters,

I have always had nothing but stellar performance from old fashioned Hornady RNSP bullets.

However, I use the heavier weights for caliber and I do not shoot them very fast at all.

My favorite "thornbush load" in .375 H&H is the 300 gr Hndy RNSP at 2400 fps.

They virtually always exit small to medium animals and sometimes exit animals up to about 600 lb or so with a golfball size hole.

In the .375, if for some unknown reason I decided I wanted to use a 270 grain bullet against very large animals like eland, giraffe, perhaps grizzly (they can go 1000 lb occasionally) I would use the Swift A-Frame but, there are other premium brands as well made to withstand higher velocity impacts against very large animals with heavy bones.

Old fashioned bullets have velocity limits.

For my safari dollar, the .308 is minimal at best in Africa because it generally will not handle 220 gr bullets (some single shots will).

Nonetheless, it is probably adequate in the hands of a truly expert shot for general PG hunting AND I feel it is essential to load such a smallish weapon with premium / bonded bullets.

A PH I know (John Luyt of Duke Safaris) uses the .308 (for rent/loan to recoil sensitive clients) with 180 grain A-Frames.

To quote him; "I have never seen an A-Frame fail".

As for someone telling Badboy124 to use .30 bullets on Africa game, but weighing only 150 grains and designed for whitetail deer .... well ... that guy needs to be bitchslapped.

Best regards,
Velo Dog.
 
For the record, My wife shot 150 grain bullets out of her 30-06 up an including a large Zebra, but it was GMX bullets and they expanded reliably, held together and made a hell of a mess inside or blew a hole through. I had along some premium 180 grain Remingtons but she had practiced with 150 and noticed the increased recoil of the 180's... The PH did an excellent job of evaluating her shooting saw her hit in the bull at 100 yards with the GMX and decided she should use those. then he turned her scope up a few clicks (after hitting the first critter low, but it was out there over 300 yards). That was the only thing she needed more than one shot...... I agree with Velo Dog's points. But you can shoot 150 grain, just be sure they are high quality bullets made for the job at hand.
 
For the record, My wife shot 150 grain bullets out of her 30-06 up an including a large Zebra, but it was GMX bullets and they expanded reliably, held together and made a hell of a mess inside or blew a hole through. I had along some premium 180 grain Remingtons but she had practiced with 150 and noticed the increased recoil of the 180's... The PH did an excellent job of evaluating her shooting saw her hit in the bull at 100 yards with the GMX and decided she should use those. then he turned her scope up a few clicks (after hitting the first critter low, but it was out there over 300 yards). That was the only thing she needed more than one shot...... I agree with Velo Dog's points. But you can shoot 150 grain, just be sure they are high quality bullets made for the job at hand.

ActionBob,

I totally agree with your post here, especially your last line regarding the high quality bullets notion, (especially if deciding to use 150 grainers in .30 caliber for Africa).
My negative comment is about .30 bullets of 150 grains, that were manufactured with whitetail deer in mind, AKA soft bullets.

For Africa (and Alaska), regarding .30 bullets, I lean strongly toward 220 gr RNSP.
However, if I was to want 150 gr for use in Africa, I am with you in that I would choose the higher quality ones for sure.

In wide open terrain, I happen to like the .30-06 and Sierra 150 gr spitzers, 150 gr Nosler Partitions, or 150 gr Hornady spire points, for things like mule deer and pronghorn plus, I know more than one person who have taken elk with same.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.
 
Velo Dog;
In .375, what would you use on brown bears in AK? Specifically on the Western Coast, I believe it can be open and possibility of long shots. And has to be available in factory loads. In the H & H of course a lot of flexibility, but please also answer for a 375 Ruger where currently I only have available the 300 grain RNSP or DGX at about 2600 fps at the muzzel, the above mentioned 270 grain Superformance pointed SP RP or interlock at about 2800, and 250 Grain GMX which is pointed and BT at 2900.

Bob
 
Velo Dog;
In .375, what would you use on brown bears in AK? Specifically on the Western Coast, I believe it can be open and possibility of long shots. And has to be available in factory loads. In the H & H of course a lot of flexibility, but please also answer for a 375 Ruger where currently I only have available the 300 grain RNSP or DGX at about 2600 fps at the muzzel, the above mentioned 270 grain Superformance pointed SP RP or interlock at about 2800, and 250 Grain GMX which is pointed and BT at 2900.

Bob

Hi ActionBob,

I know very little to nothing about what is the best factory load for the relatively new .375 Ruger cartridge.
Nobody I know around here has one so, I am unable to ask about it.
It is a screaming shame that Swift A-Frames are not loaded in factory live ammunition for it.

Seems to me Hornady's "Superformance" ammunition is loaded to higher velocity than standard ? - sort of like the old "+P" revolver ammunition was (maybe still is ?).
Before all these premium bullets became main-stream, I would have not thought twice about using a Hornady spire point in .375 caliber / 270 grains for long shots at large North American game like, moose, bear, elk, bison, etc.
Having never even heard of a "GMX" bullet, I cannot guess if that one is any good or not.

I will say this about the old design 300 RNSP (at H&H velocity) for grizzly .. it has been quite popular since well before I arrived in Alaska 32 years ago, as has the Remington factory live .
I have never heard of a complaint about it for that type of hunting, as well as for moose and bison.
However, I readily admit that all I have shot with it here have been animals with antlers, no bears.
It tends to exit deer and caribou every time, typically leaving a golf ball size exit hole.
(Caribou are smaller than they look so, neither those or deer are a proper test of a dangerous or heavy game animal bullet.)
It is what I carry as "bear repellant" when I'm going to be around them while river fishing and such (have been close to many, many grizzly and a few black bear in connection to my fly fishing addiction).

Now, after reading in this forum of them failing on thin skinned game, I'm beginning to wonder how I ever bagged anything at all with Hornady spire points and round nose bullets in various calibers over the years and also, if my number might be up next for a bullet failure.
Same especially for reading about failures with the DGX line of bullets (one guy even described a 300 gr DGX in .375 H&H vs a doe deer as "detonation" due to the terrible carnage the bullet caused at impact, and his submitted photos definitely supported the word "detonation").

My many hunting and fishing trips to the bush here tell me that, I doubt you will need to shoot beyond 300 yds.
Since I shoot quite a bit, I find it very easy to make good hits happen with a .375 and 300 grain RNSP out to about 300 yards, from prone, using my day pack as a rest (good chance you will shoot your bear from prone or sitting, but nothing is guaranteed).
Beyond about 300 yds very far, the RNSP begins to drop off in trajectory a bit too much for fine shooting.
So, if your guide thinks you may have to shoot a bear at 350 or 400 yds (I personally doubt it), a 270 gr pointed bullet of some type makes more sense.
I repeat that it is a real shame you cannot use a Swift A-Frame semi-spitzer but, in 270 grain, it would be my #1 choice for long shooting at a large N. Am. animal plus it is tough enough by reputation.

Anyway, I hope I have muddied the water a bit more than it was a few minutes ago.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.


PS:
I strongly recommend you work out all the details with your guide way before time to pack, including what he means by a "long" shot, what bullet to use, type of boots, rain gear and essentially all things.
(Often but not always, there is better than excellent fishing where bear hunting is common here).
 
Thanks Velo Dog!
I would describe the GMX as being on par with a TTSX or copper alloy plastic tipped pointed boat tail that folds out in a controlled expansion with tough petals. Certainly has great trajectory numbers. It comes only in 250 grain in 375, both H & H and Ruger.

In 30-06 it comes in 150 and 165 grain. Ann shot the 150 as she was sighted in with that. It did a number on everything she shot with it and the bullets that were recovered were of very controlled shape and usually imbedded in some bone on the off side of the critter. Her big Zebra was shot quartering away entering mid rib and made mush out of the off side shoulder. The Lungs were a huge bloody glob. I had a selection of 30-06, all top quality from different companies, most in 180 grain... The PH wanted to use the 150 grain GMX from his positive experiences with it in the past..... BUT, Hornady hunts with that outfit.

The 375 Ruger is VERY similar to 375 H & H with slightly more powder capacity and from what I've seen so far in factory ammo, about 20 fps faster from 24" barrels. But I think it is designed to be near equal with the Ruger spitting out of a 20" barrel vs. the H & H out of 24". Also feeds through a 30-06 length action. So pretty neat caliber but just not common enough yet. I think it is now being loaded by more companies than just Hornady but I have yet to find any.... Maybe I'll take up reloading some time if/when I completely retire (unlikely).

I hear you about the velocity thing and I think what you say is well supported at least by anecdotal evidence. I did use that 270 grain pointed soft point with Superformance powder on my PG hunt and was very impressed. The 250 grain GMX was not available to me then. It shot accurately and about as flat as a 30-06. It literally flattened anything I hit properly. In fact I hit my Kudu a bit high and just barley caught the tops of the lungs. The bullet was in the off side shoulder and that was all busted up. In my opinion, having not exited, it obviously put all that energy into the animal and literally knocked him off his feet where he stood. He stayed down and had expired by the time we got to him. Hit a Gemsbok a little more centered through both shoulders and blew out the other side but it only went about 30 yards.

Bought the gun for my wife as it fits her well and she handles it well with the compensator. However it is Stainless with a laminated stock so should really handle Alaska weather and sea side air better than my blued M70... So I may need to borrow it for Alaska hunts. The wife is more interested in the nice weather and complete shower/bath facility hunts in RSA than an Alaskan spike camp.

I am drooling all over those bear deals, but also concerned about doing lion hunts before we cannot. Too many choices!

Bob
 
Hi again ActionBob,

Typos or actually failures to complete all sentences from my earlier reply:
1. "as has the Remington factory live" - (270 grain RNSP, perhaps no longer available?)
2. "plus it is tough enough by reputation" - (to hold together and penetrate well on large animals at close range velocities).

Your wife has the right idea regarding camp amenities in Africa after a long day of deciding how many more species your bank account can actually handle ..... compared to up here, glassing and hoping, in the rain and sleet and wind, only to return to a wet, cold tent and yet another gourmet supper of Top-Ramen noodles or freeze dried chili-mac by AA battery lantern light.

HOWEVER, bear numbers here are way up these days so, your chances of seeing several, with a reputable guide, are quite good right now.
Wolf numbers are up in Alaska as well.
Sadly, moose and caribou numbers are down though (as are the king salmon numbers here AKA "chinook" salmon as the tourists like to call them).
Canada evidently is better at managing their moose and caribou populations because, they seem to have higher numbers of them these days.

You are right about stainless steel for Alaska and the laminated stock is better than regular walnut for here but make sure all wood surfaces are sealed against moisture - action bedding, barrel channel, screw or bolt holes, under the recoil pad, etc.
It is so wet here sometimes that stainless steel will rust and that is no nonsense, it is quite the truth.
I like regular Vaseline for gunmetal in wet weather, plus you can festoon a scrap of your shirt with it and it makes an excellent fire starter.

Regarding the GMX bullet, you definitely will not need a boat tail bullet here because you definitely will not be shooting a bear at 600 to 1000 yds but, the flat trajectory resulting from their pointy nose and light weight might come in handy if your bear is across a wide tundra lake or steep canyon, at 350 or 400 yds (not likely).
I will be surprised as heck if you have to shoot beyond 300 yds for a grizzly (probably going to be 50 to 150 yds max).

In other news, I have a basic distrust of hollow point bullets, including ones that have a plastic stub in the hole.
However, I recommend that you ask your Guide about using the GMX for bear.
Might be he has some direct experience with it on bears and perhaps he might prefer them very much, who knows.

Regarding the bullet you shot clear through both shoulders of a gemsbok, it's only a guess but mine is that: the very same bullet/velocity will be fine for grizzly.
An exceptional bear can go approximately twice the weight of a gemsbok, more or less but, the bush type people (I'm a city slicker in Anchorage) take grizzly here (and everything else) cleanly with .30-30, and similar ballistic yawners (the SKS rifle is quite popular here, with the folks who own several 4-wheelers but no car.)

Speaking about light, pointy bullets at HV in .375 diameter, one of my amigos here had a 260 grain Nosler Partition shatter at close range against a moose brisket (.375 Weatherby in a rechambered from H&H / Model 70 Winchester).
No part of that bullet entered the vitals, only a wide, shallow wound.
He managed to find it again and hit it more times in softer places to get it in the bag.
Then he sold that rifle, bought a .35 Whelen and promptly shot a 250 grain bullet (I forgot which brand bullet now) clear clean through a good black bear, flattening same right there.

The original 300 gr Nosler Partition in .375 was and still is very popular in Alaska for all that walks.
But evidently, the 260 gr can be driven too fast for it's own good.
I prefer jacketed/lead core bullets with blunt shape, as my softs of choice but they do have their velocity limits.

It seems to me that I have rambled on for about long enough and so will clam up right here,

Best regards,
Velo Dog.
 
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I think it is not wise to drive the Nosler Partition too fast, it was never designed that way. Use the E-tip if you want to rocket a bullet.
 
Hello, when you write Africa, its a huge continent with many different habitats and terrain from Kalahari's huge open areas to bush lands. Or in the jungle of south Cameroon... so lets decide what and where first of all.

For a 30 cal rifle you should carefully choose the bullet after 1. What game you are after. 2. What kind of distance it will be actual to shot at.

In a 30-06 I would never be afraid that it will be a mistake to use a 180 gr Partition for PG hunting, it will be the safest card and will work fine from 30 meter up to 250 m, with a good BC on everything up to Eland, its a bullet that have survived for I think nearly 40 years, and its a reason that its still in production, its simply universal and all round for everything.

The only backside is that the sharp lead tip can be damage in some magazine bolt actions from the recoil when the cartridge is in the magazine, on some rifles like the old Steyr Mannlichers there is not any problem but on the tropic or SSG rifles with roll-mag its a problem, so you never know until you try !

I would stay away from lighter bullets than 180 gr, its simply not any reason.

Gordon
 
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Gordon,
are you related with Kobi Krüger,author of "Wilderness family" ?
Greetings
Foxi
 
Foxi, all the Krugers are related.
 
I am using a 375 H&H with 270 gr Interlocks for plainsgame as I was told needed 375 for Eland well I shot Eland 6x from under 100yds never flinched once broke both shoulders heart lung shots anchored with a gut shot quartering away dug a bullet out and maybe 70gr left my opinion sorry bullets for Africa. My son was shooting 308 win wanted 165 gr bullets but none were available before we left emailed Hornady and was told to use American Whitetail 150 gr Interlocks they are shit as PH Quoted had to make several followup shots when hit perfect but will not be buying anymore Hornadys for future trips .

Who told you that you need a 375H&H with 270gr bullets to shoot Eland, PH or Farm owner? sorry but that the biggest load of nonsense I have heard in a long time. Generally speaking the legal limit for Eland is 180gr bullet but I have seen many fall with a bullet as little as a 150gr and less, restrictions aside.

Sorry dont mean to ramble on but that person who advised this is very wrong, he should of advised you to use which ever rifle you are more comfortable with bearing in mind the terrain, distance and provincial regulatons etc.
 
In terms of the Hornady bullets, Interlocks are good but the Interbonds are better if you can find them at the moment.

I have used the Interlocks on many hunts and they have perfomed very nice as long as I keep them under 2600, if I push them above this speed they tend to fragment and or disintergrate when hitting animals and leave a terrible mess and meat damage.
 
I, too, haven't been overly impressed with the offerings from Hornady with the exception of the V-max bullets for varmints. I've had, and have seen, some disappointing results both here in the US and across the pond.

IMHO, there are better options out there.
 
I've had no issues at all with Hornady bullets and I've taken 16 animals including two of the Big Five with them. Shot straight and hit where your PH tells you!
 
I would like to hear more comments regarding the performance of Hornady 375 H&H 300 grain DGX and DGS factory loads on cape buffalo and other dangerous game
 

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